10 Most Popular Midsize SUVs and Crossovers

Body Style:

• SUV

Abstract:

Families flock to midsize SUVs for their seating capacity, cargo capability, and available all-wheel-drive systems. This guide provides essential information about the 10 most popular, non-luxury midsize SUVs and crossovers in America.

Year:

2 016

article_id:

yWhz2nm

DDC ID:

5391f826e701090d8bb2c92e

• Families flock to midsize SUVs for their seating capacity, cargo capability, and available all-wheel-drive systems. This guide provides essential information about the 10 most popular,* non-luxury midsize SUVs and crossovers in America, including pricing; quality, reliability, and appeal ratings; fuel economy; safety ratings; and cargo volume.
  
  *Popularity based on calendar-year sales through July 2016

• 10) Toyota 4Runner (64,049 sales)

  They don’t make ’em like this anymore. The Toyota 4Runner is a traditional, body-on-frame SUV designed to go places no mere crossover dare tread. Able to seat up to 7 people when equipped with the optional third-row seat, the 4Runner comes in SR5, Trail, TRD Pro, and Limited trim levels, with rear-wheel or 4-wheel drive.
  
  Base Price—$34,950
  Initial Quality—4 PCRs
  Predicted Reliability—3 PCRs
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—4 PCRs
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—17/22
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—4 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—Not a “Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—46.3 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—88.8 cu. ft.

• 9) Kia Sorento (68,932 sales)

  Redesigned for the 2016 model year, the Kia Sorento crossover SUV supplies 5- or 7-passenger seating combined with a 4-cylinder, turbocharged 4-cylinder, or a V-6 engine. All-wheel drive is an option, and trim levels include L, LX, EX, SX, and luxurious Limited specification.
  
  Base Price—$25,995
  Initial Quality—5 PCRs
  Predicted Reliability—3 PCRs
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—5 PCRs
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—17/29
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—“Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—38.8 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—73.5 cu. ft.

• 8) Hyundai Santa Fe (71,780 sales)

  Hyundai sells two versions of the popular Santa Fe crossover: the 5-passenger Santa Fe Sport, and the 7-passenger Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Sport is offered with a 4-cylinder or a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, while the larger Santa Fe comes only with a V-6 engine. Trim levels vary between the two models, but both use an Ultimate option package to denote the best-equipped versions of each. Naturally, all-wheel drive is an option.
  
  Base Price—$26,245*
  Initial Quality—5 PCRs
  Predicted Reliability—3 PCRs
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—3 PCRs
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—17/27
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars**
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—“Top Safety Pick”*
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—35.4-40.9 cu. ft.**
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—71.5-80.0 cu. ft.**
  
  *Pricing is for the 2017 models
  **Smaller measurements are for the Santa Fe Sport

• 7) Honda Pilot (72,524 sales)

  Redesigned for 2016, the Honda Pilot swaps blocky styling and yester-tech infotainment and safety systems for a more modern approach. The Pilot continues to share a platform with the Acura MDX and is available in LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Touring Elite trim levels. A strong V-6 engine is standard, with a choice between a 6-speed and a 9-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel and all-wheel drive.
  
  Base Price—$31,245
  Initial Quality—Not rated
  Predicted Reliability—Not rated
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—Not rated
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—18/27
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—“Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—46.8 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—83.9 cu. ft.

• 6) Ford Edge (81,550 sales)

  Equipped with 5-passenger seating, the Ford Edge is offered in SE, SEL, Titanium, and Sport trim levels. The first three versions are available with a turbocharged 4-cylinder or a V-6 engine, while the Sport is exclusively equipped with a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine for maximum performance. All-wheel drive is standard for the Sport version, and optional for other versions of the Edge.
  
  Base Price—$29,595
  Initial Quality—3 PCRs
  Predicted Reliability—4 PCRs
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—5 PCRs
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—17/30
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—Not a “Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—39.2 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—73.4 cu. ft.

• 5) Subaru Outback (92,090 sales)

  Take one Legacy station wagon, raise the suspension, add SUV styling cues, and change to a rugged name, and you’ve got the recipe that Subaru uses to create the Outback. A 5-passenger crossover SUV, the Outback is offered with a 4-cylinder or a 6-cylinder engine and in standard, Premium, and Limited trim. All-wheel drive is standard equipment, as is generous ground clearance.
  
  Base Price—$25,845
  Initial Quality Rating—Not rated
  Predicted Reliability—Not rated
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—Not rated
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—20/33
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—“Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—35.5 cu. ft.

  Take one Legacy station wagon, raise the suspension, add SUV styling cues, and change to a rugged name, and you’ve got the recipe that Subaru uses to create the Outback. A 5-passenger crossover SUV, the Outback is offered with a 4-cylinder or a 6-cylinder engine and in standard, Premium, and Limited trim. All-wheel drive is standard equipment, as is generous ground clearance.
  
  Base Price—$25,845
  Initial Quality Rating—Not rated
  Predicted Reliability—Not rated
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—Not rated
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—20/33
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—“Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—35.5 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—73.3 cu. ft.

• 4) Toyota Highlander (97,142 sales)

  The roomy and popular Toyota Highlander is a crossover SUV that technically seats 8 people, but 7 will be happier. It is offered with a 4-cylinder, V-6, or a gas-electric V-6 hybrid drivetrain, and with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Trim levels include LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum.
  
  Base Price—$31,430
  Initial Quality—5 PCRs
  Predicted Reliability—4 PCRs
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—4 PCRs
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—18/28
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—“Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—42.3 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—83.7 cu. ft.

• 3) Jeep Grand Cherokee (117,441 sales)

  The iconic Jeep Grand Cherokee is ready for adventure, one of the few true SUVs left in a market populated primarily by crossover SUVs. It comes with a choice between four engines, and while rear-wheel drive is standard on most versions, Jeep offers several optional 4-wheel-drive systems designed to handle varying levels of off-road readiness. Seven trim levels are available, including the hot-rod SRT, which is built for the street and track rather than dirt trails.
  
  Base Price—$30,990
  Initial Quality—Not rated
  Predicted Reliability—Not rated
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—Not rated
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—13/30
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars*
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—Not a “Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—36.3 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—68.3 cu. ft.
  
  *Rating applies only to the 4WD and non-SRT versions; The 2WD versions earn a 4-Star rating; The SRT has not been tested

• 2) Jeep Wrangler (119,096 sales)

  Jeep’s venerable Wrangler represents a lifestyle statement as much as it does a utilitarian choice. Two-door and 4-door models are available, the latter significantly larger inside for passengers and cargo. All Wranglers have a V-6 engine and 4-wheel drive, with a choice between a manual and automatic transmission. They’re all convertibles, with a removable hardtop available as an option.
  
  Base Price—$24,890
  Initial Quality—Not rated
  Predicted Reliability—Not rated
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—Not rated
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—16/21
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—Testing is incomplete
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—Not a “Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—12.8-31.5 cu. ft.*
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—56.5-70.6 cu. ft.*
  
  *Larger measurements are for the Wrangler Unlimited

• 1) Ford Explorer (148,299 sales)

  Popular with police departments and consumers alike, the Ford Explorer is sold in standard, XLT, Limited, Sport, and Platinum trim levels. Engine choices include a turbocharged 4-cylinder, V-6, and a twin-turbocharged V-6, the latter exclusively offered in the Sport and Platinum versions. Notably, the Explorer offers more cargo space behind its third-row seat than other 7-passenger midsize SUVs.
  
  Base Price—$32,105
  Initial Quality—3 PCRs
  Predicted Reliability—2 PCRs
  Overall Vehicle Appeal—4 PCRs
  Fuel Economy (city/highway mpg)—16/28
  NHTSA Crash Test Rating—5 Stars
  IIHS Crash Test Rating—Not a “Top Safety Pick”
  Cargo Volume Behind Second-Row Seat—43.9 cu. ft.
  Cargo Volume All Seats Folded—81.7 cu. ft.
  
  

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