Planning a summer family road trip? These 5 SUVs are perfect for the job

Planning a household street journey means discovering an SUV that may do greater than merely carry folks and baggage. Consolation, cargo house, effectivity, experience high quality, and long-distance refinement all turn into far more necessary if you’re spending hours on the freeway. One of the best road-trip SUVs are those that make these lengthy drives really feel easy whereas nonetheless providing sufficient practicality for your entire household.

Fortunately, in the present day’s SUV market presents loads of wonderful choices, whether or not you’re on the lookout for one thing rugged and adventure-ready, a quiet three-row cruiser, and even an environment friendly electrical mannequin able to overlaying critical miles between stops. Some prioritize off-road functionality, others give attention to luxury-like consolation and expertise, however all of them are designed to make touring simpler and much much less tense. In case your summer time plans contain loading up the household and heading out on the open street, these SUVs stand out as a number of the finest companions for the journey.

5

2026 Subaru Outback

Beginning MSRP: $34,995

With its newest replace, the Outback has reworked from a rugged station wagon into a bit of an SUV mashup. Whereas there are some who aren’t significantly keen on its new styling, there is no such thing as a denying that it’s a comfy, sensible, and succesful household hauler. In case your roadtrips often embody a mixture of tarmac and grime, the Outback is without doubt one of the finest choices on the market.

Efficiency specs

Base Trim Engine

2.5-liter 4 boxer

Base Trim Transmission

CVT

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

180 hp

Base Trim Torque

178 lb-ft

Make

Subaru

Mannequin

Outback

Section

Midsize Wagon

The Outback comes customary with a 180 horsepower four-cylinder engine underneath the hood. Prime trims, nevertheless, get a turbocharged four-pot that places down a a lot heftier 260 horsepower. All-wheel drive is customary, and each mannequin has a minimum of 8.7 inches of floor clearance, making it nice for off-road adventures. The Wilderness trim kicks issues up a notch with 9.5 inches of floor clearance and chunky all-terrain tires.

Professionals

• A great deal of house for passengers within the again
• Tons of cargo house
• Some real off-road prowess

Cons

• Base engine is a bit underpowered
• Just a little uninteresting to drive
• Some will not like that it is not a pure wagon

4

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Beginning MSRP: $35,000

If you happen to’re seeking to go electrical, there are few choices that really feel quite as refined or as enjoyable as the Ioniq 5. For such an reasonably priced EV it comes geared up with a ton of normal consolation options, and it seems extra premium than you’d count on. It additionally presents various vary in each kind, and charging instances are impressively low, that means fewer and shorter stops in your roadtrip.

Efficiency specs

Base Trim Engine

EV

Base Trim Transmission

Automated

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

168 HP

Base Trim Torque

258 lb.-ft.

Base Trim Gas Economic system Equal (metropolis/freeway/mixed)

127/94/110 mpge

Base Trim Battery Sort

Lithium ion (Li-ion)

Make

Hyundai

Mannequin

Ioniq 5

The bottom mannequin of the Ioniq 5 is designed for effectivity, that means you get a humble 168-horsepower setup. This mannequin incorporates a 63-kWh battery pack and may go 245 miles on a cost. Different fashions get a bigger 84-kWh battery and ship both 225 or 320 horsepower, relying on whether or not you go for rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It will get as much as 318 miles on a single cost, and Hyundai says it may go from 10 to 80 p.c cost in as little as 20 minutes on a DC quick charger.

Professionals

• Seems to be implausible, in and out
• Extra enjoyable to drive than most electrical autos
• Fees in a short time

Cons

• Quickest fashions include decrease vary estimates
• The frunk is tiny
• Steering is a bit mild

3

2027 Kia Telluride

Beginning MSRP: $39,190

If you happen to want extra seats than the final two choices supply, then the Telluride is without doubt one of the finest decisions in the marketplace. It persistently ranks among the many finest worth three-row SUVs accessible, and for good purpose. The Korean automaker completely hundreds it with high-end features and tech from the word go, and all three rows of seats are extra spacious than you’d count on. Additionally new for the 2027 mannequin is an non-compulsory hybrid powertrain.

Efficiency specs

Base Trim Engine

2.5L

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automated

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

274 HP

Base Trim Torque

311 lb.-ft.

Make

Kia

Mannequin

Telluride

Section

Midsize SUV

The V-6 from the outgoing mannequin has been changed with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine as an alternative. It has fewer horses than the six-cylinder, however produces extra torque. Entrance-wheel drive is customary, with all-wheel drive being non-compulsory. The hybrid mannequin provides a pair of electrical motors to the combination, boosting output as much as 329 horses, and growing effectivity by quite a bit.

Professionals

• Close to-luxury inside
• Quiet and plush experience
• A great deal of house in all three rows

Cons

• Not as fast off the road because the outgoing V-6 mannequin
• Fairly a bit costlier than the outdated mannequin
• Hybrid powertrain compromises cargo house

2

2026 Toyota 4Runner

Beginning MSRP: $42,070

For a lot of, the entire level of a household street journey is to get someplace quiet and picturesque and pitch a tent. This typically means traversing some lower than easy terrain. For this activity, the 2026 Toyota 4Runner is the perfect fit. In addition to being able to sort out treacherous terrain straight off the dealership ground, this body-on-frame SUV options loads of house on the within, and it may even be geared up with an non-compulsory third row of seats.

Efficiency specs

Base Trim Engine

2.4L I-FORCE I4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automated

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

278 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

317 lb.-ft. @ 1700 RPM

Make

Toyota

Mannequin

4Runner

Section

Midsize SUV

The 4Runner is obtainable as a hybrid or a non-hybrid. The cheaper setup is the non-hybrid, 278-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four, with rear-wheel drive being customary and full-time four-wheel drive supplied as an possibility. The hybrid boosts output as much as 326 horses and a whopping 465 pound-feet of torque. There’s a ton of off-road tools accessible all through the trim line, however we’re significantly impressed with how a lot enchancment has been made to the SUV’s on-road manners in comparison with the outdated mannequin.

Professionals

• Constructed to overcome any terrain
• Rather more comfy on the street than earlier than
• A number of customary expertise

Cons

• The highest trim Trailhunter and TRD Professional are hybrid-only
• Hybrid battery takes up some cargo house
• Non-obligatory third row is a kids-only affair

1

2026 Chevrolet Tahoe

Beginning MSRP: $60,700

Since its inception, the Tahoe has been one of the vital common SUVs in America, and for good purpose. The newest iteration of the full-size SUV actually does really feel like a one-size-fits-all resolution. It feels at dwelling when cruising on the freeway, delivers a cavernous cabin, and may tow greater than most autos.

Efficiency specs

Base Trim Engine

5.3L EcoTec3 V8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

10-speed automated

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

355 HP @5600 RPM

Base Trim Torque

383 lb.-ft. @ 4100 RPM

Base Trim Gas Economic system (metropolis/freeway/mixed)

15/20/17 MPG

Make

Chevrolet

Mannequin

Tahoe

Section

Full-Measurement SUV

Most Tahoes come geared up with a V-8 engine underneath the hood. Base fashions function a 355-horsepower 5.3-liter unit, with a 420-horsepower 6.2-liter setup supplied as effectively. The V-8s are very thirsty, although, which could make you take into account the three.0-liter diesel inline-six, which places down 495 pound-feet of torque. The American SUV’s on-road refinement can also be surprisingly good, particularly when geared up with the non-compulsory air suspension.

Professionals

• Pretty nimble for such a big SUV
• Diesel powertrain is pretty environment friendly
• Extremely spacious cabin

Cons

• Prime trims are very costly
• The V-8s are heavy on gas
• Backside trims function some scratchy plastics

There are tons of comfy SUVs able to be pushed far

In fact, there is no such thing as a scarcity of SUVs on the market which are geared up to take your loved ones on a street journey. Selecting which one fits you finest comes all the way down to what you need it to realize. Nevertheless, we expect that the above fashions are a number of the finest choices in the marketplace proper now for people who steadily journey lengthy distances with the household in tow.