The SUV is the most popular vehicle segment in the U.S., with models such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue and Tesla Model Y among its best-known choices.
For long-term ownership, safety, reliability and value can matter as much as standard features, driving dynamics and comfort. Here are three SUVs a car reviewer says he would buy with those factors in mind.
The Subaru Forester Offers Safety and Reliability
The 2026 Subaru Forester received good Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) scores for crashworthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, seat belts and child restraints. Subaru also ranked as a more dependable brand than Toyota, Kia and Nissan in a J.D. Power vehicle dependability study.
The 2026 Forester starts at $29,995 and comes in six trims, including an off-road Wilderness version. Standard safety features include brake assist, whiplash-reducing front seats and traction control.
The Honda HR-V Is a Lower-Priced Pick
Honda SUVs have a reputation for low repair costs and dependability. The subcompact HR-V, which shares a platform with the Civic, is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and starts at $26,600. Its three trims include the EX-L, which starts at $30,450.
The HR-V comes with a collision mitigation braking system, lane keeping assist and road departure mitigation. J.D. Power gave it above-average reliability and resale value scores.
The Hyundai Tucson Checks Key Boxes
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson starts at $29,700 and is available in six trims. It earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and includes forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist as standard features.
The Tucson also received strong quality, reliability and resale value ratings. The reviewer describes it as an affordable family SUV with safety features and value.
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