Best SUVs for 2027: The One to Buy First

Every “best SUV” list has the same problem: the prices are guesses, the safety claims are vague, and the winner was decided before the writer started. This one is built differently. Every price below is a confirmed 2027 manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP), before destination, tax, title and license. Every safety claim comes from published Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) results. And we did not test-drive these cars — this ranking comes from verified specifications, confirmed pricing, published safety data and our editorial assessment, not from borrowed road-test impressions.

One honesty note on safety: full 2027 crash ratings were not published for every car here at research time, so safety scores below use the last full IIHS and NHTSA results (2026 models) — a fair basis, since all three 2027 models are carryovers of the same generation.

Two famous names are missing on purpose. The Toyota RAV4 — now all-hybrid for its sixth generation — is excellent, but Toyota’s final 2027 trim pricing was not confirmed in manufacturer or major sources when we researched (Edmunds estimates a starting price around $34,000, while unofficial sites disagree). The redesigned 2027 Hyundai Tucson is not on sale yet either, with only an estimated starting price around $32,000. We rank only cars you can actually price and buy, so both sit out until their numbers are confirmed. For cars still on the way, see our Future Cars Worth Waiting For hub.

Winner: 2027 Kia Sportage — The One to Buy First

The Sportage wins this ranking the boring way: on the numbers. It has the lowest starting price here, the cheapest hybrid here, the longest powertrain warranty here, and a top safety score — all at once. No other 2027 SUV in this class stacks that many verified advantages in one package.

The gas lineup starts at $28,990 for the LX with front-wheel drive, using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic. The hybrid starts at $30,590 for the LX Hybrid with front-wheel drive, pairing a turbocharged engine with an electric motor for 232 horsepower and up to 41 mpg combined. A plug-in hybrid is also available from $40,590, so the Sportage is the only car here offering gas, hybrid and plug-in choices. Gas models are EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and cargo space measures 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

Pros:

• Lowest prices in this ranking: $28,990 gas, $30,590 hybrid
• Top safety scores: IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall NHTSA rating (2026 models)
• 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the longest here
• Gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions — no other finalist offers all three
• Dual 12.3-inch displays and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard

Cons:

• The gas engine’s 187 horsepower is modest next to turbocharged rivals
• The plug-in hybrid is limited to the two most expensive trims, from $40,590
• Cargo space trails the CR-V by a small margin

Ratings: Safety 5/5 (IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and five-star NHTSA basis) · Comfort 4/5 (our assessment) · Value 5/5 (our assessment)

Who’s It For? Almost everyone shopping this class — especially buyers who want a hybrid without paying a hybrid premium, and anyone who keeps cars a long time and values that warranty.

Recommended Trim: Sportage EX Hybrid with front-wheel drive, $32,290. It sits in the middle of the hybrid ladder: the efficiency and equipment most buyers actually need, without paying for the top trims. If your budget is at its absolute limit, the LX Hybrid at $30,590 is the same hybrid system for less.

Runner-up: 2027 Honda CR-V — The Roomiest All-Rounder

The CR-V is the car most buyers in this class end up cross-shopping against everything else, and the 2027 model gives them two good reasons: space and choice. It is a carryover of the well-reviewed current generation, with gas and hybrid versions across seven trims.

Gas models start at $31,520 for the LX, using a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 190 horsepower, rated at 29 mpg combined. The hybrid starts at $36,030 for the Sport Hybrid, with a two-motor system making 204 horsepower and an EPA rating of 43 mpg city and 36 mpg highway (40 mpg combined) with front-wheel drive. Cargo space is 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded — the most here — and rear legroom measures 41.0 inches. Maximum towing is 1,500 pounds.

Pros:

• The most cargo space here: 76.5 cubic feet
• Gas and hybrid choice, with the hybrid reaching 40 mpg combined
• Five-star overall NHTSA rating (2026 model)
• Roomy rear seat and a simple, easy-to-use cabin

Cons:

• IIHS rated the 2026 model Poor in the moderate-overlap front test, so it earned no 2026 Top Safety Pick award — the reason it is not our winner
• The cheapest hybrid costs $36,030, far above the Sportage Hybrid’s $30,590
• The standard 9-inch touchscreen looks small next to the Sportage’s dual 12.3-inch displays

Ratings: Safety 4/5 (five-star NHTSA overall, but the IIHS moderate-overlap Poor result on the 2026 model) · Comfort 5/5 (our assessment) · Value 4/5 (our assessment)

Who’s It For? Families who load the cargo area weekly and want the choice between a cheaper gas model and an efficient hybrid — and who value the CR-V’s long record over the newest badge.

Recommended Trim: CR-V Sport Hybrid with front-wheel drive, $36,030. It is the lowest-priced CR-V hybrid, with the full 204-horsepower system and 40 mpg combined rating. All-wheel drive adds $1,500 if you need it.

Honorable Mention: 2027 Mazda CX-5 — The Driver’s Pick

The CX-5 is the car you buy when you care how an SUV feels, not just what it carries. The third generation arrived as a 2026 model, and Mazda announced 2027 pricing in October 2026, with cars arriving at dealers. The big 2027 change is standard Google built-in infotainment with the Gemini AI assistant.

Every 2027 CX-5 uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, a six-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. Pricing runs from $29,990 for the 2.5 S to $39,440 for the 2.5 S Premium Plus, before destination — MotorTrend lists the base model at $31,485 including delivery. The gas engine is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. Standard equipment includes a 12.9-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, while the Premium Plus gets a larger 15.6-inch display.

Pros:

• IIHS Top Safety Pick+ — the institute’s highest award (2026 model)
• Standard all-wheel drive on every trim, no extra charge
• A premium-feeling cabin and the most engaging drive here, in our assessment
• Google built-in with the Gemini assistant standard for 2027

Cons:

• No hybrid version yet — Mazda says more powertrain options will be announced during 2027, but has published no hybrid price or specifications
• 26 mpg combined is the weakest efficiency here by a clear margin
• MotorTrend’s long-term 2026 CX-5 reported infotainment glitches, including occasional screen blackouts

Ratings: Safety 5/5 (IIHS Top Safety Pick+ basis) · Comfort 4/5 (our assessment) · Value 4/5 (our assessment)

Who’s It For? Buyers who enjoy driving and want a nicer cabin than the class norm — and who can live with gas-only efficiency until Mazda’s hybrid arrives. If a hybrid is a must, read our Mazda CX-5 Hybrid: Everything We Know So Far article before deciding.

Recommended Trim: CX-5 2.5 S Preferred, $34,550. It sits mid-ladder: past the base car’s price, short of the top trims’ luxury pricing, and it is where the CX-5’s value story makes the most sense.

The Verdict

Buy the Kia Sportage first. It is the cheapest way into this class, the cheapest way into a hybrid, the only finalist with a plug-in option, and it carries top safety scores plus a 10-year powertrain warranty. No other 2027 SUV here wins on that many verified facts at once.

Buy the Honda CR-V if cargo space and the gas-or-hybrid choice matter more than the lowest price, despite its IIHS moderate-overlap result. Buy the Mazda CX-5 if driving enjoyment and cabin quality outrank fuel economy for you, and you are willing to wait for the hybrid Mazda has promised but not yet priced.

Whichever you pick, run the real numbers before signing: our Car Tools hub has a loan calculator for the monthly payment, a fuel-cost calculator for the hybrid-versus-gas math, and a quiz if you are still torn. Prices here are MSRP before destination, tax, title and license, so confirm the out-the-door figure with your dealer — and check the window sticker, because a single option package can move any of these trims by thousands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which 2027 SUV is the cheapest?

The Kia Sportage, by a clear margin: $28,990 for the gas LX and $30,590 for the hybrid LX, before destination. The Mazda CX-5 starts at $29,990 and the Honda CR-V at $31,520.

Should I buy a gas or hybrid SUV in 2027?

If you drive mostly in town or cover high annual mileage, the hybrid pays back: the Sportage Hybrid reaches up to 41 mpg combined and the CR-V Hybrid 40 mpg combined, against 26–29 mpg for the gas models here. If you drive little, tow, or want the lowest purchase price, the gas versions remain sensible — the CX-5 is gas-only for now.

Which of these SUVs is the safest?

On published ratings, the Mazda CX-5 and Kia Sportage share the top spot: both earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for the 2026 model year, and the Sportage also holds a five-star overall NHTSA rating. The CR-V holds a five-star NHTSA overall rating but earned no 2026 IIHS award after a Poor moderate-overlap front result.