10 of the Best SUVs to Buy in 2019

2018 VW Atlas Quarter View ・ Photo by Volkswagen

The time has come for you to buy a new SUV. You’re in luck – 2019 will be a year with an abundance of great SUVs from which to choose. Narrowing down your choices can be tricky. You have to take a look at your needs, your desires (not necessarily the same as your needs), your tastes and your budget. Even though SUVs are versatile, they’re definitely not a “one size fits all” category of vehicle. The best SUV for your next-door neighbor might not be the best SUV for you. Shop wisely, and visit here often to help guide your decision. Good luck; we’re all counting on you.

Here, in alphabetical order by brand, are 10 of the Best SUVs to Buy in 2019.

2019 Chevrolet Blazer

Chevrolet has a lineup packed with SUV options, from small to large: Trax, Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe and Suburban cover the gamut. But starting early next year, the Bowtie will fill a tiny gap between Equinox and Traverse with an all-new crossover suv: The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer.

Named after the beloved classic pickup truck-derived model (1969 – 2005 in several configurations), the new Blazer will be a four-door two-row crossover suv. It will come with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine or optional 3.6-liter V6. Each engine choice is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle launch – we’re guessing that it will start somewhere between Equinox’s $23,580 and Traverse’s $29,930 starting prices, or around $27,000.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Dodge Durango R/T

Durango is an oft-overlooked sleeper, overshadowed by the flashy Challenger in the Dodge lineup, and by the Jeep Grand Cherokee with which it shares a platform. But the 2019 Dodge Durango R/T represents the sweet spot in the FCA lineup of vehicles. It is a three-row crossover with standard rear-wheel drive/available all-wheel drive, performance steering and suspension, towing capacity of up to 7,400 lbs, and a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine that pumps out 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Durango R/T starts at $43,745 with RWD and $46,190 with AWD (2018 pricing). You also can get a Durango with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine or with a 6.4-liter SRT HEMI engine – but the 5.7-liter HEMI is more than fine.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2019 Ford Explorer

Explorer ignited the SUV craze of the 1990s as a rugged body-on-frame vehicle, and inspired a new generation of fans when it transitioned to a car-based unibody crossover design in 2011. The current fifth-generation Ford Explorer is a sleekly designed, highly capable three-row crossover vehicle with a wide range of available powertrains and features. Prices for 2018 models started at $32,140 and went to $53,940. While 2019 pricing hasn’t been announced yet, the Explorer is set to return without major changes, so prices should be relatively stable.

What makes Explorer one of the best SUVs is a great overall design, both exterior and interior, superior balance and handling, and great powertrain choices, including a standard 3.5-liter V6, a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline four-cylinder, and a 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 gasoline engine.

Photo by Ford

2019 Honda CR-V

CR-V, Honda’s compact crossover, was one of the first cute utes to grow up and become a mature vehicle for serious owners. In its first two generations (1997 – 2001; 2002 – 2006), CR-V wore its spare tire on the back of its side-hinged tailgate for an adorable “mini-SUV” look. Starting with the third generation (2007 – 2011), CR-V took a new path toward elegance. The spare tire got tucked away beneath the load floor, and tailgate hinge moved to the top, transforming the swinging gate into a liftgate.

The current fifth-generation CR-V (2017 – present) is a grown-up, elegant crossover vehicle, refined from head to foot. Starting at $24,250 (2018 prices), CR-V is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (add $1,000). A choice of a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine or a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine is available, both connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Photo by Honda

2019 Hyundai Kona

First introduced as a 2018 model, the 2019 Hyundai Kona returns with few changes. Anchoring the small side of the Hyundai crossover lineup, Kona slots in just below the compact Tucson. In typical Hyundai fashion, the standard features stack up quickly as you move up the trim ladder, from SE at $19,000, to SEL at $20,650, to Limited at $23,700, to Ultimate at $26,400 (2018 pricing).

Limited may be the best value, equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged GDI engine (175 hp), 18-inch alloy wheels, a power tilt-and-slide sunroof, and LED headlights and taillights – a killer feature set for a sub-compact vehicle in this price range. Combine these features with attractive styling and sporty handling, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the best SUVs to buy in 2019.

Photo by Hyundai

2019 Jeep Wrangler JL

If you’re a serious off-roader and you want to challenge both your skills and your vehicle while you conquer the terrain, you’re already dreaming about a 2019 Jeep Wrangler JL. Jeep gave its legendary off-roader a makeover for the 2018 model year, and JL is now the most capable, most comfortable and toughest generation of Jeep yet. Its interior refinement has reached a level of genuine comfort, including available leather seating surfaces, power seats, power windows and more. The operation of the soft top has been improved and simplified. 2018 prices started at $23,995 and went up to $39,145, and should be close to that for 2019.

The joy of a Wrangler is the abundance of factory and aftermarket upgrades available to customize its performance, capability and appearance. The JL you buy off the lot can soon become the unique JL you have made your own.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2019 Mazda CX-5

Mazda’s the company with “Zoom-Zoom” tattooed on its shoulder, and the 2019 Mazda CX-5 has a driver’s heart and a sporting brain. A 187-hp SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine connected to a SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive provides the motive force. CX-5’s secret ingredient is SKYACTIV-Vehicle Dynamics with G-Vectoring Control, a system that tweaks engine torque when the vehicle begins to turn, reducing output for a beat to shift the weight toward the front of the vehicle. This improves grip and handling, making CX-5 easier and more fun to drive.

CX-5 comes in three trim levels (Sport, Touring and Grand Touring), and prices started at $24,150 and went up to $29,645 in 2018, and should be similar in 2019.

Photo by Mazda

2019 Subaru Outback

While much of the focus in Subaru-land is on the all-new three-row Ascent, the 2019 Subaru Outback is the SUV to buy. It simply is one of the most refined, capable and well-balanced two-row crossover SUVs out there. Much of the success of the Outback is based on its split personality. Outback has rugged capability, with a generous 8.7 inches of ground clearance and a robust standard all-wheel-drive system – Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with X-MODE. But inside, Outback has a refined, comfortable cabin that is whisper-quiet on the road or trail.

Buyers get a choice of 2.5-liter horizontally opposed Boxer four-cylinder gasoline engine or a 3.6-liter Boxer six-cylinder. The 2019 Subaru Outback will start at $26,346 for the base 2.5i and go up to $38,995 for the 3.6R Limited.

Photo by Subaru

2019 Toyota 4Runner

The 2019 Toyota 4Runner is a survivor, a classic body-on-frame SUV that not only excels at off-roading, but delivers on-road comfort and a commanding style. In an age when crossover SUVs dominate the sales charts, 4Runner quietly climbs the rankings, growing from 19,675 units in 2009 to 128,296 in 2017 – an increase of more than 600 percent with no signs of slowing in 2018. And why not? 4Runner comes with two or three rows of seating, a powerful V6 engine, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and trim levels ranging from basic to luxurious.

Prices start at $34,910 for SR5 4x2 models and go up to $46,415 for the TRD Pro 4x4. Toyota's 4Runner belongs in the SUV Hall of Fame, and is certainly one of the best SUVs to buy in 2019.

Photo by Toyota

2019 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas is the first three-row crossover vehicle to wear the VW brand. Of course, VW has sold three-row vehicles before – most notably the VW Bus, Vanagon and Eurovan – but this is their first three-row SUV, and it’s one of the best SUVs to buy in 2019.

Built in VW’s state-of-the-art factory in Chattanooga, Tenn., Atlas seats seven and comes with a choice of two engines: a 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected gasoline four-cylinder, or a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) direct-injected gasoline V6. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on V6 models. Pricing for the 2018 Atlas started at $30,750 for S models and went up to $39,410 for V6 AWD models.

Photo by Volkswagen