The automotive world has spoken, and Car & Driver just dropped their list of the year’s finest SUVs and trucks. Their editors didn’t just kick tires and call it a day — they spent two full weeks driving, testing, and evaluating new and updated models alongside last year’s champions, as discussed by Car & Driver editors, including in online forums such as Reddit.
What emerged from this automotive gauntlet is a diverse lineup that spans from scrappy little crossovers to full-size family haulers, plus a few trucks that’ll make your neighbors jealous. Whether you’re shopping for your next daily driver or just enjoy living vicariously through automotive excellence, this year’s winners represent some genuinely compelling metal.
Let’s dive into what made the cut going into 2026.
Chevrolet/GMC Full-Size SUVs
The Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Yukon XL continue their reign as America’s go-to family haulers, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why.
These behemoths offer three rows of actual adult-sized seating, enough cargo space to move a small apartment, and the kind of towing capacity that makes trailer owners sleep better at night. The latest generation brings a surprising level of refinement to the big-body SUV game, with interiors that feel genuinely upscale and tech features that don’t require a PhD to operate.
Sure, they’re not exactly threading the needle in tight parking garages, but when you need to move seven people and their luggage across three states, few vehicles do it with this much capability and comfort.
Chevrolet Trax
Plot twist: the smallest Chevy crossover is apparently punching way above its weight class.
The redesigned Trax has gone from rental-lot regular to legitimate contender, offering a shockingly practical package in a footprint that won’t terrorize narrow city streets. With a starting price that won’t require a second mortgage and fuel economy that makes your wallet smile, this little crossover nails the basics that matter to actual humans. The interior space feels impressively roomy for something this compact, and Chevy loaded it with enough standard tech to keep it feeling modern.
It’s proof that sometimes the best vehicle isn’t the biggest or flashiest—sometimes it’s just the one that makes daily life easier without drama.
Ford Maverick
Ford’s compact pickup continues to be one of the smartest automotive ideas in recent memory, filling a truck-sized hole in the market that most manufacturers didn’t even realize existed.
The Maverick delivers legitimate pickup functionality without the full-size footprint or price tag, making it perfect for folks who actually use their truck beds but don’t need to tow a yacht every weekend. Standard hybrid power means you’re getting fuel economy numbers that would make most sedans jealous, while the available turbocharged engine satisfies those who need more grunt. The in-bed storage solutions show that Ford actually thought about how people use these things, and the cabin is way more comfortable than its budget-friendly price would suggest.
This is truck ownership for the rest of us.
Ford Ranger Raptor
Speaking of Ford trucks, the Ranger Raptor is what happens when the Blue Oval decides a midsize truck needs the full desert-racing treatment — and we’re absolutely here for it along with Car & Driver.
This thing comes with Fox shocks, aggressive off-road tires, reinforced frame components, and enough ground clearance to laugh at obstacles that would make lesser trucks whimper. The twin-turbo V6 delivers 405 horsepower, which is frankly absurd for a midsize pickup and makes for some seriously entertaining acceleration runs. Unlike some extreme off-roaders, the Ranger Raptor still functions as a legitimate daily driver, with a comfortable cabin and reasonable on-road manners.
It’s essentially permission to play in the dirt without sacrificing practicality, which is a hard balance to strike.
Honda CR-V
The CR-V has been America’s sensible shoe for years, and the latest version proves that sensible can also be excellent.
Honda’s compact crossover delivers the kind of well-rounded competence that makes it easy to recommend to basically anyone, combining strong fuel economy, generous interior space, and Honda’s legendary reliability into one tidy package. Hybrid models are now widely available across the lineup, while non-hybrid trims remain available, which means you’re getting impressive efficiency without paying a premium or making compromises. Cargo space is abundant, the ride quality strikes a nice balance between comfort and engagement, and the tech interface is refreshingly intuitive.
Sometimes the winner isn’t the vehicle that does one thing spectacularly — it’s the one that does everything really, really well.
Honda Passport
While the CR-V handles suburban duties, the Passport is Honda’s answer for folks who want more capability without jumping to a full three-row SUV.
This two-row midsize SUV prioritizes passenger space and cargo room over that often-cramped third row, which honestly makes a lot of sense for many buyers. The available all-wheel-drive system is genuinely capable for weekend adventures, while the ride remains composed enough for daily commuting duties. Honda’s build quality shines through in the Passport’s solid feel and intuitive controls, making it one of those vehicles that just works without fuss.
It occupies a sweet spot in the lineup for people who need more than a compact crossover but don’t necessarily need to haul seven passengers.
Hyundai Palisade
Hyundais three-row SUV has earned its place by doing the fundamentals extremely well. The Palisade focuses on comfort, space, and value, delivering a family-hauling experience that feels genuinely upscale without venturing into luxury-brand pricing.
Inside, the Palisade stands out for its thoughtful design and material quality, with an interior that feels calm, cohesive, and easy to live with. All three rows offer usable space for adults, and the ride quality prioritizes smoothness and stability over sharp responsesexactly what most buyers want in a vehicle designed for long trips and daily errands alike. A strong list of standard safety features and one of the best warranties in the segment add to its appeal.
Rather than chasing trends or extremes, the Palisade succeeds by making everyday family driving feel comfortable, intuitive, and well considered.
Lucid Gravity
The EV startup that impressed everyone with the Air sedan is now bringing that same engineering excellence to the SUV segment, and the Gravity is turning heads.
This electric three-row SUV targets up to 440 miles of estimated range, pending final EPA certification, which addresses one of the biggest concerns people have about electric family vehicles. The interior space is expansive thanks to EV packaging advantages, and Lucid’s attention to materials and design details gives it a distinctly premium feel. Performance numbers are predictably impressive, because electric motors, but what’s more notable is how Lucid has managed to make it practical and livable for real-world family duty.
It represents the next evolution of what three-row SUVs can be when you start with a clean-sheet EV design.
Porsche Macan
The second-generation electric Macan has gone fully electric, and Porsche has somehow managed to make the transition without losing the driving dynamics that made the original such a hit.
This isn’t just an electric crossover wearing a Porsche badge, however — it genuinely drives like a Porsche should, with sharp steering, excellent body control, and the kind of acceleration that makes merging into highway traffic absurdly easy. The interior quality meets the high standards you’d expect from Stuttgart, combining premium materials with Porsche’s increasingly user-friendly tech interface. Range is competitive with other luxury EVs, and the charging speeds are genuinely impressive for road-trip viability.
For enthusiasts worried that electrification means boring transportation appliances, the Macan proves that theory spectacularly wrong.
Ram 1500
Ram’s full-size pickup continues to set the standard for what a truck cabin should feel like, with an interior that rivals luxury SUVs in terms of comfort and refinement.
The ride quality is genuinely car-like, thanks to the available air suspension and sophisticated chassis tuning that somehow doesn’t compromise the truck’s capability. Engine options range from efficient to powerful, with the available turbo inline-six offering a compelling blend of power and fuel economy. Towing and payload numbers are competitive with anything else in the segment, while features like the multifunction tailgate and clever storage solutions show that Ram is thinking about actual truck use.
This is a truck that doesn’t make you choose between working hard and living comfortably.
The Takeaway
Car & Driver’s 2026 winners represent more than just the best vehicles money can buy — they showcase how diverse and genuinely impressive today’s SUV and truck landscape has become.
rom affordable compact crossovers to electrified luxury haulers, there’s excellence available at practically every price point and for nearly every use case. What ties these vehicles together isn’t a single philosophy or approach, but rather a commitment to doing their specific jobs exceptionally well without unnecessary compromise. Whether you prioritize efficiency, capability, luxury, or value, this year’s crop of winners proves you don’t have to settle.
The automotive industry is delivering vehicles that actually match how we live, and that’s worth celebrating.