Safety should always be a top priority when buying a new car, which is why many drivers choose to spend their hard-earned money on an SUV instead of buying a sedan.
The simple truth is, because SUVs are larger and weigh more than sedans, they provide better protection in the event of a crash.
According to an August 2024 update from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), considered to be the authority on car safety, bigger and heavier vehicles are proven to provide better protection in frontal crashes, which account for half of all passenger deaths.
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Why are SUVs safe?
The IIHS explains that during a crash, vehicle size and weight play critical roles:
Larger vehicles, like SUVs, have more distance between their front end and where occupants are seated, which means they can absorb more of the impact of a crash through “crumple zones.” SUVs have larger crumple zones than smaller cars; therefore, they absorb more collision energy.A vehicle’s weight also matters in a collision, as heavier vehicles, like SUVs, will push the lighter vehicle backward, thus exerting less force on the people inside the heavier vehicle.
However, size plays against SUVs when it comes to pedestrians and bicyclists, as they are more likely to be injured or killed when hit by SUVs than they are by cars.
The IIHS mentioned that older SUVs and pickup trucks (built before 2016) pose additional risks, because their bumpers are higher than sedans’. However, automakers fixed this issue in newer models by better aligning these components with those of smaller vehicles.
Related: The 10 most reliable cars according to Consumer Reports
The most reassuring news is that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the safety of vehicles of all sizes has dramatically improved in recent years thanks to engineering advancements that include backup cameras, blind spot warnings, automatic emergency braking, and other forms of driver assistance.
But, the IIHS notes, newly built larger vehicles, like SUVs, are the safest of them all. This chart illustrates how crash deaths decline as vehicle size increases:
Car and SUV driver deaths per million registered vehicle years
A correlation exists between vehicle size and occupant deaths.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
How does Consumer Reports evaluate cars?Â
Consumer Reports, itself is a trusted name in independent automobile research, testing, and recommendations since 1936, incorporates safety metrics from the IIHS and NHTSA into the safety score of each vehicle it tests.
Every year, CR purchases dozens of new cars, trucks, and SUVs to test at its 327-acre automotive course and test facility in Colchester Connecticut, the largest independent auto testing center in the world.Â
Related: How does Consumer Reports make money? The product-testing nonprofit explained
Each vehicle is put through a 50-point barrage of tests that examines factors like acceleration, braking, emergency handling, and fuel economy.
It assigns ratings based on these test results, as well as data from surveys to its 6 million members asking car owners to rate their vehicle on qualitative factors, such as customer satisfaction and reliability, noting any problems that occurred over the past 12 months, and whether or not they were covered by warranty.
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The vehicles with the highest cumulative scores receive Consumer Reports’ highest mark, the distinction of being a “CR Recommended” vehicle.
The following 10 SUVs all carry the “CR Recommended” status and received an overall score of 80 or higher. For their complete list, visit Consumer Reports’ website.
Related: 10 discounted new cars to buy now, according to Consumer Reports
The best SUVs under $40K according to Consumer Reports dataÂ
According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a new SUV in December 2024 was $49,740, making these 10 recommended picks even more attractive buys, as they all start under $40,000.
Compact SUVs
Subaru’s Forester consistently earns high marks from Consumer Reports, and the 2025 model is no exception.
Subaru
2025 Subaru Forester
Price: $29,810–$39,995Fuel economy: 34 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 93
One of CR’s three top-rated Hyundais under $40k is the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid.
Hyundai
2025 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid
Price: $39,380–$47,090Fuel economy: 31 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 83
Honda’s top-rated CR-V Hybrid also earns praise for its affordability.
Honda
2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid
Price: $34,650–$41,100Fuel economy: 35 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 83
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid also scores high with Consumer Reports.
Hyundai
2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
Price: $33,365–$47,340Fuel economy: 35 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 82
Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid is another top CR pick.
Toyota
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Price: $28,850–$40,205Fuel economy: 37 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 81
The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is a highly rated compact SUV.
Kia
2025 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid
Price: $39,690–$44,190Fuel economy: 31 mpgOverall Consumer Reports score: 80
Midsized SUVs
The 2025 Subaru Outback gets high marks for its performance and affordability.
Subaru
2025 Subaru Outback
Price: $29,010–$42,910Fuel economy: 24 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 85
Midsized 3-row SUVsÂ
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is big enough to hold 3 rows of seats, yet also fuel efficient.
Toyota
2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Price: $39,520–$53,675Fuel economy: 34 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 81
Hyundai’s Santa Fe Hybrid is another top CR pick.
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
Price: $37,700–$49,550Fuel economy: 34 mpg combinedOverall Consumer Reports score: 81
The Subaru Ascent is a highly rated midsized SUV.
Subaru
2025 Subaru Ascent
Price: $38,910–$49,995Fuel economy: 22 mpg combinedOverall score: 80
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