Best SUV of 2025
2025 Jeep Wrangler: Finalist
- Starting price range: $33,990-$63,300; $52,590-$72,240 (Wrangler 4xe)
- Cars.com-measured cargo room behind the second row: 18.2 cubic feet (2022 Unlimited four-door); 17.7 cubic feet (2021 4xe)
- Maximum towing capacity: 5,000 pounds; 3,500 pounds (Wrangler 4xe)
When it comes to legends still on the road today, few vehicles combine the legacy, capability and enthusiastic fandom of the Jeep Wrangler. Plus, how many other convertibles out there can tackle the Rubicon Trail?
The Wrangler offers buyers more powertrain choice than most vehicles, yet retains its character regardless. You can put a turbo four-cylinder, V-6, V-8 or plug-in hybrid powertrain under the hood, and it’ll still have more off-road readiness than most SUVs available today. And purists can still configure certain Wranglers with a six-speed manual transmission (others are left with “just” an excellent eight-speed automatic).
That V-8, by the way, isn’t an aging relic; it’s a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that makes 470 hp and 470 pounds-feet of torque, transforming the Wrangler into a nonstop giggle machine with a symphonic exhaust note. At the opposite end of the efficiency spectrum, the PHEV Wrangler 4xe offers 21 miles of all-electric range and the ability to off-road silently, and Jeep is placing charging stations at popular off-road trails to make that possible — and since the 4xe isn’t completely electric, if you run out of juice on the trail, you won’t be left stranded.
From its styling to its off-road abilities, there aren’t many vehicles out there that have remained more true to their roots than the Wrangler, which is why it’s a finalist for our Best SUV of 2025 award.
2025 Jeep Wrangler Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Jeep Wrangler Near You
2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Near You
2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport: Finalist
- Starting price: $50,850
- Cars.com-measured cargo room behind the second row: 23.0 cubic feet (2023)
- Maximum towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
When we think of versatile SUVs, we usually think of big, body-on-frame models. But there’s a crossover-style SUV loaded with family and cargo space that’s also more than capable once the pavement ends: the 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport.
The TrailSport trim level is a family-friendly three-row SUV with genuine off-road capability, something we learned when we first drove it in the mountains near Sedona, Ariz., when it debuted. The TrailSport’s off-road-tuned suspension, specific all-wheel-drive system and suspension lift combine with Honda’s useful TrailWatch camera system to enable it to tackle trails you’d never have considered in the prior Pilot. Additional underbody protection keeps the important bits safer, too.
Part of what makes the Pilot TrailSport so appealing, though, is how it drives when it’s not off-roading. The TrailSport retains most of the ride comfort and refinement of road-going Pilots, with tires that don’t make a ton of noise and keep the Pilot planted in corners.
Inside, the TrailSport has a rugged but still upscale interior that is price-appropriate, with room for adults in all three rows of seats — even simultaneously. It also retains the family friendly interior layout of other Pilots, including handy storage cubbies and underfloor cargo storage.
As for performance, the Pilot is no slouch, either. Its 285-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 keeps things brisk even when laden with passengers and cargo, and it can tow up to 5,000 pounds — enough for a good-size camper trailer or some fun toys. If you’re looking for a well-rounded and capable SUV, the Honda Pilot TrailSport is one of the best, and it’s a worthy finalist for our Best SUV of 2025 award.
2025 Honda Pilot Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Honda Pilot Near You