Sport utility vehicles, or SUVs, are vehicles that have the tough frame of a truck but offer enough interior space for more passengers and cargo. And they’re not just popular with retirees with grandchildren or those who enjoy bulk shopping trips to stock up on items at Costco. There were SUV transactions worth $528 billion in 2024 across the globe, a figure that is expected to grow to just over $876 billion by 2032, according to Stellar market research. And SUVs and trucks were the best-selling vehicles in the first three quarters of 2025 in the United States, according to Car and Driver.
As a byproduct of their popularity, SUVs come in so many different shapes and sizes that it’s enough to put a car buyer in a fetal position of indecision, especially if you don’t want to end up with a popular but unreliable SUV. Fortunately, there’s Kelley Blue Book, which has been a valuable source for car shoppers since 1926. In early 2025, Kelley Blue Book came out with Best Buy awards that included the Hyundai Kona, Honda CR-V, Kia Telluride, Ford Expedition, and Kia EV9. To give you the full picture, we’ve included analysis and reviews from other online car sources in the summary below.
Read more: What you should never say when buying a car
2025 Hyundai Kona
A white Hyundai Kona – Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
Rated as the best subcompact SUV, the Hyundai Kona is described by Kelley Blue Book as a roomy, comfortable and fuel-efficient vehicle that can get about 31 miles to the gallon. With a starting price of about $25,900, the Hyundai Kona seats five people with just over 38 inches of legroom and can carry 25.5 cubic feet of cargo, or a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet when the second-row seats are folded down. The vehicle is equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment display and optional all-wheel drive. In addition, the 2025 Kona is equipped with standard safety features such as forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring.
However, according to Edmunds, the 2025 Hyundai Kona’s acceleration abilities are “underwhelming,” while its suspension isn’t all that great, making it a less-than-ideal vehicle for off-roading (the model still received a 7.8 out of 10 rating). Consumer Reports, however, rated the 2025 Hyundai Kona’s overall reliability at 41 out of 100, about average for that model year.
In terms of repair and maintenance costs, CarEdge estimated that a Hyundai Kona will cost $8,463 over the first ten years, which is $297 more than non-luxury SUVs. How quickly can this car depreciate, CarEdge says it will lose 42% of its value after five years. That’s better than the 53% depreciation on a Wagoneer, a popular Jeep with terrible resale value.
2025 Honda CR-V
Honda CR-V – Didier Messens/Getty Images
Kelley Blue Book compared the 2025 Honda CR-V — winner of the Best Compact SUV category — to the brightest startup in the sky for its quality, technical features and the 76.5 cubic feet of cargo space it can offer once you fold down the rear seats. Although compact, the CR-V offers 41 inches of rear-seat legroom along with the reclining back. And its hybrid versions can deliver up to 40 miles per gallon.
But where the CR-V really excels is in its resale value, which Kelley Blue Book can fetch thousands of dollars more than its competitors, thanks to Honda’s reputation for brand reliability. CarEdge agreed, putting its depreciation at just 29% over the first five years.
With a starting price of $31,495, the Honda CR-V costs $7,696 to repair and maintain over the first ten years of service, which is $530 less than the average for other popular SUV models. Also: Car and Driver called the 2025 model year a solid vehicle that’s in high demand, and Edmunds gave it a 7.1 out of 10. However, this model was part of a recall ordered for Honda vehicles by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for potential fuel leaks and possible poorly manufactured steering boxes.
2025 Kia Telluride
A black Kia Telluride Prestige in Houston, Texas – Art Ops/Getty Images
Winner of Best Midsize SUV for the sixth year in a row, the 2025 Kia Telluride has a three-row configuration that seats eight, a Mercedez-Benz-quality dual-display infotainment touchscreen, 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and a total of 87 cubic feet, according to the Blue Book folded down. The model, which starts at about $37,800, also comes with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and a host of other safety features.
In terms of reliability, Consumer Reports gives it an average score of 60 out of 100, although the vehicle also scored 72 out of 100 for owner satisfaction. Edmunds gives it a rating of 7.1 out of 10, while Car and Driver said the Kia Telluride’s standard features approach luxury standards. As for its resale value, the Kia Telluride will depreciate 51 percent in the first five years, according to CarEdge, and cost $8,730 to maintain and repair over the first 10 years, which is $564 more than the average SUV.
Ford Expedition 2025
A gray 2025 Ford Expedition is on display – Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images
The ’25 Ford Expedition won Kelley Blue Book’s Best Full-Size SUV award for its roomy three-row interior with abundant cupholders and USB-C ports, the ability to tow trailers up to 9,600 pounds, and a variety of trims, like the Expedition Tremor, that are great for off-road cross-country trails. With a starting price of $64,515, it has a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot that lets people stream music and audiobooks as well as videos when parked. There’s even a Bluetooth controller for people to play online games. The second row has tablet holders on the backs of the front seat headrests, and there’s a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen for navigation and climate control. The vehicle also comes with a safety package that includes a 360-degree camera, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot and lane keep assist functions.
On the downside, according to Consumer Reports, the 2025 Ford Expedition is less reliable than the average car, with a reliability rating of 30 out of 100. It also costs $10,226 to service a Ford Expedition in the first ten years of ownership, which is $2,060 more than other popular SUV models, per CarEdge. Ford Expeditions also depreciate 59 percent over five years, ranking 164 out of 185 models reviewed by CarEdge for resale value.
2025 Be EV9
A Kia EV9 on display – Sjoerd Van Der Wal/Getty Images
Large enough to seat seven people, the Kia EV9 earned Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy spot for three-row electric vehicles. A mid-size electric SUV with prices starting at $56,395, the Kia EV9 seats seven people comfortably, has a maximum range of 304 miles, and can get 150 miles of range after charging for just 15 minutes.
Edmunds gave the model an 8.2 out of 10, but Consumer Reports found the 2025 Kia EV9 less reliable than other cars from the same model year. There have also been three NHTSA-ordered recalls due to a poorly welded shifter that causes the vehicle to lose power (342 vehicles for 2025); possible missing bolts in second and third row seats (22,883 vehicles for 2024 and 2025); and a faulty instrument panel display for speed and other information (14,163 vehicles for 2024 and 2025).
But if these issues are fixed for free by dealers, as expected, the Kia EV9 is estimated to cost $5,237 to service and repair over the first 10 years, which is $2,929 better than the average SUV, per CarEdge. However, in five years it will lose 52% of its value.
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