Each year, the SUV market becomes more and more competitive. For prospective SUV buyers, it may be daunting to find which SUV is right for them. 2018’s crop of new models offer lots of innovation, intriguing styling, and a variety of features for even the savviest of buyers. All of these models have continued to, or improved upon, safety features, interior technology and styling, exterior looks, and fuel economy.
Ford Explorer
Ford’s popular Explorer model continues to impress with its 2018 offering. Available in five different trim levels, the Explorer offers excellent fuel economy. The base Explorer features 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway from a standard 290 hp, 3.5L V6 engine. Electronic power assist steering and front and rear independent suspension both come standard. The Sport package includes a 3.5L EcoBoost engine that produces 365 hp and Intelligent 4WD along with 20″ machined aluminum wheels. For those in need of towing performance, the Explorer features Curve Control, which automatically slows down your speed up to 10 miles an hour if it senses that you are going to fast into a curve. The Platinum package features a sleek, stylized exterior and a beefed up sound system from Sony with Clear Phase and Live Acoustics. Ford also offers a Safe & Smart package, featuring all of their innovative safety technology, including rain-sensing wipers, the BLIS blind spot sensing system, the Lane Keeping System, and Adaptive Cruise control, which slows down the vehicle in cruise control automatically when it senses it is getting to close to another vehicle.
GMC Terrain
GMC reinvented their Terrain SUV for 2018, improving the aerodynamics and giving it a more modern style. GMC offers a choice of turbocharged engines in 1.5L, 1.6L, and 2L engine sizes. For those interested in tech, the Terrain has an available 4G Wi-Fi hotspot built in along with an 8″ touch screen and rear vision camera system. In an effort to increase storage in the center console, GMC moved the Terrain’s shifting mechanism to the instrument panel in the form of buttons and triggers. The exterior features the Terrain’s signature C-shaped headlights, a newly designed grille, and available 19″ aluminum wheels. Also new this year, GMC is offering a Terrain Denali model that includes a signature chrome grille, LED headlamps, and 19″ aluminum wheels standard.
Toyota RAV4
Toyota’s RAV4 touts itself as the vehicle “built for the weekend escape.” The hands-free rear lift gate and improved flip-down seating offers lots of storage room. The RAV4 has a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that cranks out 176 hp. The suspension’s Dynamic Torque Control makes rougher rides smoother by redistributing power to each wheel as needed. Inside, the RAV4 features HomeLink that allows you to control your garage door, home security system, and even your front gate without ever getting out of the vehicle. The exterior styling offers full-body color, LED headlights, and several unique wheel designs. Gas mileage is impressive at 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway. There are three models offered, including a hybrid version.
Chevy Traverse
Chevy’s offering in the mid-size SUV category, the all-new Traverse, touts a 3.6L V6 engine standard. The engine gets 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway and creates 310 hp. The exterior features include standard 18″ silver painted aluminum wheels and LED daytime running lamps. Inside the vehicle, Chevy’s MyLink system comes standard with a 7″ touch screen. The Traverse also features Teen Driver mode, which allows parents to customize limits associated with a key fob to encourage teenagers’ better driving habits. An in-car report card gives parents information about their teen’s driving. OnStar services come standard in the event of an emergency or roadside assistance is needed.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV of all time. In its 2018 iteration, it boasts a variety of features and options that are sure to turn the head of any discerning car buyer. With features as bold as the dual pane panoramic sunroof and refined as the ambient door handle lighting, the Grand Cherokee is designed to impress and stay impressive with its style and durability. The 26 mpg highway fuel efficiency keeps the adventure going. Ventilated seating and the inclusion of UConnect systems and SiriusXM Guardian make for a safer, more comfortable ride from the inside out.
If you are in the market for a new SUV, consider these models and their features. Each brand offers a bevy of options for anyone’s tastes. Whether you are into vehicle technology, concerned about your impact on the environment, or how well your new teenage driver is doing, there is a new SUV just right for you.
