SUVs continue to increase in popularity over the last decade and it doesn’t look like the trend is fading. But what makes an SUV different from a car/truck/van? SUV stands for sports utility vehicle, which is generally a four-wheel-drive off-road machine with a spacious interior and the power of a truck. SUV’s provide the power needed to be an all-terrain vehicle while providing the safety of a luxury car.

We will explore some popular models and the safety features that make them popular choices. You can purchase these all-terrain vehicles at dealers but the best opportunity to own one comes from a “used SUV for sale near me” ads in your local community:

1. Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek earned a 5-star rating with their 2023 model by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They received 5 stars on the side crash test and 4 stars on the frontal and rollover tests. The Crosstrek is loaded with safety features such as a rearview camera, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking system, forward collision warning, lane departure and assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and adaptive headlights.

2. Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander received the National Highway Traffic Safety’s 5 stars out of 5-star rating with the 2023 model, earning four stars on the front crash and rollover testing. Some of the safety features included in this model include forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane assist and departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, rear-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a parking camera system that covers the exterior of the vehicle to help in those tight parking spaces.

3. Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade earned the highest rating of good by the Insurance Institute Highway Safety organization with the 2023 model. Some of the safety features in this stunning SUV are a rearview camera, parking sensors that notify the driver of a forward collision, lane detection, and a heads-up display to name a few. The combination of features makes this an absolute best buy.

4. Mazda CX
The Mazda CX SUV earned a 5 Star rating conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the 2023 model and a perfect rating of good. It also earned a good rating on the headlight illumination. Safety features included with this model include a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane assist and departure warning, driver attention monitor, adaptive headlights, and even traffic sign recognition.

5. Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer continues to provide safe vehicles to the public with its 2023 model scoring a 5 out of 5-star rating from the National Highway Safety Administration. It excelled in the front crash with 5 stars and the roll-over test with 4 stars. Some of the Explorers safety features include driver drowsiness monitoring, traffic crossing at the rear of the vehicle alert, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, MyKey (you can personalize a driver’s preferences such as audio volume or set speed limits on other drivers), evasive steering assist, and perpendicular and parallel parking assist.