The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is set to enter the new SUV market in the coming months, and there’s a full expectation that it will be as successful as the generation it replaces, despite it being a gasoline-electric hybrid-only model, resulting in a higher starting price of $33,350. The RAV4 is a longstanding SUV champion in the U.S. market, thanks to several key reasons.
Toyota’s dependable reputation extends to all generations of the RAV4, with the capable midsize model consistently offering an exceptional balance of affordability, versatility, and reliability. The new generation of gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrains also introduced efficiency to the range, turning the SUV into a true all-rounder. If Toyota’s SUV champion doesn’t suit your particular tastes, there is a wide variety of alternatives that you can choose from.
2026 Kia Sportage
Starting MSRP: $28,690
The 2026 Kia Sportage is a competitively priced alternative to the RAV4, with both hybrid and plug-in hybrid options available. With pricing starting at $28,690, the range consists of the LX, EX, SX, SX-Prestige, X-Line, and X-Pro Prestige. Refreshed for 2026, the model benefits from an 81/100 consumer-verified overall score, including 84/100 for quality and reliability, 80/100 for the driving experience, 85/100 for resale, and 73/100 for the dealership experience.
ICE Sportage models feature a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, driving your choice of the front or all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybridized Kia Sportage models both feature the punchier turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder units with electric motors driving all four wheels using a dual-clutch transmission.
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2026 Chevrolet Equinox
Starting MSRP: $28,700
With pricing starting at $28,700, the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox is available in LT, RS, and Activ trims, each of which caters to different user requirements. J.D. Power awards the range with an 80/100 consumer-verified overall score, which includes 76/100 for quality and reliability, 81/100 for the driving experience, 83/100 for resale, and 84/100 for the dealership experience.
The Equinox is obviously no hot hatchback, but it’s good enough to get the school run completed in a jiffy, or simply for quickly zipping around traffic. This crossover has more road composure than a RAV4, and it’s more playful than a CR-V.
– William Clavey for TopSpeed
The Equinox is available exclusively with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, powering either the front or all wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. There is an all-electric version of the Equinox, but Chevrolet considers this to be a completely separate model line.
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2026 Nissan Rogue
Starting MSRP: $29,090
An all-new Nissan Rogue is arriving in the U.S. later next year, but for the time being, we still have the current-generation 2026 Nissan Rogue model, with its $29,090 starting price. The range consists of the base S, SV, Rock Creek AWD, and Platinum. The range gets an 84/100 consumer-verified overall score from J.D. Power, consisting of an 84/100 for quality and reliability, 86/100 for the driving experience, 82/100 for resale, and 85/100 for the dealership experience.
You can only have the Rogue with a downsized turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, driving the front or all four wheels via a CVT. Nissan doesn’t prioritize electrification across its line-up, making the Rogue an ICE-only crossover. This might change with the arrival of the Outlander-based Rogue later next year.
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2026 Hyundai Tucson
Starting MSRP: $29,200
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson range receives a refresh for next year, starting at $29,200. The range consists of the SE, SEL, XRT, SEL Premium, and flagship Limited. The South Korean midsize SUV benefits from an 81/100 consumer-verified overall score, which includes 84/100 for quality and reliability, 80/100 for the driving experience, 85/100 for resale, and 73/100 for the dealership experience.
Like the Sportage, the Tucson is available with ICE, HEV, and PHEV drivetrain options. Base Kia Tucson models feature a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, driving the front or all four wheels using an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybridized models feature a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder unit, driving all wheels using a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
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2026 Mazda CX-50
Starting MSRP: $29,900
The 2026 Mazda CX-50 starts at $29,900, consisting of the Select, Preferred, Meridian Edition, and Premium. The Turbo models are only available in Select, Meridian, and Premium Plus trims. J.D. Power awards the model with a 77/100 consumer-verified overall score, which includes 71/100 for quality and reliability, 78/100 for the driving experience, 83/100 for resale, and 82/100 for the dealership experience.
Even in hybrid form, the CX-50 preserves the expected Mazda handling and road composure. This thing remains fun to toss around hard in the corners.
– William Clavey for TopSpeed
Mazda offers the CX-50 with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, available with natural aspiration or a turbocharger. You can only have this model with an all-wheel drivetrain and a six-speed automatic transmission. The naturally aspirated models are hybridized, utilizing Toyota‘s gasoline-electric system.
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2026 Mitsubishi Outlander
Starting MSRP: $29,995
The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander range starts at $29,995 for the base ES model, but it is also available in SE, SEL, LE, GT, and GT Premium trims. J.D. Power awards the Outlander with a 78/100 consumer-verified overall score, including 75/100 for quality and reliability, 84/100 for the driving experience, 79/100 for resale, and 78/100 for the dealership experience.
Mitsubishi offers the Outlander with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT, which you can have with a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive system. Opting for the PHEV gets you access to the 2.4-lite four-cylinder system, available exclusively with an all-wheel drive system featuring direct-drive electric motors.
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2026 Subaru Forester
Starting MSRP: $29,995
The 2026 Subaru Forester is available in six unique trims, with a $29,995 MSRP for the Base trim. Following this are the Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring models. The Forester range currently sits with an 84/100 consumer-verified overall score, consisting of 81/100 for quality and reliability, 80/100 for the driving experience, 85/100 for resale, and 91/100 for the dealership experience.
The latest Forester Wilderness isn’t radically different. Nor does it need to be. It builds on an already exceptional off-road compact SUV with proven all-wheel drive, a bulletproof 2.5-liter engine, and all the tough add-ons families expect from a rugged adventure machine…going well over and above the competitors.
– Amee Reehal for TopSpeed
For the time being, Subaru only offers the Forester with a 2.5-liter flat-four, driving power to all four wheels using a CVT. A Hybrid effectively uses the same engine, but with a series-parallel hybrid system consisting of two electric motors. This will arrive in the local catalog in the coming months.
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2026 Honda CR-V
Starting MSRP: $30,290
The 2026 Honda CR-V is the Toyota RAV4’s most noteworthy rival, with pricing starting at $30,290 for the base LX model. Following this is the EX, which is the only other non-HEV model. The Hybrid range consists of the Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and flagship Sport Touring. J.D. Power issues the SUV with an 83/100 consumer-verified overall score, consisting of 83/100 for quality and reliability, 79/100 for the driving experience, 86/100 for resale, and 83/100 for the dealership experience.
Non-HEV CR-V models feature the brand’s compact turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine driving the front or all four wheels via a CVT. The Hybrid model incorporates an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, also driving your choice of the front or all wheels.
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2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
Starting MSRP: $30,805
The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan range starts at $30,805, starting with the base S, followed by the SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line. J.D. Power fails to issue the new-generation model with a score, but the mechanically similar previous-generation range sits with an 80/100 consumer-verified overall score, which includes 81/100 for quality and reliability, 83/100 for the driving experience, 85/100 for resale, and 71/100 for the dealership experience.
The Tiguan’s interior, especially in the SEL R-Line Turbo priced at $43,850, feels like a luxury vehicle with real wood trim and 10-point massaging front seats.
– Nicole Wakelin, TopSpeed Journalist
You can only have the Tiguan with the brand’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which drives the front or all four wheels using a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. There’s unlikely to ever be a hybridized version of the Tiguan, though the standard version excels at offering affordable luxury compared to other German SUVs, so the turbo-four gets a pass.
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2026 Ford Bronco Sport
Starting MSRP: $31,695
With prices starting at $31,695, the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport may be the most expensive option on this list, but we think it makes for one of the best alternatives to the RAV4 that you can consider. The Bronco range includes the Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks, and Badlands configurations. J.D. Power issues the model with an 85/100 consumer-verified overall score, which includes 88/100 for quality and reliability, 84/100 for the driving experience, 83/100 for resale, and 80/100 for the dealership experience.
The Bronco Sport is available with the 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engines, with all-wheel drive as standard, driven by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Higher trim models adopt a full four-wheel drive system. Unlike some of the other models that sit on this platform, there are no gasoline-electric hybrid options available as yet.
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Source: J.D. Power