5 great SUV deals to consider, according to Consumer Reports

While Europe embraces smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, Americans in 2025 showed just how much they love their sport utility vehicles. SUVs accounted for 52% of new vehicle sales in 2025, up from 46% in 2021 and 38% in 2016, per Good Car Bad Car. Full-size SUVs have doubled their market share since 2016, representing 3.5% of the market.The growth in SUV popularity is great news for automakers. Profit margins for SUVs and trucks average 10% to 20% higher than those for smaller cars, since larger vehicles are more expensive, but use many of the same components, according to The Week.The shift to SUVs has definitely helped the average transaction price for new vehicles rise to $49,191 in January, a nearly 2% increase from the year prior, Kelley Blue Book reported. The average manufacturer's suggested retail price also rose 2.1% to $51,288, marking the 10th consecutive month in which MSRP averages have been above $50,000.Compact SUVs were the best-selling vehicle segment in January, according to Kelley Blue Book, led by familiar faces like Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Chevrolet Equinox. And while overall ATP rose, compact SUV prices were actually down 0.4% last month.If that trend continues, now could be a really good time to buy a new SUV.Last year was marked by automakers increasing incentives spending to get tariff-weary customers to their dealer lots. While that trend tapered off in the second half of the year, analysts at Consumer Reports have been hunting for (and found) the best deals you can get on the most popular SUV brands.Here's how they did it. What is Consumer Reports?Founded in 1936 by a group of workers fired from a product-testing firm called Consumers’ Research, Consumer Reports is a multifaceted nonprofit organization that aims to educate consumers about products and help them make informed purchasing decisions.It does this by purchasing and testing products directly, administering detailed surveys to its members about the products they own and use, and investigating the veracity of manufacturers’ claims.Consumer Reports at a glanceFounded: 1936 (as Consumers Union by former employees of Consumers’ Research, fired after they attempted to unionize)Headquartered: Yonkers, NYLeadership: Marta Tellado, president and CEOEmployees: Approx. 500 to 600Members: At least 6 millionMission statement: “Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit member organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace.”Consumer Reports’ slogan, “Smarter choices for a better world,” captures the organization’s purpose. CR aims to educate and inform the public by providing objective information about popular products, helping consumers make “smarter choices” when purchasing major items.Related: 5 more new cars to avoid at all costs, and 5 alternatives to considerFor this list, CR studied current national incentives to find the SUV models with the best deals, while concentrating on models with a strong overall score, road-test performance, owner satisfaction, reliability, and safety ratings.Here are five of the best SUVs you can buy, per Consumer Reports.Top 5 best deals on SUVs, according to Consumer ReportsThe nationwide incentives featured on the vehicles below are good until at least March 2, 2026, and are ranked by the percentage of potential savings off the manufacturer's suggested retail price.2026 Mazda CX-30: 6% off Mazda Price Range: $25,975 - $37,900Incentives expire: March 2, 2026MSRP: $29,290Potential savings off MSRP: $1,732Bottom line price: $27,5582026 Volkswagen Tiguan: 7% off Volkswagen Price Range: $30,805 - $43,085Incentives expire: March 2, 2026MSRP: $35,105Potential savings off MSRP: $2,404Bottom line price: $32,7012026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid: 9% off Mazda Price Range: $34,750 - $40,450Incentives expire: March 2, 2026MSRP: $38,150Potential savings off MSRP: $3,454Bottom line price: $34,6962026 Lincoln Corsair: 14% off Lincoln Price Range: $39,985 - $54,365Incentives expire: March 31, 2026MSRP: $49,940Potential savings off MSRP: $6,747Bottom line price: $43,1932026 Nissan Rogue: 16% off Nissan Price Range: $29,090 - $38,990Incentives expire: March 2, 2026MSRP: $31,490Potential savings off MSRP: $5,078Bottom line price: $26,412Related: Stop overpaying for these 5 new cars, says Consumer Reports