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Best 2-Row SUVs of 2025

Flexible, fun, and one of the most popular automotive sectors among consumers. We take a look at the best options for mid-sized SUVs in 2025.
2025 Jeep Wrangler Willys '41 4xe - jeep.com
2025 Jeep Wrangler - jeep.com

Off-Roaders & Family Haulers

The two-row SUV segment covers a broad range of use cases. There are off-road specialists like the Wrangler and Bronco tailor made for outdoor adventure. On the opposite end of the spectrum are semi-luxury SUVs like the CX-70 and Grand Cherokee focused on daily driving comforts and curb appeal. Regardless of which direction you lean, the two-row SUVs comprising our Best of 2025 list are all highly capable machines offering a mix of utility, spaciousness, and sporting the latest in automotive tech.

Jeep Wrangler

2025 Jeep Wrangler Review
2025 Jeep Wrangler - jeep,com

No-nonsense off-road capabilities

Still has a 6-speed manual

The HEMI engine amazing

4xe powertrain adds $10,000

Not as fun on-roading as off-roading

Poor fuel efficiency

Thank you for keeping it old-school

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CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8/10

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MSRP
$32,690 - $101,890

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BEST FUEL ECONOMY
17 City / 23 Hwy (MPG)

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler may look like an aging classic, but the original off roader still has the goods. One of the Wrangler’s biggest assets is an extensive list of powertrain and trim package options, allowing buyers to easily find the Wrangler that fits them best. The Wrangler offers four powertrain options a base V6 (285 hp), a turbo four-cylinder (270 hp), a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with 375 horsepower and 21 miles of electric-only range, and a 6.4L Hemi V8 making 470 horsepower. Generally, the Wrangler is a joy off-road, equally capable of tackling dirt trails and rock crawling with aplomb. Conversely, the Wrangler’s off-road-focused suspension feels floaty and disconnected on pavement. If you’re serious about taking your two-row SUV on outdoor adventures, the Wrangler is an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you’re seeking a cool-looking two-row SUV for your daily commute, we’d recommend considering your options (see below).

Nissan Murano

2025 Nissan Murano OG - nissanusa.com
2025 Nissan Murano - nissanusa.com

20-inch wheels standard across the range

Lots of included entertainment technology

New luxury options

Cabin shrinkage from prior generation

Not as fun on-road as off

Touch-based climate control

Why no hybrid for the new Murano?

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CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8/10

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MSRP
$40,470 - $49,600

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BEST FUEL ECONOMY
21 City / 27 Hwy (MPG)

The 2025 Nissan Murano sees major updates over the prior year’s model with improvements under the hood and inside the cabin. The new Murano trades out its stodgy V6 for a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder making 241 horsepower. Ironically, fuel economy comes in at 23 mpg combined, the same figure as the outgoing V6. The Murano’s updated interior gains 2.6 inches in width for added shoulder room. In another headscratcher, the Murano loses roughly the same (2.4 inches) in rear seat legroom. Nissan’s excellent Zero Gravity seats, available with heating, ventilation, and massage, are among the best in the segment and especially welcome on long drives. Even with an attractive, updated interior and new engine, the Nissan Murano remains a mid-pack selection among two-row SUVs.

Honda Passport

Graph - 2025 Honda Passport - automobiles.honda.com
2025 Honda Passport -honda.com

Agreeable Pilot-inspired styling

Old-school J-Series V6 with VTEC

Acceptable non-hybrid fuel economy

A competent 4×4 drivetrain for off-roading

No hybrid or PHEV options

The Passport gets very pricey

Stuck Between the CR-V and the Pilot

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CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.5/10

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MSRP
$42,400 - $48,470

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BEST FUEL ECONOMY
19 City / 24 Hwy (MPG)

Between the excellent compact CR-V and serviceable three-row Pilot lies the stylish and well-equipped 2025 Honda Passport. Where other carmakers have traded in their V6s for turbo fours, Honda keeps the torch burning for the former with its 3.5L making 280 horsepower and 22 mpg combined. Despite those middling numbers, the Passport proves a smooth and stress-free driving experience thanks in part to its nine-speed ZF automatic transmission. Like other Honda interiors, the Passport emphasizes spaciousness, especially for rear seat passengers. The Passport’s starting price of $42,000 might be a touch high for the segment, but Honda made sure to include a generous array of standard equipment to compensate. The Honda Passport acquits itself well among two-row SUVs even as it struggles to distinguish itself from the competition.

Ford Bronco

2025 Ford Bronco - ford.com

Timeless exterior classic styling

Solid updated technology

Amazing Raptor edition

Sub-optimal on-road performance

Mediocre fuel economy

Very pricey top trim levels

A very desirable American SUV

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CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.75/10

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MSRP
$37,995 - $90,035

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BEST FUEL ECONOMY
20 City / 22 Hwy (MPG)

The 2025 Ford Bronco’s head-turning retro-styling makes it arguably the coolest looking SUV on our list. To the Bronco’s credit, it’s also possibly the best off-roader not only among its fellow two-row SUVs but of any vehicle currently on the market. A trio of engines run the gamut from the base 2.3L EcoBoost making 300 horsepower to a 2.7L V6 with 330 horse with the Bronco Raptor’s twin-turbo V6 topping out the range with 418 horsepower. The wild and wholly Bronco Raptor might also be Ford’s best Raptor yet, perfectly suited to the Bronco go-anywhere ethos. The Bronco’s cabin is designed for durability while fit and finish surpasses that of the Wrangler. A starting price of $37,995 is below many rivals while the Bronco Raptor’s eye-watering $90,000 price tag is well above most of the segment’s top end.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee OG - jeep.com
2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee - jeep.com

Iconic Jeep aesthetic styling

Multiple engine options

Great off-road experience

Below average fuel economy

Way too expensive for the average consumer

Complete trim overload

A Jeep for every adventure

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CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.75/10

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MSRP
$35,485 - $79,150

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BEST FUEL ECONOMY
19 City / 26 Hwy (MPG)

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s off-roader legacy belies the now upscale SUV’s best attributes, a stunning semi-luxury interior loaded with the latest infotainment and driver assistance tech. This isn’t to say the Grand Cherokee lacks SUV chops. In fact, the Grand Cherokee offers this list’s best tow rating at up to 6,200 lbs. The Grand Cherokee is powered by either a 3.6L V6 (293 hp) or, in the case of the 4xe, a plug-in hybrid set up identical to that found in the Wrangler making 375 horsepower while offering up to 26 miles of electric-only driving and 56 MPGe. The Grand Cherokee’s impressive interior is replete with high-quality materials, like the quilted Nappa leather upholstery, and high-end tech that includes up to four different display screens. The Grand Cherokee starts at a reasonable $35,485 but can balloon to around $80,000. With 15 trims to parse, buyers should be able to find a Grand Cherokee that fits both their needs and their budget.

Subaru Outback

2025 Subaru Outback - subaru.com

It’s not a crossover

Powerful turbocharged engine

Off-road capable Wilderness model

Standard engine is slower than its competition

Not great fuel efficiency

Base model infotainment weirdness

A compelling alternative in a sea of crossovers

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CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9/10

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CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.

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MSRP
$30,315 - $44,215

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BEST FUEL ECONOMY
26 City / 32 Hwy (MPG)

The 2025 Subaru Outback is an outlier among two-row SUVs. It’s smaller and less expensive than average, but most importantly, it’s a rugged-ized station wagon sporting proper off-road chops. While the Outback is no Bronco or Wrangler at rock crawling, it is at home on the trials, even more so when in Wilderness Edition with its all-terrain tires and an additional 0.5-inches to ground clearance (from 8.7 inches to 9.2). Buyers can choose from the base 2.5L flat-four with 182 horsepower or a turbocharged 2.4L with 260 horsepower and towing up to 3,500 lbs. The Outback’s interior is comfortable and capacious, and higher trims feel appropriately posh thanks to touches like Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof. Subaru’s EyeSight, their suite of advanced driver assistance features comes standard and includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, etc. The base Outback starts at $30,315 and while the Touring XT (turbo) peaks at just over $44,000. That’s a good deal below the segment average.

Mazda CX-70

2025 Mazda CX-70 - mazdausa.com
2025 Mazda CX-70 - mazdausa.com

Wonderful engine options

Excellent interior quality

Athletic handling and acceleration

A tight cabin is not good for families

A very basic warranty

Questionable value compared to the CX-90

A driver-friendly SUV

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CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9.25/10

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MSRP
$41,900 - $57,405

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BEST FUEL ECONOMY
24 City / 28 Hwy (MPG)

With its mix of peppy powertrains, lithe handling, and refined interior, the 2025 Mazda CX-70 outshines competing two-row SUVs to take top honors on our list. The CX-70 offers two distinct powertrain options. First, a gas-powered 3.3L inline-six making 340 horsepower. For greater efficiency Mazda also offers a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pairing a 2.5L four-cylinder with an electric motor for 323 horsepower, 56 MPGe (miles per gallon electric equivalent), and up to 26 miles of electric only range A standard all-wheel drive system is rear-biased, helping make the CX-70 uniquely athletic in a segment of otherwise ponderous SUVs.

The CX-70, like other Mazda models, features a well-fashioned and comfortable interior that rivals many luxury-level SUVs. Materials and fit and finish are all a cut above segment rivals while Mazda’s innovative rotary dial makes interacting with the infotainment system less distracting than the typical touchscreen interface. Because the CX-70 is basically the CX-90 without a third row, it also offers a good amount of cargo capacity (up to 75.3 cu.-ft.), a rarity among otherwise cargo-stingy Mazda products. An entry point just above $42,000 is slightly more than the segment average, but the Mazda CX-70’s balance of drivability and luxury makes it a bargain compared to segment rivals.

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Chris Kaiser

With two decades of writing experience and five years of creating advertising materials for car dealerships across the U.S., Chris Kaiser explores and documents the car world’s latest innovations, unique subcultures, and era-defining classics. Armed with a Master's Degree in English from the University of South Dakota, Chris left an academic career to return to writing full-time. He is passionate about covering all aspects of the continuing evolution of personal transportation, but he specializes in automotive history, industry news, and car buying advice.

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