A mid-size SUV rating is a starting point, not a buying decision. Compare vehicles on the same model-year and configuration basis, then check whether their safety tests apply to the exact vehicle, how much passenger and cargo space you can actually use, and whether the powertrain, towing capacity, ownership outlook and controls fit your needs. The best choice depends on who rides in it, how you drive and what you need to carry or tow.
Start with the job the SUV needs to do
Before comparing scores, write down the conditions your next vehicle must meet. How many people ride regularly? Will anyone use a third row, and how often? How much luggage, sports gear or other cargo travels with them? Do you tow? What kind of driving makes up most of your week?
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Those answers determine which comparisons matter. A household that rarely carries more than four people may get little value from a third row. A family that fills every seat may care more about third-row access and the luggage space left behind it than about maximum cargo volume with the seats folded. A tow rating matters only if the exact SUV can handle the trailer and the people and cargo you plan to bring.
Use the same model year and, wherever possible, the same trim, engine, drivetrain and equipment when comparing candidates. Otherwise, you may be comparing different safety equipment, fuel economy estimates, towing limits or prices without realizing it.
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Read safety ratings as evidence about specific tests
Safety ratings answer defined questions, not every question about how a vehicle will perform in every crash or how it will feel to own. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluates crashworthiness—how well a vehicle protects occupants in a crash—and crash avoidance and mitigation, including technology intended to prevent a crash or reduce its severity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) uses its own New Car Assessment Program and star-rating system. Treat the results as distinct evidence rather than interchangeable grades.
Understand what the IIHS tests measure
IIHS’s front crash tests represent different impact conditions. In the small-overlap front test, 25% of one side of the vehicle’s width strikes a rigid barrier at 40 mph. Both sides are tested, and the lower result is used. The moderate-overlap front test uses a 40 mph impact involving 40% of the vehicle’s width and places a second dummy behind the driver. In the side test, an SUV-like rig strikes the driver’s side at 37 mph.
These tests are not a complete catalogue of every possible crash. Their value is that they show how a vehicle performed under particular test conditions. IIHS advises comparing small-overlap and moderate-overlap front ratings among vehicles of similar weight, rather than treating those results as directly comparable across vehicles of very different weights.
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Look at the individual results, not only the award label. Check crashworthiness, crash-prevention performance, headlights and child-seat anchors (LATCH) for the trim or equipment being considered. The LATCH rating evaluates ease of use for the particular trim and seat type IIHS assessed. A headlight rating is tied to a specific headlight type, so a result for one setup may not describe a different setup offered on the same model.
Check whether an IIHS award applies to the vehicle you are buying
Award criteria can change by year, and award listings can include equipment or production-date conditions. For its 2026 awards, IIHS requires a Top Safety Pick to earn good small-overlap front, moderate-overlap front and side ratings; have acceptable or good headlights across all trim levels; and meet specified front crash-prevention performance. Top Safety Pick+ adds stricter pedestrian front-crash-prevention criteria and vehicle-to-vehicle performance requirements.
Rank #2
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Before relying on either award, check the current IIHS listing for the model year, applicable build dates, trim, headlight type and whether the relevant crash-prevention equipment is standard or optional. An award is useful shorthand only when its stated qualifications match the vehicle on the lot.
Use NHTSA scores within their limits
NHTSA says its Overall Vehicle Scores should be compared only among vehicles in the same class and within 250 pounds of the rated vehicle. Do not use a difference between scores outside those limits as a simple ranking. NHTSA also explains that “Not Rated” means a particular crash condition was not tested in its program; it does not mean that the vehicle failed that test. Its star scale runs from one star, the lowest rating, to five stars, the highest.
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Compare space in the seating configuration you actually use
Row count alone tells you little about whether an SUV works for your household. In a three-row vehicle, assess access to the back row, comfort for the people who will sit there and the remaining cargo space with that row occupied. In a two-row vehicle, consider whether its seating and cargo layout better fits the trips you actually take. Neither layout is automatically better.
Published cargo volume is most useful when the seating configuration is clear. Maximum cargo volume with seats folded does not show how much luggage fits when all the seats your household needs are in use. If you regularly travel with a full passenger load, prioritize the space behind the occupied third row. Check the access route and passenger room in person, too; a volume figure cannot tell you whether the seats or controls work comfortably for your family.
Rank #3
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A 2025 family comparison by Edmunds, distributed by the Associated Press, gives a dated illustration of the trade-off. It describes the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse as offering 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 98 cubic feet with rows folded. The same article describes the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder as having 16.6 cubic feet behind its third row. These figures belong to the cited 2025 examples; they are not universal or current specifications for every trim or later model year.
| 2025 example in the Edmunds comparison distributed by AP | Cargo behind third row | Other reported figure |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Traverse | 22.9 cubic feet | Up to 98 cubic feet with rows folded |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 16.6 cubic feet | Up to 6,000 pounds of towing when properly equipped |
| Toyota Grand Highlander hybrid | 20.6 cubic feet | EPA estimate of up to 36 mpg combined |
The comparison’s figures are reported examples, not a controlled test of every version of these vehicles. Verify the current manufacturer specifications and EPA information for the model year, trim and powertrain you are shopping. The table also shows why one headline number cannot settle the choice: cargo volume, towing and fuel economy address different needs.
Match fuel economy to the exact powertrain and your driving
Use EPA model-specific listings to compare the exact year and powertrain. Keep model year, engine, hybrid or plug-in hybrid configuration, drivetrain and trim aligned as closely as possible. A model name alone is not enough to ensure two fuel-economy figures describe comparable vehicles.
For a plug-in hybrid, include whether you can charge it regularly and how its electric range fits your trips. Its fuel-economy figure should not be treated as directly equivalent to a non-plug-in vehicle’s without noting the test basis and the role of charging.
Fleet averages can provide context, but they are not substitutes for an estimate for the SUV you are considering. The EPA’s Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report puts estimated real-world average fuel economy for all new vehicles at 27.2 mpg in model year 2024, 0.1 mpg above model year 2023 and a record high. It reports 25.7 mpg as the model-year 2024 average for truck SUVs. These are dated U.S. fleet figures, not predictions for a particular mid-size SUV. EPA distinguishes car SUVs from truck SUVs in its regulatory categories, so the category matters when interpreting an average.
Rank #4
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For your shortlist, compare each candidate’s specific EPA estimate and consider how your driving pattern may affect its usefulness. A single fleet-wide figure cannot tell you which powertrain fits your commute, passenger load or charging access.
Check towing capacity for the configuration you will buy
Do not assume every trim or powertrain of a model has the same towing limit. Check the rating for the exact engine, drivetrain, trim and towing equipment, then compare that limit with your actual trailer and the people and cargo you expect to carry. A maximum capacity is not a promise that every version can tow that amount.
The 2025 Edmunds comparison distributed by AP reports up to 6,000 pounds of towing for the Nissan Pathfinder when properly equipped. That is a model-year example, not a blanket figure for every Pathfinder or later version. Confirm the current rating and required equipment for the specific vehicle. If towing is a regular need, evaluate it alongside seating and cargo: maximum towing capacity and cargo space behind an occupied third row are separate measures and may point to different priorities.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Separate reliability, satisfaction, price and usability
Safety results do not tell you whether an SUV is dependable, comfortable, easy to operate or economical to own. Treat those as separate dimensions instead of collapsing them into one overall score. Consumer Reports’ 2026 buying guide organizes its midsize three-row SUV listings around price, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, road-test results, fuel economy and qualitative strengths and weaknesses. Its evaluation categories include ride, controls, passenger room, cargo space, braking, visibility and handling.
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Price should also be compared on a like-for-like basis, including the trim and equipment needed to meet your requirements. No single current price or definitive model ranking follows from the dated examples above. Check local availability and the actual vehicle’s configuration when making a purchase decision.
IIHS’s ratings resource also links to insurance-loss comparisons and driver death rates by make and model. These can add context for readers considering loss experience, but they have their own definitions and coverage context. Do not collapse them into a crash-test score or assume they measure exactly the same thing.
Build a comparison that leads to a decision
Put your actual candidates side by side, using one row per vehicle and recording the model year and configuration at the top. For each one, fill in the evidence before weighing trade-offs:
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- Safety: IIHS individual test results and award qualifications; NHTSA results where available; applicable trim, headlight, equipment and build-date details.
- Seating and cargo: number of usable seats, access to the rows you need, and cargo capacity with those seats occupied.
- Powertrain: engine or hybrid type, drivetrain and the matching EPA estimate; for a plug-in hybrid, charging access and electric range.
- Towing: capacity for the exact configuration and equipment, checked against the load you expect to tow.
- Ownership and price: price for the configuration you would buy, reliability estimate, owner satisfaction and road-test findings, kept as distinct measures.
- Everyday fit: the ride, visibility, controls and passenger room you experience when assessing the actual vehicle.
Then apply a simple decision sequence:
- Choose the layout: Decide whether you need two rows or three, based on passengers who ride regularly—not the maximum number of seats printed in a specification.
- Test the occupied configuration: Check access and comfort in the rows that will be used, then assess the cargo space left with those seats in place.
- Validate safety applicability: Match ratings and award conditions to the model year, trim, build date, headlights and crash-prevention equipment.
- Match powertrain to use: Compare EPA figures for the exact configuration and consider your driving pattern and, for a plug-in, charging access.
- Confirm towing needs: Verify the configuration-specific capacity and required equipment against your real trailer and loaded vehicle.
- Weigh ownership factors separately: Compare price, reliability estimates, owner satisfaction and usability findings without letting one stand in for the others.
This approach makes the final choice a fit decision rather than a contest between headline scores. A vehicle that leads one category may be less suitable if its occupied-row cargo space, powertrain or equipment does not fit the way you will use it.
Common comparison mistakes to avoid
- Comparing mismatched versions: A model-year, trim, powertrain or equipment difference can change which safety result, fuel figure or towing limit applies.
- Treating all safety numbers as interchangeable: IIHS and NHTSA evaluate through different programs, and both specify limits on particular comparisons.
- Reading “Not Rated” as a failure: NHTSA says it means the condition was not tested in its program.
- Taking an award as proof for every vehicle wearing the badge: Confirm the award year and the listing’s trim, headlight, equipment and production-date conditions.
- Using folded-seat cargo volume for a full-passenger trip: Compare the space remaining in the configuration you expect to use.
- Applying a fleet average to one SUV: EPA’s 2024 averages describe broad vehicle categories, not a specific model or configuration.
- Choosing by maximum towing alone: Confirm the rating for the exact equipment and account for passengers and cargo as well as the trailer.
- Turning several ownership measures into one score: Reliability, satisfaction, price and road-test findings describe different aspects of ownership.
Conclusion
Compare mid-size SUVs by matching evidence to the exact vehicle and the job it must do. Start with the seating layout and occupied-row space, verify safety-test and award qualifications, then compare the specific powertrain, towing setup and separate ownership measures. A rating can help narrow a shortlist; the right configuration and fit should decide it.
Quick Recap
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