Shopping for a used SUV in 2025 or 2026 means you’re looking at some of the most thoroughly tested vehicles on the road. This guide covers five picks that consistently show up on reliability lists and hold their value well into high mileage: the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, 2026 Honda CR-V, 2026 Toyota Highlander, 2026 Toyota 4Runner, and 2025 Lexus GX. At MotoPickers, we pulled specs, trim breakdowns, and real ownership considerations so you can compare them side by side. Whether you’re a solo commuter, a family hauling car seats and strollers, or someone who actually takes their SUV off pavement, there’s a pick here built for your situation.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
MotoPickers Rating: 6.3/10
The 2026 RAV4 Hybrid is a complete ground-up redesign, and it’s the first RAV4 sold in the U.S. that drops the gas-only option entirely. Every version runs a 2.5L hybrid four-cylinder making 226 hp in front-wheel-drive form and 236 hp with AWD. That’s enough to keep up in highway merges without feeling strained. The hybrid system pushes combined economy to around 44 MPG, which means a 14.5-gallon tank takes you close to 640 miles before you need to stop. The interior gets a 10.5-inch infotainment screen on the base LE, with higher trims stepping up to a 12.3-inch display. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the lineup.
Behind the second row, you get 37.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which fits a medium dog crate or two carry-on bags with room to spare. Fold the seats and that opens to 70.4 cubic feet, enough for a full IKEA run. The RAV4 Hybrid starts at $33,350 for the LE. The XLE Premium at $37,550 is the trim we’d recommend for most buyers: it adds heated front seats, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic moonroof without pushing into Limited territory at $44,750. One real drawback: the ride is noticeably firm, especially on broken pavement. If your daily route includes rough roads or you’re sensitive to road feel, that’s worth keeping in mind. The RAV4 Hybrid makes the most sense for commuters and families who want strong fuel savings and Toyota’s long reliability track record in a compact package.
2026 Honda CR-V
MotoPickers Rating: 6.3/10
The CR-V earns its spot here on the strength of its value score, the highest of any vehicle in this group at approximately 8.2 out of 10. It starts at $30,920 for the LX, making it the most accessible entry point here. The base engine is a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with around 190 hp, which is adequate for daily driving but noticeably relaxed when you need to pass on a two-lane highway. Step up to the Sport Hybrid at $35,630 and you get a 2.0L hybrid system rated at roughly 204 hp with fuel economy that climbs to around 40 MPG combined on approximately a 14-gallon tank, stretching a full fill-up past around 550 miles.
The CR-V’s cargo floor is flat when the rear seats fold, which makes loading bulky items or a dog crate much easier than in vehicles with a raised lip or uneven floor. Behind the second row, around 36.3 cubic feet handles a stroller and a week’s worth of groceries without issue. The 9-inch infotainment screen feels smaller than what competitors offer at this price, and the CR-V skips parking sensors entirely, which you’ll notice in tight city parking. The Sport Hybrid is our pick for most buyers: the fuel savings over the gas LX add up fast on a long commute, though you will need to step up to the Sport-L or Sport Touring trims to get wireless charging and the premium Bose audio system. Buyers who want a third row or serious towing capacity should look elsewhere in this group. The CR-V is the right fit for a single driver or a small family who wants low running costs and a proven ownership record.
2026 Toyota Highlander
MotoPickers Rating: 7.0/10
The Highlander is the three-row option in this group, and for 2026 Toyota made a quiet but useful change: every gas model now comes standard with all-wheel drive, and the entry-level LE trim was discontinued, so the XLE at approximately $46,270 is now the starting point. The 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder makes 265 hp and pairs with an 8-speed automatic. Fuel economy lands near 24 MPG combined, and with a 17.9-gallon tank you’re looking at roughly 430 miles per fill-up. That’s a fair trade for a vehicle that can tow up to 5,000 lbs, enough for a mid-size boat trailer or a loaded utility trailer.
The third row has 27.7 inches of rear legroom, which works for adults on shorter trips but becomes a tight fit on anything over an hour. Kids will be fine back there. Behind the second row, 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space handles two large suitcases and a stroller with room left over. The hands-free liftgate is available, which you’ll appreciate with bags in both hands. The Limited trim is where the Highlander really comes into its own: the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, panoramic moonroof, ventilated front seats, and JBL 11-speaker audio make a noticeable difference in daily comfort. The base XLE’s 8-inch screen feels dated by comparison. One limitation worth knowing: the Highlander’s ride is tuned for comfort over road feel, and the steering is light and vague. The Highlander is the pick for families who need three rows, AWD, and real towing capability in a package that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
2026 Toyota 4Runner
MotoPickers Rating: 6.4/10
The 4Runner is the most capable off-road vehicle in this group, and it doesn’t try to hide it. The 2025 redesign carries into 2026 mostly unchanged, which means buyers get a fully updated platform without paying a redesign premium on the used market. Under the hood is a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder making 278 hp, and it moves this SUV with more urgency than the old V6 ever did. Fuel economy is estimated around 22 MPG combined, and the 19-gallon tank means you’re stopping for gas roughly every 420 miles. That’s the price of body-on-frame construction and serious off-road hardware.
The 14-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and a JBL 14-speaker audio system are available, which is a step up from what you’d expect at this price. The 4Runner can tow up to 6,000 lbs, enough for a large boat or a loaded camper trailer. Behind the second row, 48 cubic feet of cargo space opens to 90 cubic feet with the seats folded, and the flat load floor makes it easy to slide in gear, crates, or large bags. The TRD Off-Road Premium is the trim we’d point most buyers toward: it adds the electronically disconnecting anti-roll bars (which let the suspension flex more freely on uneven terrain) as a new-for-2026 option, and it hits a better balance between off-road hardware and daily livability than the more extreme TRD Pro. The 4Runner’s on-road ride is noticeably bouncy compared to the Highlander or CR-V. If you spend most of your time on pavement, that tradeoff gets old. This one is built for buyers who actually use the capability, whether that’s forest roads, towing on weekends, or just wanting a truck-based SUV that will run forever.
2025 Lexus GX
MotoPickers Rating: 7.6/10
The 2025 Lexus GX carries the highest MotoPickers rating in this group, and it earns it across safety (9.3), performance (8.4), and comfort (8.0). It’s also the most expensive, starting at around $63,250 for the Premium trim. The GX runs a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder making 278 hp paired with full-time four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case. It can tow up to roughly 8,100 lbs, which puts a large camper or a horse trailer within reach. The adaptive suspension on higher trims adjusts between road and trail conditions, so the ride quality on pavement is noticeably more composed than what you’d feel in the 4Runner. The 14-inch touchscreen, head-up display, and surround-view camera are available, and the Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio system on the Overtrail+ and Luxury trims is genuinely impressive.
The GX comes in a wide range of colors, including options like Nori Green Pearl, Terrane Khaki, and several two-tone configurations pairing colors like Nightfall Mica or Sonic Titanium with a contrasting black roof. The Overtrail+ at approximately $75,500 is the trim we’d pick: it adds the panoramic moonroof, ventilated front seats, Mark Levinson audio, and off-road hardware including skid plates, all-terrain tires, and Crawl Control, without climbing to the Luxury trim’s around $80,500. The GX’s fuel economy sits around 20 MPG combined, and the 23.3-gallon tank gives you close to around 465 miles of range per fill-up. The one real drawback is the NHTSA rating: the GX has not been rated by NHTSA, so you’re relying on the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and Lexus’s own safety systems for that picture. If a five-star NHTSA score is a firm requirement, the Highlander and CR-V both have it. The GX is the right choice for anyone who wants luxury, genuine off-road capability, and the kind of long-term durability that Lexus has built its reputation on.
Buying Smart
The RAV4 Hybrid is the efficiency play, the CR-V is the value play, the Highlander is the family three-row, the 4Runner is the off-road and towing workhorse, and the GX is the premium pick for shoppers who need luxury and trail capability in the same vehicle. Before you buy any used SUV, pull a vehicle history report and budget for a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic. A $150 inspection can surface issues that save you thousands, and on vehicles in this price range, it’s always worth it.