Some of the most popular models among the wide inventory of vehicles available at CMP Auto are SUVs, tailor-made for families and drivers who need the extra passenger and cargo space. This article highlights some of our picks for the best SUVs, focusing on safety, space, and comfort. Discover the top models that make travelling around Calgary and beyond a breeze.
Whether for new or used vehicles, the best SUVs have features that ensure comfort, safety, and a smooth ride. Before summer's out, let’s run through a few of our favourites among our wide inventory of new and used models.
The Best SUVs – a Brief Summary
Modern SUV models are a favourite among families due to prioritizing safety, spaciousness, and comfort. With this in mind, some important factors to consider when choosing an SUV are safety ratings, driver-assistance technologies, cargo space, seating capacity, and fuel efficiency. Some of our top picks include the new GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Traverse, as well as reliable used models like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Honda Pilot.
What to Look for in an SUV
One thing our sales advisors will always ask when helping you choose vehicles, new or used, from our lot in Calgary concerns lifestyle. A roomier, full-sized SUV may be required to get your whole family, including pets into a ride safely. Choose according to your passengers from our inventory!
While we've done a close look at two comparable SUVs, the GMC Acadia vs the Chevy Traverse, families' practical concerns demand a wider look at all models, whether new or used!
In addition to ride-quality considerations like acceleration, handling, and fuel efficiency, one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a family SUV is safety. Features such as All-Wheel Drive (AWD) systems enhance traction and stability, instilling confidence even in tough driving conditions. Mid-size and full-size SUVs are particularly popular with our most vocal customers because they reportedly offer more luggage space and passenger capacity, seating between five to nine of your closest friends and family.
The interior of a family SUV is just as important as its exterior capabilities. Some key features to look for include:
- Durable and easy-to-clean materials like stain-resistant fabrics or treated leather seats, especially if you have young children.
- Adjustable seats for added comfort on long rides.
- Climate control to keep everyone comfortable, regardless of the weather outside.
- Built-in entertainment systems to keep passengers entertained during the journey.
The lineup we have coming presents a remarkable array of family SUVs, including compact SUVs and midsize SUVs, that emphasize these features, making them prime options for families seeking safety, spaciousness, and comfort. Among them, the midsize three row SUV category caters specifically to the dynamic needs of larger family life.
GMC Yukon: Best SUV for Premium Comfort
GMC has quite a reputation among our customers for its comfort features and premium feel, making your trips serene and relaxing.
If comfort is what you’re after, our sales team recommends looking at the new GMC Yukon. This large SUV offers a roomy interior with seating for up to 9 passengers, as well as a range of features including heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and available massaging seats in the front and second rows.
Another standout feature of the Yukon is its quiet and relaxed driving experience, perfect for both highway cruising towards the mountains or running errands around town. It also offers 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row with all the seats upright, with 72.6 cubic feet available with the third row folded down, and a massive 122.9 cubic feet of available space with both the second and third row seats folded down.
In addition, the Yukon comes equipped with a range of standard safety features, as well as a towing capacity of up to 8,400 lbs, making it perfect for hauling trailers or watercraft for those weekend getaways with the family.
Chevrolet Suburban: The SUV With Room for the Whole Family
Our new or used Chevrolet Suburban models offer one of the best SUVs for sheer seating or convertible storage space. 8 passengers need a great balance of comfortable interior, turbocharged diesel engine power to accelerate safely on Calgary's crossroad highways, all while maintaining top-tier towing capabilities for extra gear when headed somewhere remote.
For large families in need of maximum room and responsive power, the new Chevrolet Suburban is hard to beat. This full-size SUV offers seating for up to 8 passengers, as well as a maximum cargo capacity of 144.7 cubic feet. Even with all the seating folded up, you’ve still got 41.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, perfect for carrying sports equipment, luggage, or groceries.
Furthermore, the Suburban touts a towing capacity of up to 8,300 lbs, more than enough to tow a trailer for camping trips. Its turbocharged diesel engine ups the ante even more, giving you the responsive power you need to tackle any terrain safely and comfortably.
Honda Pilot: The Most Fuel-Efficient SUV
The Honda Pilot, while being recognized as a family favourite for a few reasons, arguably doesn't get enough attention for its 3-row seating, crossed with an enviable 10.7 L/100 km combined fuel efficiency; it's an affordable road trip model with a lot to offer Calgary families!
If you want to get the most mileage out of your family SUV, opting for the Honda Pilot is a solid option. This AWD SUV offers a combined fuel economy of 11 L/100KM, with 12.4 L/100km in the city and 9.3 L/100km on the highway. With the ever-fluctuating cost of fuel, a vehicle that offers such excellent fuel economy can save you tons in the long run.
Additionally, the Pilot is a pleasure to drive, offering heated front seats with leather trim, as well as a 9” touchscreen display and connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus access to the HondaLink subscription service for even more connectivity on the go.
Hyundai Palisade: Most Luxurious SUV
The Hyundai Palisade offers a great level of comfort and luxury families love.
The Hyundai Palisade more than lives up to its namesake, offering a suite of luxury features that makes it a head-turner on the streets as well as a capable family SUV. If you’re considering this option, we going big with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which offers premium Nappa leather seats, LED interior lighting, a wireless charging pad, as well as the Driver Talk in-car intercom.
The Palisade isn’t all flash though, and offers plenty in terms of function. With both 7- and 8-passenger seating options, as well as up to 86.4 cubic feet of cargo space, this SUV is more than up to the task of being a daily driver for you and your family. With its high-class cabin and smooth ride, the Palisade certainly offers a level of comfort and luxury that is hard to beat.
Kia Telluride: The Best Budget-Friendly SUV
Even with its luxurious offerings, the Kia Telluride retains a fair price tag, making it a compelling choice for families seeking quality without breaking the bank.
Starting at just under $54,000, the Kia Telluride is a great option for budget-conscious families. Despite its reasonable pricing, however, this SUV doesn’t compromise on luxury or practicality, offering onboard WiFi, Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen, in addition to safety features like blind-spot sensors and rear-cross traffic alert.
Comfort is another area where the Telluride shines. With options like driver’s seat memory settings, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated rear seats, this SUV ensures a comfortable ride for all passengers. For families with older children, less prone to mess-making, Nappa leather upholstery adds a touch of luxury.
Even with its luxurious offerings, the Kia Telluride retains a fair price tag, making it a compelling choice for families seeking quality without breaking the bank.
Subaru Outback: The Best SUV for Family Adventures
Inside, the Outback offers a comfortable ride, a spacious interior, ample head and leg clearance in the second row, and heated seats and air vents in the second row, ensuring everyone stays comfortable.
The Subaru Outback is a versatile choice for families who love outdoor adventures. With 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a total cargo capacity of 75.6 cubic feet, this SUV is perfect for hauling camping gear on your next trip into the mountains.
If you’re looking for something rugged, we recommend opting for the Outback’s Wilderness trim, which offers a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that provides all the power you need to tackle those off-road trails in style. If you favour a long drive with the family, the Outback’s fun yet functional infotainment system, heated seating, and ample head and leg room promise a comfortable ride for both you and your passengers no matter where you’re headed.
Toyota Highlander: The Most Reliable SUV
Safety is a priority with the Highlander, which comes equipped with advanced safety features native to Toyota Safety Sense designed to keep your family secure.
One of the most important factors to consider with any vehicle purchase is reliability, and nobody knows this better than Toyota. If you need a midsize SUV that you can depend on for years to come, the Toyota Highlander is always a safe bet. With a reliability rating of 81/100 from JD Power, the Highlander continues to uphold the brand’s reputation for dependability.
How dependable? According to our technicians, a properly maintained Toyota Highlander will last reliably for around 402-483km, and Forbes has ranked it among the top 5 longest lasting SUVs of 2025. If dependability is what you’re after, browse our inventory of used Toyota Highlanders and see for yourself!
From automatic emergency braking to pedestrian detection, these technologies help prevent accidents and protect your loved ones.
Chevrolet Traverse: The Best All-Rounder SUV
The Chevrolet Traverse offers exceptional cargo and passenger space without sacrificing performance, perfect for adventurous drivers still looking for a family-friendly ride.
The new Chevrolet Traverse is a fantastic SUV option for families in Calgary, a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to spacious interior, strong performance, and top-notch safety features. It comfortably seats up to 8 people, offers almost 100 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down, and packs a powerful 2.5-litre engine that delivers 328 horsepower.
It also offers respectable fuel efficiency for its size, averaging about 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, helping families keep fuel costs in check. The available all-wheel-drive system is especially useful in Calgary’s changing weather, providing extra traction and stability on snowy or wet roads.
This combination of ample seating and cargo space, respectable power and fuel efficiency, as well as a suite of tech-forward infotainment and safety features, makes the Traverse an ideal choice if you want a little bit of everything.
Nissan Rogue: The Best SUV for City Driving
Fuel efficiency is a major selling point of a new or used Nissan Rogue, making it an economical choice for both daily commutes and longer family trips.
The Rogue is a compact SUV that excels in fuel efficiency of upwards of 7.8 L/100 km and great maneuverability—making it an excellent choice for urban families. Its compact design allows for easy navigation through city streets while still offering ample interior space for family use.
Fuel efficiency is a major selling point of a new or used Nissan Rogue, making it an economical choice for both daily commutes and longer family trips.
Finally, its versatile cargo room offers flexible storage solutions, accommodating everything from groceries to sports equipment.
Jeep Grand Cherokee WK: The Best Offroad SUV
The second-row seats in the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK offer ample legroom and comfort, making long family trips more enjoyable.
Nobody does offroad adventuring like Jeep, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a rugged model that’s ideally suited for families. Equipped with various 4-wheel-drive systems and terrain management settings to tackle different environments, this SUV is built for rough riding without compromising on safety or comfort.
The second-row seats offer ample legroom and comfort, making long family trips more enjoyable. The spacious design also allows for easy installation of three car seats, providing a comfortable ride for passengers of all ages. With the addition of third row seats, this vehicle can accommodate even more passengers.
Visit CMP Auto Today to Find Your Next New or Used SUV
Our vehicles, new or used, from our lot in Calgary offers a lot of different types of vehicles, but we're in no shortage of family-friendly SUVs. Come pick one that's right for you from our inventory!
The top family SUVs for the next few years offer a blend of safety, comfort, and practicality, making them ideal choices for families of all sizes. From the luxurious Cadillac Escalade to the budget-friendly Hyundai Tucson, there’s a perfect SUV for every family’s needs and preferences.
Budget is another concern if you've got a family you love to lug around. The good news is that it's easy to get pre-qualified for financing through a soft credit check through CMP Auto. That goes double if you're buying a new GMC or Chevrolet!
Ready to find your perfect family SUV? Remember to consider factors like safety ratings, cargo space, and fuel efficiency. Test driving different models can also help you make an informed decision. Visit CMP Auto today to take a test drive and experience the best in safety, comfort, and versatility.
