Top 12 SUVs in Canada for 2023

For Canadians, an SUV is a perfect way to drive through the city and more off-road paths as well. Canadians love to get outdoors and an SUV is a great vehicle for campers, hikers, mountain bikers, and more. SUV’s come with all-wheel drive and depending on their size can fit the whole family plus the dog in them. For all you hockey moms and dads, an SUV is a must for getting everyone and the equipment to the rink. As one of the most popular vehicle types out there, there are numerous options for all lifestyles. We’ve created this list so you have an idea about what SUV’s stand out in their class.

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1. Best Super Sporty SUV – Jeep Wrangler
2. Best Luxury SUV – BMW X3
3. Best Sub Compact SUV – Audi Q3
4. Toyota R4 – Best Compact SUV
5. Best SUV for Reliability – Subaru Crosstrek
6. Best Large-Sized SUV – Chevrolet Suburban
7. Most Moderately Priced – Kia Seltos
8. The Best Cross Over SUV – Mazda CX-30
9. Best Fully Electric SUV – Volvo XC40 Recharge
10. Best Mid-Sized SUV – Suburu Outback
11. Best Full-Size Luxury SUV – Cadillac Escalade
12. Best Electric Luxury SUV – BMW iX

1. Best Super Sporty SUV – Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep was one of the first North American SUV’s so it’s a trusted brand that has stood the test of time. It is capable of navigating through the rockiest, narrow paths you can find with a durable frame and chasse. You have enough space to fit all your camping gear as well. The base price is average for a quality SUV sitting at just under $40,000. This is the base price with options for packages that amp up the look and performance. Many Canadians are a fan of the Jeep Wrangler Xtreme Recon Package, which comes with some fantastic extras for off-roading. The Wrangler Sport has a 3.6L V6 Pentastar Engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. There’s plenty of space with excellent safety features like:

• Forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control

• Parking assistance and a forward facing camera

2. Best Luxury SUV – BMW X3

BMW does an impressive job in their design of the X3, which offers you a sporty vehicle with a lot of luxury as well. The base price is $52,990 and is considered not just a great luxury vehicle but also the perfect family SUV thanks to its prominent safety features. There’s plenty of seats and cargo space with a powerful TwinPower turbo engine. You’re getting up to 472 horsepower, which makes it feel more sporty while the luxurious details inside offer the elegance you’d expect from BMW. Seats up to five people and offers safety features including:

• Lane-keeping

• Monitoring of blind spots

• Adaptive cruise control

3. Best Sub Compact SUV – Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 comes at a base price of $40,350 and has a turbo charged 2.0 litre four cylinder. It’s decent on gas but gives you up to 228 horsepower. Fuel consumption is 8.0 – 11.2 L/100 km.

You’re getting the standard Quattro AWD and there’s a special edition called Vorsprung that comes with a few options for wheels.

This is the only Audi Q3 available in Canada so you’re not getting sporty options. However, this version comes with all the features you’re looking for in an Audi.

4. Toyota R4 – Best Compact SUV

Canadians love Toyota as they’re perfect for those narrow pathways that take you to your favorite lake. They’re also well known for having an engine that lasts far beyond the warranty. The Rav4 is a great way to get into driving a Toyota as it’s their most reasonable 4×4. As such, the Rav4 is our selection for the best compact SUV with a price tag as low as $32,590. It won’t cost much to drive around either with fuel consumption at 5.7 to 9.5 L/100km.

5. Best SUV for Reliability – Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstek is not only reliable but it’s also one of the most reasonably priced SUVs in the Canadian market, starting at $24,995. You’ll experience a smooth ride on rough terrain thanks to the double-wishbone rear suspension. There’s plenty of cargo space and leg room. There are varying options for this Subaru with varying horsepower and engine sizes. Available in manual and automatic transmissions with fuel economy of 8.5 L/100 km when you’re on the open road.

Some of the features include:

• Traction control system
• Vehicle dynamic control
• Impact-absorbing footrests

• Driving assist system like traction control
• Multiple airbags

6. Best Large-Sized SUV – Chevrolet Suburban

The Chevrolet Suburban has long been a rugged, durable, reliable SUV for Canadians. It’s a massive vehicle that can navigate through the rockiest roads. There’s seating for up to nine people and starts at $65,548. There are different variations including engine type, valve timing, and fuel management options. The base option for the Suburban comes with a 5.3L V8. There’s plenty of legroom with each seat. It’s a great vehicle for large families or as a work truck coming and going from rugged work sites.

7. Most Moderately Priced – Kia Seltos

For Canadians that want the convenience of an SUV but don’t want to spend a lot, there’s the Kia Seltos. Prices start as low as $23,259 but you’re still getting some great features. It’s a safe vehicle too with 6 airbags in total, immobilizer, and blind spot collision warnings. There’s plenty of space and comfortable seats. Fuel economy is decent as well being 8.2L/100 km. While the handling hasn’t been rated well, there’s decent torque in this 20.0L multi-point injection engine. Some of the nice perks to the Seltos includes:

• Heated front seats

• Alloy wheels

• Touchscreen infotainment

8. The Best Cross Over SUV – Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 is rated the best crossover SUV for a few reasons. It’s got a decent base price at $28,431 with excellent features. The more expensive version, which has a price tag of almost $40,000 has an impressive 250 HP FT turbo engine and plenty of extras. Any of the models have a 6-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. We wouldn’t say it’s the best as a family car but that is the only flaw we could find. It’s got excellent fuel economy but could be a little more spacious. Safety features include:

• Rear cross traffic alerts
• Adaptive cruise control
• Pedestrian detection

• Lane departure warning
• Lane-keep assist

9 Best Fully Electric SUV – Volvo XC40 Recharge

The Volve XC40 Recharge is a fantastic fully electric SUV option. If you’re not quite ready to go fully electric, there’s also a hybrid version. Starting price is $59,950 and has excellent fuel economy at 7.6 L/100 km. Despite the fuel efficiency, the engine is impressive with the potential of 402 horsepower. The battery takes just over 30 minutes to reach 80% capacity. It’s an extremely safe car thanks to Volvo technology. Enjoy perks like:

• Air purifier system
• Digital service package

• Driver assist
• Pixel lights

10. Best Mid-Sized SUV – Suburu Outback

The Suburu Outback is a well-established SUV that is widely used in Canada. The base price starts at $32,695 and the new look for 2023 is bound to delight. There’s a new grille as well as extra body cladding. The new brand, the Outback Onyx offers lovely details like black accents and extra amenities. The safety system has been enhanced to offer better detection and the base model offers 182 horsepower. Gas mileage is 7.3 – 11.0 L/100 km.

11. Best Full-Size Luxury SUV – Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade has long been synonymous with elegance and class. It’s an iconic full size luxury SUV that you’ll mainly see in larger cities around Canada. As with any luxury vehicle, you’re going to get the best technology, including a huge 38 inch curved display. There are two engine options, a 3.0 litre six-cylinder turbo diesel or a 6.2 litre V8. The base price is $95,298 with fuel efficiency at 8.9 – 21.6 L/100 km.

12. Best Electric Luxury SUV – BMW iX

The BMW iX is the best electric luxury SUV of 2023. The base price is $79,990 and comes with a bold look. There are a few options like a sporty model that was developed by the M performance division. The base model comes with less power and a smaller batter but is still impressive. You can get between 322 km to 521 km on a full battery, depending on the model. It has all the stunning features you expect from a BMW so you’ll be riding in style. The look is very modern and you’d barely even believe it’s an SUV as it’s quite compact.

The best SUV for you will depend on your lifestyle and needs. If you are looking for a vehicle that is better for the environment, the Volvo Xc40 Recharge could be your best option. If you’re looking for a Hybrid, the Rav4 is an excellent choice. When it comes to car insurance, you might want to opt for an SUV with plenty of safety features and a smaller engine. If you’re looking for luxury, the Escalade or the BMW’s mentioned on our list are a good bet. Remember that you can lower your car payments by exploring auto refinancing options. If you are outdoorsy and want a vehicle that is going to get you through challenging terrain, the best SUV on the list has to be the Jeep Wrangler. The nice thing is, there are a plethora of options out there and an SUV for every Canadian. If you like one of these SUV brands but don’t have great credit you can still explore bad credit car loans with online providers.