10 5 Passenger SUVs

Tried, tested, and true, 5 passenger SUVs have become the bread and butter of the automotive industry. Having swept across the vehicular landscape over the course of the past decade, obliterating the viability of traditional wagons and taking a sizable chunk out of minivan and sedan sales, 5 passenger SUVs are the default choice of families across the country who are looking for the versatility, passenger room, and cargo space offered by this class of automobile. Let's take a quick look at 10 5 passenger SUVs that range from inexpensive to luxurious.

1) 2015 Honda CR-V

The 2015 Honda CR-V is a 5 passenger SUV mainstay, a vehicle that thousands of buyers have returned to again and again due to its appealing combination of affordability and reliability. The Honda CR-V also offers 70.9 cubic feet of total cargo space, accessible via the vehicle's automatically-folding second row of seats. A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine sits under the hood of the SUV, where it produces 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, and a continuously variable transmission is included free of charge. Fuel mileage for the Honda is listed at 24 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway, and all-wheel drive can be ordered with the CR-V as an option.

2) 2015 Kia Sportage

The 2015 Kia Sportage is aimed at family buyers on a budget, but the compact SUV delivers surprisingly fresh styling and a strong list of available features for such an inexpensive automobile. The Kia Sportage is offered with two drivetrain options: a base 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine good for 182 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the SX trim that delivers 260 horses and 269 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with the Sportage (and all-wheel drive is optional), and fuel mileage for the entry-level mill edges ahead of those of the turbo unit (21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway). In addition to its 5 passenger seating, the Kia provides 54.6 cubic feet of storage space with the second row folded forward.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

3) 2015 Ford Edge

All new for 2015, the Ford Edge presents shoppers with an almost bewildering array of drivetrain choices and trim levels. It's hard to go wrong sticking with the 5 passenger SUV's 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, but an available 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 245 ponies and slightly more torque while presenting the best fuel mileage of the bunch (20 mpg city and 30 mpg highway). Those concerned more with performance than efficiency can go with the Edge Sport, which churns out 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque from a 2.7-liter twin turbo V-6. Six-speed automatic transmissions are standard all around, while all-wheel drive is optional. When it's time to carry cargo instead of people, the Edge comes through with 73.4 cubic feet of interior space.

Photo by Ford Media

4) 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most off-road capable entry on our list of 5 passenger SUVs. In addition to its generous ride height (with available air suspension adjustability), the Jeep Grand Cherokee provides the choice between three different four-wheel drive systems. It would be a mistake to think that its all-terrain status affects its ride quality, as the Jeep comes with a host of high end features and a smooth driving experience that elevates it to near-premium status. A 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 engine that is good for 240 horsepower, 420 lb-ft of torque, and fuel mileage of 21 mpg around town and 30 mpg on the highway adds efficiency to the Grand Cherokee lineup. An eight-speed automatic transmission also makes an appearance, and it is standard not just with the turbodiesel mill but also when ordering the Grand Cherokee with either its 290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine or its 5.7-liter, 360-horsepower Hemi V-8. Interior volume in the Jeep comes close to that of the Ford Edge, with 69 cubic feet of cargo space on offer.

Photo by Jeep

5) 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek

The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek is based on the popular Subaru Impreza compact car, adding 8.7 inches of ground clearance as well as rugged-looking fender flares and a few other styling tweaks to the hatchback Impreza's visual package. The Subaru XV Crosstrek matches the 5 passenger seating of the Subaru hatch, and also provides 51.9 cubic feet of total cargo space. A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine is the only engine available with the SUV (although there is also a hybrid model), and it generates 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is included with the XV Crosstrek at no charge, and although a five-speed manual transmission comes with the base version of the vehicle, opting for the Subaru's continuously variable automatic gearbox guarantees the best fuel mileage: 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

Photo by Subaru

6) 2016 Mazda CX-5

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is a compact 5 passenger SUV that can be counted on to provide better-than-average handling, giving it a fun-to-drive persona that is often missing in its segment. The Mazda CX-5's 2.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder engine has been tuned to balance power with efficiency, producing 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque while also returning fuel mileage of 26 mpg in city driving and 35 mpg during highway cruising. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder boosts horsepower to 184 and torque to 185. A six-speed manual transmission speaks to enthusiasts, while a six-speed automatic also puts in an appearance - and is in fact necessary when ordering the CX-5 with optional all-wheel drive. Cargo capacity for the Mazda tops out at a generous 64.8 cubic feet.

7) 2015 Land Rover LR4

The boxy styling of the 2015 Land Rover LR4 has become synonymous with the impressive level of luxury that it has to offer those seeking a traditional, 5 passenger SUV. The Land Rover LR4 backs up its leather-lined interior, 87.4 cubic feet of total cargo space, and startlingly effective off-road package with a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 engine that can be counted on to deliver 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission feeds this output to all four wheels via a standard four-wheel drive system, and fuel economy for the LR4 is listed at a thirsty 15 mpg in stop and go driving and 19 mpg on the highway.

8) 2015 Lincoln MKX

The 2015 Lincoln MKX is based on a platform that is similar to that of the Ford Edge, but it takes the 5 passenger SUV formula in a far more premium direction. Extroverted exterior styling conceals a passenger compartment that has been loaded with high tech features, as well as the ability to haul up to 69 cubic feet of gear with the second row of accommodations out of the picture. A 3.7-liter V-6 engine is the sole drivetrain that can be ordered with the Lincoln MKX, although its 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque hardly make one feel as though one is missing out. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with the MKX, and all-wheel drive is available as an option.

9) 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan straddles the line between affordable and premium in the compact 5 passenger SUV segment. The Volkswagen Tiguan does a good job of presenting VW's winning combination of high quality materials and a willing chassis, and the vehicle's 56.1 cubic feet of cargo space (with the rear seats folded) are complemented by an engaging experience behind the wheel. Add to this a 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (that also delivers 207 lb-ft of torque), a six-speed automatic transmission, and available all-wheel drive, and the VW Tiguan becomes an intriguing choice for upwardly-mobile families. Fuel mileage for the Volkswagen shows as 21 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway.

10) 2015 Lexus RX

The 2015 Lexus RX is far and away the best-selling member of the Lexus line-up, with buyers lining up around the block to sample its luxurious yet practical wares. The Lexus RX now offers the F Sport trim, which attempts to inject some driving excitement into what has been a traditionally staid chassis by way of stiffening its suspension system and also adding some visual flair. A 3.5-liter V-6 engine good for 270 ponies and 248 lb-ft of twist are standard for the RX - as is a six-speed automatic transmission - while all-wheel drive can be ordered as an option. Total cargo space for the 5 passenger SUV is listed as 80 cubic feet, and fuel mileage checks in at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.