When it comes to choosing a family vehicle, safety and reliability sit at the top of the priority list. In 2025, a number of new SUVs stand out for offering both, giving parents peace of mind and delivering dependable performance year after year.
These models come equipped withadvanced driver-assistance systems, strong crash-test ratings, and proven track records for mechanical durability. Whether you’re driving through daily school runs or planning a long road trip, they provide the protection and consistency families count on. Many also offer roomy interiors, user-friendly tech, and flexible seating arrangements.
In a crowded SUV market, only a few strike the perfect balance between safety, reliability, and overall family-friendliness. If you’re shopping with your loved ones in mind, these are the top models worth considering in 2025. They’re not just smart choices, they’re built to keep your family secure and satisfied for the long haul.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including CarEdge, RepairPal, the NHTSA, and the IIHS. All reliability scores have been sourced from J.D. Power.
102025 Toyota 4Runner
Predicted Reliability Score: 86/100
The 4Runner has long been a favorite of those seeking outdoor thrills, and for good reason. It istough, rustic, and reliable, and it comes with three rows of seats. It was redesigned for the 2025 model year and will still take some time to prove itself, but it is expected to be just as reliable as its predecessor.
Key Safety Features
The 2025 4Runner gets Toyota’s latest safety suite, Toyota Safety Sense P, which comes with pre-collision warnings and automatic avoidance systems. It also offers semi-autonomous through its advanced radar cruise control system, which combines with lane-keep assist.
92025 Chevrolet Blazer
The Blazer has come a long way from what it originally was in the 70s and 80s. It has been suburbanized, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.The mid-size SUVis a great option if you want something that stands out on the road, with an athletic profile and some interesting powertrain options.
Chevrolet’s Blazer is a particularly safe vehicle. Along with its impressively long list of standard safety features, it scores highly in crash testing. The NHTSA has given it five stars out of five in their safety tests. While the IIHS has yet to fully test the crossover, it has passed its crash testing with good results.
82025 Kia Telluride
When it comes to value for money, Kia offers some of the best vehicles on the road right now. The mid-size three-row Telluride is the perfect example of this. It isimpressively spacious in all three rows, comes loaded with standard features, and is more affordable than most of its key rivals.
Alongside the long list of standard safety features offered in the 2025 Telluride, advanced features like automatic high beams and a 360-degree camera are also available on some higher trim levels. The Telluride gets five stars for safety from the NHTSA and the Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.
72025 Ford Explorer
Predicted Reliability Score: 87/100
If a brawny-looking mid-size SUV is what you’re after, then the Explorer will definitely meet your expectations. This three-row SUV comes with either a stoic V-6 or an overachieving turbocharged four-cylinder, offering plenty of grunt. There is also tons of space on the inside.
Ford endows the Explorer with a plethora of standard driver assists, includinga host of collision-avoidance systems. Things like self-parking assist are also on the table, but only for higher trims. It has also passed a number of crash tests, which is why the NHTSA gives it five stars out of five.
62025 BMW X4
BMW is a brand that has done some great work in improving the reliability of their stable over the last couple of years. They now rank among the best brands you can buy for longevity. The perfect example of this isthe BMW X4, the coupe-like cousin of the X3, which has great reviews from owners.
While BMW does include a number of core driver assists standard on the X4, a lot of the most desirable features are kept in optional packages that will cost you extra. While the BMW X4 is yet to be tested by the IIHS, its mechanically similar cousin, the X3, was given the Top Safety Pick+ award.
52025 Ford Bronco Sport
Predicted Reliability Score: 88/100
The compact Bronco Sport provides a more affordable point of entry for those looking for an adventurous Ford. While not as capable as its bigger sibling, it can still go further off the beaten track than most of its rivals. While considered reliable, take note that Ford is still struggling to get on top ofa number of recalls.
The most important safety features, such as collision detection and avoidance, are standard on the Ford Bronco Sport. However, more advanced features like adaptive cruise control are kept optional. The NHTSA gives the Bronco Sport five stars out of five for safety.
42025 Chevrolet Equinox
Chevrolet has redesigned the Equinox for the 2025 model year, giving it bold new styling and a fresh interior. While this does mean that its reliability score should be taken with a grain of salt for the time being, many of the mechanical components from the outgoing model year have been kept, including the powertrain.
The list of standard equipment offered in the 2025 Equinox is pretty extensive, with advanced features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering being included from the word go. A 360-degree camera system, rear pedestrian detection, and traffic sign recognition are all optional extras.
32025 Chevrolet Traverse
If the Equinox and the Blazer prove to be too small for your needs, the Traverse should have you covered. Thisthree-row mid-size SUVcomes with a cavernous interior and a third row that is big enough for adults. It is powerful, loaded with standard features, and comes with a user-friendly infotainment system.
As is the case with most of Chevy’s new vehicles, the Traverse comes packed with standard driver assists. On certain models, you can also order your 2025 Travers with GM’s Super Cruise hands-free system, which offers level 2 autonomy on certain roads. The Traverse is a Top Safety Pick in the eyes of the IIHS and scores five stars out of five for safety in the NHTSA’s testing.
22025 Cadillac XT5
The XT5 has gone eight years without a proper redesign, which is a long time in the car world. While this means it’s showing its age a bit, it also means that it has a great track record when it comes to reliability. It is easily themost reliable new SUV that you may buy for under $45,000.
While most collision detection and avoidance systems are standard in the XT5, certain things, like blind-spot monitoring, will cost you extra. We feel that this is just another way the XT5 shows its age. Despite this, the NHTSA has put the XT5 through its paces and awarded it five stars out of five for safety.
12025 Infiniti QX80
Predicted Reliability Score: 89/100
Infiniti has been working hard to regain its standing in the luxury world, with it having somewhat of a fall from grace. However, if the redesigned QX80 is anything to go off of, the future of the brand looks bright. With the new QX80 being completely redone from head to toe, only time will tell if it lives up to its reliability score.
There are a ton of features that come standard on the new QX80, including collision avoidance systems and adaptive cruise control. Infiniti offers a more advanced cruise control system as part of their ProPilot Assist 2.1 package, which providesa hands-free driving mode. This is only available on higher trims, though.
