5 Best SUVs for City Driving

City driving is tough. Narrow streets, endless pedestrians, and distracting noise combine to create a stressful driving experience. Whether hitting that daily commute or bringing the kids to soccer practice, you need a vehicle that keeps you safe and steady, even in bustling cities. If sedans are too small and minivans just aren’t your style, an SUV might be right up your alley.

Continue reading to learn about a few compact SUVs that are secure enough to protect the people who matter most when you spend days in the city. 

1. Kia Sportage

First on our list is the Kia Sportage. With 39.6 cubic feet of storage space, this SUV takes away the annoyance of squeezing the whole family’s groceries in a car that doesn’t fit them. When you fold down the second row, you’ll have a whopping 74.1 cubic feet of storage. The Sportage is also equipped with modern technology to keep you safe.

The Sportage features a forward collision assist system that provides audible and visual warnings when it detects an upcoming obstacle. It also includes lane departure warnings, which alert if you start to exit your lane without signaling. The high-resolution rearview monitor enhances visibility when reversing, reducing safety concerns and helping you feel comfortable even in busy areas.

The Kia Sportage has also been praised for its fuel efficiency, with an MPG range generally in the 21-30 range.

2. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The compact SUV category might make you worry about storage, but the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has all the cargo space you could ever want. You’ll get 37.5 cubic feet with the last row in use, and 69.8 cubic feet when it’s folded down, so you can cart around groceries, bikes, or gym bags without taking up too much room.

With safety features like automated emergency braking (with pedestrian detection, perfect for crowded cities), lane-departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control, you’ll feel safe navigating the RAV4 Hybrid with your kids in the backseat.

This SUV won't let you slip if you get caught in a rainstorm. The Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD) feature gives you the extra traction you need on slippery roads. When it comes to curb appeal, the RAV4’s sharp silhouette gives it a cool look you might find more appealing than other SUVs.

3. Hyundai Tucson

When you head to the city in a Hyundai Tucson, you can trust that innovative safety features surround you. This SUV features forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, reverse parking collision avoidance, and a surround-view monitor, allowing you to focus on the road while relying on your car to keep you safe.

With an average MPG rate of 25 in cities, the Hyundai Tucson is solidly fuel-efficient, so you can cut back on gas station stops.

The Hyundai Tucson has 41.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind its second row and 80.3 cubic feet behind its first row, which is ideal for groceries, gym bags, and other important items. 

4.  Nissan Rogue

When you’re caught up in stop-and-go traffic, it’s better to be stuck in a car you love.

The Nissan Rogue’s compact size and suite of safety features make it easy to fall for, and you’re sure to feel confident when cruising through the city in one.

This SUV is equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360®, and features like automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alerts, and a lane departure warning system will make you feel at ease in the city. This fully modern model also has Google Automotive Services built in, so you can pull up Google Maps on your vehicle’s screen for easy navigation in confusing urban areas.

With an MPG of 29 for city driving, the Rogue will even help you save on gas money.

This SUV also lives up to the others on this list in terms of storage space, giving you 36.5 cubic feet of cargo room with back seats up and 74.1 cubic feet when they’re folded down. 

5. Chevrolet Trax

The Chevrolet Trax is a compact SUV that works well in cities. Its smaller size makes maneuvering through tight spots and crowded streets easy. The Trax even simplifies errands, giving you 25.6 cubic feet of room behind the rear row and 54.1 cubic feet when you fold it down. The Trax is also solidly fuel-efficient with an MPG of 28 in the city and 32 on the highway.

Safety is standard in the Chevrolet Trax, and features like StabiliTrak, an electronic stability control system, help keep you steady even in the middle of traffic jams. The Trax also features forward collision alerts, lane departure warnings, and an HD rearview camera. 

Head to the city with Transwest

Whether you’re hitting city streets or heading to the countryside, Transwest has a broad range of vehicles to help you reach your destination safely. View our online inventory or stop by today to test-drive our selection of SUVs and other vehicles