The modern SUV market has quietly gotten out of hand. Prices keep climbing , and a lot of what you’re paying for is extra size and badge appeal you don’t really need.

Every new generation seems bigger than the last, and naturally, more expensive too. It might look impressive on the road, but that added bulk doesn’t always translate to real-world usefulness.

There is one SUV , though, that takes a different approach. It focuses on the stuff that actually matters day to day—without inflating the price just for the sake of it.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from BMW , Honda , Mazda , Nissan , and Toyota , as well as other authoritative sources including the EPA , IIHS , J.D.…