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Nature is a big inspiration when automakers name new cars, trucks, and SUVs. Many sport utility vehicles on the road today are named after places like a city, forest, or even a neighborhood around the world. Check out the aptly-named vehicles from Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia SUVs named after places you might have visited.

1. Hyundai Santa Fe

You don’t have to know that the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV is named after a place in New Mexico, but it is! The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is a compact SUV for families. It makes sense the Hyundai brand used the name of an exciting place to draw buyers into the vehicle. Thanks to that name, Capital One says the Santa Fe is a big seller for the brand. Drivers like this smaller SUV because it is easy to park and drive and starts under $30,000 this year.

2. Toyota Sequoia

You might think that the Toyota Sequoia SUV is named after the Sequoia National Park, but Toyota says it is named after the trees themselves. Does that mean it should be eliminated from this list? Perhaps. Either way, the Toyota Sequoia is one of the biggest SUVs in the lineup. The Sequoia name is fitting for the upscale and capable 2023 Toyota Sequoia. Toyota’s current slogan is “Let’s Go Places,” and the Sequoia is a spacious option to do just that.

3. Chevrolet Tahoe

Drivers love the Chevrolet Tahoe for all the space throughout the cabin. It also comes in an extended-length version with even more room in the cargo area. There are a few places related to the Tahoe name, such as Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, and Tahoe Pines, all in California. Either way, the Chevy Tahoe is a spacious and comfortable full-size SUV. The 2023 Chevy Tahoe starts at over $50,000 this year, but it has a lot to offer a bigger family.

4. Kia Telluride

There is no denying that the Kia Telluride has a hold on American shoppers. It is boxy, upscale, and has all of the features drivers are looking for in a brand-new SUV. On top of that, the Telluride seems capable enough to fit in with some of the other bigger SUVs. Telluride, Colorado, is a hot spot these days, and you can’t find a cheap house there any longer. That also rings true for the Kia Telluride’s popularity, with prices increasing as supply dwindled. Things have mostly settled with the 2023 Kia Telluride, but most versions are over $35,000 for a new one.

5. Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango is still on the market, offering plenty of room for the whole family. Dodge provides this SUV with its powerful V8 engine, making it one of the faster SUVs. Driving the Dodge Durango in Durango, Colorado, might be useful in the snow. These days, this Dodge SUV is mainly used for spirited family hauling around town, but it does an excellent job of that. Starting at over $40,000, the 2023 Dodge Durango is fully-customizable from the factory or after you take delivery. It will get you places pretty fast; that’s a promise from Dodge.

Selecting a picturesque location to name a new car or SUV after makes sense, and these automakers capitalized on it. You probably won’t find anyone naming a car after a dangerous area in California, but a tranquil surfing town or affluent neighborhood works. These are a few of the SUVs named after places here in the US.

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