The 6 Best American-Made SUVs Aren’t What You Think
What comes to mind when you think of American-made SUVs? Typically we might think of the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Durango, or other models from legacy automakers. What might surprise you is the list of foreign-branded vehicles built in America.
What makes a best American-made SUV?
For this list, the six models at the top are assembled in a U.S. plant and receive high marks from U.S. News & World Report. The names we generally associate with being American-made still fall under that distinction but might not be some top-rated models.
Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride is the top-rated SUV in its class and is built at the only automotive manufacturing plant in Georgia. This popular SUV is built alongside the Kia Sorento, Kia K5, and Kia Sportage. The Telluride is a three-row midsize SUV with room for adults in all three rows. The Kia Telluride won the Best 3-Row SUV for the Money award and was a Best 3-Row SUV for Families finalist.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The Warren Truck Plant near Detroit, Michigan, is home to the relatively new Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see this big SUV on the list. The Grand Wagoneer is the newest flagship model of Jeep, offering incredible luxury features and a full-size build that makes it roomy enough for seven or eight passengers. This massive SUV uses a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine to pump out 471 horsepower and tow up to 9,850 pounds.
Honda CR-V
That’s right; the Honda CR-V is one of the best American-made SUVs. This compact crossover has become so popular in the United States that it’s built at several plants, including the East Liberty facility in Ohio at the Honda plant in Greenburg, Indiana. In 2022, the CR-V was named the Best Compact SUV for the Money, which is pretty impressive for a model in its final generational year.
Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson is built at the Hyundai Plant in Montgomery, Alabama. This massive facility is responsible for 14,000 jobs in the state. The Tucson is among the top compact SUVs ranked every year and was named the 2022 Best Compact SUV for families. The Tucson offers the best powertrain warranty in the automotive industry, and it’s packed with features that make it easy to drive and enjoy on any road.
Lincoln Navigator
It should come as no surprise that the luxury arm of Ford has one of the best American-made SUVs. The large Lincoln Navigator is built in Louisville, Kentucky, at the same facility as its platform-mate, the Ford Expedition. The Navigator is the largest and heaviest model in the Lincoln family of SUVs. This big brute is powered by an EcoBoost V6 engine that produces 440 horsepower, 510 lb-ft of torque, and can tow up to 8,700 pounds.
Jeep Wagoneer
The top-rated American-made SUV is the Jeep Wagoneer. As you might have guessed, it’s built at the Warren Truck Plant alongside the more luxurious Grand Wagoneer. The Wagoneer uses a 5.7-liter Hem V8 engine that produces 392 horsepower. It might not be quite as luxurious as its Grand sibling, but it brings you a full package of upscale Jeep features to make it the top model on this list.
Which of these American-made SUVs will you consider driving?
