Sports Utility Vehicles, or SUVs, are an increasingly common car segment. A wide variety of offerings vary in style, capacity, lifestyle, and budget. With so many options, it can be complicated to make the right choice. Thus, it is essential to start by considering your needs instead of what is being offered. Consider cars that are better at meeting your specific needs, along with covering the bare necessities, to ensure you’re making the right choice.

Driving system
Not all SUVs offer an all-wheel drive feature. Some might only offer 2-wheel drive, which might more often than not power the front wheels. It is also one of the most fuel-efficient options.

Safety features
The sheer height and size of an SUV alone add to its safety features. The size of the car compared to others makes it more reliable in case of an accident. That said, safety features like airbags for the front and sides, stability control, and anti-lock brakes are added advantages. Features like blind spot monitoring and collision warning are also great to have on board, along with a driving assistance system.

Seating capacity
A higher seating capacity is one of the most appealing features of an SUV. Most SUVs can comfortably seat five full-size adults. Some mid to full-size SUVs also have a third row that can allow you to seat as many as six to eight passengers.

Configurations
It might take some time to figure out which SUV meets your needs with its configuration. Evaluate your requirements and find an SUV that provides enough cargo space. Most SUVs also offer versatile seat configurations. You can fold down the second and third-row seats when you need extra storage space. You might even be able to find one with hands-free liftgates making loading and unloading easier.

Towing capacity
You might need your car to tow some heavy load at some point. You have to pre-plan and invest in an SUV with decent towing capacity. If your towing needs are more frequent, you might want to look at truck-based SUVs rather than car-based ones. Midsize SUVs generally offer 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, while the larger ones usually make up to 9,000 pounds.

Mileage
Most SUVs guzzle fuel, and their fuel efficiency is one of the reasons people do not prefer SUVs over a sedan. However, with the newer crossover models, that problem has been corrected to some extent.