The 2027 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year field spans budget crossovers, hybrids and long-range electrics. A preliminary list of contenders was published in September, with finalists due November 19 and winners set for January 14. Here are eleven of those SUVs, running from a $24,990 Kia to a BMW rated at 434 miles.
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1. Kia Seltos: Cheapest Way In
The all-new 2027 Kia Seltos sits on the preliminary contender list and carries a 2027 starting price of $24,990 for the LX front-wheel-drive trim. The LX AWD version follows at $26,690, which makes the whole range start well under the $30,000 mark.
That $24,990 figure is the low end of the field covered in this gallery and the number the headline leans on. Stepping up to all-wheel drive adds $1,700, so buyers weighing traction against budget can see the cost of that choice immediately, before any options enter the picture.
2. Chevrolet Bolt: Return of the Small Bolt
Chevrolet lists the 2027 Bolt at $29,990, a figure that includes a $1,395 destination charge, and rates it at 262 miles of EPA range. The model is on the preliminary utility contender list alongside several other electric entries.
The destination fee matters when comparing sticker prices across brands, since some quote totals without it. Pairing a sub-$30,000 price with an official EPA range makes the Bolt one of the clearest value arguments among the electric contenders, even before incentives or financing are considered.
3. Kia EV3: Affordable and Far-Reaching
Kia’s EV3 goes on sale in the United States at $29,890, and a first-drive report puts its range at up to 321 miles on a charge. The electric SUV is also among the preliminary utility contenders, giving Kia two entries near the bottom of the price range.
Only $100 separates it from the Bolt on sticker price, while the stated range is longer. The 321 miles is a maximum for the best configuration, so real-world results will depend on trim, wheels, temperature and driving style.
4. Mazda CX-5: All-Wheel Drive for All
The refreshed 2027 Mazda CX-5 begins at $31,485 for the 2.5 S Select, according to a Carscoops pricing rundown. All-wheel drive is standard on every trim, so no separate AWD surcharge applies anywhere in the lineup.
Standard AWD removes a common upsell step and makes the entry price directly comparable with rivals that charge extra for it. The CX-5 also sits only about $1,600 above the EV3, a narrow gap for shoppers deciding between a gasoline model and an electric one.
5. Jeep Cherokee: Hybrid-Only Comeback
The returning Jeep Cherokee is hybrid-only for 2027, delivering 37 mpg combined and starting from $35,130, based on Autoblog’s pricing report. The report highlights all-wheel drive in the same headline, and the nameplate is one of the preliminary contenders for utility vehicle of the year.
Dropping gasoline-only versions makes the fuel-economy number the main selling point of the comeback. At $35,130 it costs roughly $3,600 more than the CX-5’s starting price, so the hybrid system and efficiency are what shoppers would be paying for.
6. Nissan Rogue Hybrid: Japan-Built Hybrid
Nissan rates the 2027 Rogue Hybrid e-Power at up to 41 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 38 mpg combined, with 225 hp, in its press kit. The model, a preliminary utility contender, is built in Japan.
Those mileage numbers are Nissan’s own estimates rather than EPA figures, a distinction worth keeping in mind when comparing it with the Cherokee’s 37 mpg combined. The 38 mpg combined rating still tops that figure on paper, though the two were not measured the same way.
7. Volkswagen Atlas: More Power, Same Name
The all-new 2027 Volkswagen Atlas now makes 282 horsepower, up from 269, according to Kelley Blue Book’s debut coverage. The redesigned SUV joins the preliminary list of utility vehicle contenders with that extra output.
A 13-horsepower gain is modest, but it arrives with a full redesign of a nameplate that has been on sale for years. The report cited here covers power only, so pricing, efficiency and range would need to come from later announcements.
8. Kia Telluride: Safety Award With a Catch
The 2027 Kia Telluride earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, with a condition: the IIHS announcement says only vehicles built after June 2026 qualify. The SUV is also a preliminary utility contender, making it Kia’s third entry in the field.
That build-date requirement means the award does not automatically cover every Telluride on a dealer lot. Shoppers who care about the rating should check the production date on a specific vehicle before assuming it carries the distinction, since earlier builds fall outside the award.
9. Jeep Recon: The Open-Air Electric Off-Roader
Jeep’s battery-electric Recon, one of 16 utility contenders on the preliminary list, makes 670 combined horsepower from two motors and is rated for up to 240 miles, according to Kelley Blue Book’s launch report. The launch Moab trim, the only version offered at first, is rated at 222 miles and starts at $68,990 including destination.
Its doors come off, and the audio speakers sit under the seats so the sound keeps playing with the doors removed. The Moab adds 33-inch tires and more than nine inches of ground clearance, making the Recon the most trail-focused entry in this field.
10. BMW iX3: Long-Range Luxury
BMW prices the 2027 iX3 50 xDrive at $61,500 and cites official EPA estimated range of up to 434 miles. The electric SUV is a preliminary utility contender and the source of the longest range figure in this gallery.
That mileage is the reason the iX3 anchors the top of the list, though it sits roughly $36,500 above the Seltos on price. The range is stated as a maximum for this xDrive version, so everyday results will vary with conditions and driving style.
11. Volvo EX60: Fast-Charging Newcomer
Volvo Car USA announced the 2027 EX60 at a starting price of $58,400, with up to 307 miles of range in the P6 version and 10-80% charging in 16 minutes. The model is among the preliminary contenders.
Quick charging is the practical detail here, since it shortens stops on long trips more than a bigger battery alone might. The range figure applies to the P6 configuration, and other versions may differ from the numbers quoted in the announcement.
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