Most and Least Researched SUVs: February 2026

Eighteen of the top 25 most researched vehicles in America last month were SUVs. And at the top of the list sits a nameplate that leads all others in sales.

The compact crossover category, led by the Toyota RAV4, earns nine of the top 25 spots. Medium-sized options like the Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota 4Runner, and Honda Pilot also make strong showings. And of course, there are plenty of three-row SUVs toward the top of the rankings, such as the Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Grand Highlander, Kia Telluride, and Chevrolet Traverse.

Most Researched SUVs February 2026:

Perhaps what’s noticeable on this month’s list is the lack of traditional body-on-frame SUVs.

The Jeep Wrangler serves its own off-road niche and lands in 15th place, but popular models like the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban fall out of the top 25. Even more mainstream rear-wheel-drive SUVs like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee fail to crack into this list that’s dominated by car-like crossovers.

Moving in the opposite direction to take a look at the bottom of the rankings reveals a few behemoth SUVs, such as the Lexus LX and high-performance versions of the popular Cadillac Escalade. But those SUVs are also very expensive, which obviously limits their mainstream appeal. As is usually the case, Audi models – nearly all of which have convoluted nameplates – dominate the list, taking six out of the bottom 10 spots.

Least Researched SUVs of February 2026:

If we were to pick out one model that we wouldn’t expect to see this far toward the bottom of the rankings, which we compile using data provided exclusively to AutoGuide via AutoFinder.com — an automotive marketplace featuring over 3 million new and used vehicle listings, connecting consumers with top dealerships nationwide to easily find and secure the best deal on a car, truck, or SUV, it would be the Lexus TX 550h+.

To be fair, though, the plug-in hybrid is the priciest of all TX-badged Lexus models, with an MSRP that starts over $80,000. We’d bet versions like the TX 350 that start in the high-$50,000 range get a lot more clicks online.

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