2024 Infiniti QX60
Best Safety Value: $57,050 (Luxe)
Base Price: $51,000 | Expert Rating: 4.0
Combined Fuel Economy: 23 mpg
A sporty-looking 3-row luxury SUV, the Infiniti QX60 is a hoot to drive under any conditions and rather impressive in the snow when armed with available AWD. It launched in its current generation in 2022; therefore, everything feels fresh and up to date. Competitively priced for a luxury SUV, the QX60 is smartly outfitted with several of our suggested safety features, even in its entry-level Pure trim. For example, the Pure includes rain-sensing wipers, hill-start assist, auto on/off LED headlights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, 10 airbags, and heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals. Among the standard safety tech are blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency braking. It also comes with high-beam assist, lane-departure warning, and rear park assist.
Infiniti doesn’t offer any options for the Pure; consequently, you must move up to the Luxe grade to gain a surround-view camera, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, and front park assist. Blind-spot monitoring with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto-dimming outboard mirrors are also standard with Luxe. Moreover, stepping up to the Luxe includes navigation-based ProPilot that helps the driver steer, brake, and accelerate the QX60 under certain conditions. Our advice is to pick the Luxe grade. In any event, the QX60 is an IIHS TSP.
See Infiniti QX60 models for sale near you
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee/Grand Cherokee L
Best Safety Value: $38,290 (Laredo A)
Base Price: $38,290 | Expert Rating: 4.3
Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
A big selling point for the Jeep Grand Cherokee is its blend of on-road comfort and, with 4-wheel drive (4WD), off-road capability. However, the price we list here is for the Laredo A, a rear-wheel-drive-only trim. In other words, it’s the Laredo grade without the 4-wheel-drive option. A sort of back-to-basics trim, the Laredo A only comes in white with two rows of seats and no available options. From our safety features list, the Cherokee provides LED headlights, hill-start assist, and seven airbags. The Grand Cherokee is an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Among our recommended advanced safety technologies, the Grand Cherokee has rear-park assist with automatic braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Stepping up to the Limited trim adds high-beam assist. Because the move up to the Limited adds more than $9,000 to the bottom line, we’d stay with the Laredo A or the $39,850 Laredo.
See Jeep Grand Cherokee models for sale near you
2024 Kia EV9
Best Safety Value: $56,395 (Light)
Base Price: $56,395 | Expert Rating: 4.7
Combined Fuel Economy: 88 MPGe
All-new for 2024, the Kia EV9 is a 3-row, all-electric SUV. The entry-level rear-wheel-drive Light trim has an estimated maximum range of 230 miles. Opting for the Light Long Range extends that estimate to 304 miles. Already earning accolades, the IIHS added the EV9 (models built after January 2024) to its list of TSP winners. The NHTSA has yet to rate it. The EV9 comes with 10 airbags, hill-start assist, auto on/off LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals.
Included in the EV9’s standard Drive Wise advanced safety tech are high-beam assist, junction-turning assist, blind-spot monitoring with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and navigation-assisted adaptive cruise control that adjusts the speed when entering/exiting a curve. Drive Wise also provides front-rear park assist, safe-exit assist, and Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2 semi-autonomous driving system that can steer, brake, and accelerate the EV9 under certain conditions. Moving up through the EV9 grades doesn’t add much in the way of advanced safety features until you reach the pinnacle of trim levels, the GT-Line. We’d stick with the Light trim or spend the extra five grand for the Light Long Range for the additional range.
See Kia EV9 models for sale near you
