In the crowded field of compact SUVs, where the list of options is seemingly endless, one brand that continues to deliver strong offerings is Mazda, which offers its longtime best-seller the CX-5, as well as its newer, more rugged CX-50 offering.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2026 Mazda CX-50, and here are 5 things you should know before you decide whether this is a vehicle that belongs in your driveway.

1. Full of safety features 

Safety is a top concern for all car buyers, especially those with families, and Mazda delivers all the major systems that the public has come to expect.

These include LATCH child safety seat anchors for those with small children, automatic emergency braking, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, Traffic Sign Recognition and more.

A Driver Attention Alert tracks for drivers who are not being attentive to the road and warns that you might need a brake. And of course there’s a full array of air bags included. You can also opt for helpful 360-degree cameras.

Collectively, drivers of the CX-50 can be confident that the vehicle is doing everything it can to keep them safe and prevent accidents.

Sometimes less can be more. Take the case of Volvo, for example.

While the luxury automaker’s overall size as a car brand and total annual sales may be less than BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus and other competitors, it consistently takes home awards (including honors in the recent 2026 Parents Best Family Car Awards), and for many families a Volvo is the only choice they will accept.

After driving the 2026 Volvo XC90, an impressive three-row SUV, I’m not surprised at this level of dedication. Between its strong design and family-friendly features, plus improved tech and Volvo’s traditional safety prowess, the brand has plenty to offer that would inspire such devotion.

Other offerings in this segment (including Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5, Lexus TX, Acura MDX, Lincoln Aviator and Genesis GV80) may be flashier at times, but Volvo ignores that type of hype and focuses on what counts most — making a vehicle that people will love and appreciate.

Read on for a full review of how the XC90 — which got a major design refresh in 2025 and mostly carries over for 2026, holds up against this stiff competition.

As families grow, so does the need for a larger vehicle.
And like most automakers, Mazda’s lineup includes a three-row SUV that caters to SUV buyers who need up to 8 seats for their growing families.

That offering would be the CX-90, which I recently tested in both a standard gas version, and a plug-in hybrid option (one of few PHEV options in this size of vehicle).

Mazda is unique in the auto world, as they aren’t quite a luxury brand, but their offerings are of a quality that stands above most of the competition in the “non-luxury” tier. Call it luxury-light or whatever you will, but Mazda typically has two calling cards for its lineup of vehicles
— A classy/upscale design
— A strong driving experience

The CX-90 can be cross-shopped with three-row SUVs from nonluxury brands like Toyota, Kia and Honda; while its top trim levels also have some ability to compete with luxury brands like Acura and Volvo.

Read on for a full review to see if that reputation holds up on the 2026 CX-90 lineup (which carries over from the 2025 offering without significant updates).

Entering the realm of the luxury automobile may seem like a tall task for car buyers, but with brands like Volvo, it’s easier than you may imagine.

Take their subcompact SUV offering, the XC40, for example. Starting around the low $40K price range, it provides a foot in the door for people looking to step up on the class scale — as long as they’re good with limited space in the rear seats and in the cargo hold.

Volvo’s larger XC60 and XC90 SUVs are more spacious, but if you’re less concerned with the amount of space but still want the Volvo quality design, drive quality and safety features, the XC40 is a strong option to consider — and it competes well against other smaller SUV options in the class — including the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB, Acura ADX and Lincoln Corsair.

Read on for a full review on the 2026 Volvo XC40, which I recently had the opportunity to experience, to learn more about how it holds up vs. its rivals.

As they seek to court luxury buyers with eco-friendly leanings, upscale automakers are covering the gamut in terms of electric vehicle offerings.

This means offering not just pure EVs, but also plug-in hybrids for buyers not quite ready to make the leap to fully electric.

One such brand is Sweden’s Volvo, which offers a PHEV (plug-in hybrid) version of its 2026 Volvo XC60 midsize SUV, which offers a total of 35 miles in pure electric driving before the gas engine kicks in.

The luxury plug-in hybrid market is packed with competitors, including offerings from Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Audi and BMW.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2026 Volvo XC60 T8 AWD plug-in hybrid (Ultra trim level), and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up in this growing luxury sector. Read on to learn more about the XC60 PHEV and how it stacks up.