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Best American-Made SUVs in 2026, Ranked by Cars.com’s Index

Cars.com’s 2026 American-Made Index ranks the Tesla Model Y highest among SUVs, followed by the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus TX 350, Acura MDX and Honda Passport.
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By Cars.com’s 2026 American-Made Index, the Tesla Model Y is the highest-ranked SUV, at No. 2 overall. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is next among SUVs at No. 4, followed by the Lexus TX 350, Acura MDX and Honda Passport. These are rankings of manufacturing contribution—not judgments about which SUV is safest, most reliable, best to drive or cheapest to own.

Cars.com’s index covers model-year 2026 vehicles and was reported June 23, 2026. Its ranking considers assembly, parts content, engine and transmission origins, and automaker workforce. The ranks below are the vehicles’ positions across the entire index, not positions in a separate SUV-only score. See Cars.com’s 2026 American-Made Index.

Best American-made SUVs in the 2026 index

The following order reflects each SUV’s overall position in Cars.com’s 2026 American-Made Index. Prices are Cars.com’s listed starting prices when the index page was published; they are not dealer quotes. Trim, options, destination charges and transaction prices can change what a buyer pays.

SUV Overall AMI rank Listed assembly location(s) Listed starting price
Tesla Model Y 2 Fremont, California, or Austin, Texas $39,990
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4 Detroit $38,920
Lexus TX 350 7 Princeton, Indiana $56,940
Acura MDX 9 East Liberty, Ohio $51,800
Honda Passport 10 Lincoln, Alabama $44,950

Source for ranks, locations and listed starting prices: Cars.com’s 2026 index and model entries.

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#1 Best Overall
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1. Tesla Model Y — No. 2 overall

The Model Y is the highest-ranked SUV in the 2026 index. Cars.com lists Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas, as its assembly locations. Because production location can vary, verify the assembly information for the specific vehicle you are considering.

2. Jeep Grand Cherokee — No. 4 overall

The Grand Cherokee ranks second among SUVs and fourth across the index. Cars.com says it gained 66 positions from the prior index, while its reported U.S./Canadian parts-content percentage rose 14%. Those index changes describe manufacturing inputs, not a change in reliability or quality.

Rank #2
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3. Lexus TX 350 — No. 7 overall

Assembled in Princeton, Indiana, the TX 350 rose 34 positions in the index. Cars.com attributes the gain to its engines and transmissions now being made entirely in the U.S.

4. Acura MDX — No. 9 overall

The MDX is listed as assembled in East Liberty, Ohio. Its position places it fourth among the SUVs in the overall index.

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Rank #3
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5. Honda Passport — No. 10 overall

Cars.com lists the Passport as assembled in Lincoln, Alabama. It completes the five highest-ranked SUVs in the index.

Other U.S.-assembled SUVs in the 2026 index

These additional SUVs appear in Cars.com’s ranking. Their positions are overall index ranks, so the numbers should not be read as an SUV-only score or as a measure of suitability for a particular buyer.

Rank #4
Zhizhong Side Window American Flag Decals for Car SUV Trucks, Universal Matte Black USA Flag Vinyl Sticker Free Installation Tools (A Pair)
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SUV Overall AMI rank Listed assembly location(s) Listed starting price
Lincoln Navigator 12 Louisville, Kentucky $91,995
Ford Expedition 13 Louisville, Kentucky $57,700
Lincoln Aviator 14 Chicago $56,910
Ford Explorer 15 Chicago $38,465
Acura RDX 16 East Liberty, Ohio $45,100
Kia EV9 17 West Point, Georgia $54,900
Jeep Wrangler 23 Toledo, Ohio $36,035
Ford Bronco 26 Wayne, Michigan $41,295
Honda Pilot 32 Lincoln, Alabama $42,395
Hyundai Santa Fe 33 Montgomery, Alabama $35,050
Kia Sorento 34 West Point, Georgia $32,390
Chevrolet Suburban 36 Arlington, Texas $63,700
Cadillac Escalade 37 Arlington, Texas $91,100
Chevrolet Tahoe 38 Arlington, Texas $60,700
GMC Yukon 39 Arlington, Texas $69,600
Toyota Grand Highlander 40 Princeton, Indiana $42,260
Toyota Highlander 41 Princeton, Indiana $46,270
Honda CR-V Hybrid 42 East Liberty, Ohio, or Greensburg, Indiana $35,630
Dodge Durango 43 Detroit $38,995
Jeep Grand Wagoneer 44 Warren, Michigan $63,995

Ranks, listed locations and starting prices are from Cars.com’s 2026 index.

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What “American-made” means in this ranking

Cars.com evaluates five factors: final assembly location; percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts; country of origin for available engines; country of origin for available transmissions; and the automaker’s U.S. manufacturing workforce. Eligible vehicles are scored on a 100-point scale. Cars.com does not publish the factors’ weights or its full calculation method.

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Best Value
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American Flag Magnet Decal, 3"x5"- 2 Pack, Red, White, and Blue
  • Dress up your space; we have a design for every personality. Whether you want to show pride for your country, make the driver behind you smile, or give an awesome gift, we have something for everyone
  • Crafted from strong and durable magnetic vinyl; this ensures that the magnet adheres securely to metal surfaces and will maintain its magnetic strength over time. Our magnets are waterproof and heat resistant, which makes them ideal for outdoor use. We make our magnets with UV-resistant inks so that they do not fade over time from sun exposure
  • Endless possibilities; our heavy-duty magnets are ideal for use on cars, trucks, SUVs, mailboxes, refrigerators, toolboxes, etc. Easily removable and reusable, you can proudly display this flexible magnet in a plethora of spaces. Please ensure that your surface is composed of steel rather than fiberglass, plastic, or aluminum. Magnets will not stick to non-metal surfaces
  • Crafted in the USA; we uphold our commitment to American craftsmanship by producing all our products in the USA
  • Quality and satisfaction assurance; we manufacture our magnets to meet high standards. If you experience anything less than perfection, we ask for you to reach out to us so we can make it right

The parts-content figures come from American Automobile Labeling Act data and combine U.S. and Canadian parts by value. Automakers do not publicly report a breakdown that separates those two countries. Where a model has different parts, engines, transmissions, powertrains, trims or assembly locations, Cars.com says it uses sales-weighted treatment and adjusts for imported volume.

That is why “assembled in the U.S.” is not the same as “made entirely in the U.S.” A nameplate can have more than one production location, and assembly does not establish the origin of every component. Cars.com says the top 10 vehicles in its 2026 index averaged 70% U.S./Canadian parts content, matching the prior year and the highest average since the methodology’s current form began in 2020.

How to use the ranking when shopping

  • Start with the index as a manufacturing comparison. A higher position means a stronger result under Cars.com’s criteria; it does not establish superior safety, reliability, performance, fuel economy or ownership cost.
  • Check the exact vehicle. Review its window sticker and vehicle-specific assembly information rather than assuming every trim or example under a model name has identical sourcing.
  • Compare the needs that matter to you separately. Seating, cargo capacity, range or fuel economy, safety equipment, warranty and total cost require their own current, vehicle-specific comparisons.
  • Treat listed prices as reference points. The index’s starting prices are not quotes for a particular trim or dealer transaction.

What changed in the 2026 index

Cars.com analyzed 379 model-year 2026 vehicles, with 86 qualifying for the index; the qualifying list had 99 vehicles in 2025. Its June 30, 2026 announcement also reported that 57% of approximately 1,000 survey respondents said they were willing to pay more for a vehicle if it creates U.S. jobs. Cars.com conducted that survey April 29–May 4, 2026; the result describes those respondents, not the whole U.S. population. The announcement quotes index lead researcher Patrick Masterson: “This year’s list represents the ongoing evolution and diversification of American-made vehicles.” Read Cars.com’s 2026 index announcement.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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