A friend is trying to buy a new small, practical, SUV and she keeps striking out at dealers. Why? They don’t have any. It’s a problem that’s cascaded across the country as a variety of factors, from chip shortages to labor struggles, have caused new vehicle inventories to plummet. Over the last three years the supply curve for new vehicles has flipped upside down, causing the demand to increase and new SUV inventory is low.

Why does it matter? If a dealer has a limited inventory, you can expect a bidding war. If it has 25, you can likely find the one you want at the price you want. So, like my friend who’s looking for a new SUV, buyers can’t find what they want, and are overpaying. However, a new report can shed some light on which dealers are more likely to have the SUV you want. The two most available SUVs now, though, are Ford’s Explorer and Nissan’s Rogue.

What brands have a new SUV inventory in stock?

Generally, according to a new report from Cox Automotive, Asian and European brands had the lowest inventory. Kia, Toyota, Subaru, Honda and Hyundai saw the lowest inventories. Land Rover, Lexus Acura and Porsche also saw smaller inventories. But American brands are keeping up with demand. Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Ford had the highest inventories. Lincoln, Volvo and Infiniti dealers also had better than average inventories.

Also, according to the report, if you want a new Minivan, you’re out of luck. Same goes if you want a smaller car or any type of hybrid, which are super popular as gas prices rise. In terms of pricing, if you want to spend less than $40,000, supply is very tight, with a 30-day supply on hand. The more expensive the vehicle, the more inventory that seems to be available.  So, if you want a big, expensive SUV like a Yukon Denali, no problem.

What are the most available SUVs?

According to RealCarTips, if you want a truck you’re in luck. The Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150, and Ram 1500 are in large supply.

When it comes to finding small SUVs, you’re more likely to find a new Ford Explorer, Nissan Rogue, a Ford Escape or a Mazda CX-5 or a Jeep Compass. If you want a third row, you’ll probably find a new Honda Pilot on a lot. The SUVs you’re least likely to find new include Kia Sportages, Honda Passports, the Subaru Forester or the Toyota Highlander.

Is a Ford Explorer a good SUV? What about a Nissan Rogue?

The two SUVs you’re most likely to find available on a dealer’s lot near you are the Ford Explorer and the 2023 Nissan Rogue. Neither of these SUVs will get an enthusiast’s heart pumping, but they’re both solid SUVs that won’t break the bank and pack in a lot of utility.

The 2023 Ford Explorer is Ford’s best-selling SUV, and they start at about $37,000. That basic version, with cloth seats, has most of the basic accessories you’ll need, but the XLT has the accessories you’ll want, including heated seats, terrain management system and back-up sensors. It starts at about $38,500. It’s also large and holds six or seven passengers in three rows, and they handle their large size well.

Nissan has plenty of Rogues on hand

The Nissan Rogue, too, is a capable SUV but it only seats five. The Rogue was fully reimagined by Nissan for the 2021 model year and it has new styling in and out that gave it a more purposeful stance, and less of the hard-boiled egg look of the previous versions. The new 1.5-liter turbo engine makes 201 horsepower, which is enough to get the Rogue moving well, if not quick. Rogues come with Nissan’s new ProPILOT Assist suite of driver’s aids, and can hold a generous 74.1 cubic feet of cargo. The Rogue starts at $27,360, however the SV version adds the accessories most want at $29,050.