Once symbolized by the rugged-but-crude Jeep Wrangler, the ideal compact SUV has been transformed into a refined, useful, livable, and in some cases, luxurious vehicle. Though they are the smallest SUVs, that doesn't mean they can't accommodate four-plus adults and a weekend's worth of stuff for travel both off and on the beaten path.
Perhaps the biggest change in this class has been the switch from a truck-like frame to a car-based chassis. Going to a unibody fram and independent rear suspension creates more interior room, improves rides, and enhances refinement. On the flip side, towing and payload capacity are reduced and off-road ability is more limited.
Still, compact SUVs are an excellent choice for active, on-the-go owners. They have versatile interiors, loads of cargo room, and are very maneuverable. What’s more, compact SUVs offer reasonable fuel economy and the security of available all-wheel drive.
Like any vehicle, compact SUVs are built to a price point. Interior materials are sourced from the same parts bin that's used to dress an economy car. Engines and transmissions are swapped directly out of sedans, rather than designed from scratch for heavy-duty use.
Compact SUVs are designed for singles or small families on the move. They offer adequate passenger room and a modest amount of cargo capacity. The upright design makes for good outward visibility, and the tall ride height gives drivers a commanding view of the road.
| Honda Element has rear seats that fold flat, flip up, and remove. Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner offer hybrid versions. Saturn VUE has plastic body panels that resist dents and rust. Jeep Wrangler is as off-road capable as a compact SUV can get. It now comes with 2 or 4 doors. |
What to Look For in a Compact SUV
Most compact SUVs offer front-drive or all-wheel drive. If you live where there is little snow, then a front-drive model is all you'd ever need. If you live in a hilly area where snow is a real possibility for half the year, you should consider all-wheel drive.
Be warned, the all-wheel-drive systems in most compact SUVs are not designed for rugged off-road driving. They can cope with gravel and dirt roads, but shouldn't be expected to do much more.
A few compact SUVs, Jeep Liberty and Wrangler and Suzuki Grand Vitara, offer rear-drive or 4WD with a low range for off-road driving. If you intend to trek deep into the woods or live on a cattle farm, a true 4WD system makes a lot of sense.
The disadvantages of AWD or 4WD vs. a 2WD model include reduced fuel economy as well as higher insurance and maintenance costs. Finally, the higher cost of AWD is somewhat offset by its higher resale value.
If you are considering a compact SUV, make sure the cargo area is flexible enough to meet your needs. Some have rear seats that fold, others have rear seats you can remove. All have rear hatches, but some, like Ford Escape, Jeep Liberty, Mercury Mariner, and Mitsubishi Outlander, have separate-opening rear glass that makes loading and unloading small items a lot easier.
Finally, don't expect a compact SUV to ride like a car. Though many are based on car chassis, they have tough suspension systems, bouncy tires, and a higher center of gravity. This makes them ride more like a truck. There are a few that have a more carlike ride, BMW X3, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage, for example, but on the whole, the firm and somewhat noisy ride of compact SUVs can grow tiresome on longer highway trips.
Don't Skimp on Safety
Because compact SUVs are built to be affordable to younger buyers, important safety features are often left off the standard equipment list. Regardless of which compact SUV you choose, be sure it has antilock brakes and curtain side airbags. They are two very important safety features that might save your life. Usually, these two features cost significantly less than $1000 total. More and more automakers are beginning to include these features as standard equipment. Toyota added standard curtain side airbags to its 2007 RAV4, for example. On the flip side, however, curtain side airbags are unavailable on the Subaru Forester.
Another important safety feature available on many compact SUVs is stability control. Sometimes called skid control, this system will help the driver maintain the intended path on slippery roads. This is especially important on SUVs where the grip of an AWD system might have drivers going too fast through turns. All Kia Sportages, Hyundai Tucsons, Toyota RAV4s, and Honda Elements have standard ABS, traction/antiskid control, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags.
Compact SUV Shopping Tips
Before you buy a compact SUV, consider what you need over what you want. Do you need that V6 engine and the lower fuel economy and higher insurance rates that come with it? Do you need a leather interior that won't wear well on camping trips? Do you need a high-end audio unit that's likely to disappear when parking on unsecured city streets?
For many, the compact SUV can be a poor substitute for a family hauler. The tall ride height presents a fun jungle-gymlike challenge for children, but one that can be painful if they fall. A compact SUV's regular-opening rear doors aren't as convenient as the sliding doors on a minivan. And, in many, the cramped rear seats aren't designed for long-term adult use.
However, many compact SUV buyers fall in love with the vehicle’s image and capabilities. They choose a compact SUV because of its reasonable fuel economy, commanding driving position, and excellent utility. The choice is yours.
The Players
Acura RDX
Base Price Range: $32,995-$36,495
EPA MPG Range: 19-23
Body Style: 4-door wagon
RDX aims to be as
sporty and upscale as Acura's TSX compact sedan, which it is. But the
choice of a turbo 4-cyl engine is debatable for a small SUV, especially
one that starts at almost $33,000. Acura's record for reliability and
resale strength help offset premium pricing, but RDX comes across as
more of a marketing tactic than a strong SUV value.
BMW X3 
Base Price: $38,000
EPA MPG Range: 16-24
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Like
BMW's 3-Series cars, X3 gives up outright size to most like-priced
competitors, but delivers sporty handling and a quiet ride. Its new
engine delivers more power than previous models but at a cost of poor
throttle response and jerky transmission behavior. Couple that with
steep pricing, and X3 is an under whelming choice.
Ford Escape
Base Price Range: $19,320-$27,260
EPA MPG Range: 18-33
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Escape
and the nearly identical Mercury Mariner are among the oldest designs
in the compact SUV field, but they remain solid, practical, and
pleasant enough to drive. Keen pricing keeps them viable alternatives
to larger truck-based SUVs that use more gas and aren't much roomier.
Gas/electric hybrid Escapes and Mariners are pricey, and though that
premium may take years to offset in fuel savings, any value
consideration must also take into account the hybrid system's
exhaust-emissions benefits.
Honda CR-V 
Base Price Range: $20,600-$28,000
EPA MPG Range: 21-27
Body Style: 4-door wagon
It's
still not the most powerful compact SUV, but the redesigned 2007 CR-V
continues to excel for its "just right" blend of comfort, refinement,
and cargo versatility. Standard traction/antiskid control on all models
and Honda's reputation for reliability and resale value further bolster
its Best Buy appeal.
Honda Element
Base Price Range: $18,900-$23,495
EPA MPG Range: 21-24
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Element
isn't so much an SUV as a motorized gear tote for "active lifestyle"
types. It sacrifices some convenience to rear doors that don't open
independently of the front doors. And posh comfort or serious
off-roading aren't on its agenda. It is, however, a roomy and adaptable
little wagon with Honda's expected solid workmanship.
Hyundai Tucson 
Base Price Range: $16,895-$23,475
EPA MPG Range: 19-27
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Tucson
and its design cousin, the Kia Sportage, are pleasant light-duty
people-movers with modest off-road capabilities. We prefer versions
with the V6 engine; it provides class-competitive power and is smoother
than rivals' fours, if hardly more potent. Lots of standard equipment,
decent road manners, laudable cargo versatility, and generous
warranties qualify Tucson and Sportage as Recommended picks.
Jeep Compass
Base Price Range: $15,424-$21,925
EPA MPG Range: 26-30
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Jeep
enters uncharted territory with Compass, its first modern SUV without a
pretense of off-road prowess. Compared with others of its ilk, Compass
lacks the overall refinement of the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4,
especially in interior decor. Fuel economy is good for the class, but
the 4-cyl engine feels underpowered and coarse. Compass makes sense as
a functional wagon for people who crave Jeep style but don't need
go-anywhere Jeep capability. For most others, there are better
alternatives.
Base Price Range: $21,600-$26,745
EPA MPG Range: 17-26
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Liberty's
on-road behavior is less carlike than that of its top competitors, and
rear-seat accommodations leave something to be desired. But Liberty has
better off-road ability than most in the compact-SUV class, and it's
solid and competitively priced.
Jeep Patriot 
Base Price Range: $14,425-$21,430
EPA MPG Range: 23-30
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Compared
to the mechanically similar Jeep Compass, Patriot feels more like an
authentic Jeep. Compass and Patriot lack the on-road polish and cabin
refinement of other vehicles in this class, but Patriot compensates
somewhat with impressive available off-road capability. Most shoppers
will be better served by more street-oriented trucks like the Honda
CR-V or Suzuki Grand Vitara, the latter of which rivals Patriot's
off-road prowess. But as a daily driver ready for the occasional
off-road foray, a properly equipped Patriot makes some sense.
Jeep Wrangler 
Base Price Range: $18,485-$28,840
EPA MPG Range: 16-20
Body Style: 4-door wagon
The
2007 redesign is the first in a decade for this SUV icon, and while it
improves Wrangler in many important ways, this Jeep remains a
limited-purpose machine. Off road, it's a finely honed tool. On road,
it's best considered a fun-in-the-sun runabout.
Kia Sportage 
Base Price Range: $15,900-$22,895
EPA MPG Range: 19-27
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Sportage
and its design cousin, the Hyundai Tucson, are pleasant light-duty
people-movers with modest off-road capabilities. We prefer versions
with the V6 engine; it provides class-competitive power and is smoother
than rivals' fours, if hardly more potent. Lots of standard equipment,
decent road manners, laudable cargo versatility, and generous
warranties qualify Sportage and Tucson as Recommended picks.
Mercury Mariner 
Base Price Range: $21,940-$27,950
EPA MPG Range: 18-29
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Despite
higher base prices than its Ford cousin, Mariner is worth considering.
The extra dollars bring more upscale trim, a little extra sound
insulation, and a slightly more compliant ride. Hybrids command an
additional premium that may take years to offset in fuel savings. But
the value consideration must also take into account the hybrid system's
exhaust-emissions benefits. Whatever the name, these compact SUVs are
likable enough, especially with their frequent discounts.
Mitsubishi Outlander
Base Price Range: $21,370-$25,010
EPA MPG Range: 21-27
Body Style: 4-door wagon
This
new compact SUV is worth a look, but be sure to scout the competition
as well. Outlander's virtues include a responsive transmission and
flexible cargo accommodations. Among its vices are a raucous engine,
subpar interior materials, and the Mitsubishi brand's record of weak
resale values.
Saturn Vue 
Base Price Range: $17,475-$23,710
EPA MPG Range: 19-28
Body Style: 4-door wagon
The
gas/electric hybrid Green Line is a significant addition to the Vue
line, offering a modestly priced hybrid drivetrain and impressive fuel
economy for the class. Among conventional-powertrain models, go with
the available V6, a Honda-made engine that almost--almost--offsets
Vue's deficits in steering, handling, and comfort. Dent-resistant,
rustproof plastic body panels, competitive pricing, and Saturn's high
customer-satisfaction scores do appeal, but we'd still scout the
competition.
Subaru Forester 
Base Price Range: $21,195-$27,895
EPA MPG Range: 19-29
Body Style: 4-door wagon
If
you can live with limited towing capacity and constrained rear-seat
space, Forester is a rational alternative to bulkier, less-efficient
SUVs. The 2.5 X and 2.5 X with Premium Package are the best values; the
other models are priced against SUVs with more room and, in the case of
the L.L. Bean Edition, with more power. Any Forester delivers
respectable fuel economy in a pleasant, carlike package, but the
absence of curtain side airbags and the presence of an automatic
transmission with just four speeds has this Subaru showing its age vs.
such state-of-the-art rivals as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Suzuki Grand Vitara 
Base Price Range: $21,195-$27,895
EPA MPG Range: 18-23
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Grand
Vitara is among the strongest values in the compact SUV class and a
worthy Best Buy. Its V6 engine could be smoother and stronger, but that
demerit is easily offset by a comprehensive list of standard safety
features, competent road manners, adequate passenger space, and
competitive pricing.
Toyota RAV4 
Base Price Range: $20,950-$26,520
EPA MPG Range: 21-28
Body Style: 4-door wagon
Available with the
most powerful engine in the compact-SUV class, seating for seven, and
impressive cargo room, refinement, and road manners, RAV4 is worth a
look. Toyota's reputation for resale value is another asset. Base
prices are reasonable, but stickers skyrocket with options; our test
AWD Limited V6 listed for over $31,000. Shop around, but don't leave
the RAV4 off your list. It's a Recommended pick.