Compact SUV List

Reviewing The Best Compact SUV List

Few car designs have proven as popular as the compact SUV. With the interior space needed for a large family, these vehicles deliver excellent protection and stability on the road, while promising higher fuel efficiency. Car companies have rushed to put out new models that customers can appreciate, with features ranging from luxury interiors to hybrid engines. Sturdier than minivans and less wasteful than their behemoth SUV cousins, this compact SUV list offers a choice for any individual or family looking for a new way to get to school or get away from it all.

An American Compact SUV List

Compact SUV List - Ford Escape

The industry leader for SUV production has always been Detroit’s Big Three, each year combining to produce more SUVs and utility trucks than the entirety of their foreign competition. The 2011 Ford Escape is the frontrunner of American production in the light SUV market, selling at higher rates than the larger Expedition nine-passenger model. With a ten year pedigree, the Escape has been around since Clinton was in the White House but has been refined and updated many times since.

Perhaps the most compelling feature of the Escape is the Hybrid model, which boosts the fuel economy from a modest twenty-four miles per gallon to a stellar forty miles per gallon on the freeway. Consumer guides have praised the Escape for a quality six-speed transmission that affords the Escape more power than a light vehicle would be expected to enjoy. This is contrasted, however, by a cramped interior and a noisier engine than others. The basic package starts at twenty thousand dollars while the Hybrid starts at thirty thousand.

Compact SUV List - Jeep Compass

The Jeep Compass ranks higher on the compact SUV database than its Ford counterpoint due to a more recent design and better features. Designed with recreation in mind, the off-road four wheel drive system may be a welcome breath of fresh air to drivers who use the cars on this compact SUV list for little more than the daily grind of work or school. The Compass sells less well than other Jeep SUVs like the Wrangler and there have been questions since its launch two years ago about whether it will be profitable in the long term.

The 2011 edition offers a strong ride with good fuel economy but lacks the luxurious interiors and smooth rides that some customers would prefer in place of a rugged engine. The Compass does have an excellent safety record, having been awarded five of five stars from government crash tests. Starting at eighteen thousand dollars, it is one of the cheapest American light cars.

Check The Compact SUV List From Across The Ocean

Compact SUV List - Nissan Xterra

Japanese and Korean car manufacturers were originally criticized for having looks but not strength and have responded by ramping up production of SUVs that can take a beating and keep coming. The Nissan Xterra is proof of a car company developing a model designed to visit the ends of the earth right after running errands. The Xterra costs a pretty penny at twenty-three thousand dollars but features performance that matches light trucks. Many customers responded to the Xterra by claiming that it drove like a pickup rather than an SUV. With roof racks, splash guarding, and high-power fog lights, the Xterra is great for biking, mountain climbing, or pure exploration, but less great for getting through rush hour.

Compact SUV List - Honda CRV

The Honda CRV has been one of the most consistently excellent models since its inception in the past decade. It is certainly a family model, stressing interior space (a spacious thirty-six cubic feet) and comfort over hauling power. Leather seats, Navigation assistance, a sunroof, and Bluetooth compatibility make it a pleasure craft. At twenty-two thousand dollars, it is slightly more expensive then some models but retains its price better than the cheaper SUVs.

The Best Compact SUV Award Goes To:

Compact SUV List - Toyota RAV4

The best choice on the compact SUV list is the Toyota RAV4. With flawless safety ratings of front, side, and rear, it also scored better on rollovers and airbags than any other model. A smooth ride and excellent brakes make it a perfect family choice. The RAV4 gets a solid twenty-eight miles per gallon and starts at twenty-three thousand dollars.

Compact SUV List – Toyota RAV4 Walkaround Video