A compact SUV can make sense in certain situations, such as when you need four-wheel drive and a high towing capacity for that one weekend adventure.
These models are designed for everyday use inside the city and offer a balance of comfort, power, and fuel efficiency to transport four people across town or up mountain trails.
It has a comfortable and fuel-efficient ride, yet it sufficiently differentiates itself from an ordinary family SUV to stand out.
It is also reliable to perform an ICE engine with a hybrid engine that offers highly efficient fuel consumption.
Here are the best compact SUVs with their performance, features, interior cargo space, and fuel economy.
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2023 Honda CR-V
- Starting MSRP: $31,110
- MPG: 28 City/34 Hwy
The Honda feels more like a car than an SUV, doesn’t suffer from body roll, and its steering is light but has been tuned for on-road performance.
The Honda CR-V has one of the best brakes. The fuel economy of the turbocharged engine makes it just as enjoyable around town as off-road, so it’s well-suited for all-terrain outdoor adventures.
The CR-V has good fuel economy, although it is not the best in its class. Models with front-wheel drive get an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, and AWD versions get 27 in the city and 32 on the highway.
Honda also offers the CR-V in a hybrid engine version, powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that produce up to 204 horsepower and excellent fuel consumption of about 43 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
According to Honda.com, the price of the 2023 Honda CR-V starts at $31,110 for the EX version and $32,450 for the Sport Hybrid version.
The cabin is peaceful, and there’s plenty of room for a family of four with enough space in the trunk to accommodate luggage for a weeklong trip. It has better gas mileage than most other SUVs. It has a large compartment and easy-to-find pockets for all your stuff. The Honda CR-V has meager running costs and is very reliable.
2023 Mazda CX-5
- Starting MSRP: $26,700
- MPG: 24 City/30 Hwy
The new CX-5 uses the same platform as the smaller Mazda3 and Mazda6, which is reasonable considering how well those two coupes drive.
The Mazda CX-5 offers easy handling, a tight turning circle, and exclusive features. The comfortable seats are front heated with adjustable side bolsters on leather-trimmed models. The leather feels durable, and the overall quality of the build is impressive.
The ride is comfortable, and the steering and handling are spirited without being overly sporty. It is more economical when using the fuel-efficient engine option.
The Mazda CX-5 is an easy-to-drive SUV that’s great for driving around town or commuting. When you need more cargo space, the seat folds flat in a 60/40 split, and the rear seats are easily removed to extend the cargo space with a lever flick.
Under the hood, the CX-5 is powered by a 187-horsepower four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The power feels small for the class, but driving around the city or outdoor activities in the mountains, this crossover is more than enough, thanks to AWD as standard. If you need more power, you should look at the model with a four-cylinder turbo engine, this model gets up to 256 horsepower.
The CX-5’s fuel consumption is average for its class, getting 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
Fortunately, the CX-5 is one of the most affordable and best value-for-money crossover SUVs. It starts at $26,700, and you get a good-looking SUV with all-wheel drive.
2023 Hyundai Tucson
- Starting MSRP: $26,450
- MPG: 25 City/32 Hwy
The Tucson has been refined and now has better steering and suspension than ever. The Hyundai Tucson has a smooth, quiet ride quality, while the handling is confident going through curves.
The interior is well laid out with solid materials and a relatively luxurious feel. There’s plenty of room for five passengers in the Tucson, thanks to the seating position lower and further back than in many other SUVs.
The instrument panel is easy to read, and all controls are within arm’s reach. The cabin looks classy, especially with two-tone leather upholstery; it comes in either grey or beige.
The engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that delivers quick and neutral responsiveness on the road with good fuel economy. It gen an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
The Tucson hybrid and plug-in hybrid are available with more power and better fuel economy. It features a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder with an electric motor, producing up to 226 horsepower and 261 horsepower for the plug-in hybrid.
The Tucson hybrid has good fuel economy, reaching 37 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
According to hyundaiusa.com, the price of the Tucson starts at $26,450 for the most basic model and $30,900 for the variant with a hybrid engine.
2023 Subaru Forester
- Starting MSRP: $26,395
- MPG: 26 City/33 Hwy
The Subaru Forester is easy to maneuver and has plenty of ground clearance, making it a good choice for families who like to camp.
The neatly styled interior resembles a scaled-down version of Subaru’s flagship sedan, the Legacy. The Forester has responsive handling thanks to the flat cargo floor and low center of gravity.
There are plenty of cubbyholes for your stuff, and given that many compact SUVs have disappointing cargo space, the Forester’s is generously sized.
The engine delivers plenty of power and has strong acceleration without being overly loud or harsh at higher speeds. The fuel economy is excellent in the city but could be better on highways.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Starting MSRP: $28,200
- MPG: 25 City/28 Hwy
The Santa Fe is built on the same platform as the Tucson, which is reasonable considering how well that little SUV drives.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has a smooth, quiet ride quality, while the handling is confident going through curves. The interior is well laid out with solid materials and a relatively luxurious feel.
There’s plenty of room for five passengers in Santa Fe, thanks to the seating position lower and further back than in many other SUVs.
The instrument panel is easy to read, and all controls are within arm’s reach. The cabin looks classy, especially with two-tone leather upholstery; it comes in either grey or beige.
The engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that delivers quick and neutral responsiveness on the road with good fuel economy.
The Santa Fe is also available in a hybrid version with a turbo engine and electric motor, the power is greater than the gas version, and the fuel consumption is definitely better.
2023 Toyota RAV4
- Starting MSRP: $27,575
- MPG: 27 City/35 Hwy
The Toyota is a pleasant and well-rounded vehicle with plenty of cargo room, a smooth ride, and solid handling.
The level of standard equipment is high, as is the cabin’s fit and finish quality. It’s easy to load up because the rear seats fold flat in a 60/40 split.
The Toyota RAV4 has comfortable seats, ample cargo space with folding chairs, and enough room for more oversized items behind its rear seatbacks.
It rides well on roads, and the steering is tight when parking. The engine delivers adequate acceleration but suffers from high-speed vibration. The fuel economy is excellent in the city but not so good on highways; it gives good fuel economy for an SUV.
The Toyota RAV4 is available in a hybrid version with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, the power is greater than the gas version, and the fuel consumption is surely better, reaching 41 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway.
2023 Nissan Rogue
- Starting MSRP: $27,360
- MPG: 30 City/37Hwy
The Nissan Rogue is a solid small SUV with comfortable seats, ample cargo room, and strong acceleration. The handling is good, and the steering is direct and responsive.
The Nissan Rogue has plenty of cargo space in the rear, with a flat floor and a 60/40 split-folding back seat.
The infotainment system has an intuitive interface that’s easy to use. Unfortunately, there are few safety features available at this price point.
Under the hood is a 201-horsepower 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine paired with a very smooth CVT transmission.
Fuel consumption is terrific in its class, it earns 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg in the city for models with front-wheel drive.
2023 Kia Sportage
- Starting MSRP: $25,990
- MPG: 25 City/32 Hwy
The new Kia Sportage is refreshingly different from competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
The styling is aggressive and sporty, with a grille integrated into the front bumper. It has a tasteful two-tone color scheme and an elegant, well-finished cabin.
The Sportage has plenty of safety features, including adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
The ride quality of the Sportage feels firm but not uncomfortable; the steering is light around town but heavier on the highway when driving at higher speeds.
It has an excellent infotainment system standard, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
Under the hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower. It gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for front-wheel drive models. All-wheel drive is available as an option if you need it.
The Kia Sportage is available with a hybrid engine. It features a turbocharged 1.6-liter and an electric motor, producing up to 227 horsepower. The hybrid version has remarkable fuel consumption, reaching 42 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway.
2023 Ford Escape
- Starting MSRP: $27,185
- MPG: 28 City/34 Hwy
The Ford Escape is an economical SUV that’s light years ahead of the competition. It’s a quiet, comfortable ride with solid handling and composed steering.
It has an excellent infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
The powertrain is responsive, the brakes feel strong, and plenty of safety features are available, including adaptive cruise control and a blind spot monitor.
It gets excellent fuel economy in the city, but it could be better on highways; it uses regular unleaded fuel, which is less efficient than premium. It has five trim levels: SE, SEL, Titanium, Titanium AWD, and Limited trims.
The Ford Escape is also available in hybrid and Plug-in hybrid versions. I recommend you get these models for better performance and fuel consumption.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander
- Starting MSRP: $27,185
- MPG: 24 City/31 Hwy
The Outlander is a good-looking, comfortable, and well-rounded vehicle with a spacious interior and plenty of standard features.
It has refined handling that feels stable and directs going through curves. The high seating position gives you excellent visibility on the road.
Moreover, the steering is responsive when maneuvering in tight parking lots, and there’s ample headroom in the front row.
Both row seats have plenty of legroom, but the second row lacks support and doesn’t fold flat for maximum cargo room. The infotainment system could be more intuitive, but it has built-in navigation; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto need to be available.
2023 Mazda CX-50
- Starting MSRP: $27,550
- MPG: 24 City/30 Hwy
The Mazda CX-50 is a unique crossover with a hatchback design and an upright driving position.
Its styling isn’t as aggressive or adventurous as others on the list, but it’s stylish, with two-tone paint schemes available and a tastefully integrated grille.
It has plenty of cargo room and a flat cargo floor, making loading items easy. The cabin is spacious, with ample headroom in both rows.
The infotainment system is intuitive, with many available features, including Apple CarPlay support; there are also standard safety features such as adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitor.
The handling is comfortable, and the cabin is quiet at speed. It gets good fuel economy in cities but could be better on highways; it has regular unleaded fuel, which is cheaper than premium.
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
- Starting MSRP: $26,590
- MPG: 23 City/30 Hwy
The Tiguan is a more expensive SUV with an attractive design and solid build quality.
It has plenty of cabin space and drives well, whether on the highway or in the city. Its steering is responsive but not too sporty.
The engine delivers strong acceleration and gets excellent fuel economy when driven in a light-footed manner; if you go aggressively, it could be better.
The Tiguan comes with an intuitive infotainment system for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support and many advanced safety features, such as a blind spot monitor.
2023 Toyota Venza
- Starting MSRP: $33,595
- MPG: 40 City/37 Hwy
The Toyota Venza is an upscale wagon with a spacious interior and comfortable seats.
It gets good fuel economy on the highway, and it doesn’t cost much to fill up thanks to its efficient engine; it does use premium unleaded fuel.
The handling is good around town, but it could be better when taking long trips on the highway. There’s plenty of cargo room, and the seats fold flat for the maximum capacity.
The infotainment system could be better and clearer to use; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available, even as upgrades at extra cost. It has four trim levels: LE, XLE, SE, and XSE trims.