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Identifying the First-Gen Ford MustangBest Compact SUVs of 2024
Compact SUVs might be modest in size, but they’re big on affordability and practicality. We run down the best compact SUVs of 2024.
Right-Sized Utility
What kind of vehicle do you get when you need a perfect balance of utility, affordability, comfort, and convenience? For many of us, the answer is a compact SUV. These modest two-row SUVs provide just enough or just about everything one needs. Good cargo capacity and room for the kids? Check. Available all-wheel drive and good ground clearance? Check. The latest in infotainment and driver assistance technology? Check, once more. Doing all this without an unwieldy footprint or an outrageous price tag? Check and double check. Perhaps this is why compact SUV models like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are among the best-selling models in the US.
Below we rank the best compact SUVs of 2024 in descending order evaluating their powertrains and drivability, interior quality, tech and safety features, and pricing.
10. Chevrolet Equinox
The Breakdown
Smooth ride
Comfortable interior
Standard Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
Not enough safety features
Cheap feeling/looking interior
No hybrid option
The Equinox EV can’t come out fast enough
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.25/10
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MSRP
$27,995 - $33,195
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
26 City / 31 Hwy (MPG)
The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox features most of the basics of a crossover SUV but fails to stand out in a crowd of very impressive competitors. Chevy would do well to give the Equinox a generational refresh to keep up with the best of the segment. The Equinox has a single powertrain on offer, a 1.5L four-cylinder making 175 horsepower and 203 lb.-ft. Towing is good for the segment at 3,500 lbs. and fuel economy comes in at 26 city / 31 highway mpg for the front-wheel drive version while the all-wheel drive version dips to 24/30 mpg. An upcoming fully electric version will reportedly offer up to 290 horsepower and a range of approximately 300 miles. A hybrid option to bridge between these two powertrains would be welcomed. The Equinox’s interior is perhaps its weakest point. An uninspired design and cheap-feeling materials are a marked contrast to the best the segment as to offer (for roughly the same money). Tech in the Equinox is adequate without going the extra mile as many desirable safety features, like adaptive cruise control, are relegated to higher trims. The Equinox starts at $27,995 and comes standard with Appel CarPlay and Android Auto and 18-inch wheels. The top-end Premier trim starts at $33,195 and gets you blind spot monitoring and leather upholstery. The Chevrolet Equinox is a decent vehicle that struggles to make an impression when pitted against the segment’s heavy hitters.
9. Jeep Compass
The Breakdown
Standard AWD
Large cargo hold
Off-road ability of Trailhawk
Nickel-and-dime package approach
Can get quite expensive
The Cherokee
Not bad, but not great
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.5/10
How Do We Score?
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MSRP
$29,995 - $37,990
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
24 City / 32 Hwy (MPG)
Like the Equinox, the 2024 Jeep Compass is a serviceable crossover that struggles to stand out in a segment crowded with strong alternatives. However, the Compass does offer a good amount of off-roadability and standard tech is generously appointed. A refresh to the now aging Compass could renew its competitive edge. Just one powertrain is offered for the Compass, a 2.0L inline-four making 200 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque. An 8.6-inch ground clearance, skid plates, and front and back tow hooks make it one of the most capable of compact crossovers. The Compass is rated for 24 city / 32 highway mpg. The Compass’ interior offers a decently modern look, despite its age, but middlingly material quality lays bare Jeep’s cost saving efforts. Many choice features that come standard elsewhere will cost you extra in the Compass, and cargo space is behind rivals at 59.8 cu.-ft. The Compass makes up ground on the tech front with a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen and a generous collection of standard safety tech like blind spot monitoring. The Compass starts at $29,995 and is spartan despite its higher-than-average entry price. The top trim Trailhawk starts at $37,990 and offers a host of off-road goodies like an upgraded suspension and all-terrain tires. The Compass costs about the same as its rivals but lacks some of their sophistication. Still, if you’re a brand loyalist or looking for an off-roadable compact crossover, the Compass is worth considering.
8. Ford Escape
The Breakdown
Great fuel economy
An engine for everyone
Comfortable interior
Underwhelming handling
Limited AWD availability
Uncompetitive warranty
A middling crossover
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.75/10
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MSRP
$29,345 - $40,500
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
27 City / 34 Hwy (MPG)
The 2024 Ford Escape is a well-rounded compact SUV. Though it may not distinguish itself in most regards, its array of available powertrains means there’s a propulsion system to suit nearly every buyer. That list starts with the standard turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder engine making 181 horsepower with optional all-wheel drive. A more robust 2.0L turbo makes 250 horsepower, or, if efficiency is more your thing, there’s a pair of hybrids, of the traditional and plug-in varieties. These latter two both come with a 2.5L engine paired with two electric motors for around 200 horsepower. The traditional hybrid gets up to 42 mpg while the plug-in hybrid offers 37 miles of electric-only range before the gas motor kicks in. The Escape features a decent interior with comfy seats and a generous 65 cu.-ft. of maximum cargo capacity, but middling material quality and a conservative design keep it from competing with the best of the segment. We did like the Escape’s tech offerings starting with an 8-inch or optional 13.1-inch infotainment screen housing Ford’s intuitive Sync 4 operating system. Standard advanced safety tech could be a bit more generous, however. The Escape Active starts at $29,345 with items like dual-zone climate control. The top trim plug-in hybrid starts at $40,500 and is both loaded and highly efficient. The Ford Escape is a jack-of-all-trades and a respectable option, though it could do more to stand out by finding something to excel at.
7. Nissan Rogue
The Breakdown
Sub $30K starting price
Sizable cargo hold
Impressive fuel economy
Typical crossover looks
Overpriced at the top end
Light on rear legroom
Not spectacular, not terrible, just fine
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8/10
How Do We Score?
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MSRP
$29,810 - $40,090
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
30 City / 37 Hwy (MPG)
The Nissan Rogue represents the median compact SUV, an averaging of common attributes, a shaving down of weaknesses and strengths alike. However, value, efficiency, and a good assortment of standard safety features save the Rogue from obscurity. All Rogues come equipped with the same turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder making 201 horsepower. Front-wheel drive versions can achieve up to 30 city / 37 highway mpg. Optional all-wheel drive versions dip slightly to 28/35 mpg. The Rogue’s cabin is one of its strengths with some of the best seats in the segment and an attractive design that looks decidedly upscale in the top Platinum trim. The Rogue offers some of the segment’s best cargo capacity, 74 cu.-ft., as well. Infotainment in the Rogue is housed in either an eight- or 12.3-inch touchscreen. Upper trims gain access to the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. A solid collection of driver assistance features come standard on the Rogue and includes items like blind spot monitoring. The Rogue starts at $29,810, about par for the segment but it runs lighter on entry-level features than some competitors. The top trim Platinum, starting at $40,090, feels worlds apart with its quilted leather seats and 10-speaker Bose stereo. The Nissan Rogue is a serviceable compact SUV, but it lacks all that much to excite or entice.
6. Toyota RAV4
The Breakdown
Above-average fuel economy
Prime trim is fun
Classy cabin
Unrefined base engine
No fun to drive
Older tech
It’s time for an update
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.25/10
How Do We Score?
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MSRP
$30,025 - $48,910
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
27 City / 35 Hwy (MPG)
The Toyota RAV4 has long been a strong choice among compact SUVs, and while the 2024 model continues to impress it’s clearly no longer the top dog in a competitive segment. One of the RAV4’s greatest assets is the choice of three available powertrains. A base 2.5L four-cylinder nets 203 horsepower and an impressively efficient 27 city / 35 highway mpg. The hybrid version pairs that 2.5L with two electric motors for 219 horsepower and 41 mpg city. The RAV4 Prime, the plug-in hybrid, jumps up to 302 horsepower in output and offers up to 42 miles of electric range. It also happens to be the third quickest Toyota after the Supra and GR86 sports cars. The RAV4 can also tow up to 3,500 lbs. Like so many Toyotas past and present, the RAV4’s interior skews toward function over form. We liked the chunky buttons and knobs and the cabin’s roominess, but some of the plastic materials cheapen the experience. Toyota does give the RAV4 a decent 8- or 10.5-inch touchscreen and loads it down with standard safety features and driver assistance tech, though some of the latter are a bit touchy. The RAV4 is offered in a dizzying 11 different trim levels, which is good and bad. The world is your oyster on finding the right trim for your needs and budget, but the sheer amount of detail can be intimidating. The RAV4 starts at $30,025 and rises all the way to the plug-in hybrid Prime XSE at a steep $48,910. There’s still a lot to like from the RAV4, and with better driving dynamics and a snazzier interior it could again top our list of compact SUVs.
5. Subaru Forester
The Breakdown
Standard AWD
Fairly priced
Legit off-road capability
Needs more power
Small standard infotainment screen
Light on available driver aids
A non-traditional crossover
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.5/10
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MSRP
$28,390 - $38,490
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
26 City / 33 Hwy (MPG)
The Subaru Forester impresses on many metrics, but two stand out. First, its capacious and comfortable interior make for friction-free daily use. Second, is its standard all-wheel drive and minimum of 8.7-inches of ground clearance making it the segment default for those tasked with driving in snowy or otherwise adverse conditions. The Forester’s weakest point is its engine, of which there is only one choice, a naturally-aspirated 2.5L flat-four making 187 horsepower and 176 lb.-ft. of torque. While adequate, this engine is only just so. The Wilderness Edition, however, spices things up with added off-roadability that includes a taller 9.2-inch ride height, all-terrain tires, and an increased towing capacity of 3,000 lbs. (which is otherwise 1,500 lbs.). We’d really like to see Subaru add a hybrid offering for the Forester. The Forester’s interior is one of the segment’s strongest with a tall greenhouse for extraordinary outward visibility and a roomy cabin front and back. Cargo is also among the best int eh segment with 74 cu.-ft. in total. Tech offerings are, like the engine, adequate without being particularly impressive. A 6.5-inch touchscreen is standard and can be upgraded to an eight-inch screen. While intuitively designed, the Subaru infotainment software can be laggy at times. Subaru’s Eye-Sight suite of standard driver assistance features includes things like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The base Forester starts at $28,390. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Touring at $38,490 with such niceties as leather upholstery and a high-end stereo. Despite its imperfections, the Subaru Forester is among the segment’s best offerings, especially if you prioritize light off-roadability.
4. Kia Sportage
The Breakdown
Above average interior
Fuel-efficient hybrid options
Exceptional warranty
Adaptive cruise control costs extra
Base motor is too weak
Top trims are pricey
A solid competitor
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.75/10
How Do We Score?
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MSRP
$28,415 - $45,000
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
25 City / 28 Hwy (MPG)
The Kia Sportage may not excel in any one area, but it is good at doing almost everything it’s asked to competently. In a segment built on being sensible, it’s a smart approach. The Sportage offers a trio of powertrain options starting with a base 2.5L inline-four making 187 horsepower and optional all-wheel drive. A hybrid version marries a 1.6L turbo with electric propulsion for 227 horsepower and up to 43 mpg combined. A plug-in hybrid option ups the output to 261 horsepower and offers up to 34 miles of electric-only driving. The Sportage tows up to 2,500 lbs. The Sportage’s interior is attractive, well-built, and comfortable. Our only major gripe is the lack of physical buttons as some of the Sportage’s touch-sensitive controls are annoyingly touchy to operate. The base Sportage gets an eight-inch touchscreen while all other trims get a larger 12.3-inch screen. Oddly, it’s only the eight-inch version that comes with a wireless version of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sportage’s 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is a nice feature and comes with an excellent blind spot monitor display. While the overall safety package is decently equipped, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise cost extra. The Sportage LX starts at $28,415. The top-of-the-line X-Line Prestige (the plug-in hybrid) comes in at $45,465. The notable gulf between the spartan base and expensive upper trims can be read as either gatekeeping or offering a range of options, interpret as you please. Overall, the Kia Sportage is a very good, if not quite great compact SUV.
3. Hyundai Tucson
The Breakdown
Excellent tech
Segment-leading warranty
Clean interior design
Lower powered base engine
Rival hybrids offer better fuel economy
Confusing trim lineup
Excellent value for money
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.75/10
How Do We Score?
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MSRP
$27,250 - $45,200
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
25 City / 32 Hwy (MPG)
The Hyundai Tucson might be similar mechanically to its badge-swapped cousin the Kia Sportage, but there are significant ways it manages to differentiate itself. Good looks and overall execution make the Tucson among the segment’s best options. Like the Sportage, the Tucson offers three powertrain options. First is the base 2.5L four-cylinder with 187 horsepower. While not quick exactly, it is efficient at 25 city / 32 highway mpg. Next is the hybrid option with its turbo 1.6L and electric motor making 226 horsepower and up to 38 mpg in the city. The plug-in hybrid version makes 261 horsepower and offers up to 38 miles of electric-only range before the gas engine kicks on. Towing in the Tucson maxes out at 2,000 lbs. The Tucson’s interior is one of its strong suits. Aesthetically compelling, the Tucson’s cabin does a decent job blending form and function, though we could do with less piano-black plastic surfaces to accumulate fingerprints and more physical buttons for the HVAC and stereo systems. Hyundai is a little more generous with the Tucson’s standard safety equipment as it includes adaptive cruise. The Tucson starts at $27,250 and comes with cloth upholstery and that eight-inch touchscreen. The Limited plug-in hybrid starts at $45,200 with all the bells and whistles like ambient lighting and a heated steering wheel. The Hyundai Tucson is a highly competent compact SUV, though with room for improvement.
2. Honda CR-V
The Breakdown
A comfortable, composed ride
Choice of a hybrid or conventional engine
Good price point
Well-equipped with infotainment
Polished, modern interior
New Sport-L trim combines popular features
Both engines can be sluggish at times
A compact SUV with big benefits
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$29,500 - $39,500
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
28 City / 34 Hwy (MPG)
The Honda CR-V has been long been at or near the top of the compact SUV segment for decades now. And as in those years past, the CR-V proves to be not just good at most things but genuinely great in some areas. Efficiency is one of those areas. The CR-V’s base engine is a turbocharged 1.5L inline-four making 190 horsepower and netting 28 city / 34 highway mpg. Good numbers, but even more impressive is the 2.0L hybrid making 240 horsepower and getting 43/36 mpg. The CR-V’s interior is also laudable with its unique design elements, great fit and finish, and intuitive layout. A seven- or nine-inch touchscreen is available along with your choice of four, six, eight, or twelve speaker stereos. Standard safety tech is also generous, though blind spot monitoring is, sadly, relegated to upper trims. The base CR-V starts at $29,500, which is higher than average but comes with more basic features than the competition’s base offerings. The Sport Touring hybrid starts at $39,500 and comes with accoutrements like 19-inch gloss-black wheels and an integrated navigation system. With its good looks, spacious interior, and efficient hybrid option, the Honda CR-V covers a lot of bases while offering a great value, making it one of the segment’s strongest contenders.
1. Mazda CX-5
The Breakdown
Great chassis
Fun turbo engine
Excellent interior
Older technology
No hybrid engine
Base engine could use more power
A drivers compact SUV
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9.25/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$30,675 - $41,975
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
24 City / 30 Hwy (MPG)
The Mazda CX-5 does what no other compact SUV can do at this price point, make driving actually fun. Add possibly the nicest interior of the bunch and plentiful high-end tech features and you’ve got our pick for the peak of the segment. The CX-5 features two powertrain options. The first is a 2.5L four-cylinder making 187 horsepower with standard all-wheel drive. A more potent turbocharged 2.5L makes 256 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque. A tight chassis and sporty suspension complete the ensemble, making the CX-5 a genuine joy on the road and very much the exception in a category that often sacrifices drivability in the name of efficiency. Our only complaint is the lack of a hybrid option. The CX-5 manages to wow us once again on the inside with its mix of style and practicality. Fit and finish are among the best the segment offers with high-end material choices which keep that dread scourge of hard plastic to an absolute minimum. The CX-5’s cabin has but one weakness, a paucity of cargo space compared to rivals like the Tucson or CR-V. The CX-5 manages to appoint all trims with a 10.3-inch infotainment screen. Limited touch control is augmented by Mazda’s rotary dial which is both more intuitive and less distracting than the typical touchscreen. The list of standard safety tech features is expansive and includes items like lane-departure warnings and adaptive cruise control. The base CX-5 comes well-equipped at $30,675 with features like dual-zone climate control and faux leather upholstery. The full-loaded Turbo Signature tops things off at $41,975. The Mazda CX-5 does what few rivals manage, do all the compact SUV things with relative ease while also providing a level of driver engagement and overall refinement unattainable elsewhere (at least anywhere near this price point).
