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Value, style, and convenience all rank high on our list of the best compact SUVs of 2023.
The Goldilocks Zone
The increasing popularity of the compact SUV evidences a moderation of America’s obsession with big, hulking, gas-guzzling SUVs. Sure, we still love our full-size pickups, but when we don’t need to tow a boat or haul lumber, a moderately sized crossover is not just adequate but highly desirable. Indeed, of America’s best-selling vehicles, right alongside the F-150s and Chevy Silverados sits the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. These compact SUVs offer all the convenience and affordability of the traditional sedans while their boxy frame and greater ride height augment the utility of the cars they continue to replace.
Below is our rundown of the best compact SUVs of 2023. Whether you value rugged all-wheel drive, stellar interior designs, or the latest in advanced driver-assist technology, these compact SUV offer something for every car buyer.
10. Chevrolet Equinox
The Breakdown
Very comfortable ride
Attractive pricing
Nice interior on upper trims
Underwhelming engine
Slow transmission
Lack of standard safety features
We’d love a second engine option
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.7/10
How Do We Score?
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MSRP
$27,995 - $33,195
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
26 City / 31 Hwy (MPG)
The Chevrolet Equinox suffers not from being an actively bad choice of compact SUV, but from being a middling option in a segment full of strong options. Good ride quality and affordability struggle to make up for notable deficiencies. The single engine option, a 1.5L four-cylinder, is poky around town and feels downright sluggish in highway passing situations. While the Equinox does offer advanced safety features like lane-keep assist as standard, it offers fewer of those features than most of its rivals. Higher trims bring class the interior and at the same time undercut the Equinox’s value proposition. Overall, the Chevy Equinox is decent and decently priced, but not a standout.
9. Ford Bronco Sport
The Breakdown
Capable off-road
Great visibility
Strong 4-cylinder engine
Interior quality needs improvement
2nd row legroom is tight
Expensive upper trims
Excellent off-road features
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.8/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$30,810 - $46,250
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
25 City / 28 Hwy (MPG)
Ford has taken the Escape and given it the Bronco off-road treatment in the form of the Bronco Sport. The added layers of ruggedness, along with additional ground clearance, make the Bronco Sport worth consideration. Most trims make do with the Bronco Sport’s 1.5L three-cylinder and its 180 horsepower. The available turbocharged 2.0L in the top two trims makes a more impressive 250 horsepower. This, sadly, is much of the story. The best features and the bulk of the off-road goodies are limited to those top two trims, the Badlands and the Heritage Edition, starting at $38,935 and $46,250, respectively. That’s a lot and a whole lot for a non-luxury compact SUV. Still, if off-roadability is a key attribute, the Bronco Sport matches up well against its closest competition in that regard, the Subaru Forester.
8. Volkswagen Tiguan
The Breakdown
Roomy cabin space
Quiet ride
Impressive driver assistance tech
Available third-row seating is very tight
Engine can feel sluggish at times
Touch-sensing controls are distracting
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan provides world-class comfort
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.9/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$28,245 - $38,975
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
24 City / 31 Hwy (MPG)
The Volkswagen Tiguan’s strengths lie in its comfortable, well-fashioned interior and impressive driver assistance technology. Less than stellar is the Tiguan’s turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder which delivers 184 horsepower and notably sluggish acceleration. It feels slow even for a segment not known for performance. Still, the Tiguan’s roomy cabin makes for great day-to-day livability. With that said, we’d avoid looking to the Tiguan as your third-row SUV solution. Its third row, the only one in the segment, is only suitable for children and pets, and then only just. Tiguan’s generous array of advanced safety tech rounds out a well-balanced if not awe-inspiring offering from Volkswagen.
7. Nissan Rogue
The Breakdown
Impressive fuel economy
Comfortable ride
Good looking vehicle
Quality selection of materials in the cabin
Up-to-date features
5 two-tone or 9 solid colors
Some cabin noise on freeways
Warranties could be better
Acceptable handling
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.1/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$27,360 - $37,140
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
30 City / 37 Hwy (MPG)
By the time we get to the Nissan Rogue, our list of the year’s best compact SUVs is getting increasingly competitive with each entrant making a strong and compelling case for itself. The Rogue, for its part, is Nissan best-selling model with good reason. It offers a great balance of affordability while sacrificing almost nothing compared to its rivals. Do you want a well-equipped base model complete with a generous selection of advanced driver assist features? How about a modern, cozy, and functional interior? Snazzy looks? In all these areas the Rogue genuinely impresses. Its sole engine option, a meat-and-potatoes 1.5L turbo three-cylinder, is a bit of a letdown, but also (about) par for the course. The Nissan Rogue starts at $27,360 and comes well-equipped for that price compared to other base models in the segment.
6. Subaru Forester
The Breakdown
Very good ride quality
Respectable fuel economy
Good interior space
Standard AWD
Composed ride and handling
Great ground clearance
Ample room for cargo
Just one engine option
Lackluster acceleration and engine power
A low tow rating
No 360-degree view camera
No big updates from the 2022 model
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.1/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$26,495 - $36,795
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
26 City / 33 Hwy (MPG)
The Subaru Forester stakes it claim as the segment’s most rugged option, rivaling only the Ford Bronco Sport for that distinction. Standard all-wheel drive and 8.7-inches of ground clearance make the standard Forester one of the few SUVs on this list happy to jump straight off the shelf and onto the trail. The cladded-up Wilderness Edition lifts the Forester up to 9.2 inches and increases towing from 1,500 lbs. up to 3,000 lbs. Like some prior entrants, the Forester’s weakest point is its limited powertrain options, just a 2.5L flat-four with a merely adequate 182 horsepower. Having either a turbo or hybrid option would do the Forster wonders. The airy, spacious cabin leans more toward function than form, with the gulf between the spartan base model and posh top trim substantial. Standard Subaru EyeSight enables adaptive cruise control as well as other advanced safety features even on the base model. The otherwise unremarkable Forester offers a unique set of traits that can see it leapfrog the competition, depending on what you’re looking for.
5. Hyundai Tucson
The Breakdown
Excellent quality
Top-notch warranty coverage
Great safety tech
Underwhelming base engine
Middling towing capability
Rival hybrids are more fuel efficient
A great value for the money
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.4/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$28,035 - $45,895
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
37 City / 37 Hwy (MPG)
Origami body lines and an audacious grille/headlight design makes the Hyundai Tucson the most stylistically bold entrant on this list. But the Tucson isn’t only remarkable for its looks. First among its virtues is its variety of powertrains, which start with a base 2.5L four-cylinder with 187 horsepower. More power and greater efficiency is available with the turbocharged 1.6L hybrid option that offers 226 horsepower and 38 mpg combined. A pricey plug-in hybrid is also available with 261 horsepower and up to 33 miles of electric-only range. The Tucson’s refined, high-quality interior looks great, though we’d prefer real buttons to the finicky capacitive touch controls. Such nitpicks can’t take away the fact that the Hyundai Tucson is among the best the segment has to offer with style, the latest tech, and your choice of powertrains, all without breaking the bank.
4. Kia Sportage
The Breakdown
Exceptional technology
A drivetrain for every buyer
Unbeatable warranty coverage
Base motor is a bit loud
Not as sharp to drive as a CX-5
Love it or hate it styling
A modern gear shift would be nice
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.5/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$27,205 - $42,000
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
23 City / 28 Hwy (MPG)
The other side of the Hyundai crossover coin is the Kia Sportage. Where the Tucson leans into eye-catching looks, the Sportage offers a more conventional take. It’s no less the all-star for it. Like the Tucson, the Sportage offers three powertrains: the same base 2.5L four-cylinder, the more powerful and fuel-efficient hybrid, and the range topping plug-in hybrid with its 261 horses and 33-mile all-electric range. The Sportage’s interior differs in both style and substance from its badge swapped cousin. Here the Sportage features both a digital gauge cluster and touchscreen behind one long continuous pane of glass. The Sportage is also one of the roomiest cabins in the segment, with copious amounts of cargo space. Like the Tucson, the Sportage gets capacitive touch controls for the HVAC, which are not ideal. That aside, the Sportage offers a better than average driving experience, a full twelve trims for maximum customizability, and loads of modern conveniences.
3. Toyota RAV4
The Breakdown
Great fuel economy
Excellent interior
Prime is fast
Underwhelming handling
Unrefined controls
Buzzy base engine
Still a great package
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.6/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$29,310 - $47,545
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
41 City / 38 Hwy (MPG)
The Toyota RAV4 has a reputation for reliability and solid build quality. It ranks among the best compact SUVs because beyond these attributes it also offers newly improved infotainment, efficient powertrain options, and comes generously equipped even in its lower trims. Three powertrains are on offer: a base 2.5L four-cylinder (which tends to drone under hard acceleration), a hybrid option with 215 horsepower and 40 mpg combined, and the impressive RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower and 42 miles of electric-only range. The RAV4’s interior is spacious, comfortable, and focused on functionality. A new infotainment system is a vast improvement, now snappy and intuitive to navigate. Standard safety features are aplenty, as are many other features on the base LE trim, starting at $29,310. Though it may not be as exciting as other entrants on this list, the Toyota RAV4 continues to impress with its practicality.
2. Honda CR-V
The Breakdown
Great fuel economy
Refreshed styling
Terrific cargo space
Nice cabin with useful tech
Healthy list of safety features
ICE and hybrid options
Just one gas-powered engine
Same horsepower as 2022 model
A handful of trims to choose from
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.8/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$31,610 - $39,100
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
27 City / 32 Hwy (MPG)
In terms of our ranking, the top two spots are almost a tossup. The Honda CR-V, like much of Honda’s current lineup, is a potent mix of down-to-earth practicality and high-minded sophistication. The CR-V offers two powertrain options. The default for most trims is a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder making 190 horsepower. While this is fairly efficient on its own, Honda also offers a hybrid version with a 2.0L working in tandem with two electric motors for 204 horsepower and up to 43 mpg in the city. The ride is smooth, and the CR-V handles better than average for the segment. The interior of the CR-V sports high-quality materials, engaging design elements, and (gasp!) physical buttons. Most distinguishing however is the commodiousness of the cabin. The CR-V is graced with 76.5 cu.-ft. of maximum cargo capacity and just over 40 inches of rear seat legroom, making it one of the roomiest offerings in the segment. Honda’s collection of advanced safety features comes mostly standard with items like blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. Though the CR-V starts higher than average, the $31,610 for the EX trim, you’ll find it very well-equipped. In all, there’s extraordinarily little to complain about the Honda CR-V. It does the crossover thing about as well as we’ve ever seen it, and it does it with style.
1. Mazda CX-5
The Breakdown
Excellent handling
Upscale interior
Powerful turbocharged engine
Less cargo space than rivals
Uncomfortable rear seat
Turbo option would be nice on lower trims
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.9/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$27,975 - $40,925
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
24 City / 30 Hwy (MPG)
In a segment known for lackluster engine offerings and numb handling, the Mazda CX-5 is an outlier. In the CX-5, Mazda has worked hard to imbue the crossover with lithe and lively handling and a pair of engine options capable of maximizing its sporty suspension. That pair starts with a 2.5L four-cylinder making 187 horsepower. A second, turbocharged version bumps up to 227 horsepower. That’s plenty for giving the CX-5 an atypical joyousness behind the wheel. Because a compact SUV owner cannot survive on driving thrills alone, the Mazda gave the CX-5 a spectacular interior as well. The CX-5’s cabin looks great and feels great with an elegant design and high-quality materials throughout. We actually prefer Mazda’s less distracting choice of a rotary dial for operating the CX-5’s infotainment system. The CX-5’s main deficit is its sparce cargo capacity and rear seat room, both behind its top competitors. Like the rest of the segment, the CX-5 comes standard with a bevy of driver assist and safety technology including pedestrian detection and lane departure warnings. The CX-5 manages a near flawless mix of sharp looks, easy-to-use and effective tech, and unrivaled driving dynamics. Many lament trading the driving dynamics of sedans for the lunky conveniences of a crossover, not Mazda CX-5 owners, however. And that’s what takes it to the top of our list of the best compact SUVs of 2023.
