Small SUVs: Reviews

Updated May 2009

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Best compact SUV overall

2009 Subaru Forester

*Est. $19,995 to $28,195 Compare Prices

The 2009 Subaru Forester compact SUV is an all-new design that has garnered consistent praise from reviewers since its spring '08 introduction. Most reviewers say Subaru got the 2009 Forester's… design just right. It wears more broadly appealing traditional SUV-style bodywork and offers greatly improved driver and passenger comfort. With standard all-wheel drive, practical packaging and powerful yet economical engines, the 2009 Forester follows up its good individual review performances with awards such as Motor Trend's Sport Utility of the Year. If you need more seating than the Forester's two rows, the Toyota RAV4 (*est. $21,500 to $27,810) offers the added flexibility of an optional third row, as well as even more power thanks to its optional V-6 engine.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Motor Trend: Motor Trend compares the performance of the midsize 2008 Mazda CX-7 and two compact SUVs, the 2009 Subaru Forester and the 2009 ...

Truck Trend: Truck Trend compares five compact SUVs, each optioned for best fuel economy. (The Saturn Vue model tested was the hybrid.) ...

MotherProof.com: MotherProof.com's Emily Hansen didn't find earlier versions of the Subaru Forester particularly appealing, but she calls the 2009 ...

Edmunds Inside Line: Edmunds Inside Line tests the redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester and likes what it sees, for the most part. The redesigned body is ...

The New York Times: The New York Times' Chris Jensen isn't particularly enamored with the 2009 Subaru Forester's "generic" styling, but he summarizes ...

Cars.com: Cars.com's Kelsey Mays provides a comprehensive and insightful review of the 2009 Subaru Forester. He says that the redesigned ...

TheTruthAboutCars.com: TheTruthAboutCars.com's Michael Karesh is critical of the new Subaru Forester's interior aesthetics and materials, but says the ...

TheTruthAboutCars.com: TheTruthAboutCars.com goes back for seconds when reviewer Megan Benoit takes the wheel of a Subaru Forester -- a turbo model this ...

Motor Trend: In the most recent installment of Motor Trend's annual SUV torture test, SUVs are thoroughly tested for their off-road ability, ...

MotherProof.com: Every year, MotherProof.com selects its picks for best family vehicles in nine categories. Testers evaluate how friendly the ...

Kelley Blue Book: Kelley Blue Book names the 2009 Subaru Forester its Best Redesigned Vehicle. In a full review, editors praise the Forester's new ...

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com editors praise the 2009 Subaru Forester's new design, saying the compact SUV has become more useful. Editors like the ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org's auto editors buy and evaluate nearly every car on the market, including the redesigned 2009 Subaru ...

ConsumerGuide.com: Editors at ConsumerGuide.com say the Subaru Forester is comfortable and roomy, but it pitches and dives a bit more than other ...

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Most powerful small SUV, third-row option

2009 Toyota RAV4

*Est. $21,500 to $27,810 Compare Prices

The Toyota RAV4 is a perennial favorite among critics and is the most recommended small SUV after the class-leading Subaru Forester (*est. $19,995 to $28,195). A new, more powerful base engine is in place for 2009, and… reviewers like the optional V-6 engine that is the most powerful in this class but still delivers good fuel economy. The RAV4 is available with a third-row seat, but it's cramped for adults. With high build quality, reliability and the extra power afforded by its optional V-6, the RAV4 narrowly edges out the less powerful but highly regarded Honda CR-V, which gets runner-up status in 2009.

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Edmunds.com: Editors at Edmunds.com say the RAV4 is comfortable and easy to drive. They like the practicality of the interior, but note that ...

Edmunds Inside Line: In a three-way test, the 2008 Toyota RAV4 tops the 2009 VW Tiguan and 2008 Honda CR-V by simply doing everything well and ...

MotherProof.com: MotherProof.com's Sara Lacey reviews the 2009 Toyota RAV4, which she deems a "chick car," albeit one with a "masculine-looking" ...

Examiner.com: Reviewer John Matras extols the virtues of the Toyota RAV4 with its new, more powerful base four-cylinder. After driving it, he ...

Edmunds Inside Line: Inside Line reports on the results of Consumer Reports latest small SUV comparison test, which sees the 2009 Toyota RAV4 eke out ...

Car and Driver: The Toyota RAV4 places first in a Car and Driver test of nine compact SUVs. Editors praise the RAV4's roomy interior, good fuel ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org purchases, tests and reviews most cars on the market. These reviews include predicted reliability ratings ...

ConsumerGuide.com: Editors at ConsumerGuide.com have not yet tested the 2009 Toyota RAV4's new four-cylinder engine, but they say the optional V-6 ...

Car and Driver: Car and Driver published this review in late 2008, in part to discuss the Toyota RAV4's new, more powerful 2.5-liter ...

DogCars.com: DogCars.com gives the '09 Toyota RAV4 a "five-paw" rating. With its back seats folded, the small SUV can safely and securely ...

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Sporty compact SUV

2009 Nissan Rogue

*Est. $20,220 to $23,010 Compare Prices

The Nissan Rogue is often praised by reviewers for its sporty nature and overall value, but if you're shopping in this price class, you might also consider a station wagon. Brisk acceleration, athletic handling and… commendable braking performance separate it from the more traditional class leaders, which put a premium on space and practicality over entertaining dynamics. The Rogue sacrifices cargo room in favor of jaunty styling, and although the constantly variable transmission helps it deliver good fuel economy numbers, reviewers generally wish it weren't the sole option. The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (*est. $23,200 to $32,940) is a powerful, stylish and fun upscale alternative, but its front-wheel-drive base price is greater than that of a higher-trim, all-wheel-drive Nissan Rogue.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com says the Nissan Rogue is comfortable and convenient with a quality interior. The Rogue also scores points for being ...

Car and Driver: Car and Driver tests a diverse lineup of all-wheel-drive compact SUVs on gravel and dirt roads. The Nissan Rogue places third, ...

Truck Trend: Truck Trend compares five small SUVs, each optioned for best fuel economy. The Nissan Rogue places second in this comparison ...

Cars.com: Aside from middle-of-the-road exterior styling, Cars.com's David Thomas finds a lot to like in the Nissan Rogue, whose interior ...

Edmunds Inside Line: Edmunds.com's enthusiast website, Inside Line, views the Nissan Rogue as the most car-like offering in the compact SUV segment. ...

The Car Family: Editors of The Car Family -- a mom, dad, young working male and young working woman -- all spend time driving the 2009 Nissan ...

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com says the Nissan Rogue offers a carlike ride and handling qualities that make it fun to drive. It's also got a good ...

TheGarageBlog.com: TheGarageBlog.com's Gary Grant spends several days with a Nissan Rogue and says it's "economical, yet fun to drive and looks ...

TheTruthAboutCars.com: TheTruthAboutCars.com's Jonny Lieberman expected to hate the Nissan Rogue. Instead, he comes away impressed. While he dislikes ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org editors buy and evaluate dozens of cars, including the Nissan Rogue, and calculate predicted reliability ...

Kiplinger.com: Kiplinger's annual auto issue factors in issues such as service costs, fuel efficiency, resale value and insurance costs. Editors ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com editors say the Nissan Rogue is slow to accelerate on the highway and has trouble with hills. Although the ...

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Fuel-sipping compact SUV

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

*Est. $29,645 to $33,725 Compare Prices

The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid is essentially in a class by itself. No SUV in any size category can match its fuel-economy numbers -- 34 mpg city and 31 mpg highway -- which surpass those of some small economy cars. A more… powerful gasoline engine for 2009 along with structural enhancements and revisions to the hybrid system result in a quieter operation and improved electric-mode performance. Since it's based on the standard Ford Escape SUV, it has some of the same shortcomings as its conventional sibling, such as interior appointments that aren't to the standard of the small SUV class leaders. The Saturn Vue Hybrid (*est. $28,160) is the Ford Escape Hybrid's only real competitor, but it uses a less sophisticated hybrid system and can't match the Ford hybrid's fuel economy. Additionally, the Saturn brand's future is grim: it will either be killed off or sold by General Motors by the end of 2009.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

AutoblogGreen.com: Reviewer Sam Abuelsamid tests a loaded, front-wheel-drive 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited and concludes that it is substantially ...

The Truth About Cars: Reviewer Jonny Lieberman claims the 2009 Escape Hybrid's continuously variable transmission is improved and now feels and sounds ...

Cars.com: Cars.com's Mike Hanley drives a Ford Escape Hybrid and confirms that the EPA estimated fuel-economy numbers are indeed ...

Edmunds.com: Edmunds.com editors confirm that yes, the Ford Escape Hybrid really is good for 30 mpg, and it dishes out V-6 performance from ...

ConsumerGuide.com: ConsumerGuide.com feels the Escape Hybrid's new 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine accelerates better than previous Escape ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors at ConsumerReports.org evaluate nearly every car on the market, including the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. These reviews also ...

FuelEconomy.gov: The Ford Escape gets better fuel economy than any truck, van or SUV sold in the United States. In fact, its mileage numbers ...

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2009 Honda CR-V *Est. $21,095 to $27,245

6 picks including: About.com, Car and Driver…

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Est. $23,200 to $32,940

3 picks including: Car and Driver, Edmunds.com…

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara *Est. $18,499 to $26,299

2 picks including: Four Wheeler, Edmunds.com…

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander *Est. $20,580 to $25,980

2 picks by top review sites.