Cars.com Ranks Best Compact SUVs in Segment Challenge

Cars.com experts put five of the most popular compact SUVs through a series of tests to determine the best option for shoppers in its annual Compact SUV Challenge. Contenders included the 2017 Ford Escape, 2016 Honda CR-V, 2016 Hyundai Tucson, 2016 Kia Sportage and the 2016 Toyota RAV4. After extensive evaluation, the redesigned 2017 Ford Escape earned first place. 

“Compact SUVs continue to be the best-selling segment, and with fuel prices continuing to stay low, their popularity will remain on the rise,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor-in-chief. “They offer the ability to carry plenty of people and cargo and they’re great value for the money. Because they’re such big sellers, Cars.com is now testing this category every year so that shoppers have the information they need to make confident car buying decisions.”

For this test, a Champions & Challengers approach was taken. “We took the winner from last year’s Compact SUV Challenge, which was the Honda CR-V, the segment sales leader, which is the Toyota RAV4, and pit them against all of the compact SUVs that have been remodeled since our test in 2015,” said Olsen. 

The test resulted in the following ranking: 

• 2017 Ford Escape
• 2016 Kia Sportage
• 2016 Honda CR-V
• 2016 Toyota RAV4
• 2016 Hyundai Tucson

“The significantly refreshed Ford Escape is a great-driving small SUV, now with even more features for the money,” said Olsen. “Between its huge infotainment system, comfortable and quiet ride and impressive built-in storage, the Escape is a real winner.” 

For full results from the 2016 Compact SUV Challenge, visit www.cars.com/news or click here.