The most popular cars with Consumer Reports readers

In the popularity contest at ConsumerReports.org, there is a clear winner: Subaru Forester. Traffic to this high-scoring small SUV is 40 percent greater than that of the second most popular vehicle, the Subaru Outback.

That both Subarus have been dominating page views of car model pages thus far in 2015 doesn’t come as a surprise. These vehicles excel in our tests, have terrific safety credentials, and tout better-than-average predicted reliability. Plus, a challenging winter likely fueled interest in affordable, all-wheel-drive models.

In third place, we find the hot-selling Honda CR-V close behind the Outback. A 2015 freshening has shined new light on this strong player, although it faces tough competition.

In total, the top 10 most popular cars at ConsumerReports.org are all recommended models, meaning they did well in our road tests, have average or better predicted reliability, and performed adequately, if included in government or insurance-industry crash tests.

All 10 models earn 2015 Top Safety Pick accolades from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And eight of those claim the Top Safety Pick Plus designation, meaning they earned at least an Acceptable rating in the small-overlap front-crash test and a Good rating in all other crash tests. In addition, they had to have a front-crash-prevention system equipped with an automatic emergency-braking (autobrake) feature that earns an advanced or superior rating in their front-crash-prevention ratings. (Learn more in “Cars that can save your life.”)

Clearly, the readers are doing their research and taking these recommendations to heart.

In the top 20, we see just four luxury-branded models, starting at the 16^th position with the Audi A6, Audi Q5, Lexus RX350, and Tesla Model S.

Scanning further down the list, precious few models in the top 40 are without a Consumer Reports recommendation, with exceptions including Ford Escape, Ford F-150, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Murano, and Volkswagen Golf. Those generate interest and include some newly tested models for which we don’t have reliability information yet, so that’s understandable. (We are in the process of testing the F-150 and Murano now.)

Without further adieu, below we present the 10 most popular cars thus far in 2015...

—Jeff Bartlett

1. Subaru Forester

Base MSRP price range: $22,195 - $33,095
Top Safety Pick Plus

The most popular vehicle this winter is the Subaru Forester, a 2015 Top Pick. The current design shirks the contemporary trend toward making SUVs look like sports coupes with descending rooflines and curvaceous bodies, instead focusing on the fundamentals with a space-efficient design, large windows, and big square doors. That recipe has resulted in the easiest access and the best view out of almost any vehicle, and one of the roomiest rear seats in the class, with copious head and leg room. In our tests, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and CVT averaged a near-class-leading 26-mpg overall. Controls are very simple, and the infotainment and connectivity systems will soon be updated. Midtrim Foresters bring a lot of content for the money. Factor in top marks for predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and owner costs, and you have a clear winner.

Read the complete Subaru Forester road test.

2. Subaru Outback

Base MSRP price range: $24,895 - $32,995
Top Safety Pick Plus

More than just a wagon, the Outback is an intriguing alternative to a traditional midsized SUV. It has more cargo space than most seemingly larger competitors, less thirst for fuel, and a lower price. Functionally, it does everything most midsized SUVs can do—except tow a heavy load. With the 2.5i, we measured fuel economy of 24 mpg overall, which is significantly better than any midsized SUV. Six-cylinder 3.6R versions are much quicker and even quieter, with little penalty in fuel economy. We got 22 mpg overall. Inside, the Outback has a contemporary infotainment system that makes pairing phones and streaming online audio easy. You can also get a full complement of high-tech safety gear with Subaru's EyeSight, which includes lane-departure and forward-collision warnings, along with active cruise control that can bring the car to a stop on its own in low-speed situations. Throw in excellent visibility, a quiet cabin, straightforward controls, and very good predicted reliability, and the Outback is an easy car to recommend.

Read the complete Subaru Outback road test.

3. Honda CR-V

Base MSRP price range: $23,445 - $32,895
Top Safety Pick Plus

The CR-V is one of the roomiest, most functional, and most well-equipped small SUVs. A 2015 freshening brought a new 185-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT, along with improved fuel economy. Also new are assorted active safety features, a top Touring trim with added equipment, and a distracting and difficult to use infotainment system on all but base versions. Handling is more responsive and secure, but the ride quality took a step backward, with bumps coming through in a more pronounced way. The interior is somewhat quieter than before. The rear seats are roomy, and folding them is a breeze. Small rear windows hurt the view out back, but the standard rearview camera helps.

Read the complete Honda CR-V road test.

4. Subaru Legacy

Base MSRP price range: $21,695 - $29,595
Top Safety Pick Plus

The redesigned Legacy is roomier, quieter, and much more refined, helping it become our top-scoring midsized sedan. Its ride is better than some luxury cars, and handling is sound and secure. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder is no rocket, but it gets the job done and returns 26-mpg overall. A 3.6-liter six-cylinder is also available. Both engines use a CVT that behaves much like a conventional automatic. The much-needed infotainment improvements include a 6.2-inch touch screen and multifunction display with Internet radio and Bluetooth. Uplevel models add a larger screen and upgraded audio. New safety features include a standard rear-view camera and an available rear radar system with blind-spot, cross-traffic, and lane-change warnings.

Read the complete Subaru Legacy road test.