Every New Compact Crossover and SUV Ranked from Worst to Best

Compact crossovers and SUVs aren't particularly small. Neither are they down-market or low-buck in execution, despite their wieldy dimensions and affordable price tags. After all, should you want something smaller or cheaper, plenty of automakers now offer subcompact crossovers and SUVs to choose from. Compacts, on the other hand, are right-sized, right-priced, and blend carlike refinement with a touch of utility. It is little wonder why they make up a booming segment of the market. Now that so many of these vehicles are crowding the marketplace, simply sorting through them all can be a daunting task. We're here to help with these rankings, which we've ordered from worst to best.

Mitsubishi’s Outlander doesn’t rank near the top of many lists-certainly not our overall compact-crossover rankings-but it sure can hold carry-on luggage. In spite of its lowish cargo volume, the Mitsubishi swallows 27 carry-ons with its second- and third-row seats folded. (Along with the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Outlander is the only nonluxury compact crossover we’ve tested with a third row.) Although the third row limits its seats-up capacity to two carry-ons, it has easy-to-fold second and third rows that, when down, create a flat load floor to help it fit the most carry-ons of any compact crossover we’ve tested.

The sales success of Nissan's crossover requires an asterisk: the company lumps in two separate models, the subcompact Rogue Sport and the compact Rogue, under the same sales umbrella. That's like Honda combining sales of the CR-V and the HR-V, making this not quite a fair fight.

The Eclipse Cross borrows its name from one of Mitsubishi's legendary (and discontinued) sports cars, but doesn't provide the driving satisfaction worthy of the title. Instead, the Eclipse Cross is a wildly styled but otherwise entirely average crossover. It has more character than Mitsu's Outlander, as well as a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and those are pretty much the extent of its highlights.

Despite its boxy exterior and competitive seats-folded cargo volume, the Jeep Compass is not the roomiest of this set of vehicles. This makes sense: The Jeep slots between the subcompact and compact classes, although we categorize it as the latter. We fit 17 of our carry-ons into the Compass with the rear seats folded and only six with all of those seats up.

Having been around in more or less the same form since 2012, today's Ford Escape is old. A new model is slated to appear by 2020, but in the meantime the crossover soldiers on with aging styling and a relatively tight interior. Three engines are offered, though only the two up-level turbocharged four-cylinder options can be paired with all-wheel drive; front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. Ford's easy-to-use Sync 3 touchscreen infotainment system is a highlight.

Confused by Jeep's small SUV lineup? Don't worry, that's understandable-the automaker sells three crossovers with at least some size and price overlap: There is the subcompact Renegade (on the large end of its class), the compact Compass (found elsewhere in this roundup), and finally the slightly-larger-outside-but-no-bigger-inside Cherokee you see here. In fact, the smaller, cheaper Compass boasts more interior and cargo space than does this Cherokee, though it lacks the Cherokee's six-cylinder and turbocharged four-cylinder engine options. Similar to the Compass, the Cherokee can be outfitted for serious off-road excursions, but some of the higher trim levels (including the off-road-ready Trailhawk) are seriously expensive.

Being able to fit 24 bags within its boxy body lands the GMC Terrain near the head of the compact class and one suitcase beyond its Chevy-badged twin, the Equinox. Though it isn’t accounted for in our carry-on-capacity data, the GMC also offers a fold-flat front passenger seat, which affords owners still more cargo space.

The Volkswagen Tiguan is one of the biggest offerings in the segment-large enough to squeeze in a tiny third row-but proves that bigger isn't always better. Overly light steering effort and clumsy handling are lightyears from what you'll find in VW's excellent Golf, and the 184-hp turbo four is overmatched by the Tiguan's considerable mass. The powertrain can, however, be quite fuel-efficient (particularly on the highway), and the car's ride is comfortable. The interior is nice up front-less so in the rear seat-and there's plenty of room for cargo.

What places the Chevrolet Equinox so far ahead of its mechanical sibling, the GMC Terrain? Other than its friendlier looks, the Equinox boasts a more nicely built interior and forgoes the GMC's odd transmission controls. Wrapper (and conventional shifter) aside, the Chevy offers the same turbocharged engine lineup, consisting of 1.5 and 2.0-liter gas four-cylinders, as well as a 1.6-liter diesel that scored 43 mpg on our real-world highway fuel economy test.-Alexander Stoklosa

The Forester is new for 2019 but its legions of current owners will find it instantly familiar. Subaru has done little to mess with this winning formula, and the Forester again offers excellent visibility, a roomy interior, and capacious cargo hold. All-wheel drive again is standard, and Subaru now also throws in several active-safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning. We're a little disappointed that the manual transmission has been scrapped, as has the optional turbocharged engine. Instead, all Foresters now use a naturally aspirated boxer-four with a modest 182 horsepower, hitched to a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Even though Hyundai's Tucson doesn't do any one thing really well, it does many things commendably. The handsome crossover has a straightforward, nicely built interior and competent chassis tuning that delivers a comfortable, controlled ride. In base form, it uses a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and is an excellent value; up-level models use a 175-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four.

If you can get past the Kia Sportage's, um, different-looking face and into the driver's seat, you'll find a tasteful interior that's almost Audi-like in its detail. The driving experience similarly exceeds expectations, with good handling and reassuring brakes. Kia offers two engines: A base 2.4-liter four-cylinder that is pretty weak, and an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four that is much peppier. Today's must-haves, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as active-safety features such as automated emergency braking, are available.

We explore the similarities and differences between these three popular SUVs.

Honda's CR-V isn't the sportiest or sexiest compact crossover around-that'd be the Mazda CX-5, for those curious-but it is among the best-rounded. Tidy driving manners combine with a versatile, well-packaged interior to deliver just what most crossover buyers are looking for. Base models are powered by a 184-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, while a sweet turbocharged 1.5-liter four is available.

Mazda's CX-5 solidifies its position at the top of this segment with several key changes for 2019. Already lauded for its class-above interior appointments, the CX-5 adds an even more luxurious new Signature trim level this year. The CX-5 also endears itself to us with steering and handling that are uncharacteristically responsive for the segment, and Mazda has further enhanced that ability with the addition of its G-Vectoring Control Plus technology. A new optional turbocharged engine brings a robust 250 horsepower, making for much-improved straight-line performance. The CX-5 has been recognized as one of our 10 Best Trucks and SUVs, and this winner is not resting on its laurels.