SUV Rankings: Affordable Compact SUVs

Ranking of compact SUVs and crossovers, generally priced under $25,000. Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape and more. Rankings based on an in-depth analysis by U.S. News editors of all published auto ratings, reviews and test drives.

Honda CR-V Image
  • MSRP: $20,700 - $28,400
  • Invoice: $19,257 - $26,398
  • MPG: 20 City / 27 Hwy

#1
2008 Honda CR-V

The CR-V's high ranking is based on its excellent combination of a practical interior and a reputation for safety and reliability in its class. Its major competitor, ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:9.2
Performance:8.1
Exterior:7.3
Interior:8.2
Safety:9.8
Reliability:10.0
Toyota RAV4 Image
  • MSRP: $21,250 - $26,820
  • Invoice: $19,655 - $24,405
  • MPG: 21 City / 27 Hwy

#2
2008 Toyota RAV4

The RAV4's high ranking is based on its delivery of one of the best combinations of power, performance and interior comfort in its class. Compared to the ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.8
Performance:7.9
Exterior:8.1
Interior:7.4
Safety:9.0
Reliability:8.0
Honda Element Image
  • MSRP: $18,980 - $23,575
  • Invoice: $17,662 - $21,923
  • MPG: 18 City / 23 Hwy

#3
2008 Honda Element

The Element ranks near the top of its class because it offers a distinctive and fun exterior design, comfortable front seating, and class-leading versatile cargo space. However, with ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.5
Performance:7.4
Exterior:7.7
Interior:7.8
Safety:9.8
Reliability:7.0
Saturn VUE Image
  • MSRP: $21,250 - $29,300
  • Invoice: $19,869 - $27,396
  • MPG: 16 City / 24 Hwy

#3
2008 Saturn VUE

The VUE ranks near the top of its class because it offers one of the best combinations of style, a comfortable, interior and impressive performance.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.5
Performance:8.0
Exterior:7.4
Interior:8.0
Safety:9.7
Reliability:6.0
Kia Sorento Image
  • MSRP: $20,995 - $26,195
  • Invoice: $20,000 - $24,370
  • MPG: 16 City / 22 Hwy

#5
2008 Kia Sorento

The Sorento ranks in the top half of its class for delivering good value on a midsize SUV with strong towing capacity and good safety ratings. However, ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.4
Performance:6.9
Exterior:8.5
Interior:7.6
Safety:9.5
Reliability:4.0
Subaru Forester Image
  • MSRP: $21,195 - $28,895
  • Invoice: $20,015 - $27,025
  • MPG: 20 City / 27 Hwy

#5
2008 Subaru Forester

The Forester ranks in the top half of its class for delivering excellent acceleration and a surprisingly fun driving experience, along with proven safety and reliability. However, ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.4
Performance:7.8
Exterior:5.8
Interior:7.0
Safety:9.8
Reliability:9.0
Kia Sportage Image
  • MSRP: $16,050 - $22,895
  • Invoice: $15,270 - $21,370
  • MPG: 20 City / 25 Hwy

#7
2008 Kia Sportage

The Sportage looks, feels and drives like a more upscale SUV, making it a good bargain that ranks in the top half of its class. Along with ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.3
Performance:6.6
Exterior:7.5
Interior:7.2
Safety:9.7
Reliability:9.0
Nissan Xterra Image
  • MSRP: $21,240 - $28,740
  • Invoice: $20,137 - $26,930
  • MPG: 18 (2007) City / 22 (2007) Hwy

#7
2008 Nissan Xterra

The Xterra delivers strong off-road performance and a versatile cargo capacity, but doesn't match the car-like handling and ride of others in its class. Still, it falls ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.3
Performance:7.6
Exterior:7.6
Interior:7.1
Safety:7.9
Reliability:9.0
Suzuki Grand Vitara Image
  • MSRP: $19,349 - $25,149
  • Invoice: $18,575 - $24,143
  • MPG: 16 City / 22 Hwy

#9
2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Grand Vitara offers standout off-road performance and a roomy interior, but provides a less comfortable ride in around-town driving than top crossovers in its class. Still, ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:8.1
Performance:7.0
Exterior:9.0
Interior:7.8
Safety:8.8
Reliability:4.0
Ford Escape Image
  • MSRP: $19,005 - $21,305
  • Invoice: $17,979 - $20,095
  • MPG: 22 City / 28 Hwy

#10
2008 Ford Escape

The redesigned Escape delivers a more comfortable interior and a tougher exterior than prior models, leading to a good ranking in the top half of this large ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.8
Performance:6.8
Exterior:6.9
Interior:7.4
Safety:8.8
Reliability:8.0
Hyundai Tucson Image
  • MSRP: $17,235 - $24,585
  • Invoice: $16,709 - $23,237
  • MPG: 20 City / 25 Hwy

#11
2008 Hyundai Tucson

The Tucson is a good value and ranks in the top half of its class, but it lags behind competitors in overall driving performance and refinement.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.7
Performance:6.1
Exterior:6.8
Interior:6.7
Safety:9.7
Reliability:7.0
Mitsubishi Outlander Image
  • MSRP: $19,990 - $25,110
  • Invoice: $19,048 - $23,671
  • MPG: 20 City / 25 Hwy

#12
2008 Mitsubishi Outlander

The Outlander offers a stylish exterior, versatile cargo capacity and plenty of interior features and options. While it's a solid compact SUV option, the Outlander isn't a ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.6
Performance:7.5
Exterior:7.5
Interior:7.1
Safety:9.8
Reliability:4.0
Nissan Rogue Image
  • MSRP: $19,250 - $21,990
  • Invoice: $18,357 - $20,502
  • MPG: 22 (Est) City / 27 (Est) Hwy

#12
2008 Nissan Rogue

The Rogue offers a relatively comfortable highway ride with plenty of interior space and some upscale touches for an affordable price. However, it doesn't offer the V6 ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.6
Performance:7.5
Exterior:6.7
Interior:7.8
Safety:9.5
Reliability:6.0
Ford Escape-Hybrid Image
  • MSRP: $21,745 - $26,505
  • Invoice: $20,500 - $24,879
  • MPG: 34 City / 30 Hwy

#14
2008 Ford Escape-Hybrid

The Escape Hybrid is an environmentally conscious car with a comfortable interior and tough exterior, but it can't match the driving dynamics or overall quality of top-class ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.5
Performance:7.1
Exterior:6.9
Interior:7.2
Safety:8.9
Reliability:8.0
Pontiac Torrent Image
  • MSRP: $23,220 - $29,445
  • Invoice: $21,711 - $27,531
  • MPG: 17 City / 24 Hwy

#15
2008 Pontiac Torrent

The Torrent delivers a roomy interior, comfortable ride and great safety ratings, which makes it a solid option for family hauling. However, its driving dynamics aren't as ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.4
Performance:6.4
Exterior:7.0
Interior:6.9
Safety:9.3
Reliability:5.0
Jeep Wrangler Image
  • MSRP: $18,660 - $29,535
  • Invoice: $17,596 - $26,941
  • MPG: 15 City / 19 Hwy

#16
2008 Jeep Wrangler

The 2008 Jeep Wrangler offers superior off-road capabilities in a rugged package. However, it sacrifices on-road handling and comfort, which lands it in the bottom half of ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.3
Performance:7.1
Exterior:7.7
Interior:6.1
Safety:8.3
Reliability:6.0
Chevrolet Equinox Image
  • MSRP: $22,740 - $29,445
  • Invoice: $21,262 - $27,531
  • MPG: 17 City / 24 Hwy

#17
2008 Chevrolet Equinox

The Equinox delivers two powerful V6 engine choices, crisp styling, and an interior noteworthy for its space and comfort. However, the steering and handling are not quite ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.2
Performance:7.0
Exterior:7.6
Interior:7.7
Safety:9.3
Reliability:5.0
Jeep Liberty Image
  • MSRP: $20,330 - $26,125
  • Invoice: $19,095 - $24,384
  • MPG: 16 City / 22 Hwy

#18
2008 Jeep Liberty

The redesigned Liberty offers excellent off-road capabilities, a smoother on-road ride than last year's model and a more aggressive-looking package. However, it receives a ranking in the ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:7.1
Performance:6.4
Exterior:7.1
Interior:7.1
Safety:8.4
Reliability:4.0
Jeep Patriot Image
  • MSRP: $15,475 - $21,945
  • Invoice: $14,562 - $20,450
  • MPG: 23 City / 28 Hwy

#19
2008 Jeep Patriot

The Patriot is an inexpensive and roomy SUV with good off-road capabilities and classic Jeep styling. However, it still can't match the quality interiors and rear seat ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.9
Performance:6.8
Exterior:6.7
Interior:6.7
Safety:9.2
Reliability:6.0
Mercury Mariner-Hybrid Image
  • MSRP: $22,905 - $28,945
  • Invoice: $21,607 - $27,164
  • MPG: 34 City / 30 Hwy

#19
2008 Mercury Mariner-Hybrid

The Mariner Hybrid offers elegant, well-regarded exterior style, an attractive interior, and overall good value on a hybrid vehicle that delivers excellent fuel economy for its class. ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.9
Performance:6.2
Exterior:7.7
Interior:7.2
Safety:9.5
Reliability:5.0
Jeep Compass Image
  • MSRP: $16,475 - $22,255
  • Invoice: $15,492 - $20,752
  • MPG: 23 City / 28 Hwy

#21
2008 Jeep Compass

The Compass offers car-like handling at an affordable price. However, it lacks the higher quality craftsmanship, sporty performance and off-road abilities of its competitors and falls in ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.8
Performance:6.9
Exterior:6.4
Interior:6.0
Safety:8.8
Reliability:7.0
Suzuki XL7 Image
  • MSRP: $21,349 - $28,899
  • Invoice: $21,136 - $27,743
  • MPG: 16 City / 22 Hwy

#22
2008 Suzuki XL7

The XL7 falls on the larger side of the compact SUV class and now includes an optional third row seat for seven-person capacity. While it's a competent ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.7
Performance:6.6
Exterior:6.8
Interior:6.6
Safety:9.0
Reliability:4.0
Dodge Nitro Image
  • MSRP: $19,595 - $24,665
  • Invoice: $18,431 - $23,070
  • MPG: 18 City / 24 Hwy

#23
2008 Dodge Nitro

The Nitro offers aggressive style, excellent towing capabilities and functional cargo space, but can't match the value or ride and handling of others in its class. For ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.6
Performance:6.0
Exterior:8.1
Interior:6.3
Safety:8.4
Reliability:4.0
Mercury Mariner Image
  • MSRP: $21,155 - $24,055
  • Invoice: $19,998 - $22,666
  • MPG: 20 City / 26 Hwy

#23
2008 Mercury Mariner

The Mariner offers elegant, well-regarded exterior style and an attractive interior, but its aging powertrain can't match the performance of most of its competition, leaving it with ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.6
Performance:7.3
Exterior:7.7
Interior:7.3
Safety:8.8
Reliability:5.0
Mazda Tribute Image
  • MSRP: $19,135 - $26,505
  • Invoice: $17,923 - $24,794
  • MPG: 22 City / 28 Hwy

#25
2008 Mazda Tribute

The Tribute delivers excellent safety features at an affordable price, but can't match the handling and power of rivals -- which contributes to an overall ranking near ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.5
Performance:5.5
Exterior:NA
Interior:7.4
Safety:8.8
Reliability:4.0
Saturn VUE Hybrid Image
  • MSRP: $24,170 - $24,170
  • Invoice: $22,720 - $22,720
  • MPG: 16 City / 22 Hwy

#26
2008 Saturn VUE Hybrid

The VUE Green Line is a gas-electric hybrid SUV that offers decent gas mileage at an affordable sticker price. However, it can't match the more refined performance ...

U.S.News Scores
Overall:6.4
Performance:6.4
Exterior:7.4
Interior:6.4
Safety:9.5
Reliability:6.0

Unranked: Affordable Compact SUVs

Our rankings are based on analysis of third party reviews. Sometimes, we are unable to find enough reviews to publish a definitive ranking. Please check back later, as we are constantly updating our reviews.

Infiniti EX Image

2008 Infiniti EX

MSRP: $31,300 - $36,250 | Invoice: $28,792 - $33,330 | MPG: 17 City / 24 Hwy

Subaru Forester Image

2009 Subaru Forester

MSRP: NA | Invoice: NA | MPG: NA

Volkswagen Tiguan Image

2008 Volkswagen Tiguan

MSRP: NA | Invoice: NA | MPG: NA