Who Makes The Best Small SUV?

Why buy a family sedan when the new generation of compact crossovers is this good?

- Christian Seabaugh

It’s hardly a news flash if you’ve been paying attention: Over the past decade, American families have dumped their family sedans for compact SUVs.

Such a transformation in automotive preferences is nearly unprecedented: Car-based compact crossovers have become the best-selling passenger vehicles in the United States—second only to full-size pickups—and odds are you and/or most of your neighbors have one in the driveway.

We did a comparison test of this grouping just a few short years ago, but because this red-hot segment is so competitive, many of the players have undergone significant changes of late.

To keep your knowledge up to date as far as who makes the best small SUV right now, we have assembled the eight most important compact crossovers on the market. Who lays claim to bragging rights this time around?

The Pack

There’s a lot of pressure on the newest entry in our group, the 2019 Toyota RAV4, especially as it replaces the best-selling passenger vehicle in the United States. (The outgoing RAV4 uprooted the Camry’s decade-plus reign of dominance.) Our Adventure trim signifies the ongoing shift Toyota is making with its best-seller. Its stylish sheet metal is matched by a colorful cabin that’s more than tones and textures—it also reveals attention to detail. With a 203-hp 2.5-liter I-4 paired with an eight-speed automatic, it has the most powerful standard engine in this group. On paper, there’s a lot going right here.

A partial testament to the power of low-APR loans, the Nissan Rogue is hot on the Toyota’s heels in the sales race. The 2019 Rogue SV is aging rather well. There’s still enough to like about this scrappy crossover, such as its cushy, roomy back seat and innovative cargo hold. Like the Toyota, the Rogue is motivated by a 2.5-liter I-4, this one making just 170 hp and paired with a CVT.