Best Compact Crossovers and SUVs for 2023 & 2024

Crossovers and small SUVs own a bigger market share than ever. That means plenty of fantastic cars to choose from, no matter what you're in the market for.

If you're in the market for a small SUV or a crossover, you're spoiled for choice. Virtually every mainstream manufacturer sells at least one sport utility vehicle, and most have an entire lineup to choose from. Whether you're looking for something sleek and sporty or practical and reliable, there's a compact SUV or crossover for you. These are our favorites.

Price: $29,625

There's a reason Toyota sells hundreds of thousands of RAV4s every single year. While it's not exactly the most enjoyable car to drive, it blends affordability, practicality, and reliability into a perfect crossover package, satisfying every need for most buyers.

We think the RAV4 Prime is the trim to have. It uses hybrid power to make a combined 302 hp, enough to rocket the unsuspecting SUV to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, making it the quickest vehicle on this list.

The Prime is one of the best hybrid SUVs on sale today

Price: $31,675

The 2024 Mazda CX-50 is easily the most fun-to-drive vehicle on this list, delivering relatively satisfying chassis control, tight steering, and an overall sense of sportiness tough to find anywhere near this segment.

On top of the CX-50's dynamics, there's its handsome looks and an interior that looks like it came out of a car twice the price. We suggest going for the turbocharged engine. It gets 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds.

Check out our full review here

Price: $29,000 (est.)

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan is a smart choice for those seeking ample space without giving up the fun a vehicle in this segment can deliver. There's a German flair here not present in any of the Tiguan's competitors, though some might not like the ultra-minimalist interior.

Under the hood of the three-row Tiguan is a 2.0-liter turbo-four making 184 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. It's paired with an eight-speed auto sending power to the front wheels as standard (all-wheel drive is an option).

We're big fans of this Tiguan off-roader concept

Price: $28,415

The new Sportage is a bit bland to drive but presents well with a stylish exterior and a commendable cabin with well-laid-out controls (save for a missing volume knob).

All of the touch points feel high quality, and give a sense of luxuriousness you won't find in a lot of competitors. People with a need for speed will be disappointed by the 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder under the hood, though. It's only good enough for a 7.4-second 0-60 time.

Check out our full review of the Sportage

Price: $28,585

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson is one of the best-looking vehicles on this list, offering a refined, comfortable ride and a cabin with lots of useful tech features. We recommend testing out the capacitive touch buttons on the dash before buying, though, as some people might not like the lack of a volume knob or real buttons.

The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder should be enough for most buyers, but if speed is your thing, go for either of the available hybrid models. The more powerful plug-in model makes a total of 261 hp, while the standard hybrid makes 226 hp, good enough for a 7.1-second 0-60 time.

The hybrid made our list of best hybrid SUVs

Price: $32,825

While the Ford Bronco Sport may share a name and some general styling elements with its bigger Bronco sibling, it's far from that truck's capabilities off-road. You can take the Bronco Sport through some light trails, sure, but don't expect to be rock-crawling alongside Wranglers.

Of the two powertrains available, we suggest springing for the more powerful 2.0-liter inline-four. It's paired to an eight-speed auto, and delivers 245 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque—not bad for something weighing under 3800 pounds.

Read our off-road review of the Bronco Sport here

Price: $32,330

The Dodge Hornet uses the same bones as Alfa Romeo's Tonale crossover, but wears a different face and comes with a non-hybrid base engine. We love how it looks, and thanks to ultra-quick steering and a relatively strong 268-hp gas-only powertrain option in the GT model, is pretty fun to drive.

Go for the top-range R/T model, and you get a turbo 1.3-liter inline-four paired to an electric motor, for a total of 288 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, enough to rocket the Hornet to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds.

Check out our full review right here

Price: $28,695

The Rogue is one of Nissan's most popular models, offering sleek looks, an acceptable daily-driver attitude, and a unique 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine making 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque.

The Rogue's handling isn't anything to write home about, but a clean, usable interior and solid fuel economy numbers mean it can satisfy most buyers in this segment—so long as they don't care about fun dynamics.

Here's our full dog owner's test of the Rogue

Price: $28,190

There's a reason why so many people buy Subaru Foresters. The company's most popular SUV is reasonably priced, practical, reliable, and nice to drive. As with all four-door Subarus, all-wheel-drive comes standard, as does a boxer-four engine.

While it may be a stretch to say the Forester's interior is luxurious, it uses a nice layout and provides lots of space for stuff like luggage groceries, and outdoor adventure supplies.

I get why people buy Subaru Foresters now

Price: $30,015

Mitsubishi's presence in the U.S. is far from what it once was, but rest assured, the Japanese company can still make a solid compact SUV. The Outlander delivers solid looks inside and out, plenty of useful tech features, and a third row, meaning seating for seven.

Buyers with a need for speed will be let down by the Outlander's standard naturally aspirated four-cylinder. Those people should opt for the plug-in hybrid version instead. It adds electric assistance via a 20-kWh battery pack, for 38 miles of all-electric range. It also knocks the 0-60 down to 6.6 seconds.

Price: $29,495

If simple transportation is all you care about, consider the Ford Escape. It's far less off-road inclined than its predecessors, simply because the Bronco Sport has stepped in to occupy that spot in Ford's lineup.

The Escape delivers acceptable dynamics and a livable interior that will satisfy most buyers. There are even two hybrid powertrains available, including a plug-in hybrid. We prefer the available 2.0-liter four-cylinder, though. It makes 250 hp, enough to launch the Escape to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.

Price: $27,995

The Equinox is one of Chevy's best-selling models, and it's easy to see why: It represents a tremendous value proposition when compared to the other vehicles in its segment. Fully loaded, the Equinox costs several thousand dollars less than its competitors, while offering many of the same features.

The 175-hp turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood isn't spectacular, but a pleasant driving experience and a nicely laid-out cabin do lots to improve the Equinox's appeal.

Here's what you need to know about the new EV model

Price: $30,095

The GMC Terrain is essentially a Chevy Equinox underneath, with the same chassis and the same 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The Terrain sets itself apart with more features and better available tech, like a built-in WiFi hotspot and a head-up display.

That 1.5-liter engine is paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard. AWD can be added to the lower two of the four available trims, and it comes standard on the AT4 and Denali variants.

Price: $27,995

Sharp looks and a name that harkens back to one of Mitsubishi's most legendary sports cars can only do so much for the company's compact crossover, the Eclipse Cross. But you do get a nice ride and a big, fat warranty as standard.

The turbo four-cylinder and CVT transmission under the hood don't help things, though, putting out just 152 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. That's enough for a 0-60 time in the mid-eight-second range.

Price: $29,995

The 2023 Jeep Compass is a solid choice for those looking to buy American. For just under 30 grand you get standard all-wheel-drive, perfect for people who live in snow belt states.

Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four making 200 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive as standard. The 0-60 sprint happens in a respectable 7.5 seconds.

Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' Lead Deputy Editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine, and still contributes regularly with car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He also has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.

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