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    Reliable and Fuel-Efficient Compact SUVs

    These recommended models blend SUV utility and small-car practicality with money-saving fuel economy

    2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid driving on a road
    Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
    Photo: Toyota

    With their attractive blending of small-car efficiency and cargo-carrying efficiency, compact SUVs have become the most popular vehicles on the market. According to Kelley Blue Book, in 2024 the Toyota RAV4 was the bestselling vehicle line that wasn’t a pickup truck, coming in at third overall, with the Honda CR-V family close behind as the fifth bestselling vehicle. Plus, compact SUVs make up five of the 10 most popular new vehicles on CR.org.

    In this article Arrow link

    Reliability and fuel economy are always top considerations when shopping for a new SUV. Our list of subcompact and compact SUVs includes both mainstream and luxury models that scored well in Consumer Reports road tests, have average or better predicted-reliability ratings, and get 28 mpg overall or better. There are conventional versions with gasoline engines, gas-electric hybrids, and even some plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) represented.

    More on SUVs

    They’re all recommended, too, which means you won’t find any with poor reliability, low owner satisfaction, or missing safety features. We’ve listed them in order of their Overall Score. All of them come standard with automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, AEB that works at highway speeds, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), unless otherwise noted.

    Many of these models have our Green Choice designation, which highlights the vehicles with the cleanest emissions. While we tested the all-wheel-drive versions, our recommendation extends to the less expensive two-wheel-drive versions (if offered).

    Some popular models, such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Honda CR-V, aren’t included because they didn’t make our 28 mpg cutoff.

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


    Jon Linkov

    Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.