Compact SUV Rankings Revealed, when we start to look at the various compact sets, we see a wide range of different manufacturers. Each manufacturer offers a version of the crossover, utility, and all-around utility vehicles. So how do we tell the difference between a good vehicle and one that will not live up to its potential?
We need to look Compact SUV Rankings at whether or not an SUV has a standard safety feature or an optional one. Some of the better manufactures have both. The Ford Escape has a rear-seat passenger airbag. The Honda Civic has a passenger-side curtain airbag, and both the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic have variable ride-leveling, auto emergency assistance functions, and front-seat side-impact airbags. If you choose a standard safety feature, you might as well choose a manufacturer that offers them on all their vehicles, right? However, a good manufacturer will also offer a Honda Civic option with side curtain airbags or an option for a Mazda 3 with a driver’s knee airbag.
Now let’s take a look at the fuel economy rating of a vehicle. The best overall fuel economy is 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on a highway. In comparing all the makes and models of compact SUVs, the Honda Civic Si ranked highest in the passenger vehicle category at 18 mpg. The Toyota Prius achieved the best overall gas mileage of the compact SUVs in this test. That car, however, offers only standard safety features.
In the off-road capability test, the Ford Eclipse Cross won the award for best overall fuel economy. In fact, it came out ahead of the Honda Civic Si when it was considered only a crossover. The Eclipse had a slightly larger battery, but that may account for why the Si was able to beat the Focus and Mustang in the test of gas mileage. The Ford Eclipse also performed better than the Toyota Prius and Mazda 3 when it came to the test of cargo space.
If you need a larger vehicle for your family, the Ford Escape has the best overall fuel economy. However, that vehicle is available with a variety of engine options. For example, Focus was able to beat the Escape with its motorized version. In the off-road test, the Ford Escape actually performed better than the Si! In both the compact crossover and the SUV class, there are only two real winners. The Saturn ION won’t be far behind.
The final part of our rankings considers the standard safety features offered on each vehicle. Again, the Focus was able to claim the top spot. The only true competitor to the Focus is the Toyota Prius. However, even the Prius has been challenged with changes to the base engine option and a new transmission. Can the base engine option and the new Prius compete for the best compact crossover title?
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