Oxymoron post: Best Compact SUV
 

If you needed to drive a compact SUV for the following reasons

Cargo space
Safety
Comfort

Which one would you buy?

lexus rx350

Subaru Forester.

Audi q5

but if i wanted a good one id get the Subaru

and if i wanted a cheap one id get a Kia

Subaru Forester XTi

cadillac srx or mercedes glk

might as well throw the vw tiguan into the mix... you have a price range in mind?

for $50g mdx for sure

300hp most hp you can get within its class for a V6



smaller size i'd go RDX, SH-AWD is definitely a kick ass system



Q5 if you gonna lease one


FX/EX35 can be put into consideration too

OP said COMPACT SUV. Also, he doesn't want handling/power/fancy features, he said he wants CARGO COMFORT SAFETY.

My recommendations following your 3 criterion:

1) Toyota RAV4
2) Honda Element
3) Honda CR-V
4) Subaru Forester
5) Ford Escape

none of those if you're EVER planning to take it off road

i'd go with a rav4 if price is important too

rav 4, rdx or q5

+1 for Rav4

2010 CRV or 2011 Sportage.....test drove a rav4 sport fully loaded and almost threw up.

Rav4? what about the venza? !

Venza is lacking in cargo space.

New equinox looks pretty nice, Safety shouldn't be much of a concern with modern CUVs in our market at least.

Ford Flex

Edit: i meant to say Ford Edge

Lots of good suggestions!

what's the price range?



X5 M

a compact suv would be a X3, not a X5 M

Rav4 V6 would be most logical without having to fiddle with a turbo engine....if you buy 2009 or older you can get a 7 seater version too.

After that it's definitely Forester.

The CRV was rated best compact SUV for 2010 by motor trend and fits all your criteria.
Let me know if you're interested in one.
They have $3000 cash rebate right now.

Flex and Edge are both crossovers, not really small SUVs. They are much bigger and also also a lot more money. (although not really more cargo space!)

The Escape is the one you want. It has HUGE cargo space in the back. They come in 4cyl or V6, FWD or AWD, 5psd stick or 6spd auto. Lots of combos available.

With the employee pricing on right now, you can get them brand new for under $20k to start. They are about $5000-$6000 off MSRP.

Definitely worth taking a look at. We have sold so many in the last month that there are barely any 2010's left.

I would pick the Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson.. I think they're both absolutely gorgeous.
The Rav4 has grown quite large in its most recent iteration. Almost every other design out there is getting quite long in the tooth and a full re-design shouldn't be too far out.

XC60