What’s the Best Compact SUV of 2025?

Vehicles in the popular compact SUV class offer space, utility, capability and technology, helping them meet the needs of everyone from solo buyers to small families to empty nesters. When we last held a comparison test of these vehicles in 2023, we evaluated gas-only models, but given the increasing interest in hybrid powertrains we opened our test this time to both gas-only models and gas-electric hybrids, ending up with three hybrids and four gas-only SUVs, all with all-wheel drive. Our judges drove each of these SUVs back to back on the same drive loop to assess overall driving performance, comfort, usability, interior quality and more. We also took these vehicles on a roughly 250-mile drive route to see what kind of gas mileage they get in the real world, measured cargo space behind the backseat, assessed child-safety seat fitment, and scored safety features and value for the money. Here’s how they finished once all the scores were
added up:

1. 2025 Nissan Rogue Platinum
2. 2025 Honda CR-V hybrid Sport Touring
3. 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited
4. 2025 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature
5. 2025 Subaru Forester Sport
6. 2025 Chevrolet Equinox Activ
7. 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE

In this video Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman, Road Test Editor Brian Normile and Senior Road Test Editor Mike Hanley break down the results of this comparison test and discuss where these SUVs did well and where they came up short.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:20: The contenders
1:21: What we tested
1:44: 7th place: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
6:13: 6th place: Chevrolet Equinox
10:30: 5th place: Subaru Forester
14:38: 4th place: Mazda CX-5
18:54: 3rd place: Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
22:49: 2nd place: Honda CR-V hybrid
26:09: 1st place: Nissan Rogue

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