Top 5 compact SUVs of 2019

Dimensions of a sedan, maneuverability of a hatchback, and versatility of a small truck are some of the advantages you get when opting for compact SUVs over other body types in the market. This is also the reason why it makes sense that the popularity of compact SUVs has shot through the roof in recent years. Another reason to opt for a compact SUV is the competitive price tag and value for money attribute the car offers is another aspect we took under consideration while selecting our top picks of the 2019 compact SUVs. So, let’s check it out.

2019 Jeep Wrangler

An offering with one of the most legendary and iconic aesthetics to have ever been donned by an SUV, the 2019 Jeep Wrangler offers incredible off-road capabilities, and the compact SUV is very competitively priced. Speaking of the price, it is also worth noting that of all other compact SUVs listed as our picks, the 2019 Jeep Wrangler offers one of the lowest rates of depreciation. This no way means that Wrangler is very cheap to own, as customers would have to deal with a high rate of interest, thirsty motor options, and expensive maintenance costs. Even though the compact SUV can easily take on any rough off-road terrain, it does not necessarily offer the most comfortable ride as compared to the rest of its rivals.

With prices starting from $28,045, the 2019 Jeep Wrangler is available in a wide range of models that comprises of 8 variants. Under the hood, customers can pick between the standard 3.6-litre, 285 bhp V6 motor and an optional 2-litre, 268 bhp inline 4 Turbo diesel engine. The inexpensive Wrangler variants are sold with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox and an option for 8-speed automatic transmission. According to EPA estimates, the 2019 Wrangler offers 22 mpg of fuel economy in the city which further increases to 24 mpg on the freeway.

2019 Nissan Rogue

When it comes to competitive pricing, cost of ownership, reliability and overall value for money, no one can denounce the 2019 Nissan Rogue as one of the finest offerings in the segment. Like the 2019 Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Rogue also offers one of the lowest rates of depreciation in the segment, and even though Nissans are renowned for being bulletproof in terms of quality and reliability, the 2019 Rogue does come with high insurance and maintenance cost. The interior of the Nissan Rogue is much more premium compared to those offered in the Jeep Wrangler. The Rogues features a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system which comes equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as standard.

Nissan Rogue is available in a whopping ten variant line up with prices starting from $25,020 going all the way up to $32,990. Engine options include, a 2-liter 176 bhp, 144 lb-ft 4-cylinder hybrid unit and a standard 2.5-liter 170 BHP, 175 lb-ft 4-cylinder IC engine. The motors come mated to a CVT transmission, and customers can pick between front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive variants. According to EPA estimates, the front-wheel-drive variants offer 26 mpg of fuel economy in the city which further increases to 33 mpg on the freeway. The same estimates for all-wheel-drive variants stand at 25 mpg and 32 mpg respectively.

2019 Kia Sportage

The second most competitively priced offering in our list Kia Sportage manages to offer an incredible combination of affordability and comfort with an emphasis on affordability. Kia offers one of the most competitive factory warranty incentives, along with average insurance rates, maintenance, and fuel costs. Unlike other cars on a list, the 2019 Kia Sportage is not as fun to drive and comes equipped with 2.4-liter 181 BHP motor that comes mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Kia Sportage is available in 4 variants with prices for the base LX model starting from $23,990 and ranging up to $33,490 for the SX Turbo variant. The top-of-the-line variant features a 2-liter 240 bhp, turbocharged 4-cylinder unit that comes mated to the same 6-speed automatic gearbox and gets an EPA estimated combined fuel economy of 23 mpg. The combined fuel economy increases up to 30 mpg in case of the 2.4-litre variant.

2019 Honda CR-V

Not only is the 2019 Honda CR-V one of the most reliable offerings on our list but also offers the finest levels of quality in the segment. Prices for this compact SUV start from $24,450 and go all the way up to $32,850, which is impressive considering that Honda now offers 6 years warranty on every CR-V sold. The lineup comprises of four variants like the 2019 Sportage, starting from the base LX model followed by the X and XL variants and finally the top-of-the-line Touring variant. The entry-level LX variant comes equipped with 2.4-litre 184 bhp motor that comes mated to a CVT gearbox whereas rest of the lineup features a 1.5-litre 190 bhp powerplant that also gets the same CVT transmission. The compact SUV is available in both all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive setup and the combined fuel economy for the all-wheel-drive variant according to EPA estimate stands at 29 mpg which further increases to 30 mpg in case of the front-wheel-drive variant

2019 Toyota RAV4

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 offers the lowest cost of ownership, a competitive price tag, slow rate of depreciation, and impressive fuel economy. Don’t expect to find ‘push-you-back-in-your-seat’ kind of performance with this compact SUV but the 2019 Toyota RAV4 gets the job done well. Prices for the 2019 Toyota RAV4 starts from $25,650 and goes all the way up to $35,850 for a lineup of 9 variants which includes both gas-only and hybrid powertrains all of which feature a 2.5-litre IC motor that produces 203 bhp of power on its own and the figure gets bumped up to 219 bhp for the hybrid powertrain. According to EPA estimates, the combined fuel economy for the non-hybrid variant stands at around 37 mpg and edges close to 40 mpg for the hybrid variants.

Also Read: Top 5 AWD SUVs of 2019