Best Compact SUVs under $25,000 - You Can Find Them at Brown's!
Published Wednesday, 25 July, 2012 by Christina Frate. Categories: New Inventory.
Looking for a compact SUV with more standard features and better gas mileage for around $25,000? To see which vehicle offers the most value for a family, experts from USA TODAY, car-shopping site Cars.com and PBS' MotorWeek- plus a real Chicago family - compared six models that met a mainstream price limit and were EPA-rated at least 30 miles per gallon for our $25,000 Compact SUV Shootout!
The Contenders:
2013 Mazda CX-5
2013 Ford Escape
2012 Chevrolet Equinox
2012 Honda CR-V
2012 Hyundai Tucson
2012 Kia Sportage
The 6 SUVs were tested over three days in and around Chicago, including:
The Expert and Family Testers
The Experts:
David Thomas, Cars.com managing editor
Jennifer Geiger, an editor at Cars.com
Bill Jackson, a Cars.com senior editor
Fred Meier, automotive editor for USA TODAY
Brian Robinson, auto journalist and a producer for PBS' MotorWeek program.
The Family:
Erin and Nicholas Ravelingeen of Chicago, and their children Trudy, 4, and Mason, 2.
In addition to the Tracker, they own a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. They use the vehicles for errands and road trips, says Erin, a stay-at-home mom. Nicholas, who works in risk management downtown, doesn't use a car to commute. They put about 8,000 miles a year on each auto.
And the winner is ?
#1
2012 Honda CR-V EX
Points: 809 (out of 1,000)
Price with shipping: $25,425
Observed gas mileage: 30.3 mpg, No. 2 in test (city/highway EPA rating 23/31)
Key features: Sunroof (only one in test). Backup camera. Pandora Internet radio (only one in test). Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick.
#2
2013 Mazda CX-5 Touring
Points: 784 (out of 1,000)
Price with shipping: $24,690
Observed gas mileage: 32.8 mpg, No. 1 in test (city/highway EPA rating 26/32)
Key features: Power driver seat. 5.8-inch color touch-screen. Backup camera. HD and satellite radio. Blind spot alert system (only one). IIHS Top Safety Pick.
#3
2012 Kia Sportage LX
Points: 774 (out of 1,000)
Price with shipping: $24,575
Observed gas mileage: 28.5 mpg (city/highway EPA rating 22/32)
Key features: Navigation system (only one). Heated mirrors. Cooling glove box (only one). Backup camera. Five-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain (tie for longest). Satellite radio. IIHS Top Safety Pick.
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Brown's is proud to represent Honda, Mazda, Kia and Hyundai - all of which have a great compact SUV for under $25k!
The Contenders:
2013 Mazda CX-5
2013 Ford Escape
2012 Chevrolet Equinox
2012 Honda CR-V
2012 Hyundai Tucson
2012 Kia Sportage
The 6 SUVs were tested over three days in and around Chicago, including:
- A 200-mile gas-mileage test from urban driving to interstates.
- A day of back-to-back testing by our five experts over the same course to score the features, cargo and storage space, technology and the driving dynamics, including ride, noise, handling, acceleration and braking.
- A day of testing by a family of four in the market for a compact SUV to replace their 2001 Chevy Tracker.
The Expert and Family Testers
The Experts:
David Thomas, Cars.com managing editor
Jennifer Geiger, an editor at Cars.com
Bill Jackson, a Cars.com senior editor
Fred Meier, automotive editor for USA TODAY
Brian Robinson, auto journalist and a producer for PBS' MotorWeek program.
The Family:
Erin and Nicholas Ravelingeen of Chicago, and their children Trudy, 4, and Mason, 2.
In addition to the Tracker, they own a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. They use the vehicles for errands and road trips, says Erin, a stay-at-home mom. Nicholas, who works in risk management downtown, doesn't use a car to commute. They put about 8,000 miles a year on each auto.
And the winner is ?
#1
2012 Honda CR-V EX
Points: 809 (out of 1,000)
Price with shipping: $25,425
Observed gas mileage: 30.3 mpg, No. 2 in test (city/highway EPA rating 23/31)
Key features: Sunroof (only one in test). Backup camera. Pandora Internet radio (only one in test). Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick.
#2
2013 Mazda CX-5 Touring
Points: 784 (out of 1,000)
Price with shipping: $24,690
Observed gas mileage: 32.8 mpg, No. 1 in test (city/highway EPA rating 26/32)
Key features: Power driver seat. 5.8-inch color touch-screen. Backup camera. HD and satellite radio. Blind spot alert system (only one). IIHS Top Safety Pick.
#3
2012 Kia Sportage LX
Points: 774 (out of 1,000)
Price with shipping: $24,575
Observed gas mileage: 28.5 mpg (city/highway EPA rating 22/32)
Key features: Navigation system (only one). Heated mirrors. Cooling glove box (only one). Backup camera. Five-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain (tie for longest). Satellite radio. IIHS Top Safety Pick.
___
Brown's is proud to represent Honda, Mazda, Kia and Hyundai - all of which have a great compact SUV for under $25k!
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