Compact, five-seat crossovers fight against a trio of very well-established competitors and a pair of well-designed dark horses.
The Honda CR-V is the long-standing champ in the class, with ample interior room, high build quality, and a smooth four-cylinder, but it's among the slowest vehicles in the class and its latest shape is controversial.
The Ford Escape is more upright and rugged, and it comes in Hybrid trim, but it suffers from a dated feel and a plasticky cabin.
The Toyota RAV4 squeezes a third-row seat in a similarly sized, similarly styled body, and offers a V-6 engine to boot, but it's a sharp step up the pricing ladder from Tucson territory.
The Tucson's lookalike, the Nissan Rogue, has smart style and visibility, but is hampered by its continuously variable transmission and lackluster performance.
The gem in the class: the Subaru Forester, with all the refinement of the best crossovers in this group, a tall and spacious cabin, sedate good looks, and a reputation for durability, though fuel economy is a distant second to that of the Tucson.
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 2010 Hyundai TucsonBrowse Used Listings |  2010 Ford EscapeBrowse Used Listings |  2010 Honda CR-VBrowse Used Listings |  2010 Nissan RogueBrowse Used Listings |  2010 Subaru ForesterBrowse Used Listings |  2010 Toyota RAV4Browse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2010 Hyundai Tucson doesn't quite take the title of best small crossover, but it handily grabs "most improved" honors. |
The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid remains a solid, competitive entry among compact family SUVs and crossovers. Its fuel efficiency is superb, and the optional mechanical all-wheel drive sets it apart from any other AWD hybrid crossover. |
The 2010 Honda CR-V is a bit homely, but it fits right in for those placing the priority on frugality, safety, and interior space. |
The 2010 Nissan Rogue doesn’t wow in any respect, but provided you don’t expect driving excitement its solid set of features, safety, and decent performance won’t let you down. |
The 2010 Subaru Forester may not be as powerful or well-equipped as its rivals, but it really shines in its more carlike dynamics and superior handling. |
Though it might wear a spare tire on its tail like the hard-core SUVs of yore, don't let that throw you off. The 2010 Toyota RAV4 is actually a practical, fuel-efficient choice for frugal families on the go. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $18,995 | $21,020 | $21,545 | $20,460 | $20,295 | $21,675 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 21 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas Flat 4-Cyl | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| 2WD Sport Utility | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicles | 2WD Sport Utility | FWD Sport Utility | 4WD Sport Utility | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicle |
| Style Name | |||||
| FWD 4-Door I4 Manual GLS | FWD 4-Door XLS | 2WD 5-Door LX | FWD 4-Door S | 4-Door Manual 2.5X | FWD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT (GS) |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| 4 Door Sport Utility | 4 Door | 5 Door | 4 Door | 4 Door | 4 Door |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Automatic | Continuously Variable | Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2010 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2010 Ford Escape | 2010 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2010 Honda CR-V | 2010 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2010 Nissan Rogue | 2010 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2010 Subaru Forester | 2010 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2010 Toyota RAV4 | |
