16 Compact SUVs Were Tested Off-Road, Winner Will Surprise You
Off-road and adventure-focused SUVs are increasingly popular across the auto industry. Of course, some have far greater capabilities than others and can tackle formidable terrain (Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Toyota 4Runner, to name a few), but they come at a price.
For the average driver who doesn't demand so much and who’s primarily looking for a practical, comfortable and pleasant SUV that may occasionally have to deal with rough dirt roads, rocky trails or slippery slopes, not to mention snow, what are the best options out there?
- Also: Mitsubishi Outlander to Finally Add Off-Road Model Next Year
- Also: 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch: Smaller Off-Roaders Are Great
Back in 2023, our team at The Car Guide pitted four trail-oriented compact SUVs against each other. These included the Mazda CX-50 Meridian, Toyota RAV4 Trail, Subaru Forester Wilderness and Ford Bronco Sport Badlands. We ended up ranking them in that same order after several tests on both paved roads and in the mud.
Earlier this year, the Australian website CarExpert conducted its own comparison test in various off-road conditions, assembling four times as many vehicles. The 16 compact SUVs selected, nine of which are also sold in Canada (including the X-Trail, which is the equivalent of the Nissan Rogue, but excluding the upcoming Kia EV5), were all standard models not dedicated for off-road use. They were primarily tested to evaluate the effectiveness of their all-wheel-drive systems.
First, the vehicles were positioned so that two of their wheels were off the ground to see how the body reacted to flex. Next, they were driven on rollers up a slope to test the performance of the all-wheel drive system with only one wheel (front or rear) having traction. The final test involved climbing a steep hill on more or less compacted dirt.
The results at the end of these tests are quite surprising. The Hyundai Tucson won hands down, followed by its cousin, the Kia Sportage. The Mazda CX-5 performed as well as the Mitsubishi Outlander, while the Subaru Forester (hybrid) ranked below average.
Finally, the Toyota RAV4 (again a hybrid, but with less torque than the Canadian-spec model) finished dead last. To be fair, it was tested on the second day of the comparison, after rain had made the ground a bit looser and more slippery.
Surprised? Well, be sure to watch the full 84-minute video above to learn more and see each of the SUVs in action.