Honda CR-V wins 'SUV Shootout' against five competitors

(July 23, 2012) CHICAGO — Cars.com announced today that the 2012 Honda CR-V is the winner of the Compact SUV Shootout. The shootout pitted six compact SUVs under $25,000 that also get at least a 30 mpg highway rating against each other in a series of tests.

Other vehicles tested were the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, 2013 Ford Escape, 2012 Hyundai Tucson, 2013 Mazda CX-5 and 2012 Kia Sportage.

"This was a competitive shootout of an important segment, and we were impressed with all of the vehicles," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor-in-chief. "The winning Honda CR-V is a great choice for compact SUV shoppers because of its impressive lineup of standard features, great comfort and overall ride, all combined with Honda's history of strong reliability."

The Shootout featured testing by experts from Cars.com, USA Today and MotorWeek. Additionally, a Chicago-based family tested the six vehicles to determine which one fit their needs of comfort, reliability and efficiency.

Vehicle testing included:

    • A 200-mile drive ranging from urban streets to a wide-open interstate.
    • Driving of every vehicle by every expert over the same course to test for overall ride, handling, acceleration and braking.
    • One day of testing by a family in the market for a new vehicle; they joined the experts to give their impressions on the six compact SUVs.

"With fuel efficiency and affordability becoming top of mind for many car shoppers, the compact SUV segment is quickly becoming one of the most popular categories," said Olsen. "Not only does every vehicle we tested get a minimum of 30 mpg, but the segment in general is becoming more affordable than ever and coming with an impressive lineup of standard features."