Avoid These SUVs in 2022

Compact SUVs are sweeping the nation. There are lots of winners, but a couple miss the mark.
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you’re envying the bird’s eye view your neighbor gets from her Chevy Tahoe, but can’t quite stomach the idea of trying to park the beast, a compact
SUV
could be the way to go. These smaller sport utility vehicles keep the ride height but shed the beefiness, and this magical combination is rocketing them to stardom.
But not all compact SUVs are created equal. Here are two to avoid, and a few to consider instead.

Selecting criteria

Consumer Reports (CR)
, ever rigorous, shares its rubric for determining which compact SUVs deserve a little less of our attention, and why. The two SUVs they’ve selected for this unfortunate characterization are, in spite of the red flags they raise, good sellers. Each SUV then gets two alternatives. CR categorizes the understudies as “better choice” and “under-the-radar.” 
The better choice is a fellow good seller, but scores higher than its comparison point on CR’s tests (which include data collection on reliability, safety, and owner satisfaction.) The under-the-radar choice scores well but doesn’t necessarily sell well, which tests the resolve of self-identifying nonconformists, as CR points out.
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Rejecting Taos-ism 

MORE: What is the Best Luxury Hybrid SUV?
Our first contestant is the 2022 Volkswagen Taos, a not-quite-Tiguan small SUV. 
Though affordable, at a base of $23,295, and spacious, it doesn’t have a few key features that many consumers prize. Driver assist features that are now coming standard on many vehicles—forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot warning—are not standard on the base Taos. 
Plus, CR points out that 26 miles per gallon doesn’t quite turn heads. The SUV’s biggest fault, however, lies in its choppy acceleration. Reviewers worry that joining a crowd of speeding cars with such a slow ramp-up time could be, at best, nerve-wracking. 
CR determines that the better choice for the Taos is the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek, which is cheaper at base ($22,645) and returns three more miles to the gallon at 29. Reviewers appreciated the unobtrusive ride, deft handling, and simple controls. They were less impressed by the noise of the engine in acceleration, and the extra cash you’d have to drop to add on a few driver assist features.
If you’re willing to swim upstream, the under-the-radar replacement for the Taos is the 2022 Chevrolet TrailBlazer. Cheapest of the three at base, at $21,800, this small SUV is a solid option. Returning 27 mpg, and incorporating forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking as standard, it punches above its weight. 
But it isn’t perfect: keep in mind a noisier road experience, a design that infringes on visibility, and ho-hum handling.

A not-so-great Escape

Our other prize loser is the 2022 Ford Escape. At base it fetches $26,510, and it attains a respectable 26 mpg. 
Despite its above average safety features and fuel efficiency, reviewers did not care for the driving or riding experience of the Escape. They complain of vibrations and bumps and a too-firm feel in the course of normal driving. They sniff also at a cabin that doesn’t quite achieve luxe, and don’t care for its low scores on predicted reliability.
To escape the Escape, try CR’s better choice. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson solves the problems of feel, presentation, and dependability that plague the Escape. Calling the acceleration “leisurely,” reviewers praised the driving experience of the Tucson, which they enjoyed from a quiet and nicely appointed cabin. 
Returning 28 mpg and including as standard several well-regarded driver assist features, the Tucson also impresses with its reliability. It ranges from $24,950 to $42,700.
Descend once more into the land of the not-so-Yelp-reviewed to appreciate the Mazda CX-5, CR’s under-the-radar substitute for the Escape. Ranging from $25,900 to $38,650 and returning 24 mpg, it is pleasantly average also in its handling and drive style. 
Reviewers appreciated the attention to detail in the aesthetic of the interior, and enjoyed the peaceful ride and high quality safety features. They found infotainment and visibility less attractive, but appreciated the CX-5’s reliability.
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