2018 Best 5 Compact Utility Vehicles for everyday use, Sun, Snow, Surf, Shopping!
March 19, 2018 by Car Leasing Concierge.
Not long ago, utility vehicles were commonly associated with high gas expenses and environmental concerns. However, as gas prices climbed, the Goliath's (RIP, Hummer) were outpaced by the Davids, the small, fuel-efficient car segments.
Now, consumers are shifting their preferences again, this time toward a cross between the Davids and Goliath's, Compact Utility Vehicles (CUV's). This rising segment marries the practicality of passenger cars with the utility of SUV's resulting in a top choice for many car buyers. CUV's are perfect for everyday commutes during the week and weekend adventures for small families. Although these vehicles are compact, they ride higher than sedans, making them easy to get in and out of and especially easy to lift kids out of car seats. With spacious cargo capacity, these utility vehicles tend to hold more than traditional sedans. Read on to learn more about the top 5 searched CUV's for 2018.
2018 Honda CR-V
MSRP Range*: $24,150 – $34,050
Best MPG (City/Hwy/Cmbd): 28/34/30
Engine(s) Offered: 2.4L 4-Cyl (184hp/180lb-ft); 1.5T 4-Cyl (190hp/179 lb-ft)
Notable Features:
Available in FWD and AWD
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating with 0 reported recalls
2018 Jeep All-New Wrangler
MSRP Range*: $26,995 – $40,495
Best MPG (City/Hwy/Cmbd): 17/25/20
Engine(s) Offered: 3.6L V6 (285hp/260lb-ft)
Notable Features:
AWD only
Available in 2-door or 4-door
Enhanced ease of removing the windshield, tops, and doors for 2018MY
2018 Mazda CX-5
MSRP Range*: $24,150 – $30,945
Best MPG (City/Hwy/Cmbd): 25/31/28
Engine(s) Offered: 2.5L 4-Cyl (187hp/186lb-ft)
Notable Features:
Available in FWD and AWD
Standard Smart City Brake Support and Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring
2018 Nissan Rogue
MSRP Range*: $24,800 – $32,530
Best MPG (City/Hwy/Cmbd): 26/33/29
Engine(s) Offered: 2.5L 4-Cyl (170hp/175lb-ft)
Notable Features:
Available in FWD and AWD
Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
2018 Toyota Rav4
MSRP Range*: $24,510 – $36,250
Best MPG (City/Hwy/Cmbd): 34/30/32
Engine(s) Offered: 2.5L 4-Cyl (176hp/172lb-ft); Hybrid 2.5L 4-Cyl (194 net hp)
Notable Features:
Hybrid trims available
Available in FWD and AWD
Toyota Safety Sense™ – P is standard on all trims
Adventure trims extend towing capabilities to 3500lb
Max Cargo Volume and Towing Capacity for the Top 5 CUVs
Wondering how much our Top 5 CUVs can hold and haul? Here we’ve ranked them according to cargo space and towing capacity. If you’re not one to travel light, it looks like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are mighty good picks.