Spring is a big season for car sales both new and used. With the holidays being over and tax rebates on the way many are looking to put that money towards a new set of wheels. Many of these people are looking at SUV’s since they are as popular as ever.  Still you want to make sure you get the best one for you and it can be a bit confusing. To help you out we have ranked the top affordable compact SUV’s. Here they are:

2013 Ford Escape

The newly redesigned Ford Escape tops our list with its engaging performance and refinement. It does a lot of things well and appeals to a diverse market. Ford did away with the boxy old version and the new one is slick and stylish. It has good cargo space but does lack a few of the family friendly features its rivals have. The seating is comfortable and the cabin has a quality look and feel to it. The reliability rating is average but it has an excellent safety rating.  It has good fuel economy even in the four-wheel drive option. One of the cooler features is the class exclusive motion activated lift gate. It has excellent handling that feels more like a car then a SUV and it has competitive standard feature.  Skip the base line engine as the 2.5 liter I4 can feel a little weak at times. Instead upgrade to the turbocharged version for that extra boost.  The biggest criticism is that the infotainment system is confusing and the weaker base engine which gets 23/33 mpg.

2013 Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 comes in second on our list of best affordable compact SUV’s. If you like a sporty performance then this is the SUV for you as the CX-5 boasts the best in class. It also has a near perfect manual transmission.  Add to that is the excellent safety rating and you can’t go wrong with the CX-5.  The seats are comfortable and the cabin is spacious for its class but three adults may feel a little cramped in the back seat. The cabin interior is well made but does lack some standard features such as Bluetooth and navigation.  The cargo space is solid and it has excellent fuel economy.  The biggest complaint is that the engine is slightly underpowered. The engine is a 2.0 liter, I4 with 155hp and 25/31mpg.

2013 Honda CR-V

Coming in at number three is the Honda CR-V. If you have to describe the CR-V in one word it would be nimble. While some SUV’s go for power the CR-5 goes an agile, sporty performance and has a turn radius that is almost car like.  Its cabin is spacious with comfortable front and back seats. Perhaps best of all is its excellent safety and reliability ratings. It also has a lot of nice features and is very family friendly.  Standard options include backup camera, USB port, Bluetooth, and audio streaming. Options include moonroof, navigation, and leather upholstery. The biggest complaints are that it has an outdated navigation system and a lack of powerful engine options. The engine is a 2.4 liter, I4 with 185hp and 22/30mpg.

If yuo are looking for used cars instead then any earlier versions of these vehicles would make for a great option at dealers such as www.enterprisecarsales.com/usedcars.

Aiden Jefferson lives and works from Southenr California. He writes exclusively about the automobile industry. Jazel Online Marketing can help promote your business today.

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