Subcompact: 2017 Chevrolet Sonic vs. 2017 Chevrolet Trax
The 2017 Chevrolet Sonic (pictured above) and Trax share the same platform and technology features, but that’s where the similarities end. Pricing for the Sonic starts at $15,145, while the 2017 Chevrolet Trax starts at $21,000. Chevy offers the Sonic in both sedan and hatchback versions.
In our rankings of subcompact cars, the Sonic is near the top of the class, while the Trax is rated in the lower half of our subcompact SUV rankings. While the Sonic’s best EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway are low for the subcompact car segment, they easily beat the best the Trax offers – 25 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway.
Subcompact: 2017 Chevrolet Sonic vs. 2017 Chevrolet Trax
Though the interior room in the 2017 Chevy Sonic is good compared to its peers, the Trax is much more spacious. Both vehicles seat five and come standard with a rearview camera and 7-inch touch-screen infotainment systems that support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
As you would expect, the 2017 Chevy Trax (pictured above) trounces the Sonic on cargo room, with the Sonic sedan only offering 14.9 cubic feet of trunk space compared to 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat of the Trax. Fold the seats down in the Trax and it is capable of hauling 48.4 cubic feet of your stuff. You can also fold the front passenger seat of the Trax forward to load cargo that is up to 8 feet long.
The Sonic is available with front-wheel drive only, while the Trax offers front- or all-wheel drive.
Compact: 2017 Honda Civic vs. 2017 Honda CR-V
The Honda Civic was once the bread and butter car for Honda, and it’s still a critical part of their lineup, but its sales have been eclipsed by the 2017 Honda CR-V compact SUV. Of course, Honda doesn't mind, as the pricier SUVs are more profitable than sedans.
The 2017 Honda Civic (pictured above) scores a spot near the top of our rankings of compact cars, while the CR-V holds the top spot in our rankings of compact SUVs and won both our 2017 Best Compact SUV for Families and Best Compact SUV for the Money awards. The Civic was a finalist for our 2017 Best Compact Car for Families award.
Compact: 2017 Honda Civic vs. 2017 Honda CR-V
Pricing for the 2017 Honda Civic starts at $18,740, compared to $24,045 for the CR-V. Both have above-average predicted reliability scores, but as you would expect, the Civic earns much higher EPA fuel economy estimates of up to 32 mpg in the city and 42 on the highway.
Those beat the 2017 Honda CR-V’s (pictured above) best numbers by 4 mpg in the city and 8 mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive is available on the CR-V but the Civic is front-wheel drive only.
When it comes to hauling cargo, the CR-V is hard to beat, not only compared to the Civic, but against other compact SUVs as well. It can haul up to 39.2 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats up and 75.8 when they are folded down. Though the Civic’s 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space is good for a compact car, it can’t compare to the CR-V.
Midsize: 2017 Toyota Camry vs. 2017 Toyota Highlander
There’s a wide price gap between Toyota’s midsize SUV and sedan offerings, but the SUV seats up to three more passengers and comes standard with a host of advanced safety and driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Prices for the 2017 Toyota Camry (pictured aboved) start at $23,070, but if you want the advanced safety tech you’ll need to move to an upper trim model and add a $2,800 option package. At that point, the cost of the Camry will likely approach the $30,630 base price of the 2017 Toyota Highlander.
Both the Camry and Highlander are near to the top of their fields in our rankings of the midsize car and midsize SUV classes, respectively. The Camry scores a slightly higher predicted reliability score than the Highlander.
Midsize: 2017 Toyota Camry vs. 2017 Toyota Highlander
The 2017 Toyota Camry can actually carry more cargo in its trunk than the Highlander can when all of its seats are in the up position (15.4 vs. 13.8 cubic feet). However, once you start folding the seats down, the 2017 Toyota Highlander (pictured aboved) takes over.
With the third row down it will hold up to 42.3 cubic feet of stuff, and with both the second and third row folded it outpaces many of its midsize SUV peers with 83.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
Naturally, the Camry outpaces the fuel economy of the Highlander by 4 mpg in the city and at least 6 mpg on the highway. For the best power with the Highlander, and surprisingly better efficiency than the base four-cylinder, you’ll want to opt for the available V6.
Large: 2017 Chevrolet Impala vs. 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
Admittedly, unless you work for a police department you probably aren’t cross-shopping the 2017 Chevrolet Impala (pictured aboved) with the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, but perhaps you should be. Unless towing or seating for eight are on your list of needs, you can save a tremendous amount of money with the Impala.
For one thing, the Impala's $27,500 base price is nearly $20,000 less than the Tahoe's $47,215. Over the life of the vehicle, the Impala would also save you on fuel, with EPA estimates that give it as much as a 6 mpg edge in the city and 7 mpg on the highway.
Large: 2017 Chevrolet Impala vs. 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe (pictured aboved) sits at the top of our rankings of large SUVs, while the 2017 Chevy Impala holds top honors in our rankings of large sedans. The Impala is only available with front-wheel drive, compared to the Tahoe’s rear- or four-wheel drive setup.
The Impala seats five compared to the Tahoe’s seven or eight, but the third row of the Tahoe is surprisingly cramped for an SUV of its size. Though the Impala has good trunk space for the large car class (18.8 cubic feet), it can’t hold a candle to the Tahoe’s 94.7 cubic feet of cargo room when all the seats are folded down. To be fair, however, when all of the Tahoe’s seats are up, the Impala beats its 15.3 cubic feet of cargo room.
Properly equipped, the Tahoe can tow up to 8,600 pounds.
Luxury Compact: 2017 Audi A4 vs. 2017 Audi Q5
The 2017 Audi A4 (pictured aboved) is our top ranked luxury small car following a redesign for 2017, while the 2017 Audi Q5 is in the final year of its current design. Still, the Q5 is ranked in the top half of our hotly contested rankings of luxury compact SUVs.
If you want to put one of the two in your garage, you'll have to pony up at least $34,900 for an A4 or $40,900 for a Q5. Buy either and you'll get a comfortable cabin lined with high-quality materials and a plethora of tech features, including the Audi MMI infotainment interface. Of course, the A4's tech is the latest the company has to offer, while the Q5's is feeling a bit dated.
Luxury Compact: 2017 Audi A4 vs. 2017 Audi Q5
Both the 2017 Audi A4 and Q5 come well equipped, even in base trim. The A4 features standard leather seating surfaces, power adjustable front seats, and the Audi MMI system with a 7-inch screen. The 2017 Audi Q5 (pictured aboved) comes standard with a panoramic sunroof, MMI, and tri-zone automatic temperature control.
The A4 beats the Q5 handily in both price and fuel efficiency, plus it receives better a predicted reliability score than the Q5. However, when it comes to carrying stuff, the Q5’s 29.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row is more than double the A4’s 13 cubic feet of trunk space. Fold down the Q5’s back seat and you can stuff in 57.3 cubic feet of cargo.
Luxury Midsize: 2017 Lexus ES vs. 2017 Lexus RX
The 2017 Lexus RX luxury midsize SUV is the brand’s top-selling model, with sales more than double those of the 2017 Lexus ES (pictured aboved) sedan. That’s more an indication of the shift in the market than an indictment of the ES. There’s simply more demand right now for SUVs than sedans.
The ES holds a position about mid-pack in our rankings of luxury midsize cars, while the RX 350 is near the top of our rankings of midsize SUVs. The ES is certainly more affordable than the RX 350, with a base price of $38,900 compared to the RX350’s $43,120.
Luxury Midsize: 2017 Lexus ES vs. 2017 Lexus RX
Both the 2017 Lexus RX 350 (pictured aboved) and ES can carry five, though the RX can carry them in nastier weather when it’s outfitted with optional all-wheel drive. Both have great predicted reliability scores, and for 2017 they both come standard with automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
The 2017 Lexus ES is more fuel-efficient on the highway by a few miles per gallon, but their city mileage is similar, with the ES having just a one mile per gallon edge. Where many sedans gain additional cargo room by allowing the rear seat to fold forward opening space into the cabin, the ES only features a small pass-through from its 15.2 cubic foot trunk. The RX has 18.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind its rear seat and 56.3 when the rear seats are folded down.
There are hybrid versions available of both the Lexus ES and RX.
Luxury Large: 2017 Cadillac CT6 vs. 2017 Cadillac Escalade
You could call it the battle of the bling-laden behemoths, except the 2017 Cadillac CT6 (pictured aboved) is rather spry for its size, and the 2017 Cadillac Escalade is elegantly outfitted like a private executive jet on wheels. The Escalade is available in standard and extended wheelbase (ESV) models.
Pricing starts at $53,795 for the CT6, but you’ll have to open your wallet a lot wider for the $73,395 base price of the Escalade. The CT6 scores a spot in the top third of our rankings of luxury large cars and the Escalade holds a spot near the top of our luxury large SUV rankings.
Luxury Large: 2017 Cadillac CT6 vs. 2017 Cadillac Escalade
As you would expect, the base turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the 2017 Cadillac CT6 allows it to trounce the V8-powered Escalade by a wide margin when it comes to fuel efficiency. However, the 2017 Cadillac Escalade (pictured aboved) can tow up to 8,300 pounds when properly equipped.
Both Cadillacs are available with rear-wheel drive. The Escalade also offers four-wheel drive, and the CT6 also offers all-wheel drive. The CT6 was selected as U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 Best Luxury Large Car for Families and the Escalade received our 2017 Best Luxury Large SUV for Families award.
One issue that both models have in common is the unresponsive and overly complicated CUE infotainment system. In the luxury sedan and SUV space, customers demand the best in technology, and Cadillac doesn’t provide it.
More Buying Tools From U.S. News & World Report
No matter which camp you fall into – SUV or sedan – you should visit our new car rankings to see how the vehicles on your shopping list compare. You’ll be able to see how they stack up in terms of reliability, safety, cost, efficiency, and a host of other factors.
One of the best ways to lower your cost of ownership is by getting a great deal on the vehicle, so you’ll also want to check out our new car deals and lease incentive pages. Understanding the car buying process and getting financing before you head to the dealer can take a lot of stress out of getting your dream car.
Buyers can avoid even more hassle by using our Best Price Program, where we work with our partners from TrueCar to find buyers great deals at local dealers.
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Which Works For You: a Sedan or an SUV?
Do you want a sedan or an SUV? It seems like a clear choice, but if you dig into the plusses and minuses of each, the decision becomes more difficult. You not only need to look at what you want today, but think about your future needs and budget.
SUV sales have taken off while sedan sales have slumped over the last several years due to sustained low fuel prices. Sedans typically get better mileage than SUVs, so the total cost of ownership of an SUV is typically higher and could rise dramatically if gas prices were to spike. Few SUVs can match the ride comfort of a sedan, and it’s rare that an SUV will be described as sporty. You can secure valuables more easily in the trunk of a sedan than in the open cargo area of an SUV.
On the flip side, SUVs offer roomier interiors and cargo areas, better visibility due to higher driving positions, plus generally better inclement weather and off-highway performance.
That said, the lines are starting to blur. SUVs are generally becoming more car-like, gaining safety features and technologies once found only on cars. Ride comfort is improving, as many SUVs share the same platforms as similar-sized cars. More sedans are being offered with all-wheel drive or sophisticated traction control systems that give them more confidence in marginal weather.
Check out the following slides, where we compare how similarly sized sedans and SUVs from the same manufacturer compare to one another. When you’re ready to buy, be sure to employ our Best Price Program, where you can save thousands off the MSRP of your new sedan or SUV.