Sportiest Compact SUVs of 2016

Looking for an SUV That Is Both Practical and Fun to Drive?

Most people see a compact SUV as a vehicle to escort a group of kids, sports gear, groceries, or heavy goods. But while SUVs have to be practical, where is it written that they can’t be fun to drive, too?

If you’re looking for a new SUV that can haul a soccer team and also is thrilling to drive, there are plenty of options available. The following non-luxury and luxury compact SUVs received the highest performance ratings based on U.S. News & World Report’s rankings.

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No. 10: 2016 Volvo XC90 

The 2016 Volvo XC90 was named U.S. News & World Report’s Best Luxury 3-Row SUV for Families. It outperforms about half of its segment rivals and comes with a lower starting price of $43,950.

The XC90 offers a lot of cargo space, delivers a smooth and composed ride, sharp steering, and strong brakes. Available air suspension that continuously adapts to road conditions to deliver the smoothest ride possible is highly recommended.

It comes in three different powertrain levels that include non-hybrid and hybrid engine options. The non-hybrid T5 and T6 options can get between 250 and 316 horsepower. The T8 plug-in hybrid option starts at $68,100, has standard all-wheel drive, and offers a turbo- and supercharged engine that can produce 400 horsepower. The T8 also has an excellent fuel economy of 53 mpg-equivalent combined.

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No. 7: (Tie): 2016 Audi Q5 

The 2016 Audi Q5 is a top choice among luxury compact SUVs and comes with standard all-wheel drive, roomy seats, strong engine choices, and athletic handling.

The Q5 starts at $40,900 and comes standard with a 220-horsepower four-cylinder engine that accelerates quickly and effortlessly. An available V6 can deliver up to 272 horses. But to get a performance that rivals a sports car, opt for the SQ5 model which starts at $53,300 and has a 354-horsepower supercharged V6 that accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 5 seconds.

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No. 7: (Tie) 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan starts at $24,890 and comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers 200 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission offers quick acceleration. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available. Both offer an impressive grip and nimble turning.

But the Tiguan has a higher starting price than most of its rivals, lower cargo space, and an unimpressive fuel economy. It also gets lower safety scores than the competition and newer driver assistance technologies like adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring are not available.

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No. 7: (Tie) 2016 Mazda CX-5 

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 was a finalist for U.S. News & World Report’s Best Compact SUV for the Money award. That’s because it offers a fun-to-drive experience, responsive steering, and nimble handling.

The base CX-5 comes with a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. While this engine isn’t particularly powerful, it delivers a good fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway. Front-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is also available.

A more powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 184 horsepower is also available.

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No. 6: 2017 Ford Escape 

The 2017 Ford Escape has been significantly updated for the model year and is one of the best compact SUVs currently available. The Escape delivers a comfortable ride, agile handling, responsive steering, and handles corners smoothly.

The Escape starts at $23,600, which is slightly high for its class. It comes standard with a 168-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that offers decent acceleration but an unimpressive fuel economy. Higher trims offer turbocharged engine options that deliver more power and decent gas mileage.

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No. 5: 2017 BMW X4

The 2017 BMW X4 starts at $45,550 and offers a great choice of turbocharged engines, strong steering, composed handling, and an energetic driving dynamic experience. However, the X4 also comes with a cramped interior and limited cargo capacity.

The base X4 trim comes standard with a 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that offers plenty of power and delivers strong acceleration. The top trim comes with a 355-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder that offers more acceleration. Both trims come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

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No. 4: 2016 Infiniti QX50 

The 2016 Infiniti QX50 is a luxury compact SUV that starts at $34,450, a price that is lower than many of its rivals. It has plenty of power, athletic handling, and a strong base engine. However, it also has below average fuel economy and limited cargo space.

The QX50 comes standard with a 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine, a rare standard feature for a vehicle in this class. It offers prompt acceleration and comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission that includes a manual mode. Rear-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is available.

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No. 3: 2017 Jaguar F-Pace 

The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace is a luxury compact SUV that delivers the performance of a sports car and offers several powerful engine choices. It comes standard with all-wheel drive, handles like a sports car, and has excellent traction on slippery or gravel roads.

The F-Pace starts at $40,990 and comes with a 180-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine that accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. A supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that runs on gasoline and gets 340 horsepower is also available and can zoom from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The performance-level F-Pace S comes with a V6 that reaches 380 horses.

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No. 2: 2016 BMW X3 

The 2016 BMW X3 is another luxury compact SUV that features upscale material and several strong engine choices. It has excellent safety scores, above average reliability scores, a roomy cabin, and works well as both a daily driver and a weekend joyrider.

The X3 starts at $38,950 and comes standard with a 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. A turbodiesel 2.0-liter four-cylinder is also available. The top trim has a vigorous V6 that gets 300 horsepower and accelerates briskly. However, this comes at a price that is nearly $10,000 higher than the base. The X3 has a better fuel economy than most of its competition and comes standard with an automatic start/stop that shuts the engine down when the car is stopped in traffic. Keep in mind, though, that automotive journalists have criticized the stop/start system as being “annoying.”

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No. 1: 2016 Porsche Macan 

The Porsche Macan is the top luxury compact SUV and comes with several powerful options, a gorgeous cabin, and handles like a sports car. It starts at $52,600, which is higher than most competitors. But it also has an excellent predicted reliability rating.

A twin-turbocharged V6 engine that gets 340 horsepower and smooth acceleration comes standard. Upgrade to the Macan Turbo to get a more powerful V6 that gets 400 horsepower. All-wheel drive is also standard to help keep the Macan steady on slippery surfaces. Performance settings can be switched to provide the best traction balance on various road conditions.

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