The 2018 Fiat 500X finishes in the bottom third of our subcompact SUV rankings. Despite its bold styling, this Fiat is less exciting and less practical than many crossover rivals.
Pros User-friendly infotainment system Upscale interior styling
Cons Shorter warranty than many competitors Very small cargo area Jittery ride quality Bland engines and clunky automatic transmission
The 2018 Fiat 500X comes with more built-in personality than most other small SUVs, though it’s an urban warrior rather than an off-roader.
Pros Neat, tidy lines and proportions Ride, handling above average More character than most small utilities
Cons Automatic transmission can be touchy Sunroof hurts rear head room Far from an off-roader
The 2018 Ford Escape ranked #2 in Compact SUVs. Currently the Ford Escape has a score of 8.7 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 56 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Sporty handling Premium interior with user-friendly tech Good safety score and great predicted reliability rating Above-average cargo space
Cons Unimpressive fuel economy
The Escape is fundamentally unchanged for 2018, but there are some tweaks to the lineup and to its standard-equipment offerings.The SEL comes standard with leather-trimmed seating, a power liftgate, heated exterior mirrors, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and LED running lights.
Pros Graceful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, smooth ride, attractive and intuitive infotainment system.
Cons Less rear-seat and cargo space than the class leaders, turbo engines return mediocre fuel economy.
The 2018 Ford Escape has the road manners of another kind of car—but don't worry, it still works well as a crossover.
Pros Tough-hatch lines Ample cargo bin Wonderfully taut handling Tech options aplenty Brisk 2.0-liter acceleration
Cons Busy, space-robbing dash Firm seats, if you’re not into that Not much SUV, if you’re into that Optimistic EPA ratings