www.hotcars.com 2022 SUVs We'd Buy Over The New Toyota RAV4

While the 2022 Toyota RAV4 deserves your consideration if you are in the market for a compact crossover SUV, there are many excellent options out there. Sitting next to full-size trucks on the list of best sellers in America are compact SUVs. The massive boom experienced in the segment in recent years is due to the attractive blend of size, price, and performance that works for most buyers.

With most major manufacturers scrambling to grab a piece of the action, the segment is filled with many attractive options. Alongside the all-new Corolla Cross, Toyota is offering the RAV4 for 2022. Ruggedly styled, it comes with 203 hp, excellent fuel economy, affordable sticker price, and a generous list of tech features. Although we are not sneering at its credentials in the highly competitive segment, here are 2022 SUVs we'd buy over the new RAV4.

102022 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Santa Fe is a good SUV that offers two rows of spacious seating in a quiet and high-end cabin at a starting MSRP of $27,200. The base 191 hp engine is quite sufficient for city commuters, but if you want something more muscular, a 281 hp turbo-4 is available.

Ride quality is okay, and it shines with its superb handling thanks to a weighty/responsive steering and firm suspension. With the Santa Fe, you get a better infotainment system, more driver-assist/safety tech, and of course, Hyundai's legendary warranty package.

92022 Honda CR-V

Although the 2022 Honda CR-V is similarly priced as the RAV4, it is a more reliable choice that offers great value for the price. It also beats the Toyota with a roomier second row and larger cargo space despite losing in the area of infotainment features.

Under the hood, a 190 hp turbo-4 engine pairs with a smooth transmission to provide incredible acceleration, while the composed and refined ride quality ensures pleasurable commutes. The Honda Sensing suite of tech features provides the necessary driving aids to ensure the safety of both the car and its occupants.

RELATED: Your First SUV: 2022 Honda CR-V Vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

82022 Kia Sportage

Although the Sportage is beginning to age, for 2022, it impresses with an interior finely finished with high-quality materials. It sacrifices part of its cargo space for a larger passenger space but offers an easy-to-use infotainment system with a larger standard touchscreen.

J.D. Power gives it a predicted reliability rating of 88 against the RAV4's 81, while Kia backs it with longer warranty coverage than what Toyota offers. With a starting MSRP of $24,090, it is one of the most affordable compact SUVs, yet it boasts a long list of standard tech features.

72022 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2022 Bronco Sport comes with two turbocharged engines, a 181 hp standard, and a 250 hp optional, routing power to the four wheels in all trims. While it bests the RAV4 with good driving dynamics, it is the spectacular off-road chops that got us.

Fitted with multiple skid plates, steep approach and departure angles, several high-tech aids, and 280 lb-ft of torque, the Bronco Sport is a mean little off-roader. In addition to that, it also has a predicted reliability rating of 82 and comes with features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and MyKey.

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62022 Subaru Forester

Refreshed for 2022, the Subaru Forester wears a high-set hood and offers a quiet frill-free interior with a nice driving position and excellent outward visibility. It offers more head and legroom in both rows, and at least in the base trim, more cargo space with the rear seat folded down.

Although backed by just 182 hp, the Forester comes battle-ready for the great outdoors with standard AWD, higher ground clearance, and some off-road-focused tech features. While boasting a better-predicted reliability rating of 83, the Forester also has a more affordable starting price of $25,195.

52022 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Nissan Rogue comes with a new 201 hp turbocharged 3-cylinder engine that returns better fuel economy estimates than the RAV4. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats provide support and comfort on long commutes. At the same time, the available Divide-N-Hide system gives you six different ways to configure the cargo space for unexpected cargo.

Total cargo space behind the front seats is larger than the RAV4's in addition to larger standard and available infotainment touchscreens. For safety and driver-assist, the Subaru boasts some unique features like the ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link, the Intelligent trace control, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

RELATED: 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2022 Nissan Rogue

42022 Volkswagen Tiguan

One of the features that give the Tiguan an edge over classmates, including the RAV4, is the optional third row, which jacks up total seating to seven. When the third row is folded, it offers 37.6 cubic feet of storage space, while the 73.4 cubic feet behind the front seats beats the RAV4.

At $25,995, it starts cheaper than the Toyota, yet it is generous with standard and available tech features. With its composed and well-mannered ride, the 2022 Tiguan is not a bad option for hauling a large family around the city.

32022 Hyundai Kona

Unlike the 2022 RAV4 with one powertrain, the 2022 Kona comes with three engine choices which include the 276 hp unit in the Kona N. A new and easy to use infotainment system offers bigger touchscreens than the RAV4's in addition to a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display.

In addition to that, there is a long list of smart driving aids and the legendary generous warranty package that covers three years of complimentary maintenance. Undercutting the RAV4's starting MSRP by about $5,300, the 2022 Hyundai Kona is a reliable SUV with a bang for the buck we can't ignore.

RELATED: Here's How The Hyundai Kona Compares With the Mazda CX-30

22022 Hyundai Tucson

Fully redesigned for 2022, the Hyundai Tucson boasts a quiet well-equipped cabin and is one of the best compact SUVs on the market. The Tucson offers better cargo capacity, larger standard/available infotainment touchscreens, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

In addition to offering more/smarter driving aids, the Tucson also comes with better warranty coverage with three years of complimentary maintenance. With a J.D. Power predicted reliability rating of 88 and a starting price of $25,500, the Tucson offers better value for your money.

12022 Mazda CX-5

Top on the list of the 2022 CX-5's good qualities is the beautifully crafted body and the standard i-Activ AWD system. Two powertrain options provide 187 hp and 250 hp while the responsive steering and suspension create balanced driving dynamics unmatched by other compact SUVs.

For a $25,900 car, it has a top-class interior, elegantly styled and boasting first-rate materials, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen display for infotainment and connectivity. Mazda also furnishes it with a suite of advanced driving aids like traffic jam assist, adaptive cruise control, and automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Jay Moren is a car enthusiast who loves everything with an engine. When he's not writing about cars, he plays the saxophone and keyboard. He also plays as a goalkeeper for a non-league side in his native Nigeria