Consumer Reports can be a little particular. This is, in part, why it offers such a valuable service to so many. Regarding trucks and SUVs, CR testers and the methods for testing often leave some of the most popular models with surprisingly low scores while less popular models land killer scores. A perfect example of this is Consumer Reports’ most recommended SUV category. Consumer Reports recommended more models from the Luxury Compact SUV segment than any other group. 

 Luxury Compact SUV is Consumer Reports’ favorite SUV category

The only thing that makes this choice strange is that the majority of the models earning such high scores in this category are not overly popular models with consumers. Let’s clarify what SUVs we are talking about. 

For instance, the 2022 Buick Envision is the highest-ranked model in the section. When was the last time you heard someone talk about Buick? The Envision scored in the same realm as other massively popular models like the 2022 Honda CR-V, 2022 Subaru Crosstrek, and 2022 Mazda CX-5. 

What Luxury Compact SUVs do Consumer Reports recommend? 

This segment has more recommended models than any other SUV category on Consumer Reports. Of 23 models tested, 13 are recommended. 

In order from highest score to lowest, these are all the Luxury Compact SUVs recommended by Consumer Reports:

• ’22 Buick Envision
• ’23 Cadillac XT5
• ’22 Cadillac XT5
• ’22 Ford Mustang Mach-E
• ’22 BMW X3
• ’22 Hyundai Ioniq 5
• ’22 Audi Q5
• ’22 Kia EV6
• ’22Mercedes-Benz GLC
• ’22 Porsche Macan 
• ’22 Volvo XC60
• ’22 Infiniti QX50
• ’22 Acura RDX

Of course, not all of these models come as a surprise. The Porsche Macan is one of the most successful models Porsche has ever made. It has proven a nice fit to fill the SUV side of the Porsche brand without spending Porsche Cayenne money. 

However, seeing so many models on the list like the Volvo XC60 and the Infiniti QX50 might make some car nerds’ heads turn. Not because these models are bad; in fact, it’s the opposite. We know these brands have made many great cars in the past, but we don’t tend to give them much air time these days. 

What SUV should you buy?

This list is not made of cheap cars. Buying a car in 2022 is already extra expensive and difficult. If you are going to spend more anyway, maybe looking at the next step up isn’t such a bad idea.