2017 Mazda CX-5 Sport

The CX-5 is Mazda's compact SUV, the one that's often cross-shopped with the RAV4 and CR-V. It's one of the more engaging small SUVs to drive, with quick steering and a chassis that feels eager in corners. The interior looks upscale for the price, though the back seat is snug and road noise is noticeable at highway speeds. Fold the rear seats and there's room for a bicycle, and the hatch opening makes loading gear easy. The Sport is the no-frills pick, skipping the Touring's power seats and dual-zone climate but keeping the same willing 2.5L I4. Its six-speed automatic shifts smoothly and the all-wheel drive provides confident traction in rain or snow, though the engine's 187 horsepower won't thrill you. You can add the rearview camera and Bluetooth streaming, but the Sport doesn't offer the Touring's blind-spot monitoring or sunroof.