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Do you know what America’s favorite SUV is? It’s the compact Toyota RAV4. Why is it the favorite? Because it’s the most popular model. Sales even threatened the Ford F-150’s title as king. However, critics aren’t sold. 

Critics and drivers disagree about America’s favorite SUV 

America’s favorite SUV is clearly the Toyota RAV4. According to Car and Driver, in 2023, the RAV4 was the best-selling SUV model. 

It moved 434,933 models and only got outsold by large American trucks. The Ram 1500 sold 444,926 models in 2023, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 sold 543,319 trucks, and the Ford F-150 sold 750,789 units. 

Plus, the Tesla Model Y only sold 385,990. So far, in 2024, the RAV4 has sold 350,331 models. It’s on track to have positive sales growth. 

But despite being popular among drivers, critics aren’t exactly sold on the RAV4. On the list of the Best Compact SUVs for 2024 from Car and Driver, the RAv4 is in eighth place out of 11. 

It has a score of 8.0 out of 10, which is still impressive. However, the Honda CR-V is in first place with a score of 10 out of 10. 

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 on the road
2024 Toyota RAV4 | Toyota

On the list of Best Small SUVs by Edmunds, the Toyota RAV4 is in tenth place with a score of 7.7 out of 10. The Mazda CX-50 is in first place with a score of 8.1 out of 10. 

U.S.News also provides a list of the best compact SUVs. The RAV4 is in fifth place on its list with a score of 8.7 out of 10. The Mazda CX-5 is in first place with a 9.2. 

Some complaints about America’s favorite SUV include how it has a sluggish performance, a spartan base model, flat seats, a noisy engine, a loud interior, no passenger seat adjustments, and an average reliability rating, and the off-road models were dropped for 2025. 

But it has a long list of standard features, intuitive tech, tons of cargo space, a smooth ride, and solid fuel economy. 

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.