Best SUVs off-road: Top 12 medium SUVs compared - some fail to make it!

We test ALL of the highest selling medium SUVs in Australia on our light off-road course to see which is best! Paul Maric's muddy light off-road course includes a test of the chassis rigidity, an offset mogul test to see how good the traction control system is and finally a test to see how they go climbing Log Mountain.

The cars we tested in this mega comparison include:
- 2022 Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid AWD
- 2022 Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo AWD
- 2022 Haval H6 Ultra AWD
- 2022 Subaru Forester 2.5i-L
- 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line
- 2022 Ford Escape Vignale
- 2022 Kia Sportage GT-Line AWD diesel
- 2022 Hyundai Tucson Highlander AWD diesel
- 2022 Jeep Compass Trailhawk diesel
- 2022 Honda CR-V VTi-L AWD
- 2022 Nissan X-Trail Ti AWD petrol
- 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed petrol

Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
The Test Course 01:00
Jeep Compass 03:49
Toyota RAV4 08:03
Mitsubishi Outlander 11:33
Subaru Forester 14:31
Kia Sportage 16:40
Hyundai Tucson 20:05
Mazda CX-5 23:28
Ford Escape 26:48
Honda CR-V 30:00
Haval H6 33:57
Volkswagen Tiguan 36:50
Nissan X-Trail 40:43
Verdict 43:44

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CarExpert:

Paul Maric:

#suv #offroad #comparison

[CarExpertAus]

Thanks for watching folks! What type of cars should we do on the same course next?

[trojanhman]

This is very good content. I am very happy to see that Australian reviewers are testing the performance capability of these cars, and not just looking at number of cup holders.

[adrianwalker]

As a subaru Owner I am not surprised, but I am glad to see Subaru living up to its full expectations

[percyppenguin]

So many car "experts" always underestimate the subaru. Then they drive one and fall in love with them just like every other subaru driver on earth. They are extremely well built and soiled, all the bells and whistles, and well priced.

[charliefreddy]

This is by far the most comprehensive comparison of such crossovers. Thanks a lot for giving buyers a comprehensive test of what this vehicles are capable of.

[dhanunjayareddy]

Perfect review. This is what I want to see from car reviewers. I don't want them to just read out engine numbers and count on cup holders. Thanks to all team members.

[pkho]

I'm not surprised that the Subaru Forester did well in this test. I'm not surprised that the CRV didn't move an inch up the log mountain. But I'm surprised that the Haval could and the Jeep compass couldn't. Excellent review to Paul and the team 👍

[PO-whfz]

Thanks for a great video! I spent a good year studying, driving and researching all but the Haval, simply because I wanted the best suv for me and one that would last at least 250, 000 miles minimum, I finally decided on a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness-wow, wow, wow what an amazing vehicle, I cannot tell you amazing and how wonderful my beauty is! She has never failed me- thru 3' plus snow at Mammoth Lakes, sticky, deep mucky mud and deep desert sand, and also so safe on wet and/or icy roads.

[davebalanding]

Love this type of review. Actual test on different conditions helps viewers to choose the right car.

[patilmatrix]

Hats off to the hard work done by Paul and CarExpert team. Covering 10+ cars with basic off-road test and putting the result in very simple and transparent way. Really Great job 👍

[NickoFaTe]

I can appreciate the amount of networking / collateral(cost) might be involved in setting something up like this, fabulous review with a lot of work that was well done!

[Foxtrot]

Paul and CarExpert; what a great comparison of these SUVs 'out of the box'. Given the Forester did so well, for us Subie enthusiasts, I'd like to see a side by side comparison of the current stock standard Forester versus Crosstrek and Outback (non-turbo) on this course and same conditions. The Crosstrek being lighter weight but with smaller engine, and the Outback being heavier and (I think) has less aggressive stock tyres.

[Kungfusue]

That was very interesting, thank you. I brought a Subaru Forester a couple of years ago. I love taking it off road, it’s an impressive car. So glad I brought this.

[AgsyMixChannel]

Paul's testing and review should be an industry standard!

[VorpalGun]

That the Subaru performed adequately is no big surprise. I have been incredibly impressed with my 2011 Outback in Swedish winter conditions. What is surprising is the number of SUVs (with 4WD or AWD) that just didn't perform well at all.

[toshiyam]

It was impressive that the Forester did not raise the engine output so much. In a section like this, I think it shows that the excellence of 4WD control is more important than absolute power.

The opinion that the tires are not the same would be correct. However, there are only easy sections, and they are all tires for highways, so there won't be much difference...

[thuantq]

When I see the title, I already thought Subaru and Mitsubishi would won this test, and the result wasn't a surprise. Mitsubishi hasn't been really popular recently years, but their AWD system always be outstanding.

[mehdinazarbeigi]

This is actually very good review, thanks Paul, and thanks to all your team! Can you please do more comparison videos.

[cryzzn]

That is why I love my Forester!!, had a 2019 CRV before and let me down with the AWD system exactly the same way it was shown on this video and did overheated the AWD system @ -15c, every 2 minutes, did my research and got a 2021 Forester Limited, hands down the best car I ever owned.

[OliveiraPaulo]

Certainly one of the most underrated channels on Youtube about cars in general - I love how Paul and his team do their reviews and test everything in cars handed to them. Cheers from Canada!