Test drives: We review 5 small SUVs

Increasingly, U.S. car shoppers are forsaking sedans for small SUVs -- a.k.a. crossovers. So, it was a treat to try out the latest crop of crossovers on curving mountain roads that offer a real test of their acceleration and handling.

Bear Mountain State Park, north of New York City, provided the terrain for the annual spring test-drive event of the International Motor Press Association. I got to make close comparisons of three all-new subcompact SUVs: the Jeep Renegade, Honda HR-V and Chevrolet Trax. In addition, I got to check out two slightly larger compact SUVs: the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester.

Because most motorists don't spend a majority of their time driving on mountain roads, I also scrutinized how these crossovers performed in highway cruising conditions, and I compared their passenger and cargo accommodations.

Click here for a closer look at these five small SUVs.

Jeep Renegade

The Renegade may be small, but it's all Jeep. From the distinctive grille to its off-road capabilities, the Renegade fits right in with its bigger siblings. (There was no off-roading on this test day, but the four-wheel drive on the Trailhawk version has separate settings for clambering over rocks or slogging through mud or sand).

Crisp handling took the Renegade through the winding curves with little body lean. And the 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine tackled the hills more eagerly than some competitors.

On the highway at cruising speed, suspension tuned for sharp handling translated to noticeable bumps with any pavement imperfections. Front and rear seats are comfortable, with adequate but not commodious leg room for rear seat passengers.

The 2.4-liter engine is rated for 21 MPG in city driving and 29 on the highway -- below average for this class. The base turbocharged 1.4-liter engine has a somewhat better 24 city, 31 highway EPA rating, but it requires premium fuel.

Among these crossovers, small does not necessarily mean bargain-priced. While the base Renegade starts at a list price of $17,995, the Limited version I drove, loaded with options including safety features like lane departure warning, totaled up at $31,390.

Honda HR-V

The 2016 Honda HR-V, just going on sale this week, is all about more space and a better ride than the competition. Not as sporty as the Jeep Renegade, the HR-V has been designed to maximize room for passengers and cargo.

With plenty of legroom for rear-seat passengers, the HR-V also is a champion hauler for its size. Using a design borrowed from the smaller Honda Fit, the HR-V boasts 58.8 cubic feet cargo space with the rear seats folded. That's room enough for most luggage or sports gear you would want to carry and eight cubic feet more than the Jeep Renegade.

On the roads at Bear Mountain, the HR-V lagged a bit in the uphill climbs and showed some body lean through the curves. But it mustered decent acceleration at straight-line highway speeds and maintained a comfortable ride even over bumpy pavement. Inside, the touch screen and gauges are all at comfortable eye level for a driver's glance -- a Honda trademark.

The HR-V comes with a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine rated for a healthy 27 MPG in city driving and 32 on the highway. The HR-V list price starts at $19,995. The version I drove -- the EX-L equipped with all-wheel drive and navigation lists for $26,720.

Chevrolet Trax

Despite a price range similar to other subcompact SUVs, the Trax lags badly in acceleration. The turbocharged 1.4-liter engine labored to handle the Bear Mountain hills, though the sharp handling dealt well with the curves. To be fair, the Jeep and Honda competitors have larger engines. But when I hit the accelerator hard, the turbocharger generated more noise than power.

Inside, the Trax seats were roomy and comfortable. But the interior materials looked bargain-basement with too much hard plastic. The Trax does get EPA mileage ratings of 26 MPG in the city and 34 on the highway. Starting at $20,995, the list price ranges up to $25,469.

Mazda CX-5

The 2016 CX-5 had been billed as fun to drive, and I wasn't disappointed. The 2.5-liter engine powered it up those Bear Mountain hills, and the CX-5 carved through the curves with precise steering and little body lean.

From a stop sign, it darted up to cruising speed. I drove the optional larger engine (rated at 24 MPG city and 30 highway) The 2-liter four-cylinder base engine (26 city, 35 highway) likely would be a little less fun.

Inside, the slightly redesigned 2016 CX-5 has roomy and comfortable seats and a new touchscreen that's well-positioned and east to use. A compact SUV -- bigger than the Renegade, HR-V and Trax -- the CX-5 has 34.1 cubic feet of hauling space with the rear seats up and 65.4 cubic feet with those seats folded.

When it comes to cost, the base CX-5 starts at $21,795. The all-wheel-drive Grand Touring version I drove, loaded with navigation and other options, totaled $33,840.

Subaru Forester

The 2015 Subaru Forester, which competes with the Mazda CX-5 among compact SUVs, was not on the Bear Mountain roster. But I recently took a one for a test drive to check out a second version of this crossover, praised by Consumer Reports and other reviewers.

I previously had driven the optional 250-horsepower 2-liter turbocharged version with lively acceleration but with a drawback in its requirement for premium fuel. I found that the 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower base engine, which takes regular gas, still had plenty of power both from a standing start and for passing at highway speeds.

This 2.5-liter engine is rated for 24 MPG in city driving, 32 on the highway, while the turbo engine is rated 23 city, 28 highway.

The Forester handled curves well with precise steering. And its short turning ratio made U-turns easy in tight spots. Like all Subarus, the Forester has all-wheel drive as standard equipment.

Inside, the seats are comfortable with good leg room for rear seat passengers. In the cargo competition, the Forester has up to 34.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up -- about the same as the Mazda CX-5. But with the rear seats folded, the Forester space jumps to 74.7 cubic feet vs. 65.4 for the Mazda.

Pricing for the Forester starts at $22,195. But like the CX-5, list price ranges up to $33,095.