For our test group in the August 2008 issue, we drove a half dozen small SUVs. "A leap ahead" features the Jeep Liberty, Kia Sorento, Nissan Rogue, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Subaru Forester. We also took a look at the Dodge Journey, Chrysler’s new midsized, car-based SUV.

As sales of large, gas-guzzling large SUVs have plummeted, interest in small SUVs has remained steady. They can be an appealing choice for families looking for utility, fuel economy, interior room, and all-wheel drive in an affordable package. However, they are not all created equal.

The full road tests from the magazine have been posted at ConsumerReports.org, along with videos from our staff of auto experts. These videos highlight our tests of each vehicle, plus they demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of each model.

Check out the video of the Subaru Forester, our new top-Rated small SUV, plus see the rest of our small SUV videos.

Ratings for all of the SUVs we have tested can be found with our dynamic New Car Selector tool.

—Liza Barth