In terms of the competition, the Subaru Forester has the best ground clearance of any compact crossover, great towing capacity and standard all-wheel drive. Fuel economy can suffer as a result, however. The Toyota Rav4 has better cargo volume, but doesn’t have as many standard features and worse fuel economy. The Nissan Rogue has a more striking exterior, but the continuously-variably transmission causes many headaches and hunts for gears.
What sticks out among compact crossovers is that the Tucson has both the features and the handling to match its handsome exterior lines.