SALT LAKE CITY -

Vehix recently performed tests of four small SUVs/crossovers across various city, highway and mountain driving environments, and found that the top overall model in this class is the 2011 Honda CR-V.

The three other small SUVs/crossers in Vehix’s “2011 Small SUV Comparison Test” were the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, 2011 Toyota RAV4 and the 2011 Hyundai Tucson.

The vehicles were evaluated in subjective measures like ride quality, comfort, technological features and design, among other criteria. They were also judged in objective categories, including fuel economy, reliability and safety ratings.

Following the CR-V in the rankings was the Equinox, which grabbed the No. 2 spot. Placing third was the RAV4 followed by the Tucson in fourth.

Officials emphasized that there was a tight margin between No. 1 and No. 4, which suggests that “all four vehicles represent viable options for drivers who need an affordable four-wheel- or all-wheel-drive vehicle that gets good gas mileage and has room to comfortably carry a family and gear through daily driving and adverse weather conditions.”

“We chose these vehicles because they represent three of the four best-selling small SUVs in the market today,” Michael Waterman, executive editor for Vehix. “We added the Hyundai Tucson because it’s a Top Safety Pick and represents a great value in terms of features for its relatively low price.”