Highest rated in the category earned 87 points.

Here is the list in order of my personal preference:
#1: Nissan Rogue SL 4-cyl CVT 73 (CR Recommended)
#2: Mitsubishi Outlander LS 4-cyl CVT 73 (CR Recommended)
#3: Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring 4-cyl 62 (CR Recommended)
#4: Mitsubishi Outlander XLS V6 70 (CR Recommended)
#5: Toyota RAV4 Limited V6 83 (CR Recommended)
#6: Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited 4-cyl 87 (CR Recommended)
#7: Toyota RAV4 Base 4-cyl 77 (CR Recommended)
#8: Hyundai Santa Fe Limited V6 80 (CR Recommended)
#11: Honda CR-V EX 4-cyl 74 (CR Recommended)

I decided not to include anything else in the price class (high teens/low 20s up to high 20s/low 30s) that's unit body since as far as I'm concerned, they're not worth bothering to look at (Hyundai Tucson, anybody? How about a Jeep Liberty? Didn't think so...). As for ladder-on-frame compact SUVs, I consider them a different class (Xterra, FJ Cruiser etc.).

And leaving the CR-V 3 spots down from the Sante Fe on my list with nothing in between is not a typo; I can't stand the styling of the CR-V, a car whose face is second-in-class ugliest next to only its even worse looking brother, the Element! Yes, it's subjective, and no, I don't give a damn, because this is my list, and because looks count when you're spending 20 to 30 grand on something! The CR-V is, IMNSHO, straight fugly!!!

-Ed

EDIT: PS You asked about the Escape; Ford Escape XLT V6 earned a highly flattering 49, and is not CR Recommended.