Car and Driver
Crossovers and SUVs are as popular as ever and have become so highly sought after that they’ve led to a drastic reduction in the number of sedans and smaller cars. The SUV market runs the gamut from pint-size, puddle-jumping commuters to gargantuan, eight-seat off-roaders. The subcompact segment seen here offers the least expensive way into an SUV and features smaller models, but it does offer more options than the compact-crossover segment. Asking what makes a subcompact crossover good is like asking what color paint is more exciting to watch dry—these don’t exist for pleasure. They exist to offer value and practicality. We’ve ordered the current offerings by goodness, starting with the worst and ending with the best.
More New SUVs Ranked from Worst to Best:
Compact | Mid-Size | Full-Size | 3-Row
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That’s not a shrunken Ford Edge in the rearview mirror, it’s the 123-hp turbocharged three-cylinder Ford EcoSport. Also available with a 144-hp inline-four, the EcoSport is as sporty as it is economical—that is to say, not very. During our fuel-economy test, the EcoSport managed just 24 mpg combined. That’s not great, considering the more powerful Mazda CX-3 and larger Honda HR-V have an EPA combined estimate of 30 mpg. Seating is tight, and you won’t want to stuff a third adult in the back seat. The rear cargo door is a left-hinged, side-opening style that accesses 21 cubic feet of cargo space. The EcoSport is no longer available with a jaunty, externally mounted spare tire, its one styling flourish.
- Base Price: $23,335
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 28/27/29 mpg (FWD)
- Rear Cargo Space: 21 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE ECOSPORT SPECS
The three-row Mitsubishi Outlander received major updates that greatly improved its ride, fuel economy, and interior. Sadly, the diet version—the Outlander Sport—didn’t receive any of those updates. Base models are powered by a 148-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A 168-hp 2.4-liter engine is optional, and both engines use a continuously variable automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive Outlander Sport with a 2.0-liter engine returned 28 mpg on our 200-mile real-world fuel-economy test, while the 2.4-liter version we tested managed only 26 mpg. Inside, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto appears on most models and is optional on the ES trim with the Convenience package. Mitsubishi is offering a 100,000-mile warranty on all new Outlander Sports in hopes of boosting sales, but it’ll have to do a lot more than that to compete in this segment.
- Base Price: $22,640
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 27/24/30 mpg (FWD 2.0L)
- Rear Cargo Space: 21 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE OUTLANDER SPORT SPECS
The Trax is one of the highest-selling models in the segment. Unfortunately, good sales don’t always correlate with a great car. On even its highest trim, the interior is more fleet than fancy, and driving the Trax is as exciting as watching C-SPAN. Its 138-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine means that it’s on the slower end of the segment, and it doesn’t offer spectacular fuel economy in return. Our real-world fuel-economy test returned just 29 mpg, lower than the Kia Soul despite the Kia’s 63-hp advantage. The best parts of the Chevy Trax all happen in the front row, where there’s tons of headroom and tech, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and optional 4G LTE Wi-Fi offered via a monthly subscription.
- Base Price: $22,595
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 28/26/31 mpg (FWD 1.4L)
- Rear Cargo Space: 18 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE TRAX SPECS
The Toyota C-HR straddles the line between okay and all right. It’s slower than cold peanut butter, but its 144-hp four-cylinder achieved an impressive 37 mpg during our highway fuel-economy test. The C-HR moniker stands for “Coupe High Rider.” In practice, it’s a four-door crossover with less ground clearance than a Toyota Sienna minivan. Its hidden rear door handles give it the appearance of a two-door, and the rest of its styling helps it stand out in a segment full of lookalikes—for better or worse. The C-HR rides well and drives smoothly, but its continuously variable automatic transmission causes its engine to be annoyingly noisy, and its lack of power keeps it from getting ahead of this pack.
- Base Price: $25,095
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 29/27/31 mpg
- Rear Cargo Space: 19 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Not available
MORE C-HR SPECS
The Fiat 500X is a Jeep Renegade-based crossover that’s now the only model left under the struggling Fiat nameplate. A 177-hp turbocharged inline-four engine and all-wheel drive are standard. All models come with 17-inch aluminum wheels, except the Sport, which has standard 18s (optional on both Trekking models) and available 19-inch wheels. Its high starting price only adds to the absurdity of a vehicle in this segment with fuel-economy ratings that are worse than more powerful and larger competitors. The EPA handed the Fiat 500X a combined fuel-economy rating of 26 mpg. Cargo capacity is low even for a subcompact SUV, with just 14 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 32 cubic feet when folded.
- Base Price: $28,120
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 26/24/30 mpg
- Rear Cargo Space: 14 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Standard
MORE 500X SPECS
Against its many competitors, the plucky Honda HR-V does its best. It’s powered exclusively by a 141-hp four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission and is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The HR-V shines as a fuel-efficient alternative to other choices. It achieved 30 mpg on the highway in our test. The HR-V’s party trick is its second-row Magic Seat. When released, the rear seatback folds flat, leaving extra room for stacking luggage or for hauling bigger stuff. The bottom cushion of the rear seat can also be flipped up, providing a deep well between the front and rear seatbacks for taller items. We were able to fit 22 carry-ons in the cargo area during our test. Unfortunately, the HR-V suffers from a choppy ride, especially on uneven roads. We expect a redesigned HR-V later this year, similar to the Euro-spec version revealed recently.
- Base Price: $23,095
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 30/28/34 mpg (FWD)
- Rear Cargo Space: 24 cubic feet (FWD), 23 (AWD)
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE HR-V SPECS
The Jeep Renegade serves a wide array of purposes. The base model is smaller and cheaper than other options in this segment, and the more expensive Trailhawk top trim aims at off-road fans. But that bigger price tag doesn’t improve many of its worst features. A 177-hp 1.3-liter engine is standard. The most fuel-efficient way to own a Jeep Renegade is with front-wheel drive, which will get you an EPA-estimated 32 mpg on the highway. The interior isn’t much to brag about unless you consider the mini scavenger hunt it holds. Even with the rear seats folded flat, we wish there was more cargo space. And its bulky roof pillars compromise visibility.
- Base Price: $25,790
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 27/24/32 mpg (FWD)
- Rear Cargo Space: 18 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE RENEGADE SPECS
The Buick Encore is an aptly named compact that left us yelling for more. It’s certainly a step up in terms of ride quality and technology versus its corporate twin, the Chevy Trax, but for its relatively high base price, you get worse fuel economy and a smaller cargo area than competitors such as the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks. The Encore is only offered with a 138-hp four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. For its size, we found it comfortable to drive and its ride adequately cushy over bumps. The front-drive Encore gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. The all-wheel-drive Encore’s estimates are 24 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. Not bad, but not amazing considering its starting price is one of the highest in the segment.
- Base Price: $25,795
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 27/25/30 mpg (FWD)
- Rear Cargo Space: 18 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE ENCORE SPECS
A fully redesigned Nissan Rogue Sport is almost here, but for now, here’s the middle child in Nissan’s two-row lineup. The Rogue Sport uses a 141-hp inline-four engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive. Unfortunately, the Sport isn’t all that sporty to drive. The last all-wheel-drive Rogue Sport we tested took 10 seconds to reach 60 mph and only managed 31 mpg during our highway fuel-economy test.
- Base Price: $25,485
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 28/25/32 mpg (FWD)
- Rear Cargo Space: 22 cubic feet (S), 20 (SV), 19 (SL)
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE ROGUE SPORT SPECS
A low starting price and a long list of standard safety features make the groovy Nissan Kicks a safe buy. Offered solely with a 122-hp inline-four engine and continuously variable automatic transmission, the Kicks doesn’t have all-wheel drive, but it did achieve 37 mpg during our highway fuel-economy test. Its peppy in-town power makes it fun as a runabout, but it can get a little noisy under full throttle. There’s enough legroom in the second row, but cargo space is average.
- Base Price: $20,925
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 33/31/36 mpg
- Rear Cargo Space: 25 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Not available
MORE KICKS SPECS
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is close to being a stellar subcompact performer. It has sharp looks, 25 cubic feet of cargo space, and can be had with a 155-hp turbocharged three-cylinder with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission. All is well until you start tacking on the options. Suddenly the sub-$20K subcompact is now as expensive as many larger compact crossovers. The base Trailblazer is less appealing, with a 137-hp turbo three-cylinder, steel wheels with hubcaps, and a single paint option (white). It’s a weird slot to fill, sitting between the smaller Trax and the larger Equinox, but it’s here, and it has its perks.
- Base Price: $22,795
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 31/29/33 mpg (FWD 1.3L)
- Rear Cargo Space: 25 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE TRAILBLAZER SPECS
Toyota sells two of the three bestselling cars in the U.S., as well as the bestselling SUV, the RAV4. The Corolla Cross is a mix of those successes. The dashboard is nearly identical to what’s found in the Corolla sedan or hatchback, and we were able to fit two more carry-on suitcases in the back with the seats up than what we stuffed into the C-HR. The Corolla Cross is an affordable RAV4 alternative, with similar ground clearance but with a little less cargo space. Front-wheel drive and a 169-hp inline-four with a continuously variable automatic transmission are standard. The Corolla Cross was the slowest vehicle we tested in 2021, with a zero-to-60-mph acceleration time of 9.2 seconds. Though not as quick as its Corolla sedan counterpart, the Corolla Cross does offer extra cargo space, at the expense of a few miles per gallon.
- Base Price: $23,410
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 30/29/32 mpg
- Rear Cargo Space: 24 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE COROLLA CROSS SPECS
An all-new Kia Niro will be introduced later this year, but for now, here’s the scoop on the Niro that’s currently available. Available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full EV, the base Niro can see as much as 52 mpg in the city, while the 201-hp Niro EV gets an EPA-estimated 239 miles of range. Although the Niro isn’t exciting to drive, it does provide a firm, stable ride. The Niro not only has the lowest starting price of any hybrid crossover sold today, it also gets the best EPA combined rating at 49 mpg. Kia also provides an impressive powertrain warranty for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
- Base Price: $25,905
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 50/53/48 mpg (1.6L FE)
- Rear Cargo Space: 22 cubic feet (1.6L), 19 (PHEV), 18 (EV)
- All-Wheel Drive: Not Available
MORE NIRO SPECS
Based on the Impreza hatchback, the Subaru Crosstrek is for folks who crave ruggedness in a crossover. It’s for the outdoorsy types or the people who are considering becoming outdoorsy types—or the people who just want to look like outdoorsy types. Don’t let the 8.7 inches of ground clearance and plastic cladding fool you, the Crosstrek has carlike handling and pleasant road manners. A 152-hp four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission is standard (a third pedal is a rare find in this segment), and a continuously variable automatic transmission is optional. A larger 182-hp four-cylinder from the Subaru Outback is available on top trims and has an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined rating, only 1 mpg less than the smaller, less powerful 2.0-liter. It’s too bad the 182-hp engine can’t be paired with the six-speed manual. The plug-in-hybrid Crosstrek is the most economical option with an EPA-estimated 90 MPGe when running on electricity.
- Base Price: $23,570
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 30/28/33 mpg (2.0L)
- Rear Cargo Space: 20 cubic feet (2.5L), 15 (PHEV)
- All-Wheel Drive: Standard
MORE CROSSTREK SPECS
Why is a crossover with only 121 horsepower that’s only offered with front-wheel drive so high on this list? It’s really good, and it’s strikingly cheap. The Hyundai Venue is one of the cheapest vehicles sold in the U.S., and its impressive EPA-estimated 32 mpg combined fuel economy makes it affordable to own, too. The rear seats split 60/40 and allow 32 cubic feet of cargo space when folded flat or 18 cubes when in use. An 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard on all models, and higher trims offer built-in navigation. It’s not very sporty, but it’s easy to drive and perfect for commuting or parking-space scavenger hunts in large cities.
- Base Price: $20,245
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 32/30/34 mpg
- Rear Cargo Space: 18 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Not available
MORE VENUE SPECS
The Kia Seltos, seen here in its attention-grabbing Starbright Yellow color option, is powered by either an optional 175-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or a standard 146-hp 2.0-liter four paired with a CVT. A crisp, easy-to-use 8.0-inch infotainment screen comes standard, while a larger 10.3-inch screen from the Telluride is optional. The front-drive Seltos gets an EPA-estimated 34 mpg on the highway. It’s a fairly efficient, reasonably priced option with a spacious cabin that offers the added bonus of its sprightly, optional turbocharged engine.
- Base Price: $23,805
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 31/29/34 mpg (FWD 2.0L)
- Rear Cargo Space: 26 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE SELTOS SPECS
The build-and-price website for the Hyundai Kona N is pretty boring. Pick from the four available color options, and that’s it; you’re done. That’s because the Kona N isn’t just a spec, it’s a mood. The sporty version of the 10Best-winning crossover comes with a 276-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero summer tires, and bigger rotors than what Hyundai uses on its 4440-pound, three-row Palisade. The 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is big, too, and aggressively bolstered bucket seats are also standard to complete the N performance look and feel.
- Base Price: $35,825
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 23/20/27 mpg
- Rear Cargo Space: 19 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Not available
MORE KONA N SPECS
Volkswagen is no longer selling its beloved base-model Golf hatchback in the U.S., and the Volkswagen Taos is here to soak up those tears. The Taos achieved 40 mpg on our real-world highway fuel-economy test. That’s the highest on this list. A 158-hp turbocharged inline-four and front-wheel drive are standard. Its starting price is close to what the former Golf started at, making the Taos even more tempting as it’s nearly the size of the Tiguan.
- Base Price: $24,490
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 31/25/32 mpg (FWD)
- Rear Cargo Space: 28 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE TAOS SPECS
The Kia Soul looks like serious business, but it’s a little party on wheels. Base models have a 147-hp four-cylinder engine available with either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission, but the real fun starts with the optional 201-hp turbocharged four. The Kia Soul Turbo hit 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds in our testing, making it the quickest of any car on this long list of models. The Soul also has a lot of personality and a surprising amount of room inside thanks to its boxy shape.
- Base Price: $20,505
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 31/29/35 mpg (2.0L CVT)
- Rear Cargo Space: 24 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Not available
MORE SOUL SPECS
The Hyundai Kona knocked the Kia Soul off our 10Best SUVs list in 2019, but it’s not at the top of this list anymore, because of the new kids on the block. The Kona is a testament to how far Hyundai can stretch a penny. It’s not cheap—it’s affordable, and the difference is found in its firm ride, snappy handling, and good steering. There are two gasoline engine options for the Kona: a 147-hp four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic transmission or a 175-hp turbocharged four with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. There’s also an EV option. The Kona Electric can go 258 miles on a single charge for less than $40,000. The bar might be low, but the Kona does a great job of making mediocre look excellent.
- Base Price: $22,395
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 30/28/32 mpg (FWD 1.6L), 120/132/108 MPGe (Electric)
- Rear Cargo Space: 19 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE KONA SPECS
The Mazda CX-30 is based on the fantastic Mazda 3, which means it’s no surprise that it’s our favorite in this segment. The CX-30 is great because it delivers the advantages of driving a compact car without sacrificing price, fuel economy, or polish. Base CX-30 models have a 186-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, while a 250-hp turbocharged version of that engine is optional. As far as cargo-carrying capability goes, we fit six carry-on suitcases behind the rear seats and 16 with the rear seats folded. We’ve reached nearly 40,000 trouble-free miles in our long-term CX-30, and despite some minor annoyances the CX-30 best straddles that line between car and affordable SUV, delivering enough driving fun to make others in the segment feel snoozy.
- Base Price: $23,425
- EPA Fuel Economy combined/city/highway: 28/25/33 mpg (FWD)
- Rear Cargo Space: 20 cubic feet
- All-Wheel Drive: Optional
MORE CX-30 SPECS
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