Subcompact SUV Comparison Test

Subcompact SUVs are the new entry-level vehicles for many new car buyers, as automakers have abandoned the subcompact sedan market. Dry those tears – this shift has resulted in a great crop of vehicles with improved passenger space, cargo capacity, and overall utility. We got our team together to compare seven mainstream subcompact SUVs, including three 2025 models and four 2024 models we expect to carry over with few changes into the 2025 model year. One model was a gasoline-electric hybrid example, while the others were gasoline-only versions.

With such a large group of SUVs, we called upon drivers from our review crew, production team, video squad, and even managers to drive, test, evaluate, and share their findings based on three days of driving in Southern California. We started at Kelley Blue Book headquarters in Irvine, California, and drove a long route to Palm Desert via San Diego. We spent a day crawling over and around the SUVs, driving loops in town and on the highways, and taking notes. On day three, we drove back to Irvine, where we finalized our debates and came up with our rankings.

We rated and ranked the seven SUVs in six categories:

• Back seat and cargo accommodations
• Power and refinement
• Highway
• Steering and brake feel
• Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)
• Cockpit ambiance, infotainment, and practicality

Based on these impressions and factoring in price, value, and Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own insights, we came up with an overall ranking. Read on to discover the results of our latest subcompact SUV comparison test.

1. 2025 Hyundai Kona

The clear winner in our pack of subcompact SUVs is the 2025 Hyundai Kona.

We put the Kona to the test along with its rivals during a nearly 500-mile drive. We studied each vehicle and collected impressions. We determined the Kona is a quick, powerful, and fun vehicle for outdoor activities and around-town driving, whether for families or those who need ample space. It looks good and feels right on the open road, whether navigating city streets, cruising the Interstate, or climbing steep mountain highways.

The Kona consistently came out on top in our group of subcompact SUVs. It gets you where you need to go comfortably and efficiently, with its robust standard active safety technologies working in the background to keep you safe on the road. It also comes with a class-leading warranty and an infotainment system that’s miles ahead of its competitors.

Additionally, the Kona provides excellent value for the money, with its starting price of $25,745, including the destination fee.

Made for Comfort and Ease

We rank the 2025 Hyundai Kona at the top of its segment for many reasons, including its quiet cabin, comfortable interior, and impressive feature set.

The display is presented as one contiguous screen along the dashboard, including 12.3 inches dedicated to infotainment with easy-to-see large graphics. Wireless integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto makes connectivity a breeze.

The Kona’s refined driving dynamics made it a great road trip car. Also, it’s a comfortable choice with ample legroom, even for the tallest and most stout of our testers. A few of our experts felt the backseat could be slightly more spacious, like its rival 2025 Chevrolet Trax. However, it’s a definite improvement over the Kona’s predecessor. If you are on the tall side, backseat legroom may be snug, though we easily fit three average-sized adults one evening as we set out in a conga line of vehicles to find dinner.

Everyone agreed it’s among the best in the pack for its cargo space. With 25.5 cubic feet behind the second row, we packed two large suitcases, a carry-on, a large backpack, and several other smaller bags. Also, putting the seats down is easy enough, expanding the cargo area to 63.7 cubic feet of usable space if you need the extra room. As a bonus, you can close the trunk with the push of a button.

If you’re considering this car, spend some time using the steering column-mounted gearshift. Some of our drivers found it awkward, while others liked that it freed up space in the console area. Also, if you prefer adaptive cruise control, check for trim packages with this feature, as it’s not standard on the base model.

— Lead Editor Renee Valdes

2. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Since its inception, Subaru’s diminutive Crosstrek has consistently punched above its class in capability, comfort, technology, and refinement. For the 2024 model year, it brings a smorgasbord of goodies to the table and even outshines its larger sibling, the Subaru Forester, in the eyes of our testers. The subcompact Subie finds itself in a segment chock full of excellent competitors. What raises the Crosstrek’s ranking is the sum of its parts.

Lauded for its capability off the beaten path, the Crosstrek is far from a track star. You won’t be lighting up the quarter mile, but its 29 mpg combined fuel economy rating won’t set your wallet aflame at the pump, either. The Crosstrek’s power profile received split opinions from our team. Some felt the gumption from the 2.5-liter direct-injection 4-cylinder was merely adequate, while others felt ample get-up-and-go compared to the previous generation’s comparatively anemic 2.0-liter power plant. Refinement behind the wheel also divided our team and landed the Crosstrek in the middle of the pack of its competitors. A few testers bemoaned the droning of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while others felt the unit was one of the better examples of its ilk. Overall, we liked the way it handled on the highway, but the inconsistent brake feel was a repeated point of contention.

An Attractive Interior With Useful Tech

The Crosstrek’s interior is attractive and stylish, with most design notes striking chords with our experts. The orange contrast stitching exudes an outdoorsy aura, and the front seats are comfortable and supportive. The steering wheel feels just right, and front-row legroom is ample. Rear seat legroom is on par for average-sized folks, but larger individuals may have to contort upon ingress and egress. The cargo space on the Crosstrek seems to fall in the Goldilocks zone for the DINK (dual income, no kids) crowd. It’s got enough space for a weekend adventure’s worth of gear but likely not enough for a weeklong family vacation.

The Crosstrek has all the technology features you’d want from a modern SUV. Subaru’s EyeSight ADAS system received repeated praise for its ease of use and activation, but its lane tracing functionality lagged most of the others. The Starlink infotainment system provides many features shoppers are looking for, but response time on the system left our drivers wanting and waiting. Additionally, there are many off-road-focused tech features, none of which we could run through during this pavement-focused test drive session. Enough of our drivers have experienced the Crosstrek’s off-road chops in other situations to attest to its trail-ready tech.

While the Crosstrek might not have been the best of the bunch at any one thing, overall, it performed admirably amongst its competitors in all testing categories. It’s an attractive, well-rounded vehicle built to get occupants to and fro efficiently and safely, regardless of terrain or weather conditions.

With an as-tested price of $35,280 (in Limited trim), including a $1,345 destination fee, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is worthy of your consideration.

— Senior Editor Rob Nestora

3. 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

The 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid fits neatly in the middle of the pack of subcompact SUVs. It’s a solid choice for anyone searching for a comfortable vehicle that boasts efficiency and value over enormous touchscreens and other glitzy niceties.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid stands out with its impressive fuel economy. Its gas-electric hybrid powertrain is rated to return up to 42 mpg in mixed driving, significantly outperforming the non-hybrid competitors in this group — perhaps an unfair advantage. For comparison, the Hyundai Kona in the segment has an EPA estimate of 26 mpg combined.

While the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s efficiency is a significant selling point for budget-conscious buyers, our reviewers reacted favorably to its performance. The surprisingly quick hybrid powertrain produces 196 hp, enabling what one enthusiastic reviewer called “spirited acceleration.” Even a less-impressed video editor acknowledged that it has “plenty of zip to get around.”

We ranked the Corolla Cross Hybrid highest in our comparison for highway driving. Sure, it has enough get-up-and-go for merging, and the cloth seats remained comfortable for a couple of hours, but cabin noise at cruising speed was lower than in other SUVs in our test. A conversation was more effortless in the Toyota. By contrast, the exceptional road noise in the underpowered Nissan Kicks sometimes even drowned out the audible alerts from its assistance systems.

Several on our team complimented other Corolla Cross Hybrid performance factors, including its steering and braking responsiveness. Still, its rating for those criteria fell behind the sportier Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo.

Strong Engine, but Some Letdowns on the Interior

Despite accolades regarding the entire package, several reviewers felt the Corolla Cross interior was dull, uninspired, and perhaps outdated. Hard plastic on the dashboard and door panel does not give a sense of luxury. With a starting price under $30,000, not much is upscale. The Nightshade model we tested was listed at $34,787, including the destination fee.

Headroom for front-seat occupants is excellent. Some of our taller reviewers noted that the back seat fails the tall-guy test of being able to seat a 6-footer behind another 6-footer, but it’s OK for more typical heights. The cargo area behind the back seat in this hybrid is 21.5 cubic feet, which, like the cabin space, is roomy enough for a subcompact, though below average for our group.

The Corolla Cross’s 8-inch infotainment screen is small but easy to use. The display’s image resolution for the backup camera is meager compared to the crispness seen in other test vehicles, like the Kona and Chevrolet Trax.

While the interior is unassuming and unimpressive, the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s ADAS features performed as expected and adjusted smoothly.

Overall, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid makes a compelling case as an efficient, well-rounded subcompact SUV. Its blend of fuel economy, peppy powertrain, standard all-wheel drive, and the brand’s predictable reliability create a package that many buyers will find appealing. It may not be the most exciting to drive or the roomiest in the segment or have the flashiest bells and whistles, but it nails the practical aspects many shoppers prioritize. It doesn’t hurt that the Corolla Cross Hybrid wears the Toyota badge, which many shoppers (and reviewers) equate with durability and solid resale value.

— Senior Editor Chris Hardesty

4. 2024 Honda HR-V

Aside from a dip in 2022 preceding a 2023 redesign, sales of the Honda HR-V have grown steadily since its 2016 launch. We got to see what buyers find when they shop the HR-V against a handful of competitors. It’s following in the tracks of the larger Honda CR-V well, incrementally improving as it gains market share.

A common theme among our testers is that the HR-V could use more power; however, they also remarked that despite the lack of oomph, it was one of the smoothest and most refined rides in the bunch. Its single powertrain pairs a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, putting out 158 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. We drove the all-wheel-drive version in our testing, but the HR-V is also available with front-wheel drive (FWD).

Honda Sensing took top honors from the group for its ADAS performance. The Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow took the stress out of maintaining the pace and keeping distance from the vehicle ahead and paused as traffic bunched. While the HR-V held its lines around curves, other Honda Sensing systems like the Lane-Keeping Assist and Road Departure Mitigation were firm but unobtrusive. The Traffic Sign Recognition faithfully picked up the correct speed limit as the roads changed.

A Sharp Interior With Clever Storage

The HR-V’s exterior looks divided our editors, but the interior, decked out in the EX-L top trim, won many fans here for its design and materials. Perhaps the dash’s visual centerpiece is not the smallish 9-inch touchscreen atop it but the honeycomb-patterned coated metal grate running through it and disguising the air vents. Many of our testers made note of this attractive design flourish. The black leather seating with white contrast stitching was tasteful and refined. Interesting cubbies lurk throughout the cabin, including a lower deck beneath the center console; it’s a great place to stash a passenger’s phone while charging from one of the USB ports. Reviewers found the interior space snug but not cramped. The cargo space was generally among the roomiest of the examples we had.

The 2024 Honda HR-V starts at $25,950, including a $1,350 destination charge. The HR-V AWD EX-L we tested had a sticker price of $32,805. Expect a modest price bump for the 2025 model year.

— Editor Scott Hinderer

5. 2025 Chevrolet Trax

The Chevrolet Trax was an also-ran in its subcompact SUV segment until a total redesign was launched for the 2024 model year. The resulting reimagining was impossible to ignore, and the design carries over to 2025.

It finally looks like an SUV — and an attractive one at that. However, the Trax competes in a demanding segment against heavyweights, including the Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Hyundai Kona. So, a new look won’t be enough to move it up the ranks.

Fortunately, the new Trax offers more than just a pretty face. It’s roomy and comfortable. The rear seating was the best in its class, with legroom measuring 38.7 inches. Even with the slight slope in the roof line, there was plenty of headroom for adults in the back seat. The consensus noted the almost cavernous rear cargo area and 60/40-split folding seat. Our team enjoyed the spacious feeling inside the Trax, although a few reported the lack of air vents and no center armrest or cupholders for those riding in the rear.

Vehicles in this class usually attract younger buyers, often on a budget. Fortunately, the Trax offers plenty of room, and it also provides plenty of technology. We spent our time behind the wheel of the top-of-the-line Activ model, which features most of the latest tech that the group wants in its vehicles. That includes a large 11-inch touchscreen — an 8-inch screen is standard on lower trim levels — with a clear, crisp screen to check out all the functions tied to its wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The Trax’s interior layout is simple and clean. For some, that may mean bland, but the consensus for this crossover leaned toward the former. For those of us who no longer fit the “young” buyer profile, there were plenty of buttons and knobs, making it easy to tackle anything you wanted to do. A shortcoming of the Trax’s cabin is the occasional use of hard plastic and other less compelling materials. However, for the price, this is a minor quibble.

Design Strength May Not Overcome Powertrain Weakness

No vehicle is all sunshine and rainbows; in the case of the Trax, the ride and handling bring a bit of cloudiness. Powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine that sends 137 hp through a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Trax is no race car, but most agreed that it performed better than expected. It’ll get you around town without much worry, although merging onto a busy freeway may test your moxie. Also, all-wheel drive isn’t an option on the Trax, whereas it’s standard equipment on a couple of competitors and optional on most others.

Conversely, the Trax enjoyed universal kudos and compliments for one essential thing: its price. The Trax starts at $21,495, including handling fees. Our just-about fully loaded Activ model came in at an impressively reasonable $27,085, with some of the competition priced as much as $7,000 more. What a difference a couple of model years make.

— Copy Editor Michael Strong

6. 2025 Nissan Kicks

The second-generation Nissan Kicks is one of the 2025 model year’s most dramatic redesigns. Its larger footprint didn’t do much to boost its cargo and people-hauling abilities, but the injection of bold styling and sought-after features raises its stature in the subcompact SUV segment. Nevertheless, when debating the success of this redesign, the Kicks left our editors evenly split.

Nelson Ireson spoke highly of its new persona, stating that its “design-first build inside and out gives it a sense of occasion rarely found for less than $60,000.” Others, like Russ Heaps, felt this update “could have been a giant leap forward, but instead, it’s more like a small hop.”

Regarding that sense of occasion, the Kicks is more exciting and mature to look at and sit in than before. While not quite as peculiar as its predecessor, the Juke, this car still turns heads. Nissan made it even more challenging to look away by offering many vibrant paint choices and two-tone options, including a gray body with a red roof. The materials game on the inside has been upped substantially, with Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats in both rows providing a comfortable place for most of our team to spend time. Despite the increased legroom in the second row compared to last year’s car, our taller editors found that Nissan could have gone even further to make this space more accommodating. The panoramic moonroof certainly didn’t help with the headroom situation and made our disappointment even more apparent after hopping out of the gargantuan Chevy Trax.

A Simple Concoction of Style and Value

Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with the available content. While some felt that certain creature comforts like power seats with adjustable lumbar and a power tailgate were unforgivable omissions, it quickly became clear that the features offered here are what buyers in the $20,000-to-$30,000 range are looking for. Features like the panoramic moonroof and the unique headrest-mounted speakers up front will wow younger buyers, and the standard safety tech is robust. All-wheel drive, available for the first time this year, opens up the Kicks to a new geographic slice of the country. Ordering the Kicks with AWD will push the price to roughly $34,000, but accessing the core feature set can be done comfortably below the $30,000 mark.

Our biggest gripe regarded the Kicks’ new powertrain, comprising a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission. This powertrain is the same setup Nissan uses in the Sentra sedan, but with the Kicks’ heavier curb weight and softer tuning, it felt underpowered and loud. It was so loud that passengers in the back seat needed front seat passengers to raise their voices. That’s a shame because Nissan claims they added sound-deadening materials to help fix this issue. The 19-inch wheels on the top SR trim, though pleasing to look at and beneficial to the car’s dynamics, only amplified the din. Luckily, the Kicks did not earn the title of the slowest car in this comparison; that went to the Honda HR-V.

It’s easy to pin the Kicks’ lukewarm reception from a few team members on the engine and transmission alone. Luckily, those elements don’t usually deter buyers when the price is this approachable. Though not the most refined or spacious, the Kicks felt like one of the most unique options to come to this segment in a long time. Don’t go overboard on the configurator, or you’ll soon wish you had sprung for the larger and more powerful Nissan Rogue instead.

— Editor Brian Roskelly

7. 2024 Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 works on the pleasure center of the brain. It’s a subcompact SUV for people who love to drive. Precise steering and excellent suspension tuning make the CX-30 a blast to maneuver around twists and turns. It will make you long to take the canyon road instead of the freeway. Mazda makes two engines available: the standard 191-hp 4-cylinder, which has plenty of pep, or the kick-in-the-pants 250-hp turbo four, which everyone loved. While the turbo engine is the one for maximum fun, it comes at a steep price. Both engines are refined, and the 6-speed automatic transmission helps manage the power. Fuel economy is about the same as in other similarly outfitted subcompact SUVs.

The CX-30 is a looker with sleek curves, a classy design, and beautiful proportions. The interior is equally elegant, with quality materials throughout. Several taller drivers were thoroughly impressed with the abundant space in the front row and the comfortable seats. However, it’s in the interior where this Mazda’s shortcomings emerge. While the cabin’s design is attractive, it’s showing signs of age compared to other subcompact SUVs. The infotainment system is polarizing at best. While some of us didn’t like relying on a central dial for everything and found the system unintuitive, others appreciated the lack of fingerprints on the screen and that the system is set up to keep your eyes on the road.

Regarding rear-seat legroom, there isn’t enough for tall passengers, so ensure your tallest buddy gets the front passenger seat. The attractive sloping roofline doesn’t help rear-seat headroom, either. There isn’t a lot of cargo space behind the second row – but as subcompact SUV owners know, that’s a problem easily solved by folding down the second row.

Fun, Stylish, and Somewhat Practical

Fortunately, the CX-30 is not only about emotional appeal for the driver. This subcompact SUV offers some practicality, too. All-wheel drive comes standard — a rarity in this segment. Mazda equips every CX-30 with a suite of driver-aid tech like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ and gets a 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If you stay away from the tempting turbo engine, pricing for the CX-30 is competitive in its segment. This SUV also has an excellent reputation for reliability.

Silky-smooth to drive, great to look at, and comfortable, with standard safety and just enough practicality, the Mazda CX-30 is a driver’s car that happens to be a subcompact SUV. If that’s what you’re looking for in this segment, the CX-30 will make you smile every day. If pure practicality is your goal, other SUVs may be a better fit.

— Senior Editor Allyson Harwood

OVERALL

1. Kona
2. Crosstrek
3. Corolla Cross Hybrid
4. HR-V
5. Trax
6. Kicks
7. CX-30

Back Seat and Cargo Accommodations

1. Trax
2. HR-V
3. Kona
4. Crosstrek
5. Corolla Cross Hybrid
6. Kicks
7. CX-30

Power and Refinement

1. CX-30
2. Corolla Cross Hybrid
3. Kona
4. Crosstrek
5. HR-V
6. Kicks
7. Trax

Highway

1. Corolla Cross Hybrid
2. Kona
3. Crosstrek
4. CX-30
5. HR-V
6. Kicks
7. Trax

Steering and Brake Feel

1. CX-30
2. Corolla Cross Hybrid
3. Kona
4. HR-V
5. Crosstrek
6. Trax
7. Kicks

Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)

1. HR-V
2. Kona
3. Corolla Cross Hybrid
4. Kicks
5. Crosstrek
6. CX-30
7. Trax

Cockpit Ambiance, Infotainment, and Practicality

1. Kona
2. Trax
3. Kicks
4. HR-V
5. Corolla Cross Hybrid
6. CX-30
7. Crosstrek