Honda predicted to win
Even as the crossover market matures, it continues to expand. Four of the five vehicles in this category represent all-new subcompact models for their respective brands.
The vehicles tested here were equipped with automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive, which is likely going to be the most popular configuration selected by consumers. Fiat 500X Lounge —$34,585 as tested One of a pair of newly minted mechanical twins — the Jeep Renegade being the other — the Fiat 500X plays the smartly dressed sophisticate role.
The upper mid-range Loungemodel I tested featured body coloured dash inserts, upscale-looking interior trim and contrasting ball-glove brown leather seats.
Despite being equipped with the 180 horsepower 2.4-litre four cylinder engine that’s paired with the optional nine-speed automatic, the Fiat felt subjectively stronger. I enjoyed the 500X’s good on-road manners and relatively quiet highway cruising. Honda HR-V LX —$24,290 as tested Honda’s new HR-V subcompact crossover slots into the Japanese automaker’s lineup beneath the CR-V. Based on the company’s clever Fit hatchback, the HR-V offers the same brilliant fold up/down, second-row “Magic Seat” design and a low cargo floor.
Though nimble, the HR-V’s CVT saps much of the joy from its 141 horsepower, 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. Ultimately, it performs similarly to the others, and the flexible and well-equipped cabin — particularly for the price — are real strengths. This is my predicted winner. Jeep Renegade North —$32,025 as tested The Jeep Renegade is like a pair of worn jeans compared with the Fiat 500X’s J. Crew chinos. The Jeep rolls off the same production line in Melfi, Italy, and uses the same 2.4-litre engine and ZF nine-speed in automatic trim. Surprising, then, just how different the two felt when driven under identical conditions. Was it tuning differences or simply psychological?
The Renegade’s square roofline provides superior rear-seat headroom to the Fiat, while its multimode AWD and more off-road-oriented tires would be better for that environment. Still, I preferred the (surprisingly) less cartoonish interior and tidier on-road dynamics of the 500X. Mazda CX-3 GT —$30,495 as tested Based on the latest Mazda2 (which we were going to get, just not yet in Canada), the 146 horsepower, 2.0-litre CX-3 is the sports car of this group. Fastest to 100 km/h — if you can call 9.4 seconds fast — and dynamically superior on-road, it merely persevered off-road due to a lack of ground clearance.
The handsome, modern interior and high-end features such as adaptive cruise and crash mitigation can’t disguise a cramped rear seat and smallish cargo area. My favourite of the group (but unlikely to win the category), the CX-3 is effectively a four-season hatchback for driving enthusiasts, and better for it. Mitsubishi Outlander ES-AWC —$31,998 as tested The Outlander is an appreciably larger vehicle than the others here, the only one available with (but not evaluated with) a V6 engine and seven-passenger seating. The five-seat ES-AWC models at TestFest featured the base 166 horsepower 2.4litre four and CVT, which together were smooth and provided decent performance.
It’s amazing what a myriad of changes — some major, some minor — can do for a model that’s been flying well under the radar in the Canadian marketplace.
This Mitsubishi was my biggest surprise in this category, and it may well earn the win with its combination of space, capability and bang for the buck.