SUPREME SUBCOMPACT
The crossover club has many standouts, but one seems to rise above the rest,
The subcompact crossover club has many talented members, but is there one that does it better than the rest?
Subcompact crossovers have grown quickly in popularity. Each of the following subcompact crossovers bring something unique to the table and they all have distinct pros and cons.
We’ve spent extensive time in each, so here’s a brief overview of what we think of each model on the market right now.
The Cargo King: Honda HR-V
The Honda HR-V arrived in mid-2016, and quickly racked up a lot of sales, not just because of the strength of the Honda badge, but because of its smart packaging.
Despite being 254 millimetres shorter than the CR-V, the HR-V has 990 mm of rear legroom, which is almost identical to the CR-V’s 1,016 mm of rear legroom. Cargo space of 1,665 litres is segment-leading, and the excellent Magic Seats are practical, though not that comfortable. The HR-V comes up short in terms of driving dynamics. A small engine and a CVT really don’t do much to make this crossover fun, but it’s still competent. It’s also not very stylish, with some describing the style as frumpy and beanlike. Still, the HR-V is an excellent allrounder with a strong value proposition.
The Off-Roader: Jeep Renegade
The fact that the Jeep Renegade ended up being the most off-road capable of the bunch is no surprise.
Despite the cutesy looks, the Renegade still comes from Jeep, which is one of the most highly regarded off-roads brands in the world. It’s impressive that Jeep was able to inject that spirit of capability into the Renegade, especially with the Trailhawk model. It also gets the excellent UConnect infotainment system and a lot of fun Easter eggs.
Unfortunately, the trickish mission statement ends up interfering with the Renegade’s ability to excel on road. The compromises needed to make it slightly tougher than the rest shows up in a lot of body movement and a ride that’s a bit too uncomfortable for the crowd it is targeting. Despite that, the Renegade’s square shape leads to spacious accommodations inside, a basic requirement for the class. Jeeps are also known to struggle with reliability scores.
The Funky One: Toyota C-HR
The funky style of the Toyota C-HR is its standout feature. From the aggressively sloped roof, strange-looking rear door handles, and an available contrast roof, this crossover represents Toyota’s attempt to make a bold statement in this field.
The funky style, however, leads to dimensions that are pretty tight for the class — total cargo space rings in at 1,076 L and interior space is also at a premium. The interior design and appointments are also quite lacking, but it does come with some standard safety equipment that no other car here offers off-the-bat.
The C-HR is surprisingly fun to drive. No, it’s not fast at all, but the chassis is solid and makes the crossover feel like it loves to hustle. The C-HR suffers because it doesn’t offer allwheel drive, however.
The Smooth Operator: Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai is essentially a slightly smaller Rogue. The Nissan does not really do anything exceptionally well nor does it have any glaring faults either, just like the Rogue.
This crossover just does a lot of things competently and knows what the target market would need. The engine is fine, but not great. The packaging and interior are fine, but not great. It looks fine, but not great. The word “fine” sum up this crossover well, as it is quite average in every way, which isn’t a bad thing.
The Driver’s CUV: Mazda CX-3
The Mazda CX-3 drives exceptionally well, which is refreshing because this segment doesn’t prioritize driving fun. Mazda stands out by giving driving enthusiasts a clear choice in this field, despite having mid-level horsepower and torque figures at 146 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque respectively.
Craftsmanship is also high and interior materials are of a higher quality than what’s expected in a segment where cost-cutting is usually quite obvious.
The CX-3 also has an attractive style. Where the CX-3 falls behind, however, is with interior space — cargo room and passenger room isn’t quite where it needs to be.
A Solid All-Rounder: Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona is a latecomer to this segment, but it seems to have paid off. Hyundai piles on the expected virtues of value and style that the brand is known for, but really goes above and beyond to elevate this small crossover.
The Kona has an available quick shifting dual-clutch transmission and best-in-class torque figures of 195 lb-ft of torque. It’s a bonus that it drives well, isn’t cheap inside, is unique looking without being too polarizing and comes in a bunch of unique colours.
Setting benchmarks for the segment in terms of driving feel, equipment levels, and good looks, the Kona is a sign Hyundai did its homework before entering this competitive segment.
AWD Champ: Subaru Crosstrek
The Crosstrek continues Subaru’s tradition of offering fulltime symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard equipment in a segment where all other automakers make you pay extra for it. The stylish Crosstrek is utilitarian but the ride quality is also very refined for the class and the crossover has an excellent chassis that makes it feel very confident. The underpowered engine and uninspiring transmissions dull the driving experience, but the emphasis on usable interior space helps compensate for that. The Crosstrek also has some genuine off-road chops with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and an X-Mode.
What is the Best Subcompact Crossover for 2018?
The Hyundai Kona is not a perfect crossover, but what it does right, it does really well. Although it’s late to the segment, it’s obvious that Hyundai is setting new benchmarks for the segment by providing a crossover that is the best all-rounder of all its peers.
Its excellent combination of value, crisp driving dynamics, funky style, personality, practicality, and versatility really helps it stand out.