Every 2019 Subcompact SUV Ranked from Best to Worst
Just a few years ago, there were hardly any quality subcompact SUVs on the market. American manufacturers actually gave up on their subcompact SUVs for a while. Remember the old Chevy Tracker or the Suzuki Jimmy. Those old mini SUVs were actually based on light-duty truck frames and bare little resemblance to the unibody crossover models of today.
Today’s subcompact SUVs are more nimble, safer, and have more upscale features—sometimes matching and even rivaling their larger compact-sized cousins. This class is no longer an afterthought by car manufacturers. Instead, it’s grown into a cutthroat competition for budget-conscious buyers who are more often choosing SUVs as opposed to sedans.
We ranked 14 subcompact SUVs from best to worst by combining their ratings on driving performance, standard features, design, and value.
14. 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
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Mitsubishi offers a very good warranty on the Outland Sport, and it has some generous cargo dimensions. However, that’s where the positives end for this low-ranking subcompact SUV. Its cheap price will get you cheap cabin materials that shake, rattle, and roll with every bump. Loud engine noise and wind enter the cabin, and the numb driving aspects don’t make it a fun experience.
13. 2019 Chevrolet Trax
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We are fans of Chevy’s infotainment designs. They are clean, straightforward, and intuitive. The Chevy Trax, though, is a subcompact SUV that is on the particularly small side. Competitors offer more room for passengers and storage. The engine also seems to be underpowered, and the suspension could be a little more forgiving.
12. 2019 Ford EcoSport
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To be a small SUV, the Ford EcoSport has a surprising tall seating position for the driver that offers good sightlines to the road ahead. Unfortunately, like many other vehicles, the EcoSport features an underpowered engine that has poor acceleration. Competitors also have more advanced safety features, both as standard offerings and as package add-ons.
11. 2019 Toyota C-HR
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The Toyota C-HR is really a hatchback that has been covered in sporty body cladding. The design is love-it-or-hate-it, but the steeply raked roofline does limit space in the rear seats and cargo area. Even with the sporty looks, it doesn’t have speedy acceleration, but it is nimble through turns.
10. 2019 Fiat 500X
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Fiat struggles with reliability ratings, falling below-average for this pack of subcompact SUVs. Don’t hope that you can take a lot of friends with you because the rear seats are tight. The cargo area is, frankly, minuscule. The turbocharged engine and upscale cabin can’t overcome these negatives, including to too-firm ride.
9. 2019 Jeep Renegade
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Not many subcompact SUVs can go off-road. Then again, not many subcompact SUV buyers are taking their vehicles off-road. Regardless, the capability sets the Renegade apart from others in its class, and its suspension is the better for it. However, the base engine struggles somewhat as does the transmission. Additionally, some rivals have many more standard features for the price.
8. 2019 Mini Cooper Countryman
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The Mini Cooper Countryman is another wagon sold as an “SUV” to American buyers. We’ve found Minis to have a high base price compared to competitors, and their reliability ratings leave something to be desired. Buyer beware. Having said that, the Country has a high-quality interior cabin and is fairly roomy for its size. It is also sporty with responsive handling.
7. 2019 Honda HR-V
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The Honda HR-V sits in the middle of the pack. The base offering has fewer standard features and a weaker engine than the top performers. But, being a Honda, it has a well-designed interior that is spacious for passengers and cargo. It also has some of the best fuel economy ratings in this class (for a non-hybrid, that is).
6. 2019 Kia Niro
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The Kia Niro is essentially a glorified station wagon that Kia is marketing as a subcompact SUV. (Americans really don’t like station wagons.) The Niro comes in three offerings, none of which is a purely gasoline-powered engine. Buyers can choose among traditional hybrid (the most commonly available nationwide), plug-in hybrid, and fully electric. It doesn’t come with AWD and has some numb steering, but it’s spacious and well-equipped for the price. The plug-in and electric models also have substantial range.
5. 2019 Mazda CX-3
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The Mazda CX-3 finishes in the top half of subcompact SUVs thanks to its impeccable interior that feels more at home in luxury vehicles. It also has excellent fuel economy and powerful engines (see, you can have both) with sporty acceleration and precision handling. It’s not quite as good as the CX-5, which you should opt for if you don’t mind a bit larger vehicle, but it’s still a solid choice.
4. 2019 Nissan Kicks
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The Nissan Kicks is one of Nissan’s newest offerings; it replaced the Juke in 2018. It features good fuel economy, better-than-average cargo space, and has great price points across its lineup. If the engine gave us a little more acceleration, it would have ranked higher on the list.
3. 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
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Subaru is basically a whole brand of station wagons masquerading as SUVs, and it seems to work for them. Like many Subarus, the infotainment system of the Crosstrek is straightforward and not distracting for the driver. It’s also one of the few that offers AWD, and the Eyesight safety suite is available standard across all trim levels.
2. 2019 Kia Soul
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Some may not be fans of the boxy Kia Soul’s design, but once you’re inside the cabin, you’ll appreciate all the space that the design allows. The interior is comfy and roomy, and the Soul is packed with all kinds of tech at surprisingly affordable prices. A total refresh will be released for 2020, so expect 2019 models to offer great sale bargains to clear them off the dealer lot.
1. 2019 Hyundai Kona
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The relatively new Hyundai Kona reigns supreme on our list of subcompact SUVs. As is common for Hyundai, the Kona offers tons of tech and standard features at prices that competitors can’t seem to match. Its turbocharged engine is also sporty, and the agile handling will have you zipping around town while you finish all your errands.
