What is the Best Subcompact Crossover for 2018?

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. At the end of 2017, sales totaled more than 424,000 units in the U.S., which is impressive.

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 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 10 inches shorter than the CR-V, the HR-V has 39 inches of rear legroom, which is almost identical to the CR-V’s 40 inches of rear legroom. Cargo space of 58.8 cubic feet 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 bean-like. Still, the HR-V is an excellent all-rounder with a strong value proposition.

ALSO SEE: Honda HR-V Review

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 truckish 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 style of the Toyota C-HR is its standout feature. From the aggressively slopped 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 38 cubic feet 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 all-wheel drive, however.

You can tell a lot about the Nissan Rogue Sport by its name. It’s 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.

ALSO SEE: Nissan Rogue Sport Review

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.

ALSO SEE: 2018 Mazda CX-3 Review

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 pound-feet 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 colors.

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.

ALSO SEE: 2018 Hyundai Kona Review and First Drive

The Crosstrek continues Subaru’s tradition of offering full-time 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.

ALSO SEE: 2018 Subaru Crosstrek Review

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.