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Best Car Deals for April 2025The Best New Subcompact SUVs on the Market
Subcompact SUVs have taken a top position in the car market. We’re taking a look at the top ten best new subcompact SUVs on the new car market today.
The Subcompact SUV
Take one quick look at modern traffic and you’ll note a lot of subcompact SUVs. They’ve largely taken over the position of the sedan from two decades ago and it’s easy to see why.
Subcompact SUV’s are more spacious which offers more cargo room and passenger comfort. They also offer a higher seating position which many drivers prefer. Subcompact SUV popularity has led to a boom in options though so we’re here to sort out the best of the bunch. Among 20-plus entries into the segment, we’ve pulled out the top ten for your consideration.
Hyundai Venue
Kicking off our list is perhaps one of the most underrated subcompact SUVs on the market. The Hyundai Venue starts at just a tick over $20,000 and is an IIHS Top Safety Pick winner. It’s also available with a bevy of advanced safety features and every Venue comes with three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.
In case that wasn’t enough, Hyundai also provides a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year powertrain warranty with every Venue. Its small 121-hp engine isn’t much to boast about but everything else is.
Chevrolet Trax
Similarly, the big issue with the new Chevy Trax is its underpowered 1.2-liter engine. Beyond that though, it’s very impressive thanks to an exceptional interior for the price, excellent driver aids, and a spacious interior.
Buyers can get a top-spec Trax for less than $25,000 and even with every option box checked the price won’t crest far above $27,000. It’s more spacious than the outgoing version and one of the most stylish subcompact SUVs here in the top ten too.
Subaru Crosstrek
We’re stretching the definition of subcompact here but keep in mind that subcompact SUVs are defined largely by interior volume. In that way, the Crosstrek is among family here and boasts the best off-road capability of our group.
A new Wilderness trim level features over 9 inches of ground clearance and full-time all-wheel drive. Subaru says that it’s reduced interior noise, vibration, and harshness while improving things further with a new 11.6-inch infotainment system. We bet it’ll set new sales records for the model with ease.
Kia Soul
Very few cars have the same sort of big brand presence in a pint-sized package the way the Soul does. It’s limited to just a single four-cylinder engine choice and front-wheel drive but it still offers excellent interior space, above-average material quality, and decent cargo space too.
We appreciate the inclusion of a fully digital gauge cluster, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay along with an available Harman-Kardon sound system. Despite its somewhat boxy shape, the Soul still gets above 30 mpg combined in most trims.
Honda HR-V
For most, the interior of the HR-V will offer a bit of a step up compared to the subcompact SUVs we’ve already discussed. The upholstery, dash design, and switchgear feel more elegant. Despite that, pricing remains affordable with starting MSRPs ranging from $23,650 to $27,450.
The 2.0-liter engine under the hood is good for 158 hp and can be had with front or all-wheel drive. Honda offers a pretty basic warranty package but its standard safety suite is one of the best here.
Toyota Corolla Cross
Perhaps no subcompact SUV defines the transition from sedan to car better than the aptly-named Corolla Cross. Buyers can choose from a naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 169 hp or a hybrid version with 196 hp and all-wheel drive.
Buyers will enjoy a similar interior fit-and-finish to that of the abovementioned Honda HR-V. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard as well and every Corolla Cross also comes with a full two-year or 25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.
Mazda CX-30
The 2023 CX-30 is the best subcompact in the class for someone who wants a car that’s actually fun to drive. The base engine develops 191 hp while the top choice pumps out 250 hp. It’s also the most luxurious of the group with outstanding interior quality.
Mazda doesn’t give up anything in terms of safety either as it scored top awards with both the NHTSA and the IIHS. Notably, this Mazda bridges the gap between the low and high ends of the segment in terms of pricing.
Kia Seltos
It’s a mix of the big things and the small things that make the Kia Seltos our silver medal winner in the subcompact SUV battle. Its top trim features an MSRP of just $29,635 and it comes with an amazing package.
That includes a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a seven-speed automatic along with all-wheel drive. It also has a stunning interior, above-average infotainment, and serious cargo space too.
Hyundai Kona
Our top choice is the Hyundai Kona because it gets everything that the Seltos does but adds on top of it three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. It’s worth noting too that the Kona is available as an EV for those that prefer it. On the other end of the spectrum is the Kona N with its 276 hp turbocharged engine and outstanding performance value. That’s a combination of trims and features that nothing here can match.
