Nissan Rogue Sport
It is not that I do not like the Rogue Sport. Still, looking through the specs, it just feels that Nissan did not do any market research to offer anything meaningful for the U.S. small SUV market.
This is an SUV that needs 11 seconds to do a 0-60 mph run — not appealing at all.
There is a reason for it, however. The Rogue Sport is not the Rogue Sport, but the Qashqai. Completely adapted for the European market, the Nissan Qashqai is an Old Continent sweetheart. There, it is available with a multitude of different drivetrains. This only goes to show how specific the U.S. market really is. The Rogue Sport, as a fantastic car for Europe in its Qashqai guise, is one of the least appealing small SUVs on the U.S. market.
Read our full review on the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport
Jeep Compass
As the most affordable small SUV on the market, the Jeep Compass has a lot going for it. It debuted in 2016 – so, not that long ago. Plus, I’d say that its 2.4-liter engine can provide more thrust than you would get from the Hyundai Tucson 2.0, the Subaru Crosstrek Boxer, or even the Mitsubishi Eclipse 1.5 Turbo. Unlike the Nissan Rogue Sport that enters the market with the CVT, the Jeep Compass comes with a six-speed manual.
Its strong points seem to be the quite generous rear legroom and a standard Uconnect infotainment system.
Read our full review on the 2019 Jeep Compass
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Announced as a vehicle destined to change the Mitsubishi outlook on the car market, the Eclipse Cross hit the market following enormous expectations from SUV enthusiasts and customers alike. However, despite taking the name of one of the most recognized Japanese sports cars, the Eclipse Cross somehow feels like a letdown.
And to cite MotorTrend’s review title after its journalists drove the Eclipse Cross for the first time, it is „Meh.“
That is a significant problem for a small SUV that should, basically, save the brand. The one thing where the Eclipse Cross excels, however, is the basic warranty. It is one of the best on the market.
Read our full review on the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Hyundai Tucson
Honestly, this does not seem fair for the Tucson. It ended up in the middle of the standard small SUVs list, but I feel that it is far better than that. Definitely a lot better than any of the small SUVs listed above.
The reason for its less than stellar place on the list lies under the bonnet. While perfectly fine and reliable, the 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated engine does not feel to be the right choice for the Tucson. This SUV needs something better, and that comes in shape of the 2.4-liter, naturally-aspirated engine that develops 181 horsepower. It is a $2,400 option that comes with the SEL trim. I highly recommend that upgrade. Heck, if I was building it for myself, I could not drive it off the car lot without the AWD setup. That’s a $1,400 option, mind you.
Read our full review on the 2019 Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Built on the same chassis and platform as the Tucson, the Sportage feels to be its closest sibling, and its closest nemesis at the same time. For the U.S., it packs a bit more premium flavor compared to its Hyundai badged brother. Even in its entry-level form, it comes with the 2.4-liter engine, but you can also get the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine under the bonnet as well.
The thing is that I think it may be worth it. These vehicles proved to be reasonably reliable and offer rather good value for money. In this case, you get the automatic transmission, fine-looking SUV, and even some nice touches inside like the eight-inch touchscreen. I am tempted.
Read our full review on the 2020 Kia Sportage
Subaru Crosstrek
The only reason why the Subaru Crosstrek did not reach the very top of this list is because of its painfully weak engine. Although better compared to the engine in the previous generation XV Crosstrek, the 152 horsepower, naturally aspirated boxer does not seem to be serious enough for the task. On the other hand, the Crosstrek is affordable, and it is the only small SUV with a standard Symmetrical AWD setup. That, in my book, makes it the only real small SUV here.
Plus, you do not have any option whatsoever to increase the power. The only engine available is this 2.0i with 152 horsepower on tap. Not enough. The Hybrid option, while also available, isn’t exactly too impressive. Plus, you can have it only with the most expensive model that is almost $13k pricier compared to the base version. So, while the all-wheel-drive most certainly is one of its most essential features, the Crosstrek’s lackluster performance in other areas certainly curtail it of reaching the top spot on the list of best small SUVs.
Read our full review on the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
Volkswagen Tiguan
However you may look at it, I feel that the Volkswagen Tiguan is the best small SUV. At least if you forget about the premium side of things. The Tiguan comes with a rather excellent 2.0-liter TSI engine good for 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It is easily the most powerful and the most fun small SUV on this list. Plus, it offers excellent interior quality, an advanced 8-speed automatic transmission, and you can get the 4Motion AWD system for only $1,300 more.
The Tiguan S, although the least expensive Tiguan available, is still the most costly small SUV on the list of non-premium small SUVs. Again, it undercuts the price of premium offerings by a good eight grand.
Read our full review on the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
PREMIUM SMALL SUVs
It is hard to compare the premium side of things with the standard, generic small SUVs listed above. In that regard, I came up with a list of six rather sweet small premium SUV offerings. Even the least expensive of them is almost $10k more compared to the most expensive non-premium small SUV. I am not sure if you do get that much more gear for your money, but, as you know, no one can put a price on the value of a brand.
Here, you can expect some finer things in life – nicer materials, more powerful engines, and state of the art tech. Some seriously powerful brand names, as well. This list as well shows small SUVs ranked from worst to best.
Mazda CX-30
Ok, do not hate me. I did not make a mistake. Mazda always wanted to flirt with the premium side of things, and in this one case, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt.
It is the same case with the brand’s latest small SUV offering – the Mazda CX-30. Sure, it looks much the same as the CX-3 or the CX-5, but size-wise, it falls directly between these two and competes with other small SUVs on this list. So, what makes it more premium than the others?
First of all, it has a fine 2.5-liter engine with 186 horsepower (more than any SUV above).
Second of all, it comes as standard with the MZD Connect setup and an 8.8-inch widescreen center display. And third of all, it looks kinda dashing – far more sophisticated compared to any other non-premium small SUV. So, while I feel that it may be the best of the non-premium SUVs out there, I also feel that it is the worst compared to the premium ones. All in all, the Mazda CX-30 could be the perfect balance between the two groups.
Read our full review on the 2019 Mazda CX-30
Lexus UX
The Lexus UX is one of the latest offerings in this niche premium small SUV segment. While a perfectly lovely SUV, I feel that it is the least attractive and the least unique of all premium SUVs on the list.
With the naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter engine that develops 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, it is the least powerful. Sure, it may be the cleanest of the bunch, and the most efficient, but I do not think that that is enough. The AWD option is available, but only for the UX 250h hybrid.
Read our full review on the 2019 Lexus UX
Jaguar E-Pace
Jaguar was never really into SUVs. Within the JLR world, the Land Rover should have kept all the SUV fun for them. However, the market wanted Jaguar to create something. After the larger F-Pace, the Brits revealed the E-Pace – a small premium SUV that comes to the U.S. market with a 2.0-liter, 246 horsepower gasoline engine.
It needs only 6.7 seconds to do 60 mph from a standstill. Pretty good. Also, it comes as standard with all-wheel-drive. I find it rather refreshing on this heavily saturated market but it is rather expensive.
Read our full review on the 2019 Jaguar E-Pace
Range Rover Evoque
Honestly, I do not know how to measure the goodness of the Range Rover Evoque against the rest of the small premium SUV list.
Sure, for that, you do get the Range Rover name, an SUV that can reach 60 mph from a standstill in 7 seconds, all-wheel drive, and a lot of displays inside. Still, I am not convinced that all of that is really worth that much. See, the Jaguar E-Pace shares the same tech and features with the Evoque, but it is almost three grand cheaper.
Read our full review on the 2020 Range Rover Evoque
Audi Q3
The second generation of the Audi Q3 considerably grew in size. Now, this is a small SUV sized basically as the Volkswagen Tiguan. It shares its wheelbase, basic construction, and even some of the features.
That is important, because, price-wise, performance-wise, and tech-wise, the Audi Q3 seems like a perfect competitor to the Volvo XC40. That is the small SUV that won this list. Now, while I did place the XC40 in a better position compared to the latest Audi Q3, I am not sure that that’s fair. The only thing that made me do it is the extra 20 horsepower offered by the Volvo T5 engine.
Read our full review on the 2019 Audi Q3
Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 is the first Volvo vehicle created on the novel compact modular platform. And it is a good one. With the longest wheelbase of all small SUVs on this list, the XC40 feels like a perfectly packed small SUV that ticks all the right boxes – the tech, the style, the size, the comfort. The only box the entry-level car does not tick is the AWD one.
If you do want the small premium SUV with AWD, a good brand name, and a lot of power, you have to buy the XC40 T5 Momentum. The least expensive model is the Volvo XC40 T4 powered by an 187-horsepower turbocharged engine. You cannot have the AWD with that one. However, add $2,000 and apart from an AWD you also get the T5, 248-horsepower unit as well. Now, that is something I find fantastic.
Read our full review on the 2019 Volvo XC40
The Curious Case of the BMW X2, Toyota C-HR, and Mercedes-Benz GLA
Somehow, at least in my mind, these three simply cannot reach the list I compiled here. At 58.8 inches of height, the Mercedes-Benz GLA is too low, while, at 171.7 inches in length, the X2, and the C-HR, are just too short. Sure, you may include them in the list with regard to their wheelbase length (X2-105.1 in, C-HR-103.9 in, GLA-106.3 in), but I feel they are better suited for a lower segment.
Read our full reviews on the BMW X2, Toyota C-HR, and Mercedes-Benz GLA
Where are the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and others?
Sure, only some time ago, if someone mentioned any of these names, you would immediately think – small SUVs. However, they are not that anymore. With a length of 181 inches, the latest Toyota RAV4 isn’t small. At all! Heck, since its first appearance in 1994, it grew in size by precisely 17.5 inches. That is humongous. The Honda CR-V, on the other hand, grew by three inches since 1995, while the Rogue always played its part among slightly bigger SUVs compared to any listed in this article.
Read our full review on the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue.