Whether you’re young or simply young at heart, you might be seeking a vehicle that’s practical rather than flashy. Perhaps an SUV appeals to you, but not one of those oversized family haulers—a more car-like, convenient, and economical option would suit you better. You’re not looking to break the bank since there are other priorities in your life, but you also don’t want to settle for a bare-bones vehicle.
Fortunately, automakers are keen to capture your attention, flooding the market with compact, well-equipped SUVs designed for cost-conscious buyers. We’ve brought together eight of our top picks in this category for a thorough comparison.
Why eight? It’s the maximum we could review without writing an exhaustive novel, though it’s worth noting that this is just a fraction of what’s available on the market. We requested well-appointed, non-hybrid models priced around $30,000 from various manufacturers, and they provided us with either top-tier or nearly top-tier versions. Here’s a look at our contenders, listed from least to most expensive.
Our value leader is the Chevrolet Trax, one of the most affordable new SUVs available. Even the high-end Activ model starts at just $24,995. The vehicle we tested included a few extra options like a sunroof and adaptive cruise control, bringing the total to a test-low of $26,785. However, it’s important to note that the Trax, along with its cousin, the Buick Envista, does not offer all-wheel drive.
The Buick Envista, despite sharing a platform and engine with the Trax, isn’t just a rebadged Chevrolet. It boasts its own unique fastback-style design. We tested the mid-level ST model, which, with almost every available option, came in at $29,370. Although this model was a 2025 version, with a slight price increase over the 2024 models, it largely remained unchanged.
Next in line is the Honda HR-V, showcased in its top-tier EX-L trim. All HR-V models are equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The EX-L model also comes with standard all-wheel drive. Honda doesn’t offer factory options for the HR-V, and our model had a price tag of $32,050.
Kia sent us their all-wheel-drive Seltos SX, featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. With added features like premium paint, floormats, a sunroof, power liftgate, and other extras, the base price of $31,465 rose to $33,235.
Although we requested non-hybrid models, Toyota could only provide us with a hybrid version of the Corolla Cross, which we gladly accepted since we prefer the hybrid powertrain over the standard 2.0-liter engine. The XSE Nightshade model starts at $31,815, but options like a moonroof, two-tone paint, and a premium stereo system pushed the price to $34,787.
Coming up close to the Toyota was the Hyundai Kona Limited, which shares its turbocharged engine and transmission with the Kia Seltos. The newly redesigned 2024 Kona, with a price tag of $34,695, was packed with features like heated and cooled front seats. The only additional item Hyundai included was a set of floor mats, bringing the total to $34,905.
We have always been fans of the Subaru Crosstrek, and we were pleased to include the $32,440 Limited model in our comparison. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine and a CVT. Subaru added a single option package with a moonroof and premium infotainment system, bringing the price to $35,280.
Finally, we rounded out the group with Mazda’s CX-30 AWD Turbo. It features a powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The base price is $34,210, but with all the Premium Plus equipment and a few additional features, the total came to $38,760.
So there you have it—eight compact SUVs totaling $265,000, less than the price of a basic Rolls-Royce Ghost! We took them up to California’s picturesque Kern River Valley for a thorough evaluation.
Are they Spacious and Luxurious Enough?
We began our assessment by thoroughly inspecting each SUV, looking for premium interiors and features that would justify the cost of these higher-end models. Additionally, we evaluated their practicality for carrying passengers and cargo.
The Mazda CX-30 immediately stood out as a frontrunner. Mazda has embraced a luxury aesthetic, and the CX-30’s exterior exudes a sense of sophistication, although the paint quality left something to be desired—an issue we also noticed with the Subaru and Honda, both of which had a slight orange-peel finish.
Inside, the CX-30’s soft leather and metal accents evoked a European luxury car feel. The center-console-mounted infotainment controls garnered mixed reviews, as the dials require some getting used to but become convenient with practice. Back-seat space, traditionally a weak point for Mazda, was better than anticipated, offering a comfortable seat and sufficient room. However, the small door openings made entry and exit challenging, even for our shorter team members.
The Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona offered some unexpected features, such as heated and ventilated front seats, which the Mazda lacked. Of the two, we preferred the Hyundai’s interior, which felt bright and inviting, with the steering-column-mounted transmission shifter freeing up space for a large center console with cleverly disappearing cupholders. If you’re prone to claustrophobia, the Kona is the SUV for you.
As for the Kia Seltos, we admired the bold green leather interior, but the shiny plastic components throughout the cabin detracted from the overall aesthetic, making it look less refined than the Kona. Additionally, the layout of the Seltos’ secondary controls seemed less intuitive. Both the Kona and Seltos provided good comfort for back-seat passengers, with the Seltos offering the best cargo space in the test with the rear seats up and the Kona excelling with the seats folded down.
The Honda HR-V surprised us in both positive and negative ways. We had previously criticized the top-of-the-line HR-V for lacking luxury, and Honda responded with some thoughtful touches like stitched and padded materials around the center console.
The metal grillework from the Civic was a nice detail, but it was overshadowed by the dull black interior, which matched the HR-V’s uninspired exterior design. Unfortunately, what the HR-V offered the driver, it took away from rear-seat passengers: The high floor compromised seating comfort, and there were no vents, USB ports, or even a center armrest.
In terms of interior design, the Toyota Corolla Cross was even more underwhelming than the Honda. We immediately noticed the row of blanked-out switches ahead of the shifter and the absence of features like power seats.
It became clear how Toyota managed to offer a hybrid powertrain at this price point. Nevertheless, the Corolla Cross didn’t skimp on safety features, aside from a disappointingly low-resolution backup camera. It earned points for its spacious back seat, which included padded armrests, A/C vents, cupholders, and dual USB-C ports, though cargo space was on the lower end of the spectrum.
Given its price, we expected the Chevrolet Trax to be at the lower end of the spectrum, but from the driver’s seat, it didn’t feel like the most budget-friendly car in the lineup. We appreciated the quality of the interior materials, and both the back seat and trunk were more generous than anticipated. While there were signs of cost-cutting, such as single-zone climate control instead of dual-zone, Chevrolet did a commendable job of economizing in areas where owners are unlikely to notice. However, the unpadded door armrests were a downside, as they were uncomfortable on our elbows.
Similarly, the Buick Envista impressed us with its upscale interior, featuring cool retro-inspired shapes and blue stitching (and thankfully, padded armrests). Although rear headroom was limited, the back seat was more spacious than expected given the sloping roofline. Cargo space was also adequate. Like the Chevrolet, the Envista lacked some features, but we were pleasantly surprised by how luxurious it felt, especially considering its sub-$30,000 price tag.
Subaru’s Crosstrek was described as “classic Subaru” by some of our team members, with an interior that fell short in some areas, such as low-resolution screen graphics and some cheap plastic trim. However, it presented a well-rounded package overall. We appreciated the amount of information displayed on the portrait-style center screen, and the rear seat was reasonably roomy, though the cargo area was the smallest in this group, making packing for a two-couple trip a tight squeeze.
How do these compact SUVs drive?
The buyers for these SUVs range from daily commuters to long-distance adventurers, so we mapped out a drive route that included suburban streets, highways, country roads, and winding curves. Once again, we expected the Mazda CX-30 to excel, and it did not disappoint. Its 250-horsepower engine (when using premium fuel) made it the quickest SUV in this test, though speed wasn’t a major factor for us.
In fact, the Mazda’s powerful engine and small fuel tank resulted in a shorter driving range, which was a drawback. On the highway, the CX-30’s lane-centering system didn’t perform as well as the top performers in this category (Hyundai and Kia). However, the Mazda truly shined on curvy roads, offering stellar handling and precise, if slightly heavy, steering.
Surprisingly, the Mazda wasn’t as far ahead of the pack in driving enjoyment as we anticipated. The Subaru Crosstrek also proved to be quite fun, with a spirited yet noisy engine that struck a better balance between power and economy than the Mazda’s. Although off