Best subcompact SUVs of 2026, ranked by owner data
We ranked 10 subcompact SUVs on sale in the US and Canada against each other on three measured things: problems reported by owners, the new asking price, and EPA combined fuel economy.
Data from October 2026. Sources: owner reports, Auto.dev US listings, EPA ratings. How we rank · Best used subcompact SUVs
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC)
#1 of 10
Kia Niro
Score 83 out of 100
- Owner reliability (45 of 45 points): 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: the fewest on this list
- Price (13 of 30 points): median new asking price $27,025 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 44% of this list
- Fuel economy (25 of 25 points): 50 mpg combined (EPA): the best gas or hybrid on this list
- New price
- $26k–$29k (median $27,025)
- Fuel economy
- 50 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- Dual-clutch transmission (DCT) problems in Hybrid/PHEV models
Best for
Most reliable by owners
2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent. Ranked #1.
Lowest new price
Median new asking price $22,597. Ranked #3.
Best fuel economy
50 mpg combined (EPA). Ranked #1.
The full ranking
- #1
Kia Niro
Score 83- New price
- $26k–$29k (median $27,025)
- Fuel economy
- 50 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- Dual-clutch transmission (DCT) problems in Hybrid/PHEV models
Why #1
- Owner reliability (45 of 45 points): 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: the fewest on this list
- Price (13 of 30 points): median new asking price $27,025 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 44% of this list
- Fuel economy (25 of 25 points): 50 mpg combined (EPA): the best gas or hybrid on this list
- #2
Nissan Kicks
Score 58- New price
- $24k–$27k (median $25,089)
- Fuel economy
- 31 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- CVT transmission failures
Why #2
- Owner reliability (18 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 39% of this list
- Price (20 of 30 points): median new asking price $25,089 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 67% of this list
- Fuel economy (20 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 79% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #3
Hyundai Venue
Score 55- New price
- $22k–$23k (median $22,597)
- Fuel economy
- 31 mpg
- Owner reports
- 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Transmission failure (IVT/CVT)
Why #3
- Owner reliability (5 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 11% of this list
- Price (30 of 30 points): median new asking price $22,597 (49 US listings, Auto.dev): the lowest of this list
- Fuel economy (20 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 79% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #4
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Score 54- New price
- $23k–$27k (median $23,895)
- Fuel economy
- 30 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Infotainment screen going black, freezing, or rebooting
Why #4
- Owner reliability (18 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 39% of this list
- Price (23 of 30 points): median new asking price $23,895 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 78% of this list
- Fuel economy (13 of 25 points): 30 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 50% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #5
Hyundai Kona
Score 52- New price
- $25k–$28k (median $26,489)
- Fuel economy
- 28 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 very frequent problem and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Chronic engine problems (stalling
Why #5
- Owner reliability (30 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 67% of this list
- Price (17 of 30 points): median new asking price $26,489 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 56% of this list
- Fuel economy (5 of 25 points): 28 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 21% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #6
Honda HR-V
Score 49- New price
- $28k–$30k (median $28,465)
- Fuel economy
- 28 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 very frequent problem and 2 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Severely underpowered engine
Why #6
- Owner reliability (37 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 2 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 83% of this list
- Price (7 of 30 points): median new asking price $28,465 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 22% of this list
- Fuel economy (5 of 25 points): 28 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 21% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #7
Mazda CX-30
Score 47- New price
- $27k–$30k (median $28,455)
- Fuel economy
- 26 mpg
- Owner reports
- 4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- Interior blind spots
Why #7
- Owner reliability (37 of 45 points): 4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 83% of this list
- Price (10 of 30 points): median new asking price $28,455 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 33% of this list
- Fuel economy (0 of 25 points): 26 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 0% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #8
Chevrolet Trax
Score 45- New price
- $22k–$24k (median $23,220)
- Fuel economy
- 30 mpg
- Owner reports
- 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Turbocharger failure
Why #8
- Owner reliability (5 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 11% of this list
- Price (27 of 30 points): median new asking price $23,220 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 89% of this list
- Fuel economy (13 of 25 points): 30 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 50% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #9
Toyota C-HR
Score 25- New price
- $36k–$39k (median $38,087)
- Fuel economy
- 117 MPGe
- Owner reports
- 2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Conventional CVT Transmission Failures
Why #9
- Owner reliability (25 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 56% of this list
- Price (0 of 30 points): median new asking price $38,087 (49 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 0% of this list
- Fuel economy (0 of 25 points): No data yet (too few EVs to compare)
- #10
Nissan Leaf
Score 8- New price
- $28k–$34k (median $30,158)
- Fuel economy
- 114 MPGe
- Owner reports
- 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Severe battery degradation and cold-weather performance loss (Gen1
Why #10
- Owner reliability (5 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 11% of this list
- Price (3 of 30 points): median new asking price $30,158 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 11% of this list
- Fuel economy (0 of 25 points): No data yet (too few EVs to compare)
How we rank
- Owner reliability, 45 points. Problems that owners report again and again, from our owner reports. A very frequent problem counts twice. Fewer problems than the other cars on this page earns more points.
- New price, 30 points. The median asking price in US listings (Auto.dev). Cheaper than the others earns more.
- Fuel economy, 25 points. EPA combined rating. Electric cars are compared only with other electric cars, in MPGe.
- No guesses. A car needs enough owner reports and three years on sale to be ranked. A number we don't have earns 0 points and says "No data yet". We never compare NHTSA complaint counts between models, because they grow with the number of cars sold.
Questions
- What is the best subcompact SUV of 2026?
- The Kia Niro ranks #1 of 10 with a score of 83 out of 100. 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent, and its new price is $27,025 at the median.
- Which subcompact SUV has the fewest owner-reported problems?
- The Kia Niro: 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent.
- What is the cheapest subcompact SUV on this list?
- The Hyundai Venue, with a median new asking price $22,597, based on US listings.
- How does CarWizz rank subcompact SUVs?
- Each car is compared only with the other cars on this page. Owner reliability is worth 45 points, new price 30 points and EPA combined fuel economy 25 points. A car without enough owner reports is not ranked, and a missing number earns no points.
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