Best used subcompact SUVs, ranked by owner data
We ranked 15 used subcompact SUVs sold in the US and Canada in the last five years against each other on three measured things: problems reported by owners, the used asking price, and EPA combined fuel economy.
Data from October 2026. Sources: owner reports, Auto.dev US listings, EPA ratings. How we rank · Best subcompact SUVs
Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
#1 of 15
Kia Soul
Score 75 out of 100
- Owner reliability (31 of 45 points): 5 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 68% of this list
- Price (23 of 30 points): median used asking price $12,988 (44 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 75% of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2025)
- Fuel economy (21 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 82% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
Best for
Most reliable by owners
2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent. Ranked #2.
Lowest used price, still sold new
Median used asking price $17,281. Ranked #5.
Best fuel economy
50 mpg combined (EPA). Ranked #2.
The full ranking
- #1
Kia Soul
Score 75- Used price
- $10k–$16k (median $12,988)
- Fuel economy
- 31 mpg
- Owner reports
- 5 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- Transmission problems
- Best recent year
- 2022
- Years to avoid
- 2016
Why #1
- Owner reliability (31 of 45 points): 5 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 68% of this list
- Price (23 of 30 points): median used asking price $12,988 (44 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 75% of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2025)
- Fuel economy (21 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 82% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #2
Kia Niro
Score 68- Used price
- No data yet
- 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 recent year
- 2021
- Years to avoid
- 2023
Why #2
- Owner reliability (43 of 45 points): 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 96% of this list
- Price (0 of 30 points): No data yet (no used listing prices)
- Fuel economy (25 of 25 points): 50 mpg combined (EPA): the best gas or hybrid on this list
- #3
Mazda CX-3
Score 65- Used price
- $14k–$18k (median $15,623)
- Fuel economy
- 30 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- Costly and recurrent mechanical failures
- Best recent year
- 2021
- Years to avoid
- 2016
Why #3
- Owner reliability (43 of 45 points): 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 96% of this list
- Price (8 of 30 points): median used asking price $15,623 (46 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 25% of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2026)
- Fuel economy (14 of 25 points): 30 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 55% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #4
Nissan Kicks
Score 60- Used price
- $17k–$23k (median $19,418)
- Fuel economy
- 31 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- CVT transmission failures
Why #4
- Owner reliability (19 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 43% of this list
- Price (20 of 30 points): median used asking price $19,418 (47 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 67% of the cars still sold new
- Fuel economy (21 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 82% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #5
Hyundai Venue
Score 59- Used price
- $16k–$19k (median $17,281)
- Fuel economy
- 31 mpg
- Owner reports
- 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Transmission failure (IVT/CVT)
Why #5
- Owner reliability (8 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 18% of this list
- Price (30 of 30 points): median used asking price $17,281 (46 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): the lowest of the cars still sold new
- Fuel economy (21 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 82% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #6
Hyundai Kona
Score 54- Used price
- $17k–$23k (median $19,482)
- Fuel economy
- 28 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 very frequent problem and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Chronic engine problems (stalling
- Years to avoid
- 2020
Why #6
- Owner reliability (31 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 68% of this list
- Price (15 of 30 points): median used asking price $19,482 (48 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 50% of the cars still sold new
- Fuel economy (8 of 25 points): 28 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 32% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #7
Toyota C-HR
Score 51- Used price
- No data yet
- Fuel economy
- 117 MPGe
- Owner reports
- 2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Conventional CVT Transmission Failures
- Years to avoid
- 2018
Why #7
- Owner reliability (26 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 57% of this list
- Price (0 of 30 points): No data yet (no used listing prices)
- Fuel economy (25 of 25 points): 117 MPGe combined (EPA): the best EV on this list
- #8
Honda HR-V
Score 50- Used price
- $19k–$24k (median $21,668)
- Fuel economy
- 28 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 very frequent problem and 2 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Severely underpowered engine
Why #8
- Owner reliability (37 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 2 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 82% of this list
- Price (5 of 30 points): median used asking price $21,668 (47 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 17% of the cars still sold new
- Fuel economy (8 of 25 points): 28 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 32% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #9
Chevrolet Trax
Score 47- Used price
- $17k–$22k (median $19,164)
- Fuel economy
- 30 mpg
- Owner reports
- 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Turbocharger failure
- Best recent year
- 2022
Why #9
- Owner reliability (8 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 18% of this list
- Price (25 of 30 points): median used asking price $19,164 (42 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 83% of the cars still sold new
- Fuel economy (14 of 25 points): 30 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 55% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #10
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Score 43- Used price
- $18k–$22k (median $20,095)
- 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
- Best recent year
- 2023
Why #10
- Owner reliability (19 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 43% of this list
- Price (10 of 30 points): median used asking price $20,095 (45 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 33% of the cars still sold new
- Fuel economy (14 of 25 points): 30 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 55% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #11
Mazda CX-30
Score 42- Used price
- $20k–$24k (median $22,479)
- Fuel economy
- 26 mpg
- Owner reports
- 4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- Interior blind spots
- Best recent year
- 2020
- Years to avoid
- 2021
Why #11
- Owner reliability (37 of 45 points): 4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 82% of this list
- Price (0 of 30 points): median used asking price $22,479 (47 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 0% of the cars still sold new
- Fuel economy (5 of 25 points): 26 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 18% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #12
Ford EcoSport
Score 39- Used price
- $10k–$13k (median $11,799)
- Fuel economy
- 25 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 very frequent problems and 5 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Poor fuel economy (10-12 MPG reported by some owners, with most seeing low 20s)
- Best recent year
- 2022
Why #12
- Owner reliability (8 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 5 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 18% of this list
- Price (30 of 30 points): median used asking price $11,799 (46 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): the lowest of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2022)
- Fuel economy (1 of 25 points): 25 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 5% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #13
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Score 32- Used price
- $20k–$23k (median $20,917)
- Fuel economy
- 115 MPGe
- Owner reports
- 3 very frequent problems and 1 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Slow DC Fast Charging (50-55 kW max)
Why #13
- Owner reliability (19 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 1 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 43% of this list
- Price (0 of 30 points): median used asking price $20,917 (49 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 0% of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2023)
- Fuel economy (13 of 25 points): 115 MPGe combined (EPA): better than about 50% of the EVs on this list
- #14
Jeep Renegade
Score 16- Used price
- $12k–$17k (median $13,800)
- Fuel economy
- 25 mpg
- Owner reports
- 4 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Poor reliability / major component failures
- Best recent year
- 2023
Why #14
- Owner reliability (0 of 45 points): 4 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 0% of this list
- Price (15 of 30 points): median used asking price $13,800 (45 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 50% of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2023)
- Fuel economy (1 of 25 points): 25 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 5% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #15
Nissan Leaf
Score 8- Used price
- No data yet
- 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
- Best recent year
- 2017
Why #15
- Owner reliability (8 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 18% of this list
- Price (0 of 30 points): No data yet (no used listing prices)
- Fuel economy (0 of 25 points): 114 MPGe combined (EPA): better than about 0% of the EVs on this list
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.
- Used price, 30 points. The median asking price in US listings (Auto.dev), all model years together. 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 used subcompact SUV?
- The Kia Soul ranks #1 of 15 with a score of 75 out of 100. 5 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent, and its used price is $12,988 at the median.
- Which subcompact SUV has the fewest owner-reported problems?
- The Kia Niro: 2 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent.
- Which subcompact SUV still sold new is the cheapest to buy used?
- The Hyundai Venue, with a median used asking price $17,281, 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, used 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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