Subcompact SUV Challenge
- Most Comfortable Suv Front Seat
- Most Comfortable Luxury Compact Suv
- Most Comfortable Compact Suv
- Most Comfortable Compact Suv Seats
- Best Small Suvs All Makes Models
- Most Comfortable Compact Suv In India
- Most Comfortable Suv For Traveling
Episode 3513
One of the hottest segments in the automotive world right now is subcompact crossover utility. and there has been a sea of new competitors rolling in over the last year. so of course we decided to pit all of these new rides against one another to see which mini-ute delivers to the max.
Most of the SUVs claim to be the most comfortable SUV in the world because of its luxurious interior. Here is something different. Volvo XC90 is offering a high-quality interior along with the soundproof functionality. Its special suspension system provides comfort even on nasty bumps. 2018 Subaru Forester. My absolute favorite vehicle was the Subaru Forester. I'd never sat in the driver's seat of a Subaru before and was extremely impressed with how comfortable it felt. Best 2018 Small SUVs ranked by users. See how your car/truck ranks. In Small SUVs, there are 23 cars. The original luxury crossover SUV, the Lexus RX is something of a benchmark in the category, and it retains its status as one of the most comfortable SUVs with its full redesign for this year. Its beautifully finished interior is complemented by one of the longest lists of luxury features out there.
As is our tradition, the editorial staffs at cars.com and USA Today joined us in this subcompact SUV challenge. And we all found ourselves sifting through the entries in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains at home base Boulder, Colorado.
Our roundup of diminutive new utilities starts with the Chevrolet Trax……followed by the style conscious Fiat 500X……the Fit-based Honda HR-V……the playfully rugged Jeep Renegade……the fun and fashionable Mazda CX-3……the original subcompact SUV, the Nissan Juke……and the “wagon in utes clothing” Subaru XV Crosstrek…
Manufacturers could equip them as they saw fit, as long as they stayed under our $27,000 price cap. So some entries are front, and some are all-wheel-drive. But all come with 4-cylinder power and automatic transmissions.
We also asked the Kruppas [CREW-PUZZ], an SUV seeking local family, to help us in rating these mini utes.
As is sometimes the case, scoring was very tight and it came right down to the wire with our eventual winner on top by less than 30-points. For a full scoring rundown, go to the cars.com website; but for now, here’s a quick run through the top 4-finishers.
There was no debate that the Mazda CX-3, our 4th place finisher, was the most fun to drive and was also one of the most stylish among the group, but interior space was in short supply and it came with the 2nd highest price tag of the group at $26,795.
AARON BRAGMAN: “The CX-3 was actually quite a lot of fun to drive; the big problem with it is that it’s very small, both in front and in back, it feels very narrow and there isn’t a whole lot of cargo room in it as well.”
JOE BRUZEK: “So, the CX-3 is the car that I would want to drive out of all of these; it’s the most fun, it’s the most refined, the steering is great, there’s minimal body roll; but you’re getting a fun to drive car, you’re not getting a very practical one.”
JOHN DAVIS: The Honda HR-V dominates this segment when it comes to cargo space, with only the Subaru coming even close; but as much as its practicality helped it, its noisy powertrain held it back. And much like the CX-3, pricing was very close to our ceiling at $26,720.
JENNIFER GEIGER: “I am not a big fan of the HR-V. I think it looks great on paper with excellent room, stellar fuel economy; but it’s really slow, really loud, and the interior is just boring compared to the rest of this class.”
BRIAN ROBINSON: “The HR-V is typical Honda, very nice interior, a lot of nice features, a ton of space inside way more than most of these vehicles here, but it’s also a little noisy and not as much fun to drive as some of the other cars here.”
JOHN DAVIS Documents for mac. : The Fiat 500X is based on the Jeep Renegade, and while its design is perhaps cooler, its practicality falls short. Still those cool looks, a smooth riding chassis, and low price of $25,895 helped it to 2nd place in this contest.
CHRIS WOODYARD: “The Fiat 500X was a big surprise. I wasn’t sure that the Fiat could really match up in a competition with these kinds of other vehicles; but in category after category, it turned out to have been a sound, nice driving, nicely appointed vehicle.”
Most Comfortable Suv Front Seat
JENNIFER GEIGER: “…I think the styling is really cute, the interior is really sharp, and its multimedia system is no-nonsense; it’s very easy to use.” Lux for mac.
JOHN DAVIS: Going in, the Subaru XV Crosstrek might not have fit anyone’s definition of a proper SUV; but here its combination of space, comfort, features, as well as off road cred pushed it to the top. The lowest price tag of the bunch surely helped as well, coming in at $25,440; and that’s with all-wheel-drive of course.
BRIAN ROBINSON: “You may not think the XV Crosstrek really belongs here, as it’s more of a wagon than crossover, but pricing’s very similar and it’s got way more space inside than a lot of these, and it’s more of an SUV than any of these. So I think it’s going to do really well here.”
Most Comfortable Luxury Compact Suv
JOEL AND CHRISTINE KRUPPA: “…it didn’t have too many features, which I feel like some of the other cars did, it was hard to try and do all the controls while driving; it has a lot of safety features, and it was just comfortable to drive…”
“…I think the space inside, for a small car, was very good; the back seat folding down gave a lot of space, the rear seats have a lot of room; front seats also have a lot of room.”
JOHN DAVIS: Regardless of how you feel about these pint size utilities, they’re not going away any time soon as they are tremendous moneymakers for automakers; having much higher profit margins than typical subcompact car offerings. So while all of these “cute-utes” get the job done in adequate fashion; here in this challenge, the Subaru XV Crosstrek is in a comfortable, spacious, capable class all its own.
The Contenders:
2016 Chevrolet Trax
2016 Fiat 500X
2016 Honda HR-V
2016 Jeep Renegade
2016 Mazda CX-3
2016 Nissan Juke
2016 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Buying Guides
The comfort of your ride can make or break your adventure
Most Comfortable Compact Suv
A comfortable SUV takes the pain out of road-tripping and long commutes, making both more enjoyable. There are many excellent crossovers and SUVs on the market, but they are not all created equal when it comes to comfort on long drives. If you like to take road trips with the family or you're forced to spend a lot of time in your car for work, the miles will fly faster when you ride in comfort. We selected 5 SUVs that we'd choose for our long trips based on the comfort of their front seats, passenger space, and cargo space.
2020 Kia Telluride
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The Kia Telluride is a newcomer to the 3-row SUV segment and it has already proven to be a great option for large families, providing generous passenger, cargo space, and amenities typically found in luxury vehicles. In addition to its stylish exterior and solid driving dynamics, the Telluride offers ample space for up to 8 passengers and a capacious 87 cubic-feet of maximum cargo space. Its upscale interior features large and well-cushioned front seats, plus good climate control thanks to large vents and heated/ventilated front and second-row seats. Load it up with your trip essentials and your favorite travel companions and hit the road.
2020 Mazda CX-5
Most Comfortable Compact Suv Seats
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If all you need is 2-rows for your travels, the Mazda CX-5 is hard to beat for comfort and practicality. The driver and front passenger will enjoy the CX-5's sporty front seats that offer a good balance of bolstering and cushioning. The rear seats are comfortable for long trips despite the limited legroom for very tall passengers. A maximum cargo space of 59.6 cubic-feet means you won't have to ride with gear on the seat next to you or on the laps of your passengers. Creature comforts like the optional heated and ventilated seats, along with a heated steering wheel make the CX-5 a great choice to take on the open road, no matter the time of year.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas
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Although it can get pricey, the Volkswagen Atlas is hard to top when it comes to comfort thanks to its plentiful passenger space in all 3 rows, a very quiet ride, and excellent climate control. The front seats are well cushioned and wide with no shortage of head and legroom. Even after hours behind the wheel, the seat remains comfortable and supportive. For hassle-free access to the last row, the huge second row slides forward to make way for additional passengers. Unlike many 3-row SUVs that feel like a cave to passengers in the last row, the Atlas is accommodating for all 7 occupants. 20.6 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the 3rd row means passengers won't have to ride with their belongings on their laps.
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
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If you're a road warrior looking for a balance of comfort and fuel efficiency, the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid fulfills both needs. Redesigned for 2020, the Escape Hybrid gets more spacious with larger exterior proportions. Along with the comfort of a more airy cabin, driver comfort is improved thanks to increased hip and shoulder room for the front seats. Second-row passengers will also ride in comfort with more spacious rear seats that conveniently recline and slide. Loading your road trip gear will be convenient thanks to cargo space that is competitive in the small crossover segment with 65.4 cubic-feet.
2020 Chevrolet Suburban
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Best Small Suvs All Makes Models
Our list of most comfortable road trip SUVs wouldn't be complete without the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban. If you need to shuttle up to 8 travel companions in comfort, nothing beats the supersized Suburban which leads the full-size segment in both passenger and cargo space. The Suburban seats between 7 and 9 passengers in its large, upscale cabin and offers generous space in all three rows. If you're planning on shuttling gear around for work or play, the Suburban has a cavernous maximum cargo space of 121.7 cubic-feet. A quiet cabin and available heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats add to the comfort of this family SUV.
Most Comfortable Compact Suv In India
What makes them comfortable?
Most Comfortable Suv For Traveling
- Comfortable seats with excellent cushioning and support.
- Ample passenger space and cargo space.
- Quiet and smooth ride.