Non-luxury automakers aren’t the only ones getting in on the subcompact SUV fun. Their higher-priced compatriots are also pumping out these vehicles in record numbers. Granted, with many of these vehicles, we sometimes struggled to see the value proposition of these price points paired with the small space constraints.
Elana Scherr and Will Kaufman break down the best SUVs for 2019 and 2020 chosen by the experts at Edmunds. From small affordable crossovers to big luxury SUV. Perhaps the most recognized small SUVs in this class are the eternally feuding Honda CR-V and redesigned-for-2019 Toyota RAV4, which we tested in a multiday comparison along with five other 2019.
However, there are a select few (notably the top 3) that really make a solid case for luxury subcompact SUVs. Regardless of what we as reviewers think, it’s sales that matter and drive decisions in automaker offices. And since consumers seem to love this new subcompact SUV segment, car manufacturers are going to continue to pump them out!
We ranked 11 subcompact luxury SUVs from best to worst by combining their ratings on driving performance, standard features, design, and value.
This compact luxury crossover utility vehicle from Volvo is its third SUV model for 2019. Two models of the XC40 will be available, and both use a turbocharged, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The standard safety systems on both models include road-departure prevention, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control. 2021 Volvo XC40. The Volvo XC40 is a small luxury SUV with style and substance.
11. 2019 Infiniti QX30
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The Infiniti QX30 has a comfortable and well-appointed cabin. But even in a segment called “subcompact,” it has less interior and cargo space than its rivals. To add to the woes, loud wind noise intruded into the cabin—a particular disappointment for a luxury offering. Infiniti also has below-average reliability ratings for the QX30. Let’s hope that redesigns coming in the not-too-distant future remedy some of these downsides.
10. 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
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True to its brand, the Range Rover Evoque is an off-roading beast—a luxurious one at that. The exterior design is one of our favorites on any vehicle, with its front grille that sweeps into the sides and toward the rear paired with a sloping roofline. It does have a well-designed cabin, but that refinement doesn’t extend to the mechanical parts of the SUV. The transmission is poor as are its overall reliability ratings. It’s also more expensive than many other competitors when comparably equipped. When you can find better for cheaper, that’s not a recipe for success.
Best Luxury Subcompact Suv 2019
9. 2019 Buick Encore
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The Buick Encore was one of the first luxury subcompacts on the scene. While it’s still a reliable offering, it’s beginning to show its age. We find that most GM cabins have intuitive infotainment systems, and this Buick has some nice finishes throughout the cabin that don’t feel particularly cheap. But, it’s still not the most luxurious in the class. What really hindered the Encore on our list was the underperforming engine that comes standard.
8. 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
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The GLA-Class carries over the sure-footed handling that gives its larger Mercedes cousins high marks in our reviews. The cabin layout is also user-friendly; however, the materials and finishes seem somewhat low-rent for this luxury class. We found it uncharacteristic for MB. The small dimensions don’t particularly stand out in this class and neither does its standard engine offering.
7. 2019 Cadillac XT4
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The XT4 is a brand-new model from Cadillac, and it appears in the middle of our ranking. The interior isn’t particularly intuitive, and we found the brakes especially mushy and unresponsive. On the plus side, we found good legroom in the rear seats and robust engine options for puttering around town.
6. 2019 Jaguar E-Pace
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The E-Pace is not Jaguar’s electric offering (that’s the I-Pace.) A little confused? Anyway, this subcompact luxury SUV has surprisingly good cargo room for the class. And as is common with Jaguar vehicles, the handling and ride control are spot-on. Where it fell behind the segment leaders was in engine performance and subpar fuel economy.
5. 2019 Lexus UX
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The UX is Lexus’s first foray into the subcompact market. Our reviewers were split on the exterior styling. Some found its angular lines aggressive and youthful. Others found it to be a glorified wagon with busy body cladding. The taillights, in particular, were universally agreed to be…odd. Look them up for yourself. We also continue to be critics of Lexus’s unintuitive infotainment setup across its whole lineup. That said, the UX is well-appointed, affordable, offers great gas mileage, and has a smooth and comfortable ride.
4. 2019 Audi Q3
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The Audi Q3 has the brand’s characteristic handsome interior cabin layout. The materials are upscale as are the standard feature offerings. The infotainment system is intuitive and easy-to-use, and the rest of the cabin is comfortable and roomy for the class. The one small drawback is that fuel economy is lower than competitors.
3. 2019 BMW X2
Best Rated Luxury Compact Suv 2019
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If a sporty subcompact SUV is your aim, you couldn’t do worse than the BMW X2. The exterior design features a raked coupe roofline that will turn heads from other drivers and pedestrians. Couple that with BMW’s strong handling and a powerful array of engines, and the X2 may be the SUV that banishes the notion of soccer mom or dad being “uncool.”
2. 2019 BMW X1
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The BMW X1 is similar in dimensions to the X2 except that it doesn’t feature a raked coupe-style roofline. That improves on our critiques of the X2 by increasing rear visibility, rear-seat space, and cargo area. It’s everything we liked about the X2 and more! And now that BMW has announced it is dropping its annual fee to use Apple CarPlay, things just got even better.
1. 2019 Volvo XC40
Best Luxury Compact Suv 2019-2020
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Volvo swung for the fences with its first subcompact SUV. and it hit a home run. We found the shorter dimensions and boxier design made the XC40 more handsome than its larger siblings (and those were lookers to begin with). Volvo also has our favorite infotainment design to date. Their dashboards are modern, clean, and intuitive without being overly techy. Furthermore, the XC40 comes at great price points that are filled to the brim with standard features and a luxurious cabin for drivers and passengers alike.
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