Best Small SUV 2023

Small SUVs are hugely popular in Australia, accounting for about 15 per cent of new-vehicle sales – and it’s a number that continues to grow as more people migrate out of traditional hatchbacks.

With a number of major new releases over the past 12 months, it is time to run the microscope over the top players, compare them to our existing benchmark and see how they fare.

All vehicles have been assessed against five criteria: safety, technology, comfort and convenience, driving performance and ownership costs, with resale value data provided by the experts at RedBook.com.au.

Each car was scored out of 20 for each criteria, for a total out of 100. Best score wins, simple.

That said, all five cars here have different strengths and weaknesses, so if you have a particular set of priorities, check out the scoring table and the individual category sections further down for more information.

Let’s get into it.

We made the decision to focus on the major category newcomers this year. Our Best Small SUV 2022 mega-test cast a wider net, but the majority of those cars have not changed so we would simply have been repeating ourselves.

If you’re shopping in this segment, a couple of lightly updated models that are worth a look are the Kia Seltos and, in particular, the Volkswagen T-Roc, while the GWM Haval Jolion Ultra Hybrid may appeal to value-conscious buyers.

One car we would’ve liked to have included in this year’s mega-test was the Skoda Kamiq 110TSI, but unfortunately we were unable to get hold of one in time for testing.

All vehicles present are the range-topping variants which isn’t necessarily our preference but, once again, we’re limited by what the manufacturers can make available and the upside is that we can test all the features a model offers and if a different variant makes a stronger case for itself, it will be mentioned.

The one carryover car from last year is the Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina AWD, which as last year’s second placegetter will act as our existing benchmark for the newcomers.

Why second and not first? Because last year’s winner was the Hyundai Kona and we have the brand spanking new generation here as a Premium N Line 1.6T.

If the Subaru Crosstrek 2.0S looks familiar it’s because it’s basically the new XV with a different name, but it offers a very similar Impreza-on-stilts package.

Nissan has refreshed almost its entire SUV line-up in recent times and we have the new-generation QASHQAI Ti here as its representative.

Finally, Toyota’s Best Small SUV contenders have previously landed on the quirky, coupe-like C-HR and the slightly smaller Toyota Yaris Cross, but this year we’ve lined up the Corolla Cross – launched late last year and tested here in Atmos Hybrid AWD guise – which gives it a much more traditional offering in the category.

So, who comes out on top?

When you whittle it down to five of the best small SUVs available in Australia today, there are no bad cars.

So although it places fifth, the Nissan QASHQAI has plenty to commend it, including a pleasant interior, lots of space and possibly the best safety offering here.

In addition, whereas some of the lower variants look a bit expensive when compared to their peers, the range-topping Ti is priced about right, especially with the amount of equipment that’s included.

Nevertheless, there are also shortcomings. The 1.3-litre turbo engine is underwhelming, especially when paired to a CVT gearbox. And while the QASHQAI handles well, this comes at the expense of comfort, with the ride quality often terse and jittery, particularly on urban streets.

The QASHQAI’s biggest bugbear, however, is its extraordinarily expensive servicing. Even the pre-paid figure of $2626 for the first five visits to the workshop is easily the highest here, but the sixth service is an extra $1108 all on its own.

Combine this with the need for premium fuel and the QASHQAI’s running costs make it the first to fall.

2023 Nissan QASHQAI Ti at a glance:
Price: $47,390 (plus on-road costs)
Powertrain: 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/250Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 138g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)

Like the QASHQAI, the Subaru Crosstrek certainly has its strengths. The Crosstrek 2.0S is easily the cheapest car here but you don’t really miss out on any equipment of note, there is lots of passenger space, particularly in the rear, and it really is an enjoyable car to drive.

The weight and accuracy of the steering, the all-wheel drive surety and in particular its excellent ride comfort are all highlights, but sadly these strengths are undermined by the Crosstrek’s main weakness – its engine.

To be blunt, Subaru’s 2.0-litre boxer four is inadequate for anything more than urban trundling. Higher speeds, hills and especially overtakes require planning and plenty of foot-to-the-floor action, which is not only irritating but doesn’t do much for the fuel consumption, either.

A sporty version with the WRX’s 2.4-litre turbo engine would be fantastic, but even the standard 2.5-litre engine from the regular Subaru Outback would be a huge improvement.

However, that wouldn’t fix the Crosstrek’s other major shortcoming: its tiny boot. This alone will strike it from many people’s shopping lists as you simply can’t fit much in there.

2023 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0S at a glance:
Price: $41,490 (plus on-road costs)
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 115kW/196Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 165g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

Our existing benchmark drops a spot this year, but the Mazda CX-30 remains an excellent all-rounder. It just ticks a lot of boxes.

Pricing and equipment levels are competitive in the G25 Astina AWD, it’s not particularly thirsty, servicing isn’t too expensive (though intervals are 10,000km), the interior is very nice and it’s great to drive.

It might not be a priority in this segment, but if you’re someone who enjoys driving, especially beyond the city limits, the CX-30’s rev-happy naturally-aspirated engine, responsive gearbox and agile, balanced handling will impress you.

Its dynamic talents don’t come with a particular price, either. The steering carries a bit more weight at low speeds and the ride has a firmer edge, but it never intrudes on the CX-30’s daily manners.

The main problem with the CX-30 is space. The rear seat is tight and pretty sparse and the boot isn’t exactly commodious, either. It’ll be very simple – if there are certain things you need to carry, whether it be people or products, they’ll either fit or they won’t.

The Mazda is also starting to feel its age a fraction when compared to the very freshest metal. Its rotary infotainment dial, for instance, works just fine with the native system but is a pain when using smartphone integration, especially as there is no touch-screen.

Nevertheless, a great car.

2023 Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina AWD at a glance:
Price: $45,710 (plus on-road costs)
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 139kW/252Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 157g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

Jack of all trades, master of none, is an accurate albeit slightly harsh descriptor of the Toyota Corolla Cross.

In true Toyota fashion, no one single facet blows you away but when it comes to the key attributes you’d want in a small SUV, it puts a very strong case forward.

The hybrid drivetrain in the Atmos Hybrid AWD is both a strong performer and very efficient, it’s comfy and easy to drive, very safe and has plenty of space both for rear passengers and luggage. With one exception. The shape of the front seats means the front passenger will have to sacrifice some legroom in order to fit a baby seat.

Like the Kluger in carsales’ Best Family SUV 2023, where the Corolla Cross really wins points is running costs. Aside from the fuel consumption advantage – the claimed 4.4L/100km is unlikely, but mid-5s is easily doable and unlike the others, the hybrid does its best work around town – servicing costs just $1250 for the first five visits.

This helps offset the fact that the Corolla Cross is the most expensive car on test. While you can ditch all-wheel drive and score the Atmos Hybrid 2WD for $3000 less, the Toyota doesn’t really feel like a $50K proposition when you sit in it.

There’s nothing wrong with it, but equally there’s little flair. And that might be just what you’re after.

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid AWD at a glance:
Price: $50,030 (plus on-road costs)
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric
Output: 146kW/190Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 4.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 101g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)

It probably shouldn’t be a surprise that the new generation of last year’s winner takes the gong this year, but the Hyundai Kona’s victory was far from a foregone conclusion.

Its incredibly irritating safety aids (see the Safety section below for more detail) almost killed its chances stone dead.

That aside, there’s very few chinks in the Kona’s armour, especially in range-topping Premium N Line 1.6T guise. Whereas other cars here shine brighter in different specs – for instance, the CX-30 and Corolla Cross – the Hyundai puts its best foot (wheel?) forward with all the bells and whistles.

There was plenty of noise about the price of entry to the Kona range rising significantly – and it has – but here at the top end of town the price has risen by a touch over $3000.

Not nothing, but of our quintet the Kona Premium N Line has easily the most equipment, every conceivable safety system (though as we’ll come to, a couple are annoying), the best performance and, crucially, it now has plenty of space.

The biggest shortcoming of the previous Kona was that it was relatively cramped, striking it off many people’s shopping list. Happily, the new generation has ample space front, rear and in the boot, along with a cabin that offers the most storage primarily thanks to the relocated gear lever.

Running costs aren’t amazing but nor are they terrible.

The icing on the cherry on the cake is that in this guise, the Kona is very entertaining to drive by the standards of this segment.

While it hasn’t benefited from a local ride and handling tune, we suspect that the Australian team’s previous efforts have been fed into this program as it remains an enjoyable steer.

2023 Hyundai Kona Premium N Line at a glance:
Price: $46,500 (plus on-road costs)
Powertrain: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 146kW/265Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 174g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

So, how did each contender for carsales’ Best Small SUV 2023 score across our major categories: safety, technology, comfort and convenience, driving performance and ownership costs?

Let’s take a closer look.

To be honest, you can throw a blanket over these five in terms of safety as all are very well equipped with plenty of airbags and lots of active safety aids, though the older Mazda CX-30 does lack the front-centre airbag designed to stop occupants clashing in an accident.

The new Hyundai Kona has every possible gadget but blots its copybook with some of the most annoying features you’ll find in any modern car. The speed limit warning bongs incessantly should you stray over the limit. What’s more, it frequently gets the posted limit wrong!

On a similar theme, the driver attention warning will admonish you if you look anywhere but straight ahead (for instance, at approaching traffic) and the lane keep assist is annoyingly insistent, though the latter is true of all these cars to varying degrees.

Furthermore, these functions default to ‘on’ every time you start the car, therefore have to be deactivated at the start of every drive. It’s a lesson in the difference between on-paper specifications and their application in the real world.

It’s the Subaru Crosstrek that shines brightest here. Its large portrait touch-screen is easily navigated and then icons can be configured for preference, there’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and charging, in addition to a 10-speaker stereo and a USB-A and -C port both front and rear.

The Toyota Corolla Cross, Nissan QASHQAI and Hyundai Kona are next with large, easily-operated touch-screens and plenty of features, though the Nissan has only wireless CarPlay and the Kona only wireless charging, not smartphone mirroring.

This is where the Mazda CX-30 drops the ball slightly. Not only does its infotainment have some ergonomic challenges, but there’s no wireless charging and no USB ports whatsoever in the back, whereas every other car here has two.

It’s not bad at all, just not quite to the same standard as the others.

The Hyundai and Toyota also have the advantage of app functionality, allowing various vehicle functions to be controlled and viewed through your smartphone as well as alerting emergency services automatically in the event of an incident.

In its flagship form, the Hyundai Kona comes with everything bar the kitchen sink. Heated and ventilated 10-way power-adjustable seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and power tailgate, the only real omission is a sunroof that’s a $1500 option.

Oh, and a head-up display, which the Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross and Nissan QASHQAI feature. These three are neck-and-neck for kit bar the QASHQAI boasting massage front seats, though in reality it just adjusts the lumber in and out. As massages go it’s a fairly cheap one, but a massage nonetheless.

The Subaru Crosstrek is the cheapest of our five by a reasonable margin but it’s here that you discover why that is the case. All the basics are there, but it’s the only car here without a heated steering wheel, power tailgate, digital instruments and, weirdly, rear air vents.

It also has far too little luggage space. The Mazda is a bit better but the Corolla Cross, QASHQAI and Kona are the picks for boot volume.

Keen drivers will want to make a beeline for the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30.

Both are small SUVs that are genuinely enjoyable on a twisty road thanks to accurate steering (though the Hyundai does suffer some kickback when loaded), plenty of grip and decent grunt.

Enthusiastic driving isn’t the modus operandi of a small SUV but equally some semblance of sportiness doesn’t go astray.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Toyota Corolla Cross, which doesn’t have a sporty nut or bolt in its body. Instead, it offers excellent ride quality, a fine mix of performance and efficiency from its hybrid powertrain and it’s just a very easy car to drive day-to-day.

When it comes to corners and comfort the Subaru Crosstrek also impresses. It’s a very pleasant car to drive with the best ride comfort here and well-weighted steering, but it struggles mightily with the straight bits, especially if they’re on an incline.

It was covered in the verdict section so there’s no need to belabour the point, but the Crosstrek deserves a better engine as there’s a good chance it would’ve finished higher.

A similar problem, though not to the same degree, afflicts the Nissan QASHQAI. Its 1.3-litre engine is at least adequate and its handling is a match for the Kona and CX-30 – albeit without the same motivation – but in the Nissan it comes at the cost of ride quality.

Driving Performance
1eq. Hyundai Kona 1.6T Premium N Line – 17/20
1eq. Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina AWD – 17/20
3. Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid AWD – 16/20
4. Nissan QASHQAI Ti – 15/20
5. Subaru Crosstrek 2.0S – 14/20

The Toyota Corolla Cross has this one sewn up thanks to the efficiency of its hybrid powertrain and servicing costs that are between $550-$1400 cheaper than its rivals over the first five visits.

The only real blot on its copybook is charging for roadside assistance when it’s complimentary with the others and, unusually for a Toyota, its projected residuals aren’t anything flash (though still in line with the Mazda and Hyundai).

The CX-30 and Kona are middle of the road across the board, not particularly cheap nor expensive when it comes to servicing and fuel usage, especially as their real-world consumption will likely be very similar.

While the Subaru and the Nissan have impressive projected residuals, both will also hurt your hip pocket by using more fuel than their claims (and the QASHQAI requires 95 RON premium unleaded) and servicing is exxy, especially in the case of the Nissan.

To put it in perspective, the per-service cost over the first five visits are thus: Corolla Cross $250, CX-30 $360, Kona $399, Crosstrek $475 and QASHQAI $583, though the pre-paid plan brings this down to $525.