W
e interrupt your regularly
scheduled program of dream
machines with a break into
the real world—where millen-
nials wrangle underwhelming
paychecks against a mountain of student
debt, high rent, and the necessity of car
ownership.
Enter our showdown of lovable,
affordable SUVs. Sure, there will be
compromises—what do you expect from
a car that costs “just” a semester’s tuition
at Skidmore but doesn’t have the power
to leave skid marks? That said, the better
entries won’t make you feel like you
compromised.
As SUVs continue to dominate the
automotive landscape, it was only a
matter of time until every purse and
purpose was satisfied. Now a new niche
is emerging within the subcompact SUV
segment, aimed at consumers on a budget
and in search of a higher seating posi-
tion and more cargo space than a sedan
offers. These models blur the definitionof a traditional SUV because none offers
four-wheel or all-wheel drive in the U.S.
So they’re more like tall hatchbacks—
econoboxes on stilts. But go ahead, call
them SUVs. Everyone else does.
Our contenders are a mix of new and
established nameplates in the subcom-
pact SUV class. All of them are from
Asia, and all are powered by fuel-sipping,
short-on-power engines that send thrust
to the wheels via CVTs. Is there any fun
to be had here? Surprisingly, yes.
The Kia Soul, in its third generation
of boxy minimalism, is one of Kia’s
best-selling vehicles, and it packs plenty
of character. Toyota’s refreshed C-HR
still looks like a rally car that briefly
bounced off course, but it receives an
upgraded multimedia system for 2020.
The Nissan Kicks focuses on practicality
while delivering more style than its price
tag suggests. Hyundai’s Venue is the
latest entry—a less expensive Hyundai
version of its Soul brother, intent on
luring consumers with tech features, an
easy-to-reach entry price, and a confi-
dence-inspiring warranty.Consumers looking to purchase an
affordable SUV will mostly likely
count on it as their only vehicle. It’ll do
everything from commuting to carrying
around their friends and gear, especially
if they have active lifestyles. Others may
opt for a subcompact SUV because of
where they live. Areas with tight streets
or narrow roads aren’t places for big,
hulking behemoths to roam. These vehi-
cles are urban runabouts that can easily
squeeze through little nooks and fit in
that absurdly small parking spot.
These four SUVs’ slight size and
layout differences affect their usability
significantly. The 2020 Hyundai Venue
is the smallest, and you can immediately
see how its tidy dimensions impact
its interior. Front passengers have
generous space, but the rear seats are
cramped even for average-sized adults.JUNE 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 27