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View Exterior Photos of the 2025 Subcompact SUV Comparison Test

See the exterior of the 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD, Kia Seltos SX Turbo AWD, Mazda CX-30 Carbon Turbo AWD, Subaru Crosstrek Premium, Volkswagen Taos SE Black FWD, Buick Envista Avenir and Chevrolet Trax Activ from every angle.

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2025 subaru crosstrek premium 2025 hyundai kona limited awd 2025 buick envista avenir 2025 volkswagen taos se black fwd 2025 kia seltos sx turbo awd 2025 mazda cx30 carbon turbo awd 2025 chevrolet trax activ
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

read the full review See Interior Photos

Whether you're starting a new family or merely venturing out on your own, small SUVs will likely be at or near the top of your car-shopping list. We assembled seven of our favorites for a proper no-holds-barred comparison.

2025 subaru crosstrek premium 2025 hyundai kona limited awd 2025 buick envista avenir 2025 volkswagen taos se black fwd 2025 kia seltos sx turbo awd 2025 mazda cx30 carbon turbo awd 2025 chevrolet trax activ
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Seeing these seven crossovers at the same corner at the same time is a more common occurrence than you might think, as these twee SUVs are a popular way to pick up some utility without breaking the bank.

2025 subaru crosstrek premium
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

The Crosstrek scores well in the ride and driver-comfort areas, and the rest is subjectively mid.

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2025 subaru crosstrek premium
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Even though it does many things well, it doesn't really do anything exceptionally, which accounts for its low rank in our scoring metrics.

2025 buick envista avenir
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

The Envista may be nearly the same as the Trax on which it's based, but can Buick's premium angle give it an advantage? (Fans of Betteridge's Law of Headlines will already have an answer.)

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2025 volkswagen taos se black fwd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Like its New Mexico namesake, the Taos is a laid-back experience.

2025 hyundai kona limited awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

The Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos were more closely related in the past. Does the Hyundai's embiggening give it an advantage on the road?

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2025 kia seltos sx turbo awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

The Kia Seltos may be older than its Hyundai counterpart, but it's also lighter and quicker.

2025 mazda cx30 carbon turbo awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

The Mazda is small, and in that way impractical for young families, but if driving pleasure and carving roads is priority, look no further than the CX-30.

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2025 chevrolet trax activ
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

The Trax may have the lowest price in the test, but don't ever call it cheap—that would indicate low value. It pegs the usefulness scale as well.

2025 subaru crosstrek premium
Michael Simari|Car and Driver

Keep going to check out even more pictures of all the vehicles in our seven-car crossover comparison!

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2025 subaru crosstrek premium
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
2025 subaru crosstrek premium
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
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2025 subaru crosstrek premium
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
2025 subaru crosstrek premium
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
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2025 hyundai kona limited awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
2025 hyundai kona limited awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
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2025 hyundai kona limited awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
2025 hyundai kona limited awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
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2025 hyundai kona limited awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
2025 hyundai kona limited awd
Michael Simari|Car and Driver
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