The more accomplished your small SUV’s powertrain and ride/handling package is, the more you’ll enjoy driving it
Like most cars, but particularly smaller ones, a small SUV can quickly become tiring to drive if you’re battling the prevailing conditions with an engine that lacks power and a chassis that’s not well suited to Australian roads. Some brands in contention for carsales’ Best Small SUV 2022 have carefully considered driving performance in an Australian context, from engineering development to engine choices and local steering/suspension tuning. Other brands have not…
Whatever your driving experience or your expectations, a small SUV that is better to drive is not only easier to live with, but safer and – if you enjoy getting behind the wheel – more satisfying to own.
We put each of our 15 finalists for carsales’ Best Small SUV 2022 through its paces to discover which offers the best drive, covering key areas such as engine performance, economy, refinement and the balance struck between ride quality and dynamic handling.
None of these vehicles are quite as efficient as a conventional small hatchback or a petrol-electric hybrid, but are generally light on fuel consumption.
Three models share the top step of the podium as the most fuel-efficient with a 5.4L/100km average: the Kia Stonic GT-Line, Toyota Yaris Cross and Volkswagen T-Cross.
The thirstiest of the group is the Haval Jolion with an 8.1L/100km average.
As the overall best vehicle to drive, the Volkswagen T-Roc – tested here in 110TSI form – is the pick of the bunch.
The German Roc star has the best ride and handling compromise and gets up and goes well when needed.
The 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine feels plenty powerful for a machine this size and its eight-speed auto is enjoyable to use.
It’s a comfortable drive, erring more on the sporty side when it comes to steering and suspension tuning, all the while soaking up bumps and potholes without becoming unsettled.
Admittedly, the T-Roc is no powerhouse, and it will not appeal to buyers looking for a more docile, light-at-hand city car.
Another VW comes in as a close second – the Volkswagen T-Cross 85TSI.
The small-displacement 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (85kW/200Nm) and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission are a great match.
The T-Cross also welcomes enthusiastic drivers, offering them a sure-footed drive with crisp cornering – with little trade-off in ride comfort – and a bit of weight behind their steering efforts.
The Mazda CX-30 G25 is next, with a good ride and handling balance but less-than-fulsome engine performance.
With light, accurate steering and above-average handling, the CX-30 is just as suitable for an urban shopping run as tackling a winding country road.
Yet the 114kW/200Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine does get challenged – steep hills will see its auto shifting down chasing the torque peak that comes in at a high 4000rpm.
The Mazda CX-3 is next on the pointscore table for driving performance, with an ability to absolutely tromp it home around town and in the suburbs – its compact size, sharp steering and clear sight lines all contribute here – as well as handle bumpy country roads, hills and corners well.
For such a small SUV, the CX-3 feels planted and confident in a wide range of situations, helped in this test with all-wheel drive, but the 110kW/195Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine can become noisy.
Following the CX-3 for driving finesse is the Hyundai Kona, which has more promising dynamics than some others here when driven on smoother roads and plenty of power when called upon, if not perhaps quite enough torque.
The local suspension tune gives the Kona dynamic resolve. It sits flat through corners and on well-maintained roads feels surprisingly tenacious.
The counter point to this is that the Kona’s ride feels too firm at times. It’s not a deal-breaker but ride comfort suffers a bit, for example with its tendency to bang pretty hard on bigger potholes.
The Kona Highlander’s 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine produces enough power to keep things on the boil when overtaking, but peak torque is a bit average for an engine of this size. It also gets pretty noisy above 4000rpm, but the six-speed auto is as smooth as warm butter.
There’s nothing outstanding about the way the Kia Seltos Sport+ drives, but the powertrain and chassis do their jobs in a user-friendly, well balanced, set-and-forget way.
The Seltos drives more like a small hatchback with a little extra ground clearance, and that’s no bad thing when combined with the 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive.
The turbo-petrol engine does a fine job both around the speed-sensitive suburbs and when punting along on the freeway – yes, it’s got the punch to overtake without fuss. Overall, it’s a well-rounded package.
The Toyota C-HR is next in line, delivering the goods with a well-sorted ride and handling combination that’s a highlight of the drive.
Tested here in all-wheel drive format, the C-HR is responsive and composed in the corners while striking a neat comfort-performance balance over rough bumps. The car’s steering is accurate, if a little inert, and the body is well-hinged through corners, with a moderate but controllable amount of roll.
Pushing the C-HR along is a 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (85kW/185Nm), which is willing but ultimately lacks outright muscle and feels hamstrung by its continuously variable transmission.
Push the accelerator to the floor and, like many modern CVTs, this one reverts to a slow, drawling slur as it lethargically picks up the pace. The engine note isn’t what you’d call inspiring, though it never breaks into the thrashy chorus that many rival units do.
The Toyota Yaris Cross is effectively a taller version of the new Yaris hatch, and that’s reflected in the way it drives.
Its 88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder is no powerhouse, and where other three-pot engines have a charming, thrummy character, Toyota’s tiddler is unashamedly rowdy.
The large wheels and tyres give the Yaris Cross a meaty footprint, which not only provides more grip but nicely weights-up the steering to lend more substance to the way it feels on the road.
The Subaru XV is certainly no sports car either, with a flat and uninspiring torque delivery from its 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but it’s smooth and has a dose of Subaru rally car character to its soundtrack.
The 115kW/196Nm outputs are maximised by Subaru’s continuously variable transmission, which like many such CVTs is not built to stir the driver’s soul but does an admirable job of translating engine revs to road speed.
The XV’s real achievement is its ride, which is nicely balanced between comfort and control. It’s not soggy like some, nor harsh like some others. Bear in mind we’re not judging the XV for off-road prowess – despite its standard AWD, this is very much an all-roader rather than off-roader.
Steering, too, is good in the Subaru. Light and direct around town and on the open road, it firms up to be confident and stable.
The Kia Stonic GT-Line is not as supple as many will expect from a small SUV, but at open-road speeds – and even on lumpy country bitumen – the Stonic’s ride does smooth out.
There’s a level of dynamic control that goes with that firmer chassis tune. The rapid steering response and feedback are complemented by the handling and roadholding, leaving the driver feeling secure and safe when cornering.
While the 74kW/172Nm 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is not that powerful at higher speeds, it does feel lively enough at lower speeds and produces impressive torque for lazier motoring around town.
That brings us to the Hyundai Venue, which relies on a 90kW/151Nm 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine – and isn’t what we’d call lively.
There’s adequate torque at lower speeds for around-town work in the Venue, but demands for more performance will be met by a distinctly soft, long-travel accelerator action, but little actual pick-up.
If the powertrain for the Hyundai Venue leaves more to be desired, the suspension and steering more than compensate.
For such a small car, the Venue’s ride and handling balance is impressive. It’s firmly damped, but the spring rates are about right. The Venue is compliant at lower speeds, yet holds the road well and feels altogether sorted at higher speeds.
Not far behind in the Venue’s mirrors is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which features a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that’s spritely and delivers good thrust at full throttle.
It’s a punchy little unit, which works in its favour in busy urban areas while also adding confidence for the driver on the highway.
That said, when you floor it for more than a few seconds, the continuously variable transmission makes the engine flare and emit an irritating droning sound that turns this normally calm and quiet SUV into a noisy, frenetic thing. Not unusual for a CVT, but irritating nonetheless.
Tweaks to the suspension and steering in the latest Eclipse Cross deliver a confident drive. It’ll nose through roundabouts with only mild body roll and feels planted and predictable through most corners. The light steering makes parking manoeuvres a cinch.
While this updated Eclipse Cross doesn’t feel quite as choppy and rigid as its predecessor over deeper potholes, we still wouldn’t describe the ride as supple.
Although the Haval Jolion’s power delivery suffers some engine and gearbox lag at lower speeds, the 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder provides adequate thrust for the small SUV once moving, both around town and on the freeway.
It offers similar power but more torque than some of its non-turbocharged small SUV rivals and is generally unobtrusive and refined in most situations, but when the engine reaches high revs it can get a little raspy.
Ride comfort is best described as above-average for the segment, the Jolion riding smoothly over speed bumps and feeling settled and generally untroubled on rougher roads.
It doesn’t really deliver much in the way of driver engagement, but few small SUVs do. And given that these city-savvy vehicles are essentially replacing small hatchbacks, the Jolion’s A-to-B transit abilities are more than satisfactory.
The MG ZST also covers off the dynamic duties of a small SUV well, although it is lacking in overall refinement.
The 1.3-litre turbo-triple, with signature syncopated engine note, makes a respectable 115kW and 230Nm. There is no claim for the 0-100km/h sprint, but there’s a solid surge away from a standing start and plenty of overtaking shove when needed.
The ZST is quiet at highway speeds, but when the road gets rough or twisty its weaknesses are exposed. The ride gets bouncy, yet there’s still significant impact harshness over potholes, and the steering is numb – even with a choice of three electric-assist settings.
Around town, where most of its work is done, the MG delivers on the brief to be a relatively calm and quiet car that can keep up with the cut and thrust of city traffic.
The Mitsubishi ASX might be at the tail end of this field, but remember these are all finalists and the triple-diamond brand’s popular small SUV still stacks up reasonably well for a vehicle that’s nearing the end of its lifecycle.
The larger 123kW/222Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine powering the updated Mitsubishi ASX Exceed feels lively from a standing start and delivers decent levels of performance – and acceptable refinement – right up to the 6500rpm redline.
ASX owners will feel confident they can extract enough performance to stay ahead of traffic without working the SUV too hard.
The CVT is not the sort of transmission that appeals to driving enthusiasts, but in the ASX it doesn’t drone endlessly on light-to-medium throttle and probably suits target buyers in typical urban driving.
The ASX is dynamically sound and corners and brakes better than expected. The direct steering is lightly weighted and the SUV turns-in quite well, but the electrically-assisted rack-and-pinion system is not the most communicative set-up.
The suspension is less compliant than some buyers might anticipate; it soaks up small irregularities in the road and doesn’t crash over the rough stuff at higher speeds, but nor is it as supple as its rivals at the pointy end of this field.
Best Small SUV 2022 contenders:Haval Jolion UltraHyundai Kona HighlanderHyundai Venue EliteKia Seltos Sport+ AWDKia Stonic GT-LineMazda CX-3 Akari LE AWDMazda CX-30 G25 Touring SP 2WDMG ZST EssenceMitsubishi ASX ExceedMitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed 2WDSubaru XV 2.0i-SToyota C-HR Koba AWDToyota Yaris Cross UrbanVolkswagen T-Cross 85TSI Style
Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style 2WD
Keyword: Best Small SUV 2022: Driving performance