CX-30

Plenty of subcompact SUVs offer middling interiors and a dull experience behind the wheel, but the Mazda CX-30 cuts against the grain. Instead, it's one of the few in its class to offer a genuinely premium cabin and enough driving verve to keep you entertained while zipping down winding backroads. While the standard 191-hp four-cylinder provides decent-enough thrust, you'll want to upgrade to the 250-hp turbocharged engine to maximize the CX-30's performance potential. With a sloped roofline and hatchback-like proportions, the CX-30 is a stylish little ute—although the tradeoff is limited cargo capacity and second row headroom when compared to more traditionally shaped subcompacts such as the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos.