SUVs have gotten immensely popular and one of the main reasons is that they sit higher than cars, giving drivers a more comfortable and confident position. However, midsize and large SUVs have also increased in price and size, which has given birth to the compact and subcompact categories for drivers who want the SUV experience, but not with the size and price.
Best-Selling Subaru Vehicle
The Crosstrek isn’t just popular in the compact SUV segment, it’s also Subaru’s best-selling model. It combines the rugged spirit of Subaru with budget-friendly affordability. Subaru recently gave it a refresh as well, adding the adventurous Wilderness trim. As with all Subaru models, the Crosstrek is equipped with AWD across the lineup as standard equipment.
The Crosstrek doesn’t feature a very powerful engine as standard, however. The base powerplant only makes 152 horsepower. An upgrade to 182 horsepower is available. For budget-minded shoppers, the starting price of $27,230 is undoubtedly attractive and it comes with the best ground clearance in the segment at 8.7 inches.
All Crosstrek models feature the latest Subaru driver-assistance suite, and most models come with a large 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen. Only the base model gets the much smaller dual 7-inch screen setup.
Simple, Attractive, Affordable Hyundai Venue
A subcompact SUV is by nature simple and that’s why it’s also affordable. The 2025 Hyundai Venue encompasses this philosophy by featuring clean lines, an attractive build, and an affordable price that starts at $21,550. You may only visit one car dealer on your quest if the Venue’s practical design impresses you.
Like the Crosstrek, the Venue isn’t particularly powerful, but it’s very economical with up to 31 MPG combined. This helps it be one of the lowest five-year costs to own SUVs in the segment. The base model is a bit spare, but when you move up to the SEL trim you get the useful blind-spot monitoring feature.
Both the SEL and Limited trims come with Snow Mode to adjust traction for optimum application on slippery roads. As with all Hyundai vehicles, the Venue also benefits from the best warranty in the business with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty.
Which Compact SUV Should You Choose?
To start, both compact SUVs are fuel-efficient, affordable, and include plenty of attractive standard features. However, the Hyundai Venue is significantly less expensive than the Crosstrek with its $21,550 base price. Even the highest trim is less than the Crosstrek’s base trim at $24,800. It’s pretty clear that if budget is your main priority, the Venue has the edge.
On the other hand, the Crosstrek offers more available power and is clearly geared toward the adventure set with standard AWD and the highest ground clearance in its class. Choosing between the two depends on what you want in a compact SUV. If you want something simple and affordable for your daily commute, the Venue is probably a better choice. You might lean toward the Crosstrek if you plan to go off the beaten path regularly.
