This is a Motormouth couple car video listing our top-5 subcompact SUVs for 2026.
BMW X1
2L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, 241 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The more powerful M35i has 312 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Standard AWD for both models.
Reliability: JD Power gives the X1 an overall reliability score of 79/100 and Consumer Reports
Lexus UX300h
2L 4-cylinder with Lexus Hybrid Drive, it’s matched to an e-CVT and gets a combined 196 horsepower. In Canada standard AWD and in the US FWD and AWD options are available.
Reliability: JD Power gives the UX an overall score of 79/100 and Consumer Reports 71/100.
Mercedes GLA
There are two powertrain options, the base engine is a 2L turbocharged 4-cylinder with 48-volt mild hybrid system, it’s matched to an 8-speed dual clutch transmission, 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, standard AWD. There is a more powerful option, the AMG GLA 35 with 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Reliability: JD Power gives the GLA a good overall score of 78/100 and Consumer reports not so favourable 60/100.
Mini Countryman
There are three powertrain options, the base engine is a 2L turbocharged 4-cylinder with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, 241 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.
The more powerful John Cooper Works has 312 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The electric Countryman has up to 342 km/212 miles of range, 308 horsepower and 364 lb-ft of torque. Standard AWD for all models.
Reliability: JD Power gives the Countryman an overall score of 83/100 and Consumer Reports gives the gas model a 78/100 and the EV 66/100.
Volvo XC40
The gas model has a B5 powertrain, a 2L turbocharged 4-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic transmission, 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Standard AWD. In the US, there is also a B4 FWD model with 194 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The electric EX40. RWD models have 248 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. AWD 402 horsepower and 494 lb-ft of torque. Up to 540 km/336 miles of range depending on RWD or AWD. In Canada, AWD is the only option.
Reliability: JD Power gives the XC40 an overall score of 74/100 and Consumer Reports 58/100.
The EX40 electric has not been rated yet.
XC40 INTERIOR is a JOKE. In my test drive I thought they forgot to put the leather or plastic on the interior of the doors and trims and the screen looks like it’s built for a 80 year old. Ugly af
The GLA all the way!
Thanks for including the UX on your list! I couldn't care less about any of the others 😄
Missed the CORSAIR as usual
Can luxury and E-CVT be used in the same sentence?
I have had 2 XC40s as loaners, one a more base model and the other a higher trim. I thought they were ok. I think the XC60 is a much more refined vehicle. Volvo has had a time with the AAOS and continues to improve it with OTA updates. New Volvos have a revamped interface that is supposed to be an improvement. They were showing the older interface. I understand the new interface will be available for those older cars that can run it. It depends on the chip set. During the COVID shortages, some less than optimized chip sets were used that cause limitations in performance.
Sub compact luxury SUV! Lol!
I would argue that the 2026 VW Tiguan R has passed up 2026 Audi Q3 in performance and luxury. It’s a shame really…
All but the Lexus are expensive to maintain so they’re off my list.
Excellent review, thanks very much for presenting these so well.
My daughter bought a new Mini Countryman S, and she and our son-in-law absolutely love it. They agree with Andrea — extremely sporty and fun to drive, tremendous cargo capacity for its size, fabulous interior design, which our fashionista daughter totally loves. The price with all options was less than US $45K, and they have had no reliability issues.
The Volvo is incredibly high priced for its size and capabilities at nearly $60K
The UX is simply an impractical toy car, apparently for those who never have passengers or cargo, but want to pay a lot for that non-privilege.
Mercedes quality has been very poor over recent years, as Consumer Reports survey showed for this model. (The two recent GLCs in our family were also reliability.)
I’ve got an xc40 black edition, easily the best looking suv.
Why the GLA over the GLB? I think the GLB is so cute with that boxy back end! Seems very practical in terms of cargo space, too.
Porsche Macan???
We just turned in our lease X1 of three years and besides a few issues overall it was pretty good. I don’t understand why the NX is not considered subcompact because the X1 has more rear leg room. I would like to try the GLA even though I heard the X1 is a quieter ride.
I’m a 72 year old empty nester with the occasional grandkid pickup and the 2022 Lexus UX250h that I drive is by far the best vehicle I’ve ever owned! I even found a hidden hitch to have installed for my e-bikes! It deserves to be on your list!
My wife drives a Mazda CX-3 AWD around town, but when we travel long distances in Kyushu, Japan, we drive the Lexus UX 300h. It has excellent gas mileage (much better than the 1.5L CX-3) and is more comfortable for long drives. The UX is a great all-around luxury sub-compact SUV (which I consider a hatchback since I did not ordered roof rails), and it's perfect for our lifestyle in the Japanese countryside.
We are soon to be empty nesters looking at the Lexus UX AWD for a second car. We were also looking at the Crosstrek Hybrid but those are creeping closer to Ux in cost and we prefer the UX fit and finish and don’t need the Subaru offroad ability or backseat room. I will take Andrea’s advice on the trickle charger❤
Note to Volvo: Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto does not equate to “luxury.”
If Chrysler was still Daimler Chrysler instead of Stellantis, the Mercedes Benz you featured here could have been a modern day Dodge Caliber.
In your prior BMW reviews, you gave them demerits for their clunky auto stop start system. Is this still an issue for this model in this review?
My wife wants to downsize from her Grand Cherokee and we recently test drove the BMW X1. It seems very peppy and honestly it reminds me of my Mk8 GTI in both performance and handling. We may wait a bit to see the new Audi Q3 redesign but we are not really in a hurry to change at all.
Great review.. but Consumer Report isn't a good measure of automobiles… they will downgrade a sports car for MPG but never upgrade it for performance… it's a sports car, what's the point.