In the world of SUVs, the bigger alternatives that can pack in a large family get much of the headlines, but lurking in the background are some strong options for folks with a need for less space.

The subcompact SUV category is one that has a wide variety of options — from the Chevy Trax to Volkswagen Taos, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos and Buick Envista — but the one that stands about all others in the category is the Mazda CX-30.

I recently tested the 2026 Mazda CX-30 (a Turbo Premium Plus model), and it left a very strong impression with its powerful drive quality and upscale interior. Many people associate smaller vehicles with low power, but that’s far from the case with the CX-30.

Read on for a full review of the CX-30, which carries over mostly unchanged from the 2025 model.

It seems to be raining new small SUVs over the past few years, with almost every automaker unveiling new vehicles to add to the already large mix of options available to consumers seeking an entry-level SUV.

Kia, which already has a healthy list of quality SUVs to offer, saw an opening in its lineup and decided to fill it, debuting the brand new 2021 Kia Seltos, a vehicle that slides in between the Soul and the Sportage in Kia's lineup. The subcompact SUV is slightly longer than the popular Soul offering, but not as large as the Kia Sportage.

Seltos takes on tough competition — including the Mazda CX-30, Chevy Trax, Nissan Kicks, and Hyundai Venue — but delivers the unique feature of available All-Wheel Drive, which much of the competition does not offer in this segment.

I recently spent a week driving a 2021 Kia Seltos, and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up in the segment.