10 Subcompact SUVs with Great Leg Room
Are you looking for a practical car with plenty of room for your passengers? We break down the top choices among top automotive brands.
These Subcompacts Prove Bigger Isn’t Better
New automobiles have been getting larger and heavier for decades now. But does this always translate into a larger, more comfortable space for your backseat passengers? That’s a question that’s far more complicated to answer. To narrow things down a bit for those of you with young families and high needs for good legroom, join us as we break down some subcompact SUVs with enough backseat legroom to satisfy all but the largest human beings.
Subaru Crosstrek: Taking Queues from the Outback
Say what you will about the modern Outback being nothing close to what it was a quarter century ago. If you lament the Outback being an SUV these days, the Crosstrek fills much the same niche nowadays. With 36.5 inches of legroom in the back seat and 42.9 up front, you can do a lot worse in other vehicles around the same says.
Better still, with an entry price of $26,540, this much space won’t come at the cost of an arm and a leg. It’s just an all-around plucky little off-roader that’ll admittedly probably never see a trail in most cases. Still, it’s a great family grocery-getter, and that’s what Subaru‘s real bread and butter is, anyhow.
Hyundai Venue: More Than a Box on Wheels
The Hyundai Venue‘s design, on the border between blob-like and boxy, has its biggest strength in the practicality department. Though it won’t win any races, the Venue’s 41.3 and 34.3-inch front and back respective legroom plus 31 combined MPGs of fuel economy starting around $22,000 is a win-win every day of the week.
There are better-looking interiors out there, but few out there boast these levels of legroom while still having enough space behind the rear seat for 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space. With the seats down, that jumps to 31.9 cubic feet. It’s like one of those microvans they sell in Japan, but with enough grunt to take the interstate and an automatic transmission. Quite the deal when you think about it.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Under-the-Radar Value
We get it, the interior of the Outlander Sport isn’t the best place to spend a road trip. With aging drab plastic trim pieces and infotainment features that lag behind the competition, there’s better choices out there if the best driving experience possible is what you’re after. But what if you aren’t? What if you just need as much useable space in the interior as can possibly be engineered?
In that case, the current crop of Outlander Sports isn’t the worst choice you can make, with 41.6 inches of front legroom and 36.3 in the back seat, your children will have more room to stretch their arms and legs in an Outlander Sport than, say a Toyota Corolla Cross. Speaking of that, onto the next one.
Toyota Corolla Cross: A Return to Form for Toyota
For a Toyota product to have the Corolla name attached to it, it better well be second to none in practicality, efficiency, and reliability. At least on the practical end of things, the Corolla Cross doesn’t disappoint. This simple, little compact crossover’s 42.9 inches of legroom up front and 38.6 in the rear makes for a cabin that feels a bit bigger than it actually is. You may only seat five, but that sure beats a totally useless third row. We’re looking at you, Mitsubishi Outlander.
Better still, a starting MSRP of $23,860 is still peanuts compared to other, slightly more luxurious compact SUVs with around the same dimensions. After all, Corolla’s gonna Corolla. You buy the nameplate for so many things besides creature comforts. In this respect, the Corolla Cross is nothing short of a juggernaut.
Honda HR-V: Bland Outside, Useful Inside
The HR-V isn’t winning any beauty contests in its current configuration. Even so, you make up for this with an ultra-contemporary platform with modern safety and infotainment features, plus an inviting starting MSRP of $25,400. The 41.9 inches of legroom up front and 37.7 in the rear is just the gravy on top.
As is the 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space you get behind the rear seat. Perfect for three children’s worth of sports bags, plus the weekly grocery shopping, without needing to lower rear seats. With between 27 and 28 combined MPGs, depending on the options, this is a dream vehicle for the soccer parent who doesn’t quite need a minivan just yet. Give it time, though.
Buick Encore GX: Not German, But Close Enough
There was the temptation to put the Chevy Trailblazer on, which sits the same chassis as you’ll find in the Buick Encore GX in this spot. In fact, both models share 40.9 inches of front legroom and 36 in the back. But in a way that the Trailblazer simply isn’t, the facelifted Encore GX feels like a quality product built to keep pace with its German and Japanese rivals. It’s not like a rent-a-car joint’s dream come true like its Chevy counterpart.
Starting at just $27,295, you’re liable to find the up-trimmed Avenir to make the most out of its interior space with a Bose audio unit and a hands-free power liftgate. For under $30 grand, you can trick yourself into thinking it’s a BMW X1 if you don’t think about it too much. There are definitely worse choices in the segment. Just look at its Chevy cousin.
Volkswagen Taos: The Baby Atlas
Like few in the competition, the Volkswagen Taos borrows a trait from its rival, the Toyota Corolla Cross. Namely, it looks bigger than it is outside and feels similar in the interior. 40.1 inches of front legroom is nothing to sneeze at, nor is 37.9 inches in the back. Its 174 horsepower engine might not go very fast. But you do at least net a proper automatic gearbox, not a CVT. At $26,000.00 to start and with a combined 31 MPGs, you make up for that in non-fun categories.
Should you buy one over a Corolla Cross or a Honda HR-V? You might not break 200,000 miles like you can in one of those before a distinctly German event happens in your front driveway. But on a month-to-month lease basis as a family of five plus a dog hauler? That might be a deal sweeter than financing in this case.
Nissan Kicks: All New in 2025
The redesigned second-gen Kicks needed to be bold and exciting to keep interest. Thankfully, it looks bold and does offer healthy practicality. We’re talking 42.7 inches of legroom up front and 34.5 in the rear to go along with a revamped interior with all the fixins’.
Compared to the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport under the same corporate umbrella, there’s a lot to like over the Kicks’ cousin. But let’s see how true that is when Mitsubishi revamps its lineup soon enough. Hopefully, the competition will be closer soon. For now, an entry price of $21,830 gives you quite a bit for your money. Still, service the CVT and check out for recalls, to keep it in proper working order.
Kia Soul: Putting “Compact” in Compact SUV
Thanks to the shape as well, the headroom front and rear are equally fantastic. Something that isn’t always the case with crossovers of any size. Thanks to a recent facelift with all the modern Kia branding, the Soul is even more appealing than it was when the model first launched. At a price of $21,665, the school run just got a little bit cheaper.
Let’s be real, the Kia Soul just barely cuts it as an SUV. For much of its life, the model was treated like something closer to a sub-compact hatchback owing to its small stature for its form factor. But the trustiest box on wheels, since the Scion XB went dodo, gives you plenty of space for the lack of size. Thanks to its shape, you get nearly as much legroom in the back as up front, 41.1 and 38.8 inches, respectively.
Hyundai Ioniq 5: Finishing Strong With an EV
The front passengers are equally taken care of with 41.7 inches of legroom, plus access to one of the peppiest and most engaging EV drivetrains to make it to production thus far. Granted, a $41,800 starting MSRP is pricey, but it’s still cheaper than a Model Y. Something to consider if you’re in the market for an EV in this sector.
Step aside Model Y, there’s a new top dog in the compact crossover SUV EV space. Apart from looking better than a Tesla, better build quality than a Tesla, and more practicality to boot, the Ioniq 5 is just as blessed with interior space as it is with tech and features. Where else can your rear passenger be bathed in the warm glow of LED screens while also having 39.4 inches of legroom?
