The 2018 Honda HR-V blends great rear-seat flexibility and gas mileage, but it’s slow.
Pros Makes the most of its size Lots of standard equipment Great gas mileage Shift it yourself, if you like Composed, absorbent ride
Cons Thin acceleration Crash-test scores are mixed Doesn’t offer latest safety tech Road manners: meh
The 2018 Honda HR-V ranked #3 in Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Honda HR-V has a score of 8.2 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 31 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Adult-friendly back seat Versatile cargo area
Cons Awkward available touch screen Firm front seat cushions Slow to reach highway speeds
Honda’s mini ute switches to 2018 with a new paint color—Aegean Blue Metallic—and a new dark-colored wheel design on EX and EX-L trims. Other than that, the HR-V sees no other changes, mechanical or otherwise.
Pros Fuel-efficient powertrain, cargo-hauling leader, handsome styling.
Cons Lackluster acceleration, frustrating infotainment system, short on small-item storage.
The 2018 Lexus NX ranked #11 in Luxury Compact SUVs. Currently the Lexus NX has a score of 7.9 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 34 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Lengthy list of standard tech and safety features Ample legroom in both rows of seats
Cons Frustrating infotainment controls Small, restricted cargo space
The 2018 Lexus NX is an expressively styled and comfortable compact luxury crossover, but its mix of features faces significant new competitors this year.
Pros Comfy, spacious front seats Hybrid fuel economy Styling has grown on us Mildly sporty turbo performance
Cons Design clearly not for everyone Gas mileage little better than larger SUVs Road noise can intrude Infotainment system fussy No Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
Lexus has renamed its NX 200t the NX 300 for 2018. Mechanically, nothing has changed. But Lexus has made the Safety System+ package, which includes front collision mitigation, lane departure alert, high-beam assist and adaptive cruise control as standard equipment this year.
PROS Generous backseat room Available power-folding rear seat Cabin is very quiet at highway speeds
CONS Remote Touch Interface can be distracting to use Limited rear cargo volume
