Small hybrid SUVs compared: Subaru Crosstrek v Toyota Corolla Cross v Honda HR-V

A wave of new efficient hybrid SUVs have arrived in Australia in the past year, we put three of the most sought after examples to the test to find out which is the best.

Don’t be fooled by the red, white and blue paint, all of these cars are green.

Hybrid cars are growing in popularity, particularly in high-riding SUV trim. This trio represents three of the latest options for folks looking for an efficient ride.

Subaru has launched its new Crosstrek hybrid to tackle rivals such as the Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Formerly known as the Subaru XV, the Crosstrek is a high-riding cousin to the Impreza hatch. It’s a hiking boot in a world of sneakers, with butch looks, proper all-wheel-drive, generous ground clearance and a dedicated off-road driving mode that encourages owners to go exploring.

The Subaru Crosstrek’s hybrid power can’t compete with the others. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

But they should do so carefully, as this hybrid model has a battery in the space usually occupied by a spare wheel and tyre.

The Crosstrek is priced from about $43,000 in entry-level hybrid trim (about $4000 more than the equivalent petrol model) but the high-grade S model shown here costs a little more than $50,000 drive-away. It has heated leather seats with electric adjustment, a sunroof, 360-degree camera and 18-inch alloy wheels. It benefits from Subaru’s latest driver assistance tech that combines lane keeping assistance and active cruise control with clever features including a driver monitoring system with facial recognition.

A giant tablet-style screen dominates the interior. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

The new machine has an enormous 11.6-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash, augmented by sat nav, wireless smartphone connectivity, wireless charging and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine augmented by an electric motor that makes 12.3kW and 66Nm. Subaru doesn’t quote combined power figures for the hybrid system, instead listing maximum outputs of 110kW and 196Nm.

A claimed 10.7 second dash to 100km/h isn’t earth shattering, nor is combined fuel use of 6.5L/100km. The non-hybrid version uses 7.2L/100km, while Toyota’s non-hybrid Corolla Cross uses 6L/100km. Subaru’s hybrid solution feels sluggish when accelerating and less green around town, as it rarely drives using electric power alone.

The Crosstrek is the only one that can handle heading off the bitumen. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

The heaviest car here rides like a big car, gliding over bumps that unsettle the Toyota and Honda. Heavy steering and powerful brakes combine to help the Subaru feel planted in all conditions, inspiring confidence on the open road.

Honda HR-V Hybrid

There’s only one hybrid model in the HR-V range, the tongue-twisting “e: HEV L”. It’s a relatively well-equipped machine that delivers plenty of safety kit and luxury touches such as a powered tailgate and heating for the seats and steering wheel. It misses out on a sunroof and premium stereo, though.

The Honda is slightly smaller than the other two. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Priced from about $49,000 drive-away, the HR-V is a more urban machine than the Subaru. Only available with front-wheel-drive traction, the Honda doesn’t pretend to be an off-road warrior.

Smaller than the Subaru or Toyota but dearer than similar-sized rivals the Honda has a surprisingly spacious cabin helped by clever “magic seats” that tumble and fold to accommodate cargo. A highset driving position offers a panoramic view of the road, and its 9-inch touchscreen is loaded up with sat nav and wireless smartphone mirroring.

Powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid engine, the HR-V sends a combined 96kW of power and 253Nm of torque to the front tyres.

The interior has all the necessary pieces but isn’t as polished as the other two. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Those are modest figures, but it is a couple of hundred kilos lighter than the other cars here. Impressive 4.3L/100km fuel economy underpins unbeatable running costs – servicing is just $625 for 5 years, half the cost of the Toyota and about a quarter of what Subaru charges.

The little Honda feels light on its feet, with nicely weighted steering that returns a relaxed driving experience.

The ride is a little fussier than the softly-sprung Subaru, and there’s more tyre roar in the Honda, particularly at highway speed.

It feels perkier than the Crosstrek when overtaking but scrambles for traction on slippery surfaces.

The Honda is the cheapest to maintain and run. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Toyota Corolla Cross

Compact car customers looking for a hybrid are spoiled for choice in Toyota showrooms, where there are six different body styles including the relatively new Corolla Cross.

This high-riding wagon starts from $39,990 drive-away with hybrid power, though you’ll need to find $54,000 drive-away to take home this all-wheel-drive Atmos version loaded with heated seats, a sunroof and powered tailgate.

The Toyota Corolla Cross is the most expensive of the three. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

It’s the most spacious car of this lot and comes stocked with a wide-screen digital dash, wireless phone charging and a 9-inch touchscreen hooked up to wireless smartphone mirroring and a nine-speaker JBL stereo.

Plain-looking inside and out, the Corolla Cross doesn’t have the wow-factor of the intriguing Honda or hi-tech Subaru, until you take it for a drive.

It’s cabin is packed with goodies and its cheap to run and own. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Powered by a 2.0-litre hybrid that needs just 4.4L/00km to make a punchy 146kW, the Corolla Cross is the quickest car here by a handy margin. A claimed 7.6 second dash to 100km/h undercuts the others by three seconds, which is about the difference between older V6 sedans and their V8-powered cousins.

The Corolla is effortlessly punchy and forward progress is helped by a rear-mounted electric motor that delivers all-wheel-drive traction.

It’s the most convincing hybrid machine here and thrives in urban running such as the work commute or school run.

The Toyota’s hybrid tech is the most convincing and effective of the three. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

The suspension is the tautest of this trio, feeling reasonably comfortable in isolation but a bit brittle over sharper bumps. Quick steering lends an impression that the Corolla Cross is unusually agile, though it’s not a particularly dynamic machine.

VERDICT

The Crosstrek is a fine car in petrol form but doesn’t really cut it as a hybrid. Honda’s contender is worth a look if you are happy with a smaller car without all-wheel-drive, but the Toyota is the most rounded machine here. It’s our pick of this bunch.

TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS ATMOS HYBRID AWD

PRICE: About $54,000 drive-away

PRICE 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 146kW and 190Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICE: 5-yr/u’ltd km, $1250 for 5 years

SAFETY: Eight airbags, auto emergency braking, blind-spot and lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert.

THIRST: 4.4L/100km

BOOT: 380 litres

SPARE: Repair kit

HONDA HRV e:HEV L

PRICE: About $47,000 drive away

ENGINE: 1.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid, 96kW and 253Nm

WARRANTY: Five years/unlimited km; $625 over 5 years

SAFETY: Six airbags, auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, speed-sign recognition

THIRST: 4.3L/100KM

BOOT: 304 litres

SPARE: Repair kit

SUBARU CROSSTREK HYBRID S

PRICE: About $50,000 drive-away

ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cyl hybrid, 110kW and 194Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICE: 5-yr/u’ltd km, $2400 for 5 years

SAFETY: Nine airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-keep and blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, fatigue warning, radar cruise control

THIRST: 6.5L/100km

BOOT: 315 litres

SPARE: Repair kit

Originally published as Small hybrid SUVs compared: Subaru Crosstrek v Toyota Corolla Cross v Honda HR-V