The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
We’re parents of two young kids, living in downtown Toronto with on-street parking. We currently have a 2008 Honda Fit (purchased pre-kids) which we really need to upgrade to fit our busy weekends and vacations with kids. We need more trunk space, leg room and highway safety features. We love that the Fit is easy to park and fuel efficient. Do you have any small, efficient, family adventure vehicles to recommend? – Claire
Petrina Gentile: I wish there were more small, efficient vehicles like the Honda Fit. It was a great little vehicle – practical, good on gas and affordable.
Mark Richardson: It wasn’t very exciting, but it did everything well. Now Claire and her family have grown out of it and maybe somebody else without kids will appreciate it. It sounds like Claire wants to expand to a compact SUV, and there are plenty out there to choose from.
Gentile: It does, but she hasn’t given us a budget. Let’s assume she wants an affordable compact SUV. One of my favourites is the Toyota Corolla Cross. It’s the right size, easy to park and drive, and is available with a fuel-efficient hybrid engine.
Richardson: There aren’t many small vehicles sold as hybrids because they already use little gas that the hybrid powertrain doesn’t make much difference. They’re cleaner to run, however – vehicle ownership is not just about saving money.
Gentile: But it’s a big factor for some. And I noticed the savings when I drove the Corolla Cross hybrid. Every little bit helps.
Richardson: It depends how much extra the hybrid drivetrain costs compared to the regular drivetrain. You can buy a basic, front-wheel-drive Corolla Cross L for $30,715, but the hybrid forces you to buy more features, including all-wheel drive, for $7,000 more. It’s an extra $3,500 over the similarly equipped LE edition. It’ll take 100,000 kilometres of driving to recoup that in fuel savings over the LE when you’re only saving two litres every 100 kilometres.
Gentile: I’m not a fan of paying more for bundled items, but having the all-wheel-drive system with the hybrid is a nice feature. In the wintertime, with a good set of winter tires, you’ll have better traction and control on the road. I think it’s worth the extra price.
Richardson: Claire’s kids are probably teenagers now, and I’m not sure the Corolla Cross will be big enough for her family, especially carrying their luggage too. There’s a reason compact SUVs sell so well – they’re the right size for most families. She should probably take a step up to the larger Toyota RAV4, or stay in the Honda family and look at the CR-V. The two are pretty much interchangeable, though the CR-V is more frequently stolen in Canada.
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is more of a smaller, lesser-powered station wagon.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
Gentile: I think Claire could get by with the Corolla Cross, after all she currently drives a Fit. But I’ll entertain your RAV4 suggestion, if she has the budget. While it does have more cargo and passenger space, the base model starts around $36,000 before freight, pre-delivery inspection and taxes.
Richardson: The RAV4′s been growing with every generation. It’s the best-selling vehicle in Canada that’s not a pickup truck, and Claire has to balance its larger size on the road with the larger size it will provide for her passengers in both rows.
Gentile: And she has to weigh the pros with the higher price tag to see if it’s worth it.
Richardson: She’ll have to do that with any vehicle she considers.
Gentile: Absolutely. Maybe a Subaru might be right for her and her adventure-seeking family?
Richardson: That’s a good choice. Either a Forester or an Outback might fit them well, depending on how large she wants to go.
Gentile: I’m actually thinking of a Subaru Crosstrek instead. Again, since she drives a Honda Fit, she may not want to spend more than $36,000 (before freight and PDI) for an Outback or Forester when a Crosstrek costs less, around $31,000 (before freight and PDI).
Richardson: Fair enough. The Crosstrek is more of a smaller, lesser-powered station wagon, while the Forester is an SUV and the Outback is somewhere between the two. She’ll be able to compare all three at a Subaru dealer for a better idea of which would suit her best.
The 2023 Mazda CX-50.Emily Atkins/The Globe and Mail
Gentile: The Crosstrek is a solid vehicle with all-wheel drive. It’s not the fastest out of the gate, but it’s practical, affordable and good for family adventures.
Richardson: I’m not sure it’s big enough for the whole family, but she’ll find out if she sits in one. She might also like the Mazda CX-50. Mazdas are usually good value, depending on their trim level and features.
Gentile: That’s a good option. It’s comfortable, spacious and nicely appointed in the cabin. But it costs more than some of its competitors. It starts around $39,000, before freight and PDI.
Richardson: The 50 has more of a trail-ready look to it that Claire might like, compared to the similar CX-5, which is slightly smaller but less money. It’s only available with all-wheel drive, like the Subarus, which is nice but adds cost. She could save some money by opting for the CX-5, or for a two-wheel-drive vehicle, like the basic Ford Escape for about $4,000 less.
Gentile: I’m not a big fan of the Escape. While it’s spacious and comfortable, I find the handling a bit lacklustre.
Richardson: The Escape’s handling is just fine for a compact SUV, where most customers are looking for cool technology and practical comfort. The Escape has both of those.
Gentile: The Escape is definitely better after its latest refresh, but I think there are better options out there for Claire.
Richardson: This is the most popular vehicle segment, so every manufacturer has something available. Toyota, Subaru and Mazda are good places to start, for value, space and safety, but I’d definitely recommend looking at the Ford Escape as well.
Gentile: Skip the Escape and go for a base model Toyota Corolla Cross or the Subaru Crosstrek.
The 2023 Ford Escape’s handling is just fine for a compact SUV.Courtesy of manufacturer
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Petrina at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as part of your subject line. Emails with different subject lines may not be answered.
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