10 Small SUVs That Feel Surprisingly Spacious
Small SUVs may look compact from the outside, but some models pack in shockingly roomy cabins, big cargo areas, and smart interior layouts that make them feel like full-size rides. These 10 small SUVs deliver the perfect mix of comfort, practicality, and everyday usability without the bulk of a large SUV.
Honda CR-V
Okay, we literally have to start here. The CR-V is like… the undisputed king of this. Honestly. From the outside, it’s just a normal, fine-looking SUV thing. But you get inside and it’s like they hired a wizard who specializes in interior space. The back seat legroom is insane, like, my six-foot-tall friend can sit behind me and I don’t even have to move my seat up. And the trunk? It’s a bottomless pit. For what, like $34,000 for a nice one? It’s just the smartest, most practical choice. It’s boring in the best way possible.
Toyota RAV4
Right, so obviously you can’t talk about the CR-V without its arch-nemesis, the RAV4. And it’s the exact same story! It just feels so airy inside, especially if you get one with a moonroof, it’s like a moving greenhouse. The cargo area is just this perfect, square box—you can actually fit a whole Costco trip in there without any clever stacking. The hybrid is the one to get, honestly, for the gas mileage. Probably around $33,000 or so? It’s just a rock-solid, dependable, surprisingly roomy box.
Kia Seltos
Now this one is a sneaky one. The Seltos is actually a subcompact, so it’s tiny on the outside, which is amazing for parallel parking. But you open the back door and you’re like… wait, how is this legal? There’s legit, honest-to-goodness legroom back there. The cargo area isn’t CR-V level, but for its class? It’s a champion. And it’s so affordable! You can get a really nice, loaded one for well under $30,000. It’s like they discovered a new law of physics.
Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson… man, Hyundai is just showing off lately. The interior on the new ones feels so… open? With all that glass and that weird, cool dashboard that goes all the way across. It feels like a spaceship, a really roomy spaceship. And the rear seats recline! I mean, who even thinks of that? It’s such a nice touch for passengers. A well-equipped one is probably in the $33,000 to $35,000 range. It just feels more expensive and more spacious than it should.
Mazda CX-5
The CX-5 is the one that feels… premium, you know? Like, the interior materials are so nice, everything you touch feels solid. But space-wise, it’s interesting – it’s not necessarily the absolute biggest in its class on paper, but the way it’s designed just makes it feel really open and comfortable. It’s more of a “feels spacious” than a “measures the biggest” kind of thing. Starts around $31,000. It’s just a lovely, composed place to spend time.
Subaru Forester
Oh, the Forester! This is the one if you’re claustrophobic, I swear. The greenhouse… it’s all windows! It’s like sitting in a fishbowl in the best possible way. So it automatically feels a thousand times more open and airy than anything else. And the cargo area is literally a perfect rectangle—so useful for, like, actual real-life stuff. It’s not the most exciting drive, but for pure, practical, “I need to see and carry all the things” space, it’s top-tier. A good one is around $33,000.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Okay, this is a bit of a cheat. The Tiguan they sell here, it has an optional third row. It’s a joke of a third row, like for small children or very flexible pets, but the point is, that means the standard five-seat version has a massive amount of rear legroom. It’s honestly probably best in class for that. The cargo area is huge too. It can feel a bit… plain compared to the Hyundai, but for raw space? Unbeatable. Starts around $30,000, which is a steal for the room you get.
Ford Escape
The Escape is another one that’s just… really cleverly packaged. The rear seat slides forward and back! I mean, it’s so simple, why doesn’t everyone do this? Need more legroom for your passengers? Slide it back. Need more cargo space for your IKEA flat-pack? Slide it forward. Genius. The interior feels bright and open, and it drives pretty nice too. You can find a nice one for around $32,000. It’s a really strong, underrated contender.
Kia Sportage
The newest Sportage… wow, they really went for it with the design. It looks like a spaceship from the future. But inside, it’s so spacious. The dashboard is super low, which makes the whole cabin feel huge and open. And again, the rear legroom is just excellent. It’s a really comfortable and roomy place for a family. With all the tech and stuff, a nice one will run you about $34,000. It’s another home run from Kia, not gonna lie.
Chevrolet Equinox
The Equinox is kind of the quiet achiever in this segment. It’s not the flashiest, it’s not the most exciting, but it’s just… consistently, reliably roomy. The back seat is super comfortable for passengers, and the trunk is totally usable for a big grocery run or a weekend trip. It’s just a very competent, spacious family hauler that doesn’t scream for attention. A well-equipped LT model is probably around $32,000.
