Have you been SUV shopping lately? If you have then you certainly have noticed the dramatic change in the landscape of SUVs, but if you haven’t you might not have any idea what’s been happening. Have you noticed on your drive there are smaller SUVs, or at least that’s what they look like, on the road around you? Almost in an instant a segment has been created that is full of these compact crossover SUVs that give drivers a bit more space than the sedans a manufacturer has to offer, but not much more. These tiny SUVs are the result of what many have wanted for years, smaller vehicles that offer the versatility of an SUV but the drivability of a sedan.

For 2016 this segment is quickly becoming more popular than ever and when we look at a few for comparison we see that three are first time models, the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and Fiat 500X. The Jeep Renegade has been around for one extra year and the only one in this comparison that is out of place is the Buick Encore which has been around since 2013 but this was the only way to get a GM model in the mix, at least for this particular test.

Honda HR-V – This is a pleasant vehicle to drive as it appears to be one of the best in the category. The layout is the same as one of our already favorite models, the CR-V which has been a top seller for a while. The drive is excellent and a lot of fun whether on the highway or in the city. The interior is not overdone and is enjoyable, but the infotainment system is a bit of a disappointment as it harder to manage than the rest.

As for the stats, the HR-V starts at $20,015 and offers you 23.2 cu. ft. of cargo space. In this comparison this SUV offer the second largest passenger space at 96.1 cu. ft. and it gives you the enjoyment of AWD with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that is attached to a CVT automatic to bring in 141 horsepower and 127 lb.-ft. of torque for a combined 29 mpg. This is a small SUV that is affordable and worth all the money it calls for to be the perfect companion with the CR-V that sits a little higher in the lineup from Honda.

Buick Encore – As the only model that carries a premium badge this SUV already has strikes against it, but it’s also one of the best in this test. This is an SUV that is easy to drive on the highway or in the city and is one of the easiest to park anywhere there is enough space. The infotainment system is a bit of a disappointment in this vehicle as well, but upgrades are expected for 2017, so this may be a strength in the future. There is plenty of refinement to the interior to make it a place you want to be on the road.

Looking at the some of the numbers for this SUV the starting prices comes in at $24,990 and the cargo space is only 18.8 cu. ft., which is less than the HR-V. The cabin is in the middle of this five vehicle comparison at 92.8 cu. ft. and it does offer AWD. The engine is a 1.4-.iter turbocharged four-cylinder model that uses a six-speed automatic transmission to be a huge benefit for this vehicle. This gives you 153 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque with an average fuel mileage of 29 mpg to be an enjoyable vehicle to drive.

Mazda CX-3 – When you see the Mazda name on anything the immediate feeling should be one of excitement at the possible performance the vehicle can offer you. The CX-3 is not exception as it has great handling, an attractive design, upgraded technology and good fuel mileage; all important factors in a vehicle. What it doesn’t have for you is the space you want, but if you can deal with the space this could be the right vehicle for you. Its unwavering feeling of energy on the road makes this a choice that will continually pull at your heartstrings.

When we view the numbers compared to the rest there are two glaring issue, both having to do with the space. The cargo space is only 16 cu. ft. and the area for you and your passengers is only 88 cu. ft. which make both these stats the lowest in this comparison. The starting price for the CX-3 comes in at $20,840 and the vehicle is set up in FWD using a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is attached to a six-speed automatic to give you 146 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque. The average fuel mileage comes in at 31 mpg which is the highest in this test.

Jeep Renegade – When you see the name of Jeep on the front of a vehicle and view the seven port grill the first thing you want to do is take the vehicle on the trails. Blame the Wrangler for this feeling, but the Renegade is the only one of these five that can actually handle off road duty as it needs to. Unfortunately the ability to head off road is matched with some poor numbers for resale value and power, but if you plan to keep this SUV for a while, it can be a lot of fun.

Considering some numbers the Renegade does offer only 24 mpg of average fuel mileage as it uses a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that is attached to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This is the largest and most powerful engine in the group with 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque and its used by the Fiat 500X as well. This SUV does give you 4WD and starts out at the lowest price of only $18,990 to make it an attractive choice. The interior space is the largest in the group at 100.1 cu. ft. and a cargo space that is about average at 18.5 cu. ft.

Fiat 500X – The 500X gives you some of the most attractive styling you want to be able to enjoy on any road and an SUV that can be a lot of fun to drive. Fiat gives us this vehicle as a larger and more capable version of the Fiat 500 making this the only one of the group that is large in its lineup instead of small. Unfortunately this SUV lacks refinement, especially when you take away part of the Renegade to build this SUV.

What do we take away from the Renegade for the 500X? The two share a powertrain with the same engine, transmission and power numbers, but the 500X is set up in FWD where the Renegade is an off road beast. The fuel mileage does get a tiny bump to 25 mpg average with this vehicle. The starting price of the 500X is $20,900 to make it an affordable SUV and the passenger space is only slightly larger than the CX-3 at 91.7 cu. ft. with 18.5 cu. ft. of cargo room for you to put some gear for traveling to whatever destination you choose.