Field of subcompact SUVs grows at Chicago Auto Show

SHARE Field of subcompact SUVs grows at Chicago Auto Show

The ranks of small sport utility vehicles is going to grow at the Chicago Auto Show with debuts of the Acura RDX, Chevrolet Equinox and KIA Trail’ster.

Interior space, fuel economy, price and good “parkability” are behind the boom in the market for subcompact SUVs.

“These represent not just a price point but also a lifestyle commitment of shoppers,” said Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive. “That’s where the market is going. This is the first year the crossover market outsized the sedan.”

Mark Bilek, a Chicago Auto Show spokesman, said the subcompact SUV market is the hottest in the industry, appealing “to empty-nesters as well as young, active people.”

Acura says its new crossover, the 2016 RDX, will feature “a long list of styling and performance improvements plus desirable new luxury and safety features.”

Kia is also making a debut in the market with the Kia Trail’ster –– an electric turbocharged crossover with a fully retractable canvas roof and all-wheel drive system.

The long-anticipated Chevrolet Equinox will be joining the Trax and the Buick Encore to round out General Motors’ lineup of subcompact SUVs. The Equinox is getting a facelift for its 2016 model year.

The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is a refreshed version of the popular compact SUV. | Courtesy of Chevrolet.

The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is a refreshed version of the popular compact SUV. | Courtesy of Chevrolet.

The Equinox, Chevrolet’s only debut at the show, is a “mid-cycle enhancement, not an all-new design,” said Leslie Rajewski, a Chevrolet spokeswman. Still, its debut comes just weeks after the crossover’s 2015 version posted a 34.4 percent growth in January sales.

The Chevrolet Trax has momentum of its own, and early sales data shows Chicago is the No. 1 market for the small crossover, according to Rajewski. Loaded with a 4G hotspot, a 7-inch touchscreen and a rearview camera, the Trax just became available in markets across the country last month.

As for the Buick Encore, one of the first in the segment, the 2015 model year comes equipped with OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability and the choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive systems.

Honda will show off its HR-V crossover, which debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November. Equipped with rearview cameras, lane watch, SiriusXM radio, forward coalition warning, among other premium features, the crossover is Honda’s entrance into the crossover market.

“This is the first time Honda explores crossover SUVs,” Honda spokesman Davis Adams said. “[The HR-V] has the competence of SUV but [is] practical like a Honda Fit.”

Other crossovers on display include Mazda’s CX-3, which also debuted at the L.A. show, and comes with all-wheel drive system capabilities, Mazda Connect and i-Activsense safety technology.

“It’s a very urban vehicle [with] great versatility and flexibility,” said Dan Calhoun, the product line manager for the CX-3. The Mazda CX-5 — the only one in the segment to have a push-button start – will also be at the show.

Subaru’s XV Crosstrek will also be present in both gasoline and hybrid models and equipped with an all-wheel drive system.

Honda’s HR-V, Jeep’s Renegade and Chevrolet’s Equinox and Trax are the top three vehicles to watch, according to Appel, who says they have the potential to become trendsetters in the segment.

Although the Jeep Renegade already made its debut, it’ll come to the Chicago show this year. The Italian-built vehicle — expected to roll into showrooms across the country next month — is opening up new markets for Jeep.

The 2015 Jeep Renegade will be on display at the Chicago Auto Show. | Courtesy of Jeep

The 2015 Jeep Renegade will be on display at the Chicago Auto Show. | Courtesy of Jeep

“The Renegade makes the brand more accessible to people,” Appel said. “[It] takes Jeep styling cues but adds fuel economy [and] city parkability.”

The five-passenger Renegade — Jeep’s smallest vehicle — made its world debut at the Geneva International Motor Show, where it displayed a Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system, a 9-speed automatic transmission and a choice of two engines.

The Latest
Senators tasked with clearing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s appointments are raising concerns over his renomination of Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau after the Sun-Times last year reported an executive assistant accounted for more than $240,000 in billings.
White Sox fans from all over will flock to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday for the team’s home opener against the Tigers.
Fans, some in costume, tailgate in the parking lots of Guaranteed Rate Field hours before the White Sox and Detroit Tigers kick off the 2024 seasons Thursday afternoon. Some weigh in on the proposed South Loop stadium.
Two weeks after the migrant eviction policy went into effect in Chicago, City Council members said not enough information on migrants exiting the shelter system has been provided.