Automakers continue investing in the SUV segment, seemingly adding new models yearly. This trend has been true for all classes, especially subcompact SUVs, the smallest in the segment. Here’s a look at three of the fastest-growing subcompact SUVs this year.

3 subcompact SUVs have had the fastest-growing sales of 2023

Recent sales figures in the subcompact SUV segment show three models have experienced the most growth. As expected, there was a lot of variability throughout the segment. Some, such as the Jeep Renegade and the Nissan Kicks, saw massive declines compared to last year. The Renegade dropped by about 59%, while the Kicks fell by about 43%. But most models had modest gains of around 20%.

However, the Mazda CX-30, Buick Encore GX, and Chevy Trailblazer are three subcompact SUVs that bucked the trend. They had triple-digit growth in year-to-date sales.

The CX-30’s sales grew by just over 109%.

The Encore GX saw a 128% increase in year-to-date sales compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the Trailblazer is the fastest-growing subcompact SUV of the year. The small Chevrolet SUV’s year-to-date sales grew by almost 225%, GM Authority reports.

That means there’s a massive gap between the fastest-growing subcompact SUV and the second fastest-growing. There’s also a big difference between the CX-30 and the next fastest-growing model. The Toyota Corolla Cross’ sales grew by 43%, making it the fourth fastest-growing subcompact crossover.

Here’s how much those subcompact SUVs have sold in raw numbers

Usually, when new cars see significant sales growth, there’s a statistical fluke happening. All three subcompact SUVs had decent sales in the same period last year, so a coincidence likely isn’t the case. In the first quarter of 2022, Mazda sold about 9,500 CX-30 units. In the first quarter of 2023, the automaker sold about 19,900. 

Meanwhile, Buick sold around 5,400 Encore GX units in the first quarter of 2022. Year-to-date, the company has already sold almost 12,300 units of its premium subcompact SUV.

The Trailblazer had a more impressive increase overall. In the first quarter of 2022, Chevrolet sold about 8,600 Trailblazers. In the same period this year, the automaker moved almost 28,000. 

The subcompact crossover segment is growing and changing rapidly

That massive sales growth helped make the Chevy Trailblazer the second-best-selling subcompact SUV overall. That said, there’s a big gap between first and second place. The Subaru Crosstrek is the best-selling subcompact SUV, and Subaru has already sold about 41,500 units of the popular SUV. For comparison, the Mazda CX-30 and Buick Encore GX are more modest in terms of how they rank. The CX-30 is the fifth-best-selling model, while the Encore GX is the 11th-best.

However, the Trailblazer’s fast rise might not have been possible without the quick downfall of the Honda HR-V. In the first quarter of 2022, Honda sold just over 42,000 HR-V units, making it the best-selling option in the segment. HR-V sales represented 16% of the segment total, but in 2023, the HR-V’s sales fell by over 37%. It now represents only 9% of segment sales. In comparison, the Trailblazer is now responsible for 10% of segment sales. That’s compared to a mere 3% from the first quarter of 2022.