Honda has a reputation for making good-quality cars, but since the global financial crisis in 2008, the number of models on offer has dropped.

The new Honda ZR-V is the first core model to be introduced in Australia in 20 years. Entering an already competitive midsize SUV market – with strong players including the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4 – Honda has its work cut out.

Honda’s dealers operate through an agency model, so you buy the car direct from Honda Australia. The days of haggling at different dealers are over if you’re in the market for a Honda – the price is set and it’s non-negotiable. This might not sit well with every car buyer, but the ZR-V is competitively priced when you consider equipment levels.

The model we tested – the VTi LX – is probably the best value in the range.

All models come with an impressive array of kit, including front and rear parking sensors, a nine-inch audio display plus a 10.2-inch driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, auto-adaptive LED headlights, active cornering lights, wireless charging, and space-saver spare wheel.

Supporting the entertainment setup is a 12-speaker Bose sound system. It also has navigation and Honda’s 360-degree MultiView Camera System. This all sits on 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels.

Honda has packaged the ZR-V on the old CR-V platform and it delivers ample passenger and cargo space for a mid-sized SUV. The cabin, glovebox, centre console and door pockets can easily store large bottles. The centre console has enough space for a tablet and a handy shelf at the back, which is large enough for a smartphone.

The height of the front seats, combined with the wide-opening front doors, make it easy to enter and exit.

Subaru has a reputation built on safety and all-wheel drive capability. The Japanese manufacturer’s vehicles can go where proper SUVs should – be it bitumen, sand, mud or snow – yet they’re small enough to park easily in the city. Rising from the ashes of the previous XV is the all-new Crosstrek, continuing Subaru’s tradition of being the car for those living a real outdoor lifestyle.

The Crosstrek is reasonable value, with good equipment levels at a competitive price. We tested the S model, which is the most expensive non-hybrid model in the range. The S has impressive features, including push-start ignition, dusk-sensing LED headlights, roof rails, power-folding door mirrors and LED daytime running lights. Inside the cabin, you’ll find heated front seats, electric lumbar support for the driver, satellite navigation and an electric sunroof.

It also comes with the latest generation EyeSight Driver Assist system, which has an improved stereo camera and a new wide-angle monocular camera. On top of that, the Crosstrek also has speed sign recognition and lane centering function. Subarus have always been a bit thirsty and the Crosstrek is no different, using 7.2 litres of fuel per 100km.

Part SUV, part hatch, the Crosstrek is bigger than the outgoing XV, although the rear seat and boot are adequate. The absence of rear air vents is another shortcoming. Inside there’s a dash-mounted portrait screen, as well as easy-to-use traditional dials and switches. The wireless phone charger is useful, but the hard plastic means phones slip and slide.

Crosstrek has the same DNA as other Subaru vehicles. This includes the quiet rumbling sound of the direct injection two-litre boxer engine. On the road, the Crosstrek soaks up undulations without much fuss like the generations of Subarus before it.

The ASX has been one of the mainstays of the Mitsubishi range for more than a decade, and there are still plenty on the second-hand market. Mitsubishi calls this car its Active Sports Crossover and with a few facelifts over the years, it’s been reinvented and remained a popular choice.

The 2016 ASX has a reputation for being a good value small SUV when new, and it’s no different on the used-car market. The ASX’s popularity also means there are many to choose from at your local used-car dealer.

In its day, the ASX offered standard features such as cruise control, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, and a colour touchscreen for controlling infotainment functions. It was also wired for sound and had an iPod and MP3 compatible audio system, with AM/FM and digital radio, CD player, USB input, and Bluetooth connectivity for phone calls and audio streaming.

When new, the 2016 ASX came with a five-year warranty, so most things should have been fixed during the past seven years if it was serviced regularly by a Mitsubishi dealer.

Check the service history if you’re looking to buy a used ASX. One good thing is the engine has a timing chain, so you don’t have the expense of replacing a timing belt.

The original ASX platform started in 2010 so the 2016 model was still a new car on an ageing platform, but the same generous space, enhanced with 60/40 split-fold rear seats, has been a common theme. Even when new, the interior design was a bit dated but fundamentally it still works, although the seats don’t provide much lateral support when cornering. Functionally, the ASX has good storage for front occupants and in the cargo area. The ASX also has a handy 1.3-tonne towing capacity for when you need to hitch a trailer.