The Mazda CX-3 is the cutest 'cute-ute' - and the perfect first car

We call 'em "cute utes," and they're increasingly all the rage. What are they? Subcompact crossover SUVs, the 21st-century version of the "econo-boxes" of the late 20th century - minus the box, but with lots of econo.

They're also fairly adorable, wittle smushed-down SUVs that don't resemble that 1990s hatchback, which screamed "college student" or "first job." Hence the cute before ute.

We may be looking at a paradigm shift in the auto industry in the US, as carmakers abandon passengers cars - and small cars in particular, with their skimpy profit margins - and focus on SUVs and crossover. If that's happening, then car companies don't want to lose out on their youngest potential customers. It can be difficult to "conquest," say, a Honda Civic buyer if Honda has perfectly good small SUVs to move them into.

So start them with a cute ute instead!

But which one? Well, that's an easy question to answer. You aren't going to find a better subcompact SUV than the Mazda CX-3.

Here's why: