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The UK car market is awash with high-riding small SUVs. These are our top 10 picks

Small SUVs are common in the modern world, but their origins date back as far 1940s.

The Willys Jeep and Series 1 Land Rover are commonly deemed the world's first small SUVs, but now the formula is as fashionable as it ever has been.

It’s easy to understand the appeal. Many small SUVs provide a commanding view of the road ahead, without the heft – or indeed cost – of traditional full-size Chelsea tractors.

Cars including the Nissan Juke and Range Rover Evoque use striking designs to encourage buyers, while the Dacia Duster, our pick for the best small SUV on sale today, offers an affordable price.

Small SUVs might not be as good to drive as the equivalent hatchback or saloon, nor as fuel-efficient, but they often come close. They're so popular that most of the UK's best-selling cars are now SUVs. 

Let's crack on with it, then. Here is our list of the best small SUVs on sale today. 

Best small SUVs

https://www.autocar.co.uk/best%20small%20suv%20Dacia%20Duster

Best for: Value for money

Some say the Dacia Duster is all the car you need and who are we to argue? Spacious and large, it has been much improved over the past few generations.

Its interior is large and practical enough for a small family (it has physical buttons too!) and the ride is soft and plush. It can even be used off-road.

The Duster offers a choice of three engines: a 1.0-litre bi-fuel triple, which runs on petrol and LPG, a 1.2-litre mild hybrid and a 1.6-litre full hybrid. 

We would choose the 1.2-litre, and view the hybrid as an automatic option that doesn’t carry a fuel economy penalty.

Ultimately, the Duster is at least as good as a Hyundai Kona while costing a few thousand pounds less. And that’s hard to argue with.

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With a more sophisticated platform, design-savvy look and fresh tech, has this all-new version lost sight of the model’s value appeal?

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Best for: All-round ability

Right up until the end of its lifecycle, the old Qashqai stayed doggedly at the sharp end of the sales charts in this class, and so with its new, lighter chassis, more commodious dimensions and much-improved dynamics, you'd expect this new third-generation model to hit the ground running. And for the most part, it does.

There's little here for keen drivers, and both the 1.3-litre mild-hybrid petrol and novel e-Power hybrid are a little breathless, but what did you expect?

Performance and handling aren't what the Qashqai is about and, as one tester put it, "it's very thoughtfully designed for families, well equipped and costs peanuts to buy and run". If you must have a two-pedal version, we’d go for the hybrid, rather than the wheezy CVT petrol.

The interior doesn’t look as jazzy as some, but the materials are pleasing, it’s solidly built and it's very easy to use, thanks to plenty of real buttons.

All early Qashqais had a multimedia system that was easy enough to use but looked slightly dated. About two years in, higher trims got a new system that retains all the usability but looks a lot nicer.

A game-changing effort? Not any more, but it's a demonstration that Nissan knows its customers extremely well. It's difficult to beat among the non-premium ranks.

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https://www.autocar.co.uk/

Best for: Luxury feel

The Volvo XC40, the Swedish car maker's compact sibling for its established XC60 and XC90 SUVs, has been a real success.

It's a model that offered instant kerbside appeal when it launched back in 2017, with a charismatic and alluring design that helped bring younger family buyers into Volvo showrooms.

In addition to its funky exterior, the XC40 also offers a cabin of laudable richness, comfort, usability and quality. 

While it isn't the most practical car in the small SUV class, it certainly has plenty of luxury car ambience. Currently, the model is only offered with two mild-hybrid powertrains, but both are good options. 

 

If an SUV's mission is to lift its driver above the hustle and bustle and filter out the pain from the daily grind, few do it better than the Volvo XC40. 

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Best for: Range of powertrains

Now in its second generation, Audi’s Q3 is a stalwart of the class and comes with a good range of powertrains: petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid.

There’s also the option of the slope-backed Sportback body style, although you’re better off maximising interior space with the regular version.

The Q3 is in general a strong contender, with slick drivability and plenty of space, but there are some quirks to the line-up. For one thing, the PHEV is surprisingly good value. For another, rolling refinement isn’t always as strong as it might be.

The powertrains are well-mannered enough, but just make sure you don’t overdo it on the size of the wheels and ruin the ride. The latest versions are also lacking just a touch in terms of that bulletproof interior feel.

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https://www.autocar.co.uk/

Best for: Interior layout 

The arrival of the fourth-generation Tucson was something of a watershed moment for Hyundai.

Stylistically, it was a drastic departure from its handsome but slightly dull predecessors, and its cabin reaches new heights in terms of material appeal, too.

Hyundai has long been trying to rebrand itself as an upmarket contender in Europe, and the Tucson has helped move the firm much closer to the Germans.

Dynamically, it plays things pretty safe, with a handling balance that prioritises ease of use over out-and-out dynamism, but it's still enjoyable enough to pedal down a twisty road. 

More so than ever before, this is an impressively polished small SUV that's absolutely worthy of your attention.

All of the Tucson’s powertrains are based around a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with mild and plug-in hybrids available. 

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https://www.autocar.co.uk/best%20small%20suvs%20mazda%20cx-5

Best for: Diesel lovers

Like the XC40, the Mazda CX-5 is one of the senior citizens of this class, but it's easily one of the best-looking SUVs on the market.

Also spacious and well-packaged, the CX-5 boasts a solid, stylish and beautifully made interior, with the sort of usability that many other car makers could learn from.

It can also hold its own for driving dynamics, with a handling pep that has made it one of our favourite small SUVs.

All CX-5 grades (trim levels) come with a choice of mild hybrid petrol engines, but the unfashionable 2.2-litre diesel is our top pick, limited to the top-spec Takumi model. 

Overall, the CX-5 offers a healthy mix of fun, frugality and family-friendly space, so it deserves serious consideration from buyers who want a car that does a little bit of everything.

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https://www.autocar.co.uk/best%20small%20suvs%20kia%20sportage

Best for: Hassle-free family life

The Kia Sportage is one of the UK's best-selling cars and it's easy to see why.  ts design isn't for everyone, but it's a refined, grown-up and tech-laden package.

It's not quite as spacious as the best, but there's enough room for most family needs, plus there's a wide range of engines, from mild-hybrid petrols and diesels through to a BIK tax-busting plug-in hybrid.

It also comes loaded with standard kit, can be easily connected to your smartphone and is backed by Kia's market-leading seven-year warranty.

To drive, the Sportage is something of a mixed bag. The handling is safe and predictable, but it's fairly inert when you're pressing on, while poorly surfaced roads quickly upset its composure. It's reasonably refined but doesn't ride as well as many rivals, jostling occupants over even smaller bumps.

Overall, the Sportage is a smart, well-equipped and hassle-free family SUV, but those wanting a little emotional uplift should look elsewhere.

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https://www.autocar.co.uk/best%20small%20suvs%20citroen%20c5%20aircross

Best for: Ride comfort

It has taken Citroën’s entry to the small SUV class until middle age to feature in this list. Like a lot of Stellantis products, the C5 Aircross has wanted a really good engine – and now that’s exactly what it has received.

The familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder has gained the help of an electric motor and has swapped its eight-speed automatic gearbox for a seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

If you’re tired of every car pretending to be sporty, the C5 Aircross is for you: soft, pillowy seats and pliant suspension combine to make quite a relaxing car. It’s roomy and decent value too.

The multimedia is quite clunky and around town, the ride can deteriorate. The entry-level manual is also vague, while the plug-in hybrid doesn’t have the punch its 221bhp promises.

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https://www.autocar.co.uk/

Best for: Performance

The Range Rover Evoque was previously the best small SUV money could buy, and while it's not quite as good as it once was, it's still an option to add to your shortlist. 

Its design still looks the part, but its trump card is its handling. It's more dynamic than the Qashqai and the Tucson - even in a plug-in hybrid form - and its powertrains are all slick and responsive. 

The Evoque's cabin still feels luxurious, but it's let down hugely by its ride quality, which was needlessly firmed up as part of the model's update, which it received in late 2023. 

Its interior has also taken a hit, with the previous well-considered combination of physical buttons and a touchscreen replaced by a singular central touchscreen. 

That said if you're after a good small SUV, the Evoque is still a good option. It's just more middle-of-the-road than a class leader. 

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10. BMW X1

6
https://www.autocar.co.uk/best%20small%20suv%20bmw%20x1

Best for: Interior quality

Like all of us, the BMW X1 has been getting larger as it gets older. In fact, the third-generation version, which made its debut in 2022, is now only a biscuit shorter than the original X3 – a car that's theoretically in the class above. Still, this swelling is good news for those with growing families, because it means you can fit more people and things inside.

Built on the same UKL platform as the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer MPV, the X1 gets a wide range of engines, from mild-hybrid petrols and diesels through to a pair of plug-in hybrids and even an all-electric BMW iX1, complete with a handy official range of 272 miles.

Regardless of motive force, the X1 is a composed and capable steer but perhaps not the very embodiment of the 'ultimate driving machine' that BMW's marketeers would have you believe.

There's decent grip and body control, but the steering is mute and nervous unless you’re on the door handles – which isn't the way that most people will drive their family bus. It also doesn’t ride well enough to excuse the lack of handling panache.

What will take the most getting used to, however, is the multimedia system. BMW has got rid of its signature rotary controller in cheaper models like the X1 – and with it, a lot of other physical buttons have migrated to the screen. That wouldn’t be such a problem if it were logical to use, but sadly it isn’t.

Read our BMW X1 review

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FAQs

What is a small SUV?

A small SUV (sports utility vehicle) is a car that is larger than a hatchback, but more compact than a larger, more spacious SUV. They're a popular option here in the UK thanks to their ideal blend of versatility, efficiency, and practicality. They're also big sellers because they're slightly easier to park than larger SUVs and can even offer similar fuel economy to regular hatches. The line blurs slightly when it comes to the difference between small SUVs and compact crossovers, but there is often an overlap. 

What's the best-selling SUV in the UK?

Small SUVs are incredibly popular in the UK, so it's no surprise to see models from the segment take up half of the UK's top ten best sellers list. The UK's best-selling SUV (and small SUV, for that matter) is currently the Kia Sportage, but its rivals are hot on its heels. The Korean SUV is currently the second best-selling car in the UK, just ahead of the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson and the MG HS. 

Are small SUVs worse than hatchbacks? 

Every car is different, but generally speaking, SUVs shouldn't be considered worse to drive than hatchbacks. That said, both body styles have pros and cons, and it will entirely depend on what you need to use your car for. SUVs generally offer more space than hatchbacks, with larger boots, additional legroom and a higher driving position. These are all important if you're ferrying around family members, going on holiday or collecting shopping. Hatchbacks, meanwhile, are often more economical than small SUVs due to their reduced weight. As they don't possess such a boxy design as small SUVs, hatchbacks are often more agile too, which improves handling in the corners. They're naturally easier to park than small SUVs, too.

Are small SUVs more economical than other cars?

Whether a small SUV is more economical than other cars depends on a variety of factors. SUVs are impacted by their increased weight and reduced aerodynamics, which often leads to lower overall fuel economy compared to hatchbacks and superminis. Small SUVs can however excel because they can be fitted with a variety of powertrains. Many on our list, including the Volvo XC40, the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson, use hybrid powertrains which are supposed to help drivers improve their fuel economy. Plug-in hybrids offer electric-only driving, which means you might not need to spend on fuel at all. That said, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are more expensive than pure combustion-engined models. 

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Peter Cavellini 7 December 2023

I've run an X2 2.0S-drive for the last few years and it's been flawless, autobox is good,and in sport mode it's quick enough,it's well built, mpg isn't great buy today's standards (37-40mpg) but I don't do big mileage, it's a base model but it's still well enough equipped, but the rise in price in the past three years to close to £40K is too much, so an X1 might be on the cards, as for the cars mentioned, none of them appeal, none of them get a glowing report here either.

Andrew1 20 September 2023
Did you forget the 3008 or was it ruining your JLR advertisement?
catnip 20 September 2023

Surely cars like the Qashqai, CX5, Q3, Tiguan, Tucson, Sportage etc are family size SUVs, not 'small' ones. Juke, T-Cross, Q2, Puma etc are the small ones.

Cobnapint 10 December 2023
Precisely. I think this summary must have used the FFRR as it's benchmark.