Last updated March 27, 2024 by Darren Cassey
Best small SUVs of 2024
Just because you want an SUV doesn’t mean you need something the size of a tank. In fact, you can get the high driving position and commanding presence of an SUV in a smaller, city-friendly package.
Small SUVs are all the rage, because although they’re not necessarily much more practical than a normal small hatchback, they can be much easier to drive and don’t necessarily come with high running costs.
The boom in popularity means that there are countless compact SUVs to choose from, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Our expert reviews team have put together a list of the best small SUVs on sale, covering a wide range of budgets. So whether you want something fun to drive, boring but practical, petrol or electric – there’s something here for everyone.
The Volvo EX30 is a fantastic all-rounder. It’s a small electric SUV that’s stylish on the outside and has a cool, minimalist interior. It’s so good it was named Carwow Car of the Year 2024. Sure, it has a small boot and tight rear seats, but that’s to be expected in a car of this size. On the plus side the EX30 is brilliant to drive, great value for money, and the big battery version has an impressive range.
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The Toyota C-HR is a proper head-turner, because its design looks like little else on the road. There are sharp angles all over the place that give it a cool, futuristic look. That’s where the wackiness ends though, because the C-HR is actually just a boringly good family car. That’s a compliment, because it’s very comfortable over bumps and even though the hybrid engines are a bit noisy, running costs are low.
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Why is the Ford Puma so popular? For a start, it’s fun to drive, but it also comes loaded with kit without breaking the bank and it has a genuinely useful boot thanks to the ‘Megabox’ underfloor storage. It’s a shame it’s not more comfy over bumps, but we’re being fussy.
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Much like the slightly larger C-HR, the Toyota Yaris Cross has low running costs at its heart thanks to its brilliantly economical hybrid engine. It’s easy to see more than 60mpg. Compact dimensions and a raised ride height mean it’s easy to place in town, and the boot is usefully practical. It does rather jostle about on an uneven road though, and the engine is noisy under acceleration.
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The VW T-Cross is a small SUV, but it tries to look square and tall, like a ‘proper’ 4x4. Plus, it’s based on the Polo, so you get a high-quality cabin and it’s not bad to drive, either. The boot’s a good size and the back seat is roomy for this class. Because of its dimensions, the T-Cross is easy to drive around town, but it’s also impressively refined at higher speeds, too.
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Peugeot’s design department is on a roll, and the 2008 is the perfect example of that, with its scowling headlights and prominent front grille. Inside, it’s just as dramatic, with imitation carbon-fibre and that small hexagonal steering wheel, which is designed to be looked over, rather than through, when viewing the driver information display. The 2008 is good to drive too, and whichever model you choose you can expect impressively low running costs. There’s an electric version called e-2008, too.
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The X1 is one of the largest cars on this list, but it’s BMW's smallest SUV so it’s worthy of a place, particularly since it’s so good. You get the usual-for-BMW high quality materials and it’s really spacious inside. You’ll have more fun on a twisty road than in a typical SUV, too. The X1 would be higher on this list if it wasn’t so expensive…
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The Avenger might not be the kind of rugged 4x4 you might expect from Jeep, but it is a cool, characterful SUV. The petrol version is only so-so, but it’s better in electric form, because the silent, punchy electric motors make it a great little city car. Its official range of 249 miles is decent, but it would be nice if you could charge it a bit faster.
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The Karoq might be Skoda’s smallest SUV, but there’s plenty of space in that big, boxy body and a very roomy 400-litre boot. It’s well-built, and pretty affordable too, plus the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is all you’ll ever need. All it lacks is a sense of character. This and the VW T-Cross are basically the same car wearing a different suit, so it’s worth checking out both to see which appeals more.
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It’s hard to criticise the SEAT Arona, because it does all the basics well – it just never really excites. Still, therein might lie its appeal if you just want a fuss-free, good value family SUV, because it’s comfortable and you get a decent amount of kit for the price. The interior is starting to feel a bit dated now, but overall the Arona is a good all-rounder.
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