Best small cars with a high driving position

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10 best small cars with a high seating position of 2024

A high driving position is useful, particularly when driving in the city, because it gives you a better view of the road ahead. This has typically been associated with large SUVs and 4x4s, but there are plenty of city-friendly small cars that offer a commanding view of the road ahead.

Below is a list of the best small cars with a high driving position, curated by Carwow’s expert reviews team.

Volvo EX30

1. Volvo EX30

9/10
Volvo EX30 review
Battery range up to 295 miles

What's good

  • Really comfortable
  • Great assistance tech
  • Good value for money

What’s not so good

  • Small boot
  • Tight rear seats
  • All cabin controls run through the touchscreen
Carwow’s 2024 Car of the Year was the Volvo EX30, this small electric SUV. It has Volvo’s typical cool Scandinavian styling on the outside and a quirky interior. The dashboard is low so you feel like you’re sitting higher than you are and the light steering and responsive electric motors make it easy to drive around town.

What's good

  • Really comfortable
  • Great assistance tech
  • Good value for money

What’s not so good

  • Small boot
  • Tight rear seats
  • All cabin controls run through the touchscreen
Peugeot 2008

2. Peugeot 2008

8/10
Peugeot 2008 review

What's good

  • Stylish exterior design
  • Fun and cheap to run
  • 3D dashboard display

What’s not so good

  • Adults cramped in the back
  • Sluggish automatic gearbox
  • Infotainment system can be a pain to navigate
The Peugeot 2008 is one of our favourite small SUVs, because it looks great inside and out, and it’s fun to drive too. You do get a commanding driving position, but it’s worth noting that chunky pillars mean there are some blind spots to contend with. It’s pretty tight inside as well. Look past these complaints though, and the 2008 is a cool, affordable city car.

What's good

  • Stylish exterior design
  • Fun and cheap to run
  • 3D dashboard display

What’s not so good

  • Adults cramped in the back
  • Sluggish automatic gearbox
  • Infotainment system can be a pain to navigate
Dacia Sandero

3. Dacia Sandero

8/10
Dacia Sandero review

What's good

  • Value for money is tough to beat
  • Interior is spacious and impressively practical
  • Holds its value well

What’s not so good

  • Poor two-star safety rating
  • No USB charge points in rear
  • Colourful paint job costs extra
The Dacia Sandero Stepway is one of the few cars in this list that isn’t doing an impression of a baby SUV. Its hatchback roots are plain to see, but that’s no issue because it’s still really roomy inside. You sit a bit higher off the ground than in the regular model, and you get some extra body cladding that could prove useful for protecting the bodywork in the hustle and bustle of the city.

What's good

  • Value for money is tough to beat
  • Interior is spacious and impressively practical
  • Holds its value well

What’s not so good

  • Poor two-star safety rating
  • No USB charge points in rear
  • Colourful paint job costs extra
Citroen C3 Aircross

4. Citroen C3 Aircross

9/10
Citroen C3 Aircross review

What's good

  • Unique styling helps it stand out
  • Comfy and very easy to drive
  • Smooth and refined engines

What’s not so good

  • Back seats tight for adults
  • Infotainment could be sharper
  • Not very fun in the bends
Citroen has nailed the styling of the C3 Aircross, which has a chunky yet chic appearance. It’s another one that’s a bit tight on space, particularly for those in the back, but it makes up for this with a high driving position and fantastic visibility all around.

What's good

  • Unique styling helps it stand out
  • Comfy and very easy to drive
  • Smooth and refined engines

What’s not so good

  • Back seats tight for adults
  • Infotainment could be sharper
  • Not very fun in the bends
Skoda Kamiq

5. Skoda Kmaiq

8/10
Skoda Kamiq review

What's good

  • Spacious in the back
  • Comfortable over bumps
  • Well-equipped

What’s not so good

  • No hybrid or electric options
  • Pretty dull to drive
  • Alternatives have bigger boots
The Skoda Kamiq is a small SUV that feels much bigger than you expect on the inside. It has that classic Skoda practicality, and you also get loads of standard equipment for the cash, plus it’s really comfortable over bumps. However, while you sit higher than small hatchbacks, the Kamiq’s driving position is still a bit lower than most of the cars in this list.

What's good

  • Spacious in the back
  • Comfortable over bumps
  • Well-equipped

What’s not so good

  • No hybrid or electric options
  • Pretty dull to drive
  • Alternatives have bigger boots

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Toyota Yaris Cross
2025
Urban Living Award

6. Toyota Yaris Cross

9/10
Toyota Yaris Cross review

What's good

  • Hybrid engine is economical
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Raised ride height gives excellent visibility

What’s not so good

  • Engine can be noisy
  • Fidgety over bumps
  • Slightly dour interior
Thanks to its excellent hybrid engine the Toyota Yaris Cross has very low running costs, so if you want to save pennies at the pumps it’s a fantastic choice. You also sit much higher than you do in the regular Yaris, so you have a commanding view out of the front windows.

What's good

  • Hybrid engine is economical
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Raised ride height gives excellent visibility

What’s not so good

  • Engine can be noisy
  • Fidgety over bumps
  • Slightly dour interior
Volkswagen T-Roc

7. Volkswagen T-Roc

7/10
Volkswagen T-Roc review

What's good

  • Big boot
  • Quite peppy to drive on a twisting road
  • Straightforward interior tech

What’s not so good

  • No hybrid or plug-in options available
  • Quite pricey compared with alternatives
  • Firm suspension
The Volkswagen T-Roc is a fantastic all-rounder. It’s a small SUV, but there are very few compromises. You get a spacious boot, loads of tech and smart styling inside and out. Inner-city manoeuvrability is good thanks to light steering and a small turning circle, and the raised driving position gives you good forward visibility.

What's good

  • Big boot
  • Quite peppy to drive on a twisting road
  • Straightforward interior tech

What’s not so good

  • No hybrid or plug-in options available
  • Quite pricey compared with alternatives
  • Firm suspension
Audi Q2

8. Audi Q2

7/10
Audi Q2 review

What's good

  • Relaxing to drive
  • Stylish, well-built interior
  • Great high-tech options

What’s not so good

  • Poor rear visibility
  • Uncomfortable back seats
  • Expensive top-spec models
The Audi Q2 isn’t the cheapest small car with a high driving position, but it is one of the more upmarket options. The interior is stylish and feels solidly put together, and there are some high-tech features such as the brilliant digital dashboard. You get a clear view of the road ahead to make city driving easy, and the Q2 is also pretty good fun to pilot down a twisty road.

What's good

  • Relaxing to drive
  • Stylish, well-built interior
  • Great high-tech options

What’s not so good

  • Poor rear visibility
  • Uncomfortable back seats
  • Expensive top-spec models
Ford Puma

9. Ford Puma

8/10
Ford Puma review

What's good

  • Eye-catching looks
  • Comes loaded with kit
  • Large boot is impressively versatile

What’s not so good

  • Back seats a bit tight on space
  • Interior feels very cheap
  • You sit higher up in other SUVs
If you’re looking for a fuss-free city car that’s easy to drive, the Ford Puma is a good option. You sit a bit higher than you do in the Fiesta hatchback, but like the Skoda Kamiq, you’re not super high. Visibility is still good though, and you can upgrade to a rear parking camera with a 180-degree view to make reversing easier.

What's good

  • Eye-catching looks
  • Comes loaded with kit
  • Large boot is impressively versatile

What’s not so good

  • Back seats a bit tight on space
  • Interior feels very cheap
  • You sit higher up in other SUVs
Suzuki Ignis

10. Suzuki Ignis

7/10
Suzuki Ignis review

What's good

  • Head-turning looks
  • Decent passenger space
  • Hybrid technology

What’s not so good

  • Only one engine choice
  • Alternatives are comfier
  • Infotainment system isn't the best
Few alternatives in this list do the funky baby off-roader thing quite as well as the Suzuki Ignis, and what’s more, it’s even available with four-wheel drive. You sit high so visibility is great, though it’s a bit trickier to see out the back. It’s not particularly refined, but the Ignis is a quirky little thing to drive.

What's good

  • Head-turning looks
  • Decent passenger space
  • Hybrid technology

What’s not so good

  • Only one engine choice
  • Alternatives are comfier
  • Infotainment system isn't the best

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