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.
2024
Car Of The Year Award
Battery range up to 295 miles
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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2024
Urban Living Award
Highly Commended
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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