Last updated March 11, 2025 by
Darren Cassey
Best small SUVs 2025: our favourite city-friendly SUVs
The best small SUVs give you all the advantages of a regular SUV but with the added positive of not feeling big and intimidating to drive.
Buying a small SUV means you get a raised driving position that gives you a better view of the road ahead, but it also means that it can be easier to load items into the boot, or children into child seats. Less time spent doubled over trying to squeeze a tantruming toddler into the back of a car is always a good thing.
It is worth noting that small SUVs tend not to be much more practical than equivalent hatchbacks, but then they’re usually no less practical either. That means you’ll typically get similar boot capacity, often more than enough for the weekly shop, and some can even squeeze in some flat pack furniture.
What most of the cars in this list have in common, though, is that they’re not particularly roomy in the back seats. If you regularly carry adults or growing teenagers this could be a problem, so it’s worth bearing in mind. (And if they’re roomy in the back seats, the trade off tends to be a small boot.)
Carwow’s expert reviews team has rigorously tested every small SUV you can buy, good and bad, to put together this list of the very best and worst – and there’s something for every budget.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
Battery range up to 199 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: zero emissions on a budget
The Citroen e-C3 isn’t just a good small SUV, it’s actually one of our favourite electric cars full stop. The reason being that it proves EVs don’t have to be expensive to be good, even if there are a few concessions required to keep the price down.
Let’s start with the design, because it looks anything but bargain basement. It somehow manages to blend the imposing, blocky look of a proper off-roader with a hint of cuteness, like a toddler wearing boxing gloves.
It’s a similar story inside, because although you won’t confuse it for a luxury car any time soon, there’s not a sea of black plastics like you get in many budget cars. Instead, there’s an interesting mix of materials and light-coloured seats to lift the ambience.
Tech is fairly simple, but you get a 10.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning you can use your phone’s maps and music streaming services, which is all you really need.
Practicality is reasonable, with acceptable roominess for four adults and useful storage solutions. The 310-litre boot is of average capacity, being bigger than what you get in a Vauxhall Corsa Electric but smaller than a BYD Dolphin.
It’s battery technology where you have to make a little compromise for the price. The official range is 199 miles, which isn’t terrible but does make the e-C3 more of an urban commuter than a road trip companion. There’s also no option of a heat pump, which means your range will be really negatively affected by cold weather, which isn’t ideal for British winters.
On the road the Citroen e-C3 redeems itself, because it’s excellent for driving around the city. Unlike a lot of electric cars it has soft suspension, which means it soaks up potholes and speed bumps really well, and the tall driving position contributes to excellent all-round visibility. It’s a bit of a shame you don’t get a full one-pedal driving mode to take the strain out of stop-start traffic, though.
Despite its size and relatively low power output, the e-C3 does a good job of keeping up with motorway traffic. The soft suspension means it’s comfortable for long drives if you do want to test the range, and wind and road noise aren’t too intrusive either. Light steering makes it a touch twitchy though, and at a constant 70mph you’ll drain the battery fast.
The Citroen e-C3 isn’t just a good small SUV, it’s actually one of our favourite electric cars full stop. The reason being that it proves EVs don’t have to be expensive to be good, even if there are a few concessions required to keep the price down.
Let’s start with the design, because it looks anything but bargain basement. It somehow manages to blend the imposing, blocky look of a proper off-roader with a hint of cuteness, like a toddler wearing boxing gloves.
It’s a similar story inside, because although you won’t confuse it for a luxury car any time soon, there’s not a sea of black plastics like you get in many budget cars. Instead, there’s an interesting mix of materials and light-coloured seats to lift the ambience.
Tech is fairly simple, but you get a 10.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning you can use your phone’s maps and music streaming services, which is all you really need.
Practicality is reasonable, with acceptable roominess for four adults and useful storage solutions. The 310-litre boot is of average capacity, being bigger than what you get in a Vauxhall Corsa Electric but smaller than a BYD Dolphin.
It’s battery technology where you have to make a little compromise for the price. The official range is 199 miles, which isn’t terrible but does make the e-C3 more of an urban commuter than a road trip companion. There’s also no option of a heat pump, which means your range will be really negatively affected by cold weather, which isn’t ideal for British winters.
On the road the Citroen e-C3 redeems itself, because it’s excellent for driving around the city. Unlike a lot of electric cars it has soft suspension, which means it soaks up potholes and speed bumps really well, and the tall driving position contributes to excellent all-round visibility. It’s a bit of a shame you don’t get a full one-pedal driving mode to take the strain out of stop-start traffic, though.
Despite its size and relatively low power output, the e-C3 does a good job of keeping up with motorway traffic. The soft suspension means it’s comfortable for long drives if you do want to test the range, and wind and road noise aren’t too intrusive either. Light steering makes it a touch twitchy though, and at a constant 70mph you’ll drain the battery fast.
2025
Smart Spender Award
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: affordable off-roading
The Dacia Duster is an excellent family SUV, even before you look at the fact it’s such good value for money.
You get funky, rugged off-roader looks that aren’t just for show – if you go for a four-wheel drive version the Duster will hold its own on all but the toughest of green lanes. However, it’s still stylish enough to hold its own at the school gates.
Basic models betray its budget roots somewhat – you don’t even get an infotainment screen, just a mount for your phone – but most models get a nifty 10.1-inch display that’s the best in any Dacia yet. It’s home to the reversing camera and gets all the usual smartphone connectivity too.
Again though the design impresses, because it’s rugged enough for life on the farm while also sporting cool, angular lines and a mix of materials so it doesn’t feel cheap and cheerful (unless you really start poking and prodding around).
There are loads of clever storage solutions, particularly the unique YouClip system that lets you mount stuff like clamps, phone holders and even lights for added practicality. You can comfortably carry five people and in two-wheel drive models the boot is bigger than pretty much anything else you might consider at this price, though you do lose some of that space in four-wheel drive models to accommodate the extra mechanical bits required.
If you’re coming to the latest Duster from the previous model, you’ll be impressed by how much better it is to drive. The suspension isn’t quite as soft and comfortable as before, but it does mean the car’s body rolls around less, so your passengers are less likely to get car sick.
The hybrid is the best bet if you’re driving around town, because the automatic gearbox and potential for silent, electric-only driving makes it easier and more refined to drive. On the motorway the car feels stable and secure, but accelerating up to speed can take a bit of effort whichever engine you go for – a Volkswagen T-Roc feels more refined in this regard.
The Dacia Duster is an excellent family SUV, even before you look at the fact it’s such good value for money.
You get funky, rugged off-roader looks that aren’t just for show – if you go for a four-wheel drive version the Duster will hold its own on all but the toughest of green lanes. However, it’s still stylish enough to hold its own at the school gates.
Basic models betray its budget roots somewhat – you don’t even get an infotainment screen, just a mount for your phone – but most models get a nifty 10.1-inch display that’s the best in any Dacia yet. It’s home to the reversing camera and gets all the usual smartphone connectivity too.
Again though the design impresses, because it’s rugged enough for life on the farm while also sporting cool, angular lines and a mix of materials so it doesn’t feel cheap and cheerful (unless you really start poking and prodding around).
There are loads of clever storage solutions, particularly the unique YouClip system that lets you mount stuff like clamps, phone holders and even lights for added practicality. You can comfortably carry five people and in two-wheel drive models the boot is bigger than pretty much anything else you might consider at this price, though you do lose some of that space in four-wheel drive models to accommodate the extra mechanical bits required.
If you’re coming to the latest Duster from the previous model, you’ll be impressed by how much better it is to drive. The suspension isn’t quite as soft and comfortable as before, but it does mean the car’s body rolls around less, so your passengers are less likely to get car sick.
The hybrid is the best bet if you’re driving around town, because the automatic gearbox and potential for silent, electric-only driving makes it easier and more refined to drive. On the motorway the car feels stable and secure, but accelerating up to speed can take a bit of effort whichever engine you go for – a Volkswagen T-Roc feels more refined in this regard.
Best for: doing everything well
In the future, we’ll look back and pinpoint a turning point where electric cars went mainstream – and the Kia EV3 could well be that car. There’s no wackiness and little compromise, just a reasonably priced, handsome car with the potential for excellent range.
The styling is head-turning without being too shouty, distilling the larger EV9’s big, imposing stance into a more family friendly package. Inside it’s smart and functional, with two large screens on the dashboard for your infotainment and driver information, split by a smaller display for your climate information. You can’t really see this third screen, because the steering wheel blocks it, but at least the climate controls use physical switches for ease of use on the move.
Practicality is excellent. There’s ample space for four adult passengers, and there are some neat tricks such as an extendable surface that can be used like a tray for your dinner or laptop.
Boot space is impressive too, because at 460 litres it’s bigger than most alternatives. You do only get the full capacity if you drop the floor to its lowest setting, which introduces a load lip over the bumper, but even if you move it to create a flat floor there’s decent space for a weekly shop.
On the road the Kia EV3 soaks up bumps really well, making it a comfortable way to get around. You don’t get the punchy acceleration of something like a Volvo EX30 Twin Motor, but there’s good enough performance for motorway stints, with little in the way of wind and road noise.
Good news, then, because the EV3 promises fantastic rage. Even the entry-level model goes 270 miles in official tests, but you can get a bigger battery and get up to 375 miles, which is hugely impressive. Charging speeds are okay, so you can do the 10-80% top up in the typical 30 minutes.
The only complaint here is that you don’t get a heat pump as standard. These help make the car’s heating system more efficient, helping to improve range in winter. You can only get a heat pump as an optional extra on top-spec models, which is a shame.
In the future, we’ll look back and pinpoint a turning point where electric cars went mainstream – and the Kia EV3 could well be that car. There’s no wackiness and little compromise, just a reasonably priced, handsome car with the potential for excellent range.
The styling is head-turning without being too shouty, distilling the larger EV9’s big, imposing stance into a more family friendly package. Inside it’s smart and functional, with two large screens on the dashboard for your infotainment and driver information, split by a smaller display for your climate information. You can’t really see this third screen, because the steering wheel blocks it, but at least the climate controls use physical switches for ease of use on the move.
Practicality is excellent. There’s ample space for four adult passengers, and there are some neat tricks such as an extendable surface that can be used like a tray for your dinner or laptop.
Boot space is impressive too, because at 460 litres it’s bigger than most alternatives. You do only get the full capacity if you drop the floor to its lowest setting, which introduces a load lip over the bumper, but even if you move it to create a flat floor there’s decent space for a weekly shop.
On the road the Kia EV3 soaks up bumps really well, making it a comfortable way to get around. You don’t get the punchy acceleration of something like a Volvo EX30 Twin Motor, but there’s good enough performance for motorway stints, with little in the way of wind and road noise.
Good news, then, because the EV3 promises fantastic rage. Even the entry-level model goes 270 miles in official tests, but you can get a bigger battery and get up to 375 miles, which is hugely impressive. Charging speeds are okay, so you can do the 10-80% top up in the typical 30 minutes.
The only complaint here is that you don’t get a heat pump as standard. These help make the car’s heating system more efficient, helping to improve range in winter. You can only get a heat pump as an optional extra on top-spec models, which is a shame.
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Best for: small poshness
Buying a small SUV doesn’t mean sacrificing a posh badge, and that’s where the Volvo EX30 comes in. Despite its relatively affordable price and teeny tiny dimensions, it still packs that famously posh Volvo front end – Thor’s Hammer headlights and all.
It’s slightly less convincing inside, though it does give the impression of being deliberately minimalist rather than simple because of cost cutting. There are plenty of cheap plastics, but they’re mixed in with a cool mix of materials, such as the sustainable textiles that cover the doors and run the full width of the dashboard. These are made of upcycled denim or ground plastic waste, depending on preference.
You get a portrait-oriented touchscreen that controls just about everything – and that’s the main complaint about the EX30. There are very few physical buttons, so even basic functions like moving the steering wheel or opening the glovebox require the use of the touchscreen, which is unintuitive and tricky to do on the move.
Despite its small size, there are some neat storage solutions, such as the cup holders that can be hidden inside the armrest if you need extra space, or pulled out if you need somewhere to put your coffee. There’s a pad for two phones in the front (including wireless charging on all but the base trim) and space for another phone in the rear.
Roominess is only really good if you’re in the front, though. Those in the back will find kneeroom extremely limited, and if you fit a child seat those in the front might have to move forward to make space. The boot isn’t particularly big either, so it doesn’t make the ideal family car, especially if you have younger children and regularly need to cart prams, nappy caddies and the like around.
If that doesn’t put you off you do get to enjoy one of the best-driving small SUVs around. Whichever version you go for the Volvo EX30 is comfortable and impressively refined on the motorway. It’s also good fun on a twisty road, particularly if you go for the ridiculously quick Performance model.
Buying a small SUV doesn’t mean sacrificing a posh badge, and that’s where the Volvo EX30 comes in. Despite its relatively affordable price and teeny tiny dimensions, it still packs that famously posh Volvo front end – Thor’s Hammer headlights and all.
It’s slightly less convincing inside, though it does give the impression of being deliberately minimalist rather than simple because of cost cutting. There are plenty of cheap plastics, but they’re mixed in with a cool mix of materials, such as the sustainable textiles that cover the doors and run the full width of the dashboard. These are made of upcycled denim or ground plastic waste, depending on preference.
You get a portrait-oriented touchscreen that controls just about everything – and that’s the main complaint about the EX30. There are very few physical buttons, so even basic functions like moving the steering wheel or opening the glovebox require the use of the touchscreen, which is unintuitive and tricky to do on the move.
Despite its small size, there are some neat storage solutions, such as the cup holders that can be hidden inside the armrest if you need extra space, or pulled out if you need somewhere to put your coffee. There’s a pad for two phones in the front (including wireless charging on all but the base trim) and space for another phone in the rear.
Roominess is only really good if you’re in the front, though. Those in the back will find kneeroom extremely limited, and if you fit a child seat those in the front might have to move forward to make space. The boot isn’t particularly big either, so it doesn’t make the ideal family car, especially if you have younger children and regularly need to cart prams, nappy caddies and the like around.
If that doesn’t put you off you do get to enjoy one of the best-driving small SUVs around. Whichever version you go for the Volvo EX30 is comfortable and impressively refined on the motorway. It’s also good fun on a twisty road, particularly if you go for the ridiculously quick Performance model.
2025
Urban Living Award
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: low hybrid running costs
You don’t have to run an electric car to benefit from low running costs – if you’re not ready to take the full EV plunge, the Toyota Yaris Cross has an incredibly economical hybrid engine that should see your fuel costs drop dramatically.
With its lifted suspension and black cladding, it has a hint of rugged SUV about it despite being a small city car. It’s hardly a head-turner but the Yaris Cross is a good looking thing.
The interior is a touch plain – a Peugeot 2008 is much more visually interesting inside – but you get some nice soft-touch plastics and solid build quality. It’s just about spacious enough for four passengers, and the boot sits around the middle of alternatives – at 397 litres it’s bigger than a Vauxhall Mokka and smaller than a Skoda Kamiq.
It’s a bit more expensive than similar petrol-powered alternatives (the hybrid’s batteries add to the cost) but it does make up for this not only by being incredibly economical, but also by giving you lots of standard equipment. For example, many much more expensive cars don’t get adaptive cruise control on all models, but the Yaris Cross does.
One downside of that economical hybrid engine is the gearbox. It’s a CVT, which is a type of automatic gearbox. The benefit is that it helps reduce fuel use, but the downside is that it can be really noisy when accelerating. That said, at lower speeds around town, when you’re maximising use of the electric motors, it’s quiet enough.
You don’t have to run an electric car to benefit from low running costs – if you’re not ready to take the full EV plunge, the Toyota Yaris Cross has an incredibly economical hybrid engine that should see your fuel costs drop dramatically.
With its lifted suspension and black cladding, it has a hint of rugged SUV about it despite being a small city car. It’s hardly a head-turner but the Yaris Cross is a good looking thing.
The interior is a touch plain – a Peugeot 2008 is much more visually interesting inside – but you get some nice soft-touch plastics and solid build quality. It’s just about spacious enough for four passengers, and the boot sits around the middle of alternatives – at 397 litres it’s bigger than a Vauxhall Mokka and smaller than a Skoda Kamiq.
It’s a bit more expensive than similar petrol-powered alternatives (the hybrid’s batteries add to the cost) but it does make up for this not only by being incredibly economical, but also by giving you lots of standard equipment. For example, many much more expensive cars don’t get adaptive cruise control on all models, but the Yaris Cross does.
One downside of that economical hybrid engine is the gearbox. It’s a CVT, which is a type of automatic gearbox. The benefit is that it helps reduce fuel use, but the downside is that it can be really noisy when accelerating. That said, at lower speeds around town, when you’re maximising use of the electric motors, it’s quiet enough.
Battery range up to 28 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: infotainment
The Renault Captur has been given a glow up recently, making it one of the more chic small SUVs in this list. The arrow-shaped daytime running lights and redesigned bumpers have worked wonders.
As has the introduction of a Google-based infotainment system. It’s one of the simplest car touchscreens to use, benefitting partly from Google’s Android knowledge, but also because there are still physical buttons in the cabin, which are much easier to use on the move than digging around in confusing touchscreen menus.
The display is sharp, the layout is intuitive, and you get Google apps built in as well as Google Assistant voice control, which works brilliantly.
Outside of the infotainment system the interior design is fairly basic, but everything feels quality to the touch and well screwed together. Rear seat space is adequate, but tall passengers are likely to complain on a long drive.
However, the trade off is a massive boot – in its basic configuration you get up to 484 litres of space, which is already bigger than a Volkswagen T-Cross, but the rear seats slide forward to open 616 litres. Great if you need extra space and don’t have anyone in the rear seats.
Around town the Captur is a doddle to drive thanks to light controls and good visibility. If you can afford the extra for the hybrid engine it’s worth it, because it’s economical and means you can cruise around at low speeds in electric mode.
The Renault Captur has been given a glow up recently, making it one of the more chic small SUVs in this list. The arrow-shaped daytime running lights and redesigned bumpers have worked wonders.
As has the introduction of a Google-based infotainment system. It’s one of the simplest car touchscreens to use, benefitting partly from Google’s Android knowledge, but also because there are still physical buttons in the cabin, which are much easier to use on the move than digging around in confusing touchscreen menus.
The display is sharp, the layout is intuitive, and you get Google apps built in as well as Google Assistant voice control, which works brilliantly.
Outside of the infotainment system the interior design is fairly basic, but everything feels quality to the touch and well screwed together. Rear seat space is adequate, but tall passengers are likely to complain on a long drive.
However, the trade off is a massive boot – in its basic configuration you get up to 484 litres of space, which is already bigger than a Volkswagen T-Cross, but the rear seats slide forward to open 616 litres. Great if you need extra space and don’t have anyone in the rear seats.
Around town the Captur is a doddle to drive thanks to light controls and good visibility. If you can afford the extra for the hybrid engine it’s worth it, because it’s economical and means you can cruise around at low speeds in electric mode.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: in-yer-face style
The Toyota C-HR has some real stand-out styling – particularly in one of its brighter paints, there’s no danger of losing it in a car park.
However, underneath the sharp angles and bold, C-shaped headlights is a fairly simple but appealing recipe: a car that’s comfortable and easy to drive with a hybrid engine that’s really good on fuel. It shows you can be sensible and stylish at the same time.
Inside, the cabin looks really smart and feels suitably posh in the front, but it’s a different story in the back, which is full of cheap-feeling plastics. Space is okay but the small windows make it feel a bit dark for rear seat passengers.
The boot isn’t particularly big either, with a maximum of 388 litres if you go for the 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid, dropping to just 310 litres in the plug-in hybrid. You can get a Nissan Qashqai for a similar price with a 504-litre boot.
As with most of the hybrids on this list, the C-HR is at its best around town where you can maximise electric range and keep your fuel costs down. There’s a plug-in hybrid option too, which is ideal if you do a lot of shorter journeys and can charge the batteries regularly.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t undertake long journeys in the C-HR. At motorway speeds it’s comfortable and there’s not much wind or tyre noise to contend with. The engine gets a bit shouty when you accelerate, though.
The Toyota C-HR has some real stand-out styling – particularly in one of its brighter paints, there’s no danger of losing it in a car park.
However, underneath the sharp angles and bold, C-shaped headlights is a fairly simple but appealing recipe: a car that’s comfortable and easy to drive with a hybrid engine that’s really good on fuel. It shows you can be sensible and stylish at the same time.
Inside, the cabin looks really smart and feels suitably posh in the front, but it’s a different story in the back, which is full of cheap-feeling plastics. Space is okay but the small windows make it feel a bit dark for rear seat passengers.
The boot isn’t particularly big either, with a maximum of 388 litres if you go for the 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid, dropping to just 310 litres in the plug-in hybrid. You can get a Nissan Qashqai for a similar price with a 504-litre boot.
As with most of the hybrids on this list, the C-HR is at its best around town where you can maximise electric range and keep your fuel costs down. There’s a plug-in hybrid option too, which is ideal if you do a lot of shorter journeys and can charge the batteries regularly.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t undertake long journeys in the C-HR. At motorway speeds it’s comfortable and there’s not much wind or tyre noise to contend with. The engine gets a bit shouty when you accelerate, though.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: twisty road fun
Most of the small SUVs on this list prioritise comfort and being easy to drive around town, but the Ford Puma sacrifices some of this in order to be genuinely good fun to drive on a twisty road.
A major update in 2024 saw the Puma get an all-new interior, but while technology levels increased with a big, new touchscreen on the dashboard, the design, ease-of-use and material quality have taken a step back.
The screen is sharp and fairly responsive, but it almost feels too big for a car of this size, and now you have to control most functions, including the climate controls, on the screen instead of using physical buttons. This can be a real pain on the move.
Space and storage is pretty good up front, but those in the back are going to find it a tight squeeze. Fortunately, the boot is massive to make up for that – at 456 litres it’s bigger than almost any other small SUV. You also get a nifty storage box under the boot floor, which is useful for hiding valuables, or extending the boot floor to carry tall items. It has a plug in the bottom too, so you can chuck muddy boots in after a walk and hose the space down.
It really stands out on a fun road. It jiggles over bumps in town more than alternatives, and it’s a bit noisier on a motorway, but nothing else in this list is quite as capable on a winding country road.
Most of the small SUVs on this list prioritise comfort and being easy to drive around town, but the Ford Puma sacrifices some of this in order to be genuinely good fun to drive on a twisty road.
A major update in 2024 saw the Puma get an all-new interior, but while technology levels increased with a big, new touchscreen on the dashboard, the design, ease-of-use and material quality have taken a step back.
The screen is sharp and fairly responsive, but it almost feels too big for a car of this size, and now you have to control most functions, including the climate controls, on the screen instead of using physical buttons. This can be a real pain on the move.
Space and storage is pretty good up front, but those in the back are going to find it a tight squeeze. Fortunately, the boot is massive to make up for that – at 456 litres it’s bigger than almost any other small SUV. You also get a nifty storage box under the boot floor, which is useful for hiding valuables, or extending the boot floor to carry tall items. It has a plug in the bottom too, so you can chuck muddy boots in after a walk and hose the space down.
It really stands out on a fun road. It jiggles over bumps in town more than alternatives, and it’s a bit noisier on a motorway, but nothing else in this list is quite as capable on a winding country road.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: big car space
The Volkswagen T-Cross might look small on the outside, but it’s big on the inside, so you get the best of both worlds – a small car that’s easy to drive in the city, with the space and practicality of a bigger car.
The design is quite simple, looking fairly upmarket without really shouting about its presence, a theme that continues inside. The cabin is understated, but you get the typical Volkswagen build quality to offset the dark, uninspiring ambience. At least an update in 2024 improved the materials on the dashboard, making it feel a bit posher.
Still, the T-Cross aims to convince your head not your heart, and as a result it’s one of the roomiest small SUVs around. There’s comfortably enough room inside for four adults thanks to the boxy shape, and it’s easy to fit a child seat. At 385 litres the boot is fine but not up there with the best in class.
Unfortunately there are no hybrid engine options to appeal to city-centred drivers or company car choosers. Your best bet then is to go for one of the petrol engines with an automatic gearbox, which will make urban commutes much more relaxing.
Avoid the entry-level 95hp engine if possible, because it’s slow and paired with a clunky five-speed manual. The 110hp and 150hp options are better for motorway driving in particular, because they don’t need to work as hard to get up to speed.
The Volkswagen T-Cross might look small on the outside, but it’s big on the inside, so you get the best of both worlds – a small car that’s easy to drive in the city, with the space and practicality of a bigger car.
The design is quite simple, looking fairly upmarket without really shouting about its presence, a theme that continues inside. The cabin is understated, but you get the typical Volkswagen build quality to offset the dark, uninspiring ambience. At least an update in 2024 improved the materials on the dashboard, making it feel a bit posher.
Still, the T-Cross aims to convince your head not your heart, and as a result it’s one of the roomiest small SUVs around. There’s comfortably enough room inside for four adults thanks to the boxy shape, and it’s easy to fit a child seat. At 385 litres the boot is fine but not up there with the best in class.
Unfortunately there are no hybrid engine options to appeal to city-centred drivers or company car choosers. Your best bet then is to go for one of the petrol engines with an automatic gearbox, which will make urban commutes much more relaxing.
Avoid the entry-level 95hp engine if possible, because it’s slow and paired with a clunky five-speed manual. The 110hp and 150hp options are better for motorway driving in particular, because they don’t need to work as hard to get up to speed.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: badge appeal
Okay, so calling the BMW X1 a small SUV might be pushing it a little bit, but it’s BMW’s smallest SUV, so it’s worthy of inclusion on this list, because it’s by far the poshest car here.
There is a price to pay for this, literally, because nothing else this side of an electric car costs as much. Still, the X1 justifies this through an imposing exterior design, an upmarket and spacious cabin and bundles of badge appeal.
With a high driving position and large windows, visibility is pretty good, so you don’t feel like you’re in a big SUV, which is good news when driving around town. It’s a bit uncomfortable over bumps, but smooths out at higher speeds, though the X1 is perhaps not quite as quiet and refined on the motorway as you might expect, particularly if you go for a trim with the larger alloy wheels.
Being a bit bigger than most other cars on this list has its advantages, because interior space is fantastic and you can slide the rear bench to prioritise legroom or boot space as required. Boot space is excellent too at up to 550 litres – you do lose a little capacity if you go for a mild or plug-in hybrid engine, but it should still be enough space for most.
Okay, so calling the BMW X1 a small SUV might be pushing it a little bit, but it’s BMW’s smallest SUV, so it’s worthy of inclusion on this list, because it’s by far the poshest car here.
There is a price to pay for this, literally, because nothing else this side of an electric car costs as much. Still, the X1 justifies this through an imposing exterior design, an upmarket and spacious cabin and bundles of badge appeal.
With a high driving position and large windows, visibility is pretty good, so you don’t feel like you’re in a big SUV, which is good news when driving around town. It’s a bit uncomfortable over bumps, but smooths out at higher speeds, though the X1 is perhaps not quite as quiet and refined on the motorway as you might expect, particularly if you go for a trim with the larger alloy wheels.
Being a bit bigger than most other cars on this list has its advantages, because interior space is fantastic and you can slide the rear bench to prioritise legroom or boot space as required. Boot space is excellent too at up to 550 litres – you do lose a little capacity if you go for a mild or plug-in hybrid engine, but it should still be enough space for most.
Hybrid cars to avoid
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How to choose the right small SUV for you
Size
It might seem obvious, but small SUVs tend to not be the most practical cars. Front seat space is usually not too bad, but often you have to make a choice between rear seat space or a big boot. Some cars, such as the BMW X1, come with sliding rear seats so you can choose for yourself. Regardless, you might find that a small SUV doesn’t actually suit your needs, particularly if you regularly carry adults or have lots of luggage – check out our list of the best SUVs of all sizes if you need something a bit bigger.
Cost
Most small SUVs represent pretty good value for money, but it’s always a good idea to shop around for deals, whether you’re buying outright, financing or considering leasing. When you’re budgeting for a new car, remember to also consider running costs, such as fuel, insurance and taxes.
Fuel
When buying your small SUV, take the time to think about what fuel type is the best for you. Electric cars are well-suited to being city cars, but they’re only worth it if you have somewhere to charge cheaply, such as at home or work. Smaller EVs tend to have smaller batteries with lower ranges, so aren’t ideal if you do a lot of miles. Petrol power could be a good option if you can’t charge an electric car or regularly do long journeys, while a hybrid car is a good compromise between the two.
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