The rise of the small SUV – and SUVs in general – has been something to behold over the last couple of decades. Somehow, somewhere along the line, British people developed a taste for rugged-looking cars that looked more at home on a farm or country estate than they did on a metropolitan shopping street, but didn’t want the high running costs or environmental guilt associated with running a proper off-roader. And thus the SUV - a car with off-roader looks but a more conventional and efficient drivetrain - became the go-to choice of family car for many. We’ve fallen for them hook, line and sinker, and they’ve revolutionised the car buying process as a result.
Small SUVs are particularly popular right now, with almost every carmaker producing their own small cars with a raised ride height. These make great alternatives to midsize family SUVs if you live in town, offering barely any less interior space but with compact dimensions that make them easy to drive and park.
But which are the best ones? We’ve selected what we consider to be the standout cars in the class. You can browse each of them one-by-one below, or you can search for great deals on all our chosen cars, all at once, right here.
Best Small SUVs 2025
- Volkswagen Taigo (2022-)
- Ford Puma (2019-)
- Dacia Duster (2014-)
- Volvo XC40 (2018-)
- Lexus LBX (2023-)
- Audi Q2 (2016-)
- Hyundai Kona Electric (2023-)
- Kia EV3 (2024-)
- Smart #3 (2023-)
Volkswagen Taigo (2022-)
The Volkswagen Taigo is a prime example of the small SUV phenomenon. Built using many of the same components that are also included in the Volkswagen T-Cross SUV, the Taigo is the answer to the question: “What would a coupe version of an SUV based on a small hatchback look like?”
It’s not a question you’d think needed asking, but in spite of its niche-within-a-niche premise, the Taigo is a surprising success. It’s slicker to look at than the T-Cross, smaller and easier to park than the larger Volkswagen T-Roc, and just as comfortable as the Skoda Kamiq, which is based on the same platform. There’s enough space and practicality inside for it to fit in as a small family car, too, and with an interior that can be finished in a range of stylish colours, it’ll appeal to those who don’t like sitting in a sea of dour grey plastic.
Volkswagen Taigo Review
Ford Puma (2019-)
The Puma is a new car, but it revives a name from Ford’s past, a compact coupe from the turn of the millennium that had quite a cult following, especially for its sportier versions. The latest incarnation, now a compact SUV that was launched in 2019, is eclipsing even that success by becoming one of the best-selling cars in Britain.
It’s easy to see why. Its driving experience was always going to be under the microscope, due to Ford’s longstanding pre-eminence in the mainstream market for ride and handling characteristics, and the Puma passes that examination with flying colours. As you’d expect from a car that shares components with the Fiesta, it’s the best car of its type to drive, with sharp, involving responses to your inputs at the steering wheel, and a ride that stays comfortable no matter whether you’re plodding through town or blatting along a motorway.
The Puma is a success in almost every other area, too, from the sharp-looking exterior design to the quality of the interior. There’s also usable technology, in the form of Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, plus generous interior space and a clever cubby below the floor of the boot. This not only adds to its capacity, but because it has a drain hole and waterproof sides, it can be rinsed out with a hose, making it ideal for storing dirty boots or sports gear. That’s something rivals like the Vauxhall Mokka and Nissan Juke just can’t offer.
Ford Puma SUV Review
Dacia Duster (2014-)
The Duster SUV has become almost as synonymous with Dacia’s name as the Sandero, Dacia’s smaller hatchback model, which was made famous by regular appearances on the Top Gear. Its success has come from staying true to its original brief: a bargain basement alternative to compact SUVs like the Peugeot 2008, Citroen C3 Aircross, Renault Captur, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen T-Roc, and a rival to the MG ZS.
Underpinning its value is a strong sense of practicality that starts with a big boot and continues with loads of legroom in the back seats, and lots of clever touches that make family life just that little bit easier — something not all small cars get right.
It’s cheap to run, too, with a range of full and mild hybrid engines on offer, and you can now extend the warranty up to six years by keeping the car serviced at a main dealer. And in four-wheel-drive form, you even get a level of off-road ability that few cars of this size can match
Granted, there are downsides. The Duster’s interior looks good, but it’s finished in quite hard, plasticky materials; it isn’t the most exciting thing to drive, either, and while Dacia’s safety scores have improved in recent years, the Duster’s crash test results still lag behind its rivals’.
Despite all that, this is a car that offers a lot for very little — and it’s therefore well worth considering if you’re buying on a budget.
Dacia Duster Review
Volvo XC40 (2018-)
As a brand, Volvo has been absolutely smashing it in recent years, and the XC40 is arguably the pinnacle of the Swedish company's achievements. One of the smallest cars in Volvo’s SUV range, the XC40 has everything you’d want from a premium compact SUV: cool exterior styling, a roomy, high-quality interior, plenty of standard equipment, good practicality and a solid on-road character. And, of course, it’s a Volvo, so safety is at the very core of the XC40’s appeal.
Apart from being well built, with a strong safety cell, airbags galore and all the other crash protection attributes that you’d need, the XC40 also has plenty of active safety features, including some that will be the foundation for future autonomous driving technology. Finally, the XC40 has been offered with pretty much every form of powertrain over the years, from petrol and diesel engines, to the more fuel efficient mild hybrid models and low-emissions plug-in hybrid, to an all-electric SUV with a 250-mile range, all depending on how important fuel economy is to you.
Volvo XC40 Review
Lexus LBX (2023-)
Here’s something Lexus probably doesn’t want you to know: under the skin, the LBX is identical to Toyota’s Nissan Juke rival, the Yaris Cross. Is that such a bad thing, though? After all, that just means it gets the same fuel-sipping 1.5-litre hybrid engine, which helps keep running costs to a minimum and results in deeply impressive MPG figures (don’t forget the Yaris Cross is one of Britain’s most fuel-efficient cars).
And as with the Yaris Cross, you get the option of four-wheel drive, something most SUVs of this size can’t offer, which means the LBX is a great choice if you live out in the sticks and feel the need for AWD, but don’t want something too big and difficult to squeeze down the back lanes.
Inside is where the LBX really stands head-and-shoulders above its platform-mate; you get a seriously plush interior, with generous levels of equipment, an excellent touchscreen system and well laid-out switchgear. All of which means the LBX feels like a truly luxurious SUV — just one that’s a bit dinkier than the norm.
Lexus LBX Review
Audi Q2 (2016-)
Audi’s SUVs have proven very popular over the last decade or so, with the likes of the Q5 and Q7 often seen as large SUVs to aspire to. But Audi hasn’t just gone large: it has also produced the very worthy Audi Q3 to go up against the likes of the BMW X1, Mini Countryman, Mercedes GLA and Range Rover Evoque, and also the more urban, more crossover-like Audi Q2, which brings the quality of the premium sector to the small SUV class.
The Q2 brings a good selection of abilities, including the sophisticated exterior styling, and the build quality and high-quality materials used in the cabin, although there are some harder plastics that you wouldn’t find in pricier Audis. There’s technology aplenty, too, with the touchscreen-based MMI infotainment system used elsewhere in the range (which also features Apple and Android smartphone connectivity) and the optional Virtual Cockpit display in front of the driver. You also get the elevated driving position that SUV drivers love.
There are the usual suspects in the engine line-up, including the perky 1.0-litre and the flexible 1.5-litre petrol engines found in so many cars sold by the Volkswagen Group, and you can choose either a manual or a DSG automatic gearbox. On the road, the Q2 is very much an Audi, too, with good handling abilities, but a slightly firm ride.
Audi Q2 Review
Hyundai Kona Electric (2023-)
The Kona was launched as a small SUV in 2017, filling a place in the Korean carmaker’s line-up that would likely prove popular. The entry-level car was good but unexceptional, but the Kona Electric that followed about a year later proved to be much better. Not only was the 280-mile range achievable in real-world driving, but the inclusion of batteries from the excellent Kia E-Niro under the floor, replacing the internal combustion engine up front, made it a smoother car to drive. The lower centre of gravity improved the handling, while the additional weight of the batteries made the suspension less bouncy and more comfortable.
The second-generation Kona, released in 2023, is a case of history repeating itself. The basic car is a vast improvement over what went before, with more style, quality and interior space, but to drive, the combustion-engined variants are a bit unremarkable. The Kona Electric, though, is streets ahead. Again mechanically related to the contemporary Kia EV3, it was developed first and foremost as an electric car, and that really shows, because it’s a lot more settled and civilised on the road. It also comes with a longer range than most rivals. The fact it comes with Hyundai’s impressive warranty is merely icing on the cake.
Hyundai Kona Review
Kia EV3 (2024-)
As noted above, Kia's EV3 is closely related to the Hyundai Kona, and boasts similar levels of practicality and equipment. The big difference, of course, is that the EV3 is only available as an electric car — there are no hybrid or petrol engine options. Not that that’s a bad thing, given the petrol and hybrid Konas are a touch underwhelming. Also in the EV3’s favour is the fact that Kia also offers a longer warranty than Hyundai, with seven years and 100,000 miles of cover from the moment you drive it out of the showroom.
Granted, the EV3’s blocky looks are arguably slightly more radical than the more demure (though only just) Kona. The Kona’s interior, by contrast, offers better usability, with more physical buttons and fewer touch-sensitive controls. Overall, though, the choice between this and the Hyundai is likely to come down to personal preference or what offers are available at the time of purchase.
Kia EV3 Review
Smart #3 (2023-)
If you’re looking for an electric SUV that’s family friendly, but also trendy, the Smart #3 is it — as you’ve probably guessed from the curvy, organic styling. But its beauty isn’t just skin-deep; it’s good to drive, too, with a sophisticated chassis that manages to be fun when you want it to be, and supple on longer journeys.
And despite those looks, it’s surprisingly roomy inside, with a decent amount of room in the back seats and good boot space. It’s also rather appealing from behind the steering wheel, with a dashboard that keeps that soft, swoopy look of the exterior going, and lots of smart touches like colourful ambient lighting. The only real downside is that usability is poor, with barely any buttons, which means even important functions have to be accessed through the touchscreen.
On the plus side, you get competitive range figures and charging speeds, making this an SUV you can use on longer trips. Thanks to that fresh, modern styling, this is a car that will appeal to family-oriented fashionistas — and it’s one that will serve them well.