Best small SUVs to buy 2026
Small SUVs are among the most popular bodystyles on UK roads, so we’ve picked out the very best
Small SUVs are some of the most common cars on Britain’s roads thanks to their compact stature, low running costs and rugged styling. With nearly every mainstream car manufacturer now offering a small SUV of some kind in their line-up, we’ve rounded up the very best currently on sale.
From urban runarounds to capable family cars, there should be a small SUV model out there to suit your needs. There’s a variety of fuel types to choose from too, ranging from traditional petrol to hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full electric power. The latter will be particularly tempting for company car users, thanks to low Benefit-in-Kind tax rates, as well as those who can charge at home.
Every small SUV on this list has been carefully examined and rated by our expert road test team to see whether it’s worth your time and money. Our testing regime is based around the essential criteria for cars in this class like value for money, efficiency, equipment and urban driving performance.
If you’re still undecided as to which small SUV model you’d prefer after reading our list below, we also have a dedicated page that covers the best crossovers - conventional cars with a mild SUV flavour and a list of the best mid-size SUVs from the class above. Now let’s get started on the best small SUVs to buy in the UK right now…
Compare the best small SUVs
| Car | Prices from | Overall rating (out of 5) | Boot space |
| 1. Renault 4 | £23,445 | 4.5 | 339 litres |
| 2. Dacia Duster | £21,820 | 4.5 | 472 litres |
| 3. Volvo EX30 | £31,560 | 4.5 | 318 litres |
| 4. MG ZS | £20,245 | 4 | 443 litres |
| 5. Kia EV3 | £33,000 | 4.5 | 460 litres |
| 6. Hyundai Kona | £26,735 | 4.5 | 466 litres |
| 7. Ford Puma | £26,245 | 4 | 456 litres |
| 8. BMW X1 | £37,525 | 4 | 540 litres |
| 9. Alfa Romeo Junior | £28,400 | 4 | 400 litres |
| 10. Renault Captur | £22,495 | 4 | 422 litres |
Scroll down for more information on each of the best small SUVs, or simply click the links in the table above..
1. Renault 4
- Prices from £23,445
- Auto Express Small SUV of the Year
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The new Renault 4 is currently the best small SUV you can buy in our opinion, thanks to its efficient powertrain, family-friendly levels of practicality and chic, retro charm.
The Renault 4 might share its platform with the hugely-popular Renault 5 supermini, but thanks to its longer wheelbase it’s more practical and there’s a bit more room for everyone to stretch out.
The 422-litre boot is more or less the same size as you’ll find in the Renault Captur, but Renault has made the opening very low as something of a homage to the original 4. This makes loading heavy or bulky items nice and easy, and thanks to some clever storage under the boot floor, you can stow the charging cables out of the way.
Anyone who’s taken a peek inside the new Renault 5 will be very familiar with the 4’s cabin, as the two cars share the vast majority of their tech and materials. Renault’s Google-based infotainment software is some of the best tech we’ve tested in recent times; it looks good, is easy to fathom and quick to respond.
Just like the 5, the 4 is also adorned with a whopping four stalks behind the steering wheel, so we found ourselves having to be extra careful when changing gear or using the indicators during testing, as we found it quite easy to accidentally knock the other stalks. Aside from this, though, everything is logically laid out, and there are plenty of proper switches for key functions.
An exclusive Auto Express survey revealed that over 55 per cent of EV owners have battery range at the very top of their priorities list, and we’re pleased to report that every variant of the Renault 4’s sole 52kWh battery can return up to 247 miles on the WLTP Combined cycle.
When we tested the Renault 4 against the Ford Puma Gen-E we saw an average real-world efficiency of 3.8miles per kWh while driving on a variety of roads. This equates to just under 200 miles of real-world range. This is a better performance than the similarly retro Fiat 600e when we tested it.
“On the road, the R4 feels neatly tied down, despite Renault claiming it has a slightly softer set-up than the 5, with a willingness to change direction that’s missing in plenty of its rivals. The Renault 4 is still quite stiffly sprung, with a hard-ish edge to the ride around town, but things are much smoother at higher speeds.” - Richard Ingram, deputy editor
2. Dacia Duster
- Prices from £21,820
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The Dacia Duster is an incredibly capable small SUV which prioritises simplicity and affordability.
Dacia is well-known for building cars which are great value for money, and the new Duster is no different. Starting from just under £22,000, the Duster really is as capable as its predecessor, while being larger and better equipped.
The result is increased passenger space throughout and a substantial 517-litre boot. Head- and legroom isn’t far off some mid-size SUVs from the class above, so there’s plenty of room to stretch out in the front and rear. If we really want to be fussy, some of the storage bins are a bit small and the ISOFIX points are located behind fiddly zips, but these minor drawbacks are forgivable at this sort of price.
In order to keep costs down, simplicity and durability are the themes here rather than plushness. That being said, the cabin is still a bit fancier than the previous model’s, thanks to some angular designs and contrasting colours.
Every Duster now features a digital driver’s display which is very simply laid out and easy to read, and all trim levels feature a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display. While this isn’t exactly a groundbreaking system, we did find it easy to operate during our testing.
For those who enjoy venturing off-road, the Duster still comes with the option of four-wheel drive to back-up its chunky styling. Despite its off-roading capability, everything remains perfectly pleasant on tarmac, although we had hoped for just a little bit more in the driving fun department. As an affordable all-rounder, though, this really is a tough car to beat.
“The Duster’s chunky styling is great but it can make judging where the car’s extremities are quite difficult. Thankfully there’s some hi-tech help from the on-board cameras which makes parking easier.”- Andy Pringle, chief sub-editor
3. Volvo EX30
- Prices from £31,560
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The Volvo EX30 is proof that small electric SUVs can have a premium feel, a long real-world range and a price point which won’t break the bank.
The cheapest electric cars are mostly the smallest, but the Volvo EX30 is a major exception to this rule as it offers a decent helping of both space and luxuriousness for a very tempting price.
While a minimalist interior means there’s no clutter to get in the way, the EX30’s compact stature does mean that passenger legroom is a bit restricted compared to some of the competition. It’s the rear occupants that’ll notice this the most, but if you keep these seats reserved for the young ones, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Although the floor is a little high, causing passengers to bunch their knees up, headroom is very good throughout. The boot isn’t exactly class-leading at 318 litres, but the shape means you easily make use of all of the available space. There’s also an additional 15 litres under the bonnet for the charging cables which we found very handy.
While the general concept of minimalism is a matter of personal taste, we found the EX30’s over-reliance on its touchscreen to be rather frustrating. The vast majority of functions (even adjusting the door mirrors) are controlled via the centre 12.3-inch screen, and many of these are buried in sub-menus. If you’re particularly patient and love your technology, though, the upside is that it’s a pleasant and comfortable interior to sit in, not to mention one that does very well at hiding Volvo’s cost-cutting measures in its small SUV.
Performance fans will be particularly happy as every version of the EX30 will accelerate from 0-62mph in under six seconds. In fact, the Performance model will complete the sprint in a mere 3.6 seconds.
The EX30 can cover plenty of miles between charges, too, as even the entry level Single Motor model has a claimed maximum range of 214 miles. Opt for the Long Range variant and this number increases to 296 miles, although we saw a real-world range of 224 miles when we tested the car. This is over 50 miles less than the Kia EV3.
“The EX30 makes a good case for itself with a high list of standard safety features and equipment, plus a premium feel inside beyond its reasonable asking price. It’s also remarkably quick in Twin Motor Performance form.” - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer
4. MG ZS
- Prices from £20,245
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The MG ZS is a value-packed small SUV which combines decent levels of tech and a generous amount of space without making too many compromises.
Starting from just over £20,000, the ZS’s most direct rival is the Dacia Duster, but the MG is a bit less distinctive to look at than the chunky Romanian rival. If you’re not too fussed about standing out, though, MG’s compact SUV holds up well as a family car.
Taller passengers can get nice and comfortable in the back seats, largely thanks to a plentiful kneeroom, and the 443-litre boot has a reasonably low load lip which helps to reduce the need for any awkward stretching. If you have a child car seat, there are ISOFIX points in the back, but we found these are a bit awkwardly placed between the cushions.
Step inside and the ZS generally keeps up with its far more expensive competitors when it comes to perceived quality, not to mention on-board kit. A few smaller details, such as a lack of steering wheel adjustment, do indicate the MG’s more humble market positioning, but it’d be a bit unfair to expect absolute perfection at this price point. Opt for the range-topping Trophy trim (a £2,500 option) and this adds in faux-leather seats, a heated steering wheel and rear privacy glass to help things feel a bit posher.
While there’s no electric variant available at the moment, the MG ZS Hybrid+ can officially return more than 55mpg, so running costs will remain very sensible. Despite the brand’s sports car heritage, the ZS’s hybrid powertrain can become a bit unsettled at higher speeds.
Whenever merging at motorway speeds during our testing, there was a notably long wait for the petrol engine to deliver its best performance, the car slightly hampered by its unusual three-speed gearbox. Apart from this, though, this small SUVs does feel deceptively spritely for its size.
“With so much power from its electric motor compared with other hybrids, the MG ZS feels more like an EV around town. From 0-30mph, performance is genuinely excellent, and smooth power delivery makes it a great car for nipping through city traffic.” - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer
5. Kia EV3
- Prices from £33,000
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With its bold styling and an impressive WLTP range of up to 372 miles on a single charge, the Kia EV3 is one of the best electric cars money can buy.
Contrary to what its chunky styling may have you believe, the EV3 is a small and compact SUV. Don’t let that put you off though as it’s still perfectly capable of dealing with family life and can still carry five people without much hassle. We recommend reserving the back seats for the kids, though, as we found taller passengers may feel a bit too snug due to the high floor.
With 460 litres of boot space and a further 25 litres of storage under the bonnet, there’s an impressive amount of room for shopping bags and suitcases.
The EV3 is a fairly quirky car to behold on the outside, but the interior follows a much more conservative approach. While it’s a bit underwhelming in terms of aesthetics, everything feels very well built and the key controls are ergonomically laid out.
Thankfully, Kia hasn’t completely done away with good old-fashioned physical buttons. However, the climate controls are operated by a 5.3-inch touch panel, and this quickly frustrated us during testing due to it being partially obstructed by the steering wheel.
As anyone would reasonably expect from a family-oriented car, the EV3 isn’t designed with white-knuckle driving thrills in mind. Instead what it does do very well is cruise along comfortably, providing ample power for overtaking and getting up to motorway speeds. Of course, gentler driving will help towards maximising efficiency, and the EV3 can cover up to 372 miles on the WLTP combined cycle.
We’ve driven the EV3 in a range of conditions, but we were suitably impressed during the colder weather where we averaged 3.3 miles/kWh which translated to 270 miles of range in the real world. What makes this figure more impressive is the fact our car wasn’t fitted with the optional heat pump, so more energy was used to heat the cabin than on cars with that feature.
“Kia’s purpose-built electric cars are named in multiples of three, but it doesn’t mean that the Kia EV3 is one third the car the flagship EV9 is. While it doesn’t get the 800-volt architecture of the big seven-seat SUV, it doesn’t skimp on battery capacity or in-car tech.” - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer
6. Hyundai Kona
- Prices from £26,735
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The first-gen Hyundai Kona was a great car, but with its futuristic new look and cutting edge powertrains, Hyundai has taken this Kona to another level.
Hyundai has really listened to its customers when designing this new car. Along with a massively revamped design that appears to draw inspiration from the brand’s electric Ioniq models, the current Kona also offers much more cabin space — a particularly welcome improvement over the old model.
The result is a similar amount of head- and kneeroom to the much larger Hyundai Tucson. The boot is impressive, too, as a 466-litre capacity makes it one of the very biggest in the small SUV class.
As well as being spacious, the interior’s quality has also been improved leaps and bounds. There are top-shelf materials aplenty, while the twin digital displays look bang up-to-date.
We generally like Hyundai’s infotainment setup in the Kona, as it is sensibly laid out, quick to respond and there are physical shortcut buttons under the screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are thrown in, but you’ll need to bring a cable.
Just like before, the Kona still comes with the choice of petrol, hybrid or fully-electric power. Naturally, the Kona Electric offers the lowest running costs and is the best bet for company car drivers, but no variant should really cause much of a drain on your bank account as even the thirstiest petrol Konas can still achieve over 45mpg.
From behind the wheel, all three variants prioritise comfort over performance, although rough surfaces and speed bumps did cause some disturbance during our testing. Things remain composed for the most part, though, particularly at lower speeds. Wind and road noise were minimal.
“Admittedly, the daring, sci-fi-inspired styling might not be for everyone, and there are cheaper compact SUVs out there, but right now the Kona looks like extremely good value for such a mature, well equipped and well-rounded car.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter
7. Ford Puma
- Prices from £26,245
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The Ford Puma is one of the best-selling cars in the UK, and with its efficient powertrains, generous tech list and decent practicality, it’s easy to see why.
Since the departure of the Fiesta, the Ford Puma has taken the role of being the brand’s small, affordable car. But in true Ford fashion, it’s practical and genuinely fun to drive.
Whether you opt for the petrol or all-electric Puma Gen-E the interior is relatively roomy and well equipped. The 456-litre boot is very generous, if not quite class-leading, but lurking under the boot floor is Ford’s surprisingly useful 80-litre ‘Megabox’.
Although the Puma’s cabin doesn’t feel as upmarket as those of some rivals’, a mid-life facelift has seen things take a step in the right direction. General fit-and-finish feels a lot more polished, and there’s no missing the new 12-inch SYNC infotainment system, which takes up a significant portion of the dashboard. We just wish the overall system was quicker to use and with a better menu layout, something which was highlighted during our infotainment group test.
On the road, fast steering and impressive agility make Ford’s baby SUV a real treat to drive. No version of the Puma (not even the revised ST performance model) feels massively quick, but its compact size and Fiesta-based underpinnings mean you can throw it around on B-roads in a very enjoyable manner.
Whichever variant of the Puma you choose, it shouldn’t cost the earth to run. When we had the 153bhp mHEV Puma on our test fleet, we averaged 44.3mpg which was reasonable for a car of this size. The Puma Gen-E with its sole 43kWh battery managed to return 4.7mi/kWh during warmer weather and a range of over 200 miles, which is similar to rivals with larger batteries like the Renault 4.
“The climate controls are on permanent display across the bottom of the touchscreen, so they’re relatively easy to use when you’re moving, but the temperature selection is a bit too fiddly for our liking.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor
8. BMW X1
- Prices from £37,525
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If you’re after a family car with a premium feel, sporty handling and lots of practicality, look no further than the BMW X1.
It may be a small SUV, but the X1 is still a BMW, so it’s got a reputation to uphold. While it offers a better driving experience than many of its rivals, the X1 doesn’t sacrifice practicality in the name of performance. In fact, it’s more spacious than its key rivals’ the Audi Q3 and Mercedes GLA.
The good news is that it provides a strong blend of performance and efficiency from its petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
If you’d prefer to go fully-electric, there’s also the option of the BMW iX1, and this returns a claimed 293 miles on a single charge. When we had the iX1 on our long-term test fleet, we saw an average of 3.7 miles/kWh and around 240 miles in the real world, many of which were spent on the motorway where EVs can struggle for efficiency.
Whichever powertrain you choose, all five passengers have ample head and legroom, and the optional sliding rear seat is a useful touch providing you’re willing to pay a bit extra for it. 540 litres of boot space is competitive in the premium small SUV class, too, and this comes with a convenient under-floor storage compartment for loose items.
As we’d reasonably expect from a German premium brand, the BMW X1’s fit and finish has taken a big step up over the previous generation car. Overall, the twin-screen dashboard looks good and functions well enough ergonomically, but we’re not entirely sure that the removal of the iDrive rotary controller is a good idea.
BMW frequently sends out over-the-air updates for its infotainment tech, but our long-term BMW X1 xDrive32i revealed that this can result in some software niggles on occasion. Overall, though, it’s still one of the better systems out there.
“Overall refinement is superb, although if you’re prioritising ride quality we’d recommend avoiding the larger 20-inch alloy wheels and firmer suspension set-up that comes with the M Sport trim level.” - Shane Wilkinson, senior content editor
9. Alfa Romeo Junior
- Prices from £28,400
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The Alfa Romeo Junior brings sleek Italian flare and sporty, performance-focussed handling to stand out in this very competitive sector.
While this Italian sports car purveyor isn’t exactly a byword for sensible cars, the Alfa Romeo Junior does still cope fairly well with the day-to-day stuff. The boot ranges from 400 litres in the Elettrica EV model up to 415 litres in the Ibrida hybrid, both of which are pretty-much par for the course in this sector of the market, but still plenty for the weekly shop.
Unfortunately, where this Alfa does rekindle memories of sports cars past is in the rear seats, as any passengers who are remotely close to six-feet tall will quickly notice an absence of legroom.
Mercifully, Alfa hasn’t forgotten to adorn the area surrounding the front seats with various bits of kit. In fact, it’s here where the Junior starts to shine as it manages to feel very distinctive and sporty, even though it sits on Stellantis’s widely-used CMP platform. There’s a red-and-black colour scheme throughout, the dashboard is angled towards the driver and the round air vents feature subtly illuminated logos. Elsewhere you’ll find the typical Stellantis touches, but all the controls and infotainment system are easy enough to figure out.
Naturally, being an Alfa, the Junior is pretty enjoyable from behind the wheel, although the trade-off is a rather firm ride. Those who really want to get a move on will be best served by the 27bhp Junior Veloce, but all versions will accelerate from 0-62mph in less than nine seconds.
The steering is well weighted and it felt very precise to use during testing. With all electric versions offering 200-plus miles of range on the WLTP combined cycle, the Junior should prove pretty easy to live with on a daily basis. We managed to see figures of around 3.6 miles/kWh during our time with the Junior.
“The Junior Veloce feels incredibly grippy at the front, and you can feel the differential working as it drags the car out of tight corners without a hint of understeer. In Dynamic mode, the traction control stays out of your way for the most part, and will allow you to have fun on the twisty stuff.” - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer
Latest Alfa Romeo Junior deals
10. Renault Captur
- Prices from £22,495
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The Renault Captur is one of the most versatile small SUVs currently on sale, and being a two-time Auto Express Small SUV of the Year award winner, the Captur should serve you well.
Despite its compact dimensions, the stylish Reanult Captur serves up a surprising amount of space inside, while its sliding rear bench adds an extra dose of practicality. Renault’s smallest SUV sits on the same underpinnings as the Clio Supermini, but the latest model is slightly larger than the car it replaced.
Its extra height, width and length has been put to good use within the cabin, while a number of useful storage features also go towards making this a tempting candidate for small families.
To accompany its striking exterior, the Captur’s interior also packs a level of visual appeal. A slick design, plenty of high-grade materials and an eye-catching portrait-style infotainment set-up all make this feel like a much pricier car than it actually is. We’re big fans of Renault’s Google-based infotainment tech, too and it scored well in our infotainment group test. It looks great and is very straightforward to use with only a little bit of practice.
It’s not as sharp to drive as some rivals, but the Captur’s supple suspension and strong refinement mean that it’s very comfortable and relaxing. There’s the choice of petrol or hybrid power, and while the latter tech is more expensive to buy, it can officially return over 60mpg. If you’re a new driver, there’s more good news as the Captur is fairly cheap to insure, starting from as low as group 11.
“It’s not as sharp to drive as some rivals, but fundamentally the Captur’s focus on what its buyers will appreciate is enough to keep it at the sharp end of the class.” - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer.
How we choose the best small SUVs
Small SUVs appeal to a wide range of British car buyers, thanks to qualities such as their stylish looks, family-friendly practicality and affordable running costs. It’s because of this appeal, and the accompanying high sales levels, that this is one of the most fiercely fought sectors of the market. The best small SUVs really do need to go that extra mile.
In order to determine the top performers, our expert road testers have driven every small SUV you can buy over thousands of miles on the UK’s highly varied road network.
During our in-depth testing, we pay very close attention to the things that matter most to buyers. In fact, our exclusive research has shown that more than 52 per cent of SUV buyers prioritise value for money, so this is a crucial deciding factor as to whether a car has a chance of appearing on this list.
Other areas that matter most to SUV buyers are reliability, comfort and cabin space, so these too are rigorously put to the test. As well as our own expert verdicts, we use our annual Driver Power customer satisfaction survey data to determine exactly what each car is like to live with on a longer-term basis.
How to choose the best small SUV
If you’re in the market for a small SUV you are not short of choice but there are some important things to consider when doing your research and taking your test drives to help assemble that shortlist.
Size
While all of these cars are officially described as small SUVs, there can still be some size differences between models. If you’re looking for a family car, you’ll want to pay close attention to figures such as the boot and cabin space. Clever interior storage cubbies can also prove highly useful.
Fuel
We live in a time where there’s plenty of choice when it comes to powering your new small SUV. Whether you want to stick with traditional petrol or switch over to a hybrid (plug-in or otherwise), there are plenty of options available. Of course, you could take this opportunity to switch over to a fully electric car, with more and more zero-emission small SUVs making their debut.
Price
Everybody loves a bargain, and several small SUVs boast very tempting starting prices thanks to their supermini origins. As with any car, it’s important to know who you’d like to pay for your new SUV well in advance. There are plenty of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) deals up for grabs, or perhaps a Personal Contract Hire (PCH) leasing deal would be better suited to your needs. Whatever the case, be sure to shop around once you’ve chosen your ideal financing method.
More SUVs to choose from
We’ve rounded up the best small SUVs, but perhaps you’d care for something a bit bigger? If so, our best mid-size SUVs page takes a look at cars from the class above. Alternatively, you could go for a full-sized option by taking a look at the best large SUVs.
Key updates
- 10 December 2025: Ford Puma added in 7th place thanks to some very competitive pricing and the Puma Gen-E receiving the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant discount. The BMW X1 dropped down from 7th to 8th place and the Jeep Avenger was removed.
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