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Best small SUVs

The definitive ranking of the best and worst small SUVs on sale in the UK

This is the definitive ranking of the best and worst small SUVs on sale in the UK.

How can we make such a bold claim? Because this list isn’t just based on our opinion. We’ve pulled together tens of millions of key data points on every new car (as well as a growing number of near-new used cars), including more than 15,000 new car reviews from 35 of the UK’s top motoring websites. We also factor in complete safety data from Euro NCAP, reliability data and five-year running cost information.
All this adds up to the most comprehensive analysis of expert opinion and real-world data found anywhere in the motoring world.

The Car Expert has the ultimate ranking of the best and worst new cars on sale, based on tens of millions of key data points.

The small SUV sector is about the hottest place in the UK’s new car market right now, with manufacturers adding new models almost every week. Although these cars may look like sturdy go-anywhere vehicles, they’re basically just small hatchbacks in platform shoes and bulky clothing to make them look bigger and tougher than they really are. They’re generally no more capable off-road than a regular car, which is why they’re often referred to as crossovers rather than SUVs.

Volvo EX30

The critically-acclaimed electric Volvo EX30 is a compelling family car package, but compromised practicality may deter some buyers.

Kia Niro EV

The Kia Niro EV is an electric SUV with impressive on-board tech, practicality and battery range, but the price has gone up over the previous model.

BMW iX1

The BMW iX1 is an electric version of the regular X1 SUV. It offers strong performance, an excellent safety score and low running costs.

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer has returned as a practical battery-powered SUV, but how will it fare in an already crowded electric SUV market?

Smart #3

Reviews of the Smart #3 have been mixed. It's spacious, smooth and quiet, but the drive is uninspired and the touchscreen is heavily criticised.

Volvo EC40

The Volvo EC40 is a coupé-SUV that is both pleasant and potent on the move, but its price tag is too expensive for it to be a sensible choice.

Kia EV3

The Kia EV6 is an electric crossover that has been met with plenty of enthusiasm from the motoring media, particularly for its tech and battery range.

Kia Niro

Reviewers agree that the second-generation Kia Niro SUV improves on its predecessor in many areas, but it is not all that exciting to drive.

Toyota Yaris Cross

The Toyota Yaris Cross is a stylish small SUV with an efficient hybrid powertrain, but it's not quite as comfortable as some rivals.

BMW X1

The BMW X1 is one of the most spacious and well-equipped options in the small SUV class, but it also one of the most expensive.

Hyundai Kona Electric

The second-generation Hyundai Kona Electric offers an impressive battery range and interior, but other EVs are more interesting to drive.

Renault Captur

Media reviews for the Renault Captur have been generally positive, and it is a significant improvement over the original model.

Volvo EX40

The Volvo EX40 is an impressive, fast and well-built electric crossover, but it isn't as spacious as its ICE-powered XC40 counterpart.

Skoda Kamiq

The Skoda Kamiq has received universally positive media reviews to date, with praise for its comfort, practicality and value for money.

Mercedes-Benz EQA

The Mercedes-Benz EQA is an electric SUV/crossover and the entry-level of the battery-powered EQ range, praised for its interior refinement.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

The new Mercedes-Benz GLA crosover range is considered a big improvement over the original model, but it's let down by a high price tag.

SEAT Arona

The SEAT Arona is one of the highest rated small SUVs, with particular praise for its driving dynamics and equipment levels.

Mazda MX-30

The Mazda MX-30 is an unconventional electric SUV, with a smaller battery pack that makes it better to drive but seriously limits its range.

Vauxhall Mokka Electric

The Vauxhall Mokka-e has an effective drivetrain, petrol-like driving characteristics and bold styling, but is less practical than rivals.

Lexus LBX

The Lexus LBX is a plush crossover with a well-equipped cabin and an efficient hybrid engine, but cheaper alternatives offer more space for less.

Ford Puma

The Ford Puma has received strong media reviews, and also scores highly for exhaust emissions and safety. It's an excellent small SUV.

Jeep Avenger

The compact Jeep Avenger has been widely praised for its practical design and battery range, but other small electric SUVs are more affordable.

Ford Puma ST

The Ford Puma ST is a potent compact SUV that offers a lot of fun, but that brings compromises to its daily usability in the process.

Peugeot e-2008

The Peugeot e-2008 has sharp exterior styling and an upmarket interior, although its performance and range aren't up with the best in class.

Alfa Romeo Junior

The Alfa Romeo Junior is a electric SUV that is serious fun to drive in its top-spec Veloce form, but some rivals have a longer battery range.

Volkswagen T-Cross

The Volkswagen T-Cross has received consistently good media reviews, with particular praise for its comfort and driving dynamics.

Hyundai Kona

The second-generation Hyundai Kona is more spacious and refined than its predecessor, but the performance of hybrid models is uninspiring.

Volkswagen Taigo

A stylish and practical coupé-SUV, the Volkswagen Taigo is a sensible choice in a very crowded small SUV class, but rivals are more fun to drive.

MG ZS EV

The MG ZS EV is a practical small electric budget SUV, although quality is average and it has less range than more expensive rivals.

Peugeot 2008

The Peugeot 2008 has received positive reviews, with praise for its design and quality but criticism for its relatively high price.

Fiat 600e

The Fiat 600e is a stylish electric crossover that is easy to drive, but the 500's big brother puts style too far ahead of practicality.

Volvo XC40

The Volvo XC40 has received many good reviews and awards, with particular praise for its quality, refinement, styling and safety.

Hyundai Bayon

The Hyundai Bayon is a sensible small SUV that has received positive reviews thanks to its practical interior and generous on-board tech.

Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 has received generally good reviews from UK motoring media sources, with most praising its quality and technology systems.

Mini Aceman

The Mini Aceman is an electric crossover with boxy looks that is set to join the ever competitive small battery-powered SUV category.

MG ZS

Now a hybrid, the second-generation MG ZS carries on its predecessor's value-for-money reputation, but the SUV's ride comfort has been criticised.

BMW X2

The second-generation BMW X2 has been praised for improved practicality over the original model, but the driving experience has left reviewers disappointed.

Dacia Duster

The third-generation Dacia Duster is practical, comfortable and competitively priced, but alternatives offer more rear legroom.

Nissan Juke

The Nissan Juke has received widespread praise for its smoother styling compared to the divisive original, as well as being much better to drive.

Alfa Romeo Tonale

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is one of the most stylish and sporty compact SUVs on the market, but several reviewers take issue with its interior.

Volkswagen T-Roc

The Volkswagen T-Roc has received generally positive media reviews, with an overall Expert Rating that is very competitive in its market segment.

Range Rover Evoque

The Range Rover Evoque is a very capable premium SUV with a plug-in option, but reliability issues blunt its appeal.

DS 3 E-Tense

The DS 3 E-Tense electric SUV has been praised for its distinctive styling, but it's expensive and the battery range is sub-par.

Lexus UX Hybrid

The Lexus UX has received average to good scores from the UK media, with praise for its urban fuel economy and urban driving dynamics.

Kia XCeed

The Kia XCeed has had generally positive reviews, although it's more expensive than the Ceed hatch and less practical than an SUV.

Renault Arkana

The Renault Arkana is a larger and sleeker version of the Captur SUV, but it appears to be a victory for style over substance.

Lexus UX Electric

The Lexus UX Electric has received mostly average scores to date, with praise for its urban driving dynamics but criticism for its poor range.

BMW iX2

The BMW iX2 is a powerful and plush coupé-SUV, but higher pricing and less practicality stops reviewers from recommending it over its iX1 sibling.

Vauxhall Mokka

The new Vauxhall Mokka is the first model to feature Vauxhall's latest design language, but it's not as highly rated as the Ford Puma.

Honda e:Ny1

Reviewers agree that the compact Honda e:Ny1 is a solid EV choice, but strong competition and its high pricing makes it hard to recommend.

Honda HR-V

The hybrid-only Honda HR-V is an efficient all-rounder, but other family SUVs are more engaging to drive, and more practical too.

Volkswagen T-Roc R

The Volkswagen T-Roc is a performance compact SUV with impressive pace and handling, but its price tag will deter many buyers.

Audi Q2

The Audi Q2 range has received generally good media reviews, although its overall score is off the pace of the best in its class.

Suzuki Vitara

The Suzuki Vitara has received generally good reviews from the UK media, with our Expert Rating currently placing it in the top half of the small SUV field.

DS 3

The DS 3 has received average to good scores from the UK media, with an Expert Rating that places it in the midfield of the small crossover sector.

Kia Stonic

Other than stiffing buyers of the base models when it comes to safety, the Kia Stonic is praised for its driving dynamics and Kia's seven-year warranty.

Vauxhall Crossland

The Vauxhall Crossland has received average media reviews, and our unique Expert Rating places it in the bottom half of its market segment.

Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade has received average media reviews. Its Expert Rating of 60% is poor and ranks it only 18th out of 20 cars in its class.

KGM Tivoli

The KGM Tivoli range has received mixed reviews rfrom the UK motoring media. It's considered good value but relatively unrefined.

Hyundai Kona Electric (2018 to 2023)

The Hyundai Kona Electric been highly praised by the media for its 250+ mile driving range and its overall practicality.

Mazda CX-3 (2015 to 2021)

The Mazda CX-30 has an excellent Used Car Expert Rating of A. It scores top marks for its excellent reliability record and low running costs

Kia e-Niro (2019 to 2022)

The e-Niro has been praised for its comfort and practicality, but most of all for proving an electric car can meet the needs of most drivers.

Citroën C3 Aircross (2017 to 2024)

The Citroën C3 Aircross has received average reviews, with praise for its versatility but criticism for a lack of refinement.

Fiat 500X (2014 to 2024)

The Fiat 500X received mostly average to poor reviews from the UK media, with praise for its design but criticism for its driving dynamics.

Hyundai Kona (2017 to 2023)

The latest Hyundai Kona is distinctive and has a hybrid model, but loses out on practicality and the driving experience.

Kia Niro (2016 to 2022)

The Kia Niro has received mixed media reviews, with priase for its value and low running costs but criticism for its driving experience.

BMW X1 (2015 to 2022)

The BMW X1 received good reviews and is was substantial improvement over the old model, but it was still a long way off the class leaders.

Dacia Duster (2017 to 2024)

The second-generation Dacia Duster received a broad range of media reviews, ranging from outstanding to outright recommendations not to buy one.

Honda HR-V (2015 to 2021)

The Honda HR-V has received fairly average from the UK media, with our overall Expert Rating currently ranking it in the middle of the small SUV field.

Mini Countryman (2017 to 2024)

The Mini Countryman received good media reviews, with the plug-in hybrid scoring better and the JCW model not as well.

Jaguar E-Pace (2017 to 2024)

The Jaguar E-Pace received mixed reviews from the UK motoring media, with performance-oriented titles giving it better scores than consumer titles.

Suzuki Jimny (2018 to 2020)

The Jimny received a wide range of scores from the UK media, with praise for its off-roading ability but criticism for its on-road handling.

Hyundai Kona N (2021 to 2023)

An SUV with the driving dynamics and performance of a hot hatch, the Hyundai Kona N is well-equipped, but not as practical as the Ford Puma ST.

Ford EcoSport (2013 to 2023)

The Ford EcoSport received mostly poor to average media reviews, although the updated version launched in 2017 is considered an improvement.

Renault Captur (2013 to 2019)

The first-generation Renault Captur was a capable crossover that was easy to drive and look at, but its rivals offered more interior quality.

Skoda Yeti (2009 to 2017)

No longer in production, the Skoda Yeti was the Czech brand's first foray into the SUV market, highlighted for its intuitive practical features.

Peugeot 2008 (2013 to 2019)

The original Peugeot 2008 was an economical and spacious small SUV suited to the school run, but it offered a pretty dull driving experience.

BMW X2 (2018 to 2023)

The BMW X2's Expert Rating places it firmly in the small SUV midfield. It's good to drive but not as practical as most rivals.

MG ZS (2017 to 2024)

The MG ZS received generally poor media reviews, and currently has one of the lowest Expert Ratings of any car we have analysed.

Dacia Duster (2010 to 2017)

The first-generation Dacia Duster was a small SUV with unparrelled affordability, but buying one required some interior quality compromises.

Nissan Juke (2010 to 2019)

The first-generation Nissan Juke was built between 2010 and 2019. It was initially competitive, but struggled to keep up with newer rivals as it aged.

Mitsubishi ASX (2010 to 2021)

The Mitsubishi ASX scored poorly according to our Expert Rating aggregator. In fact, it's one of the lowest-rated cars we've ever analysed.

The small SUV sector is where the hottest action in the new car market is – a market that just a few years ago didn’t exist now sees a new model added to its ranks almost weekly.

Once upon a time, you bought an SUV if you wanted a rugged vehicle with four-wheel-drive to go off-road motoring, but most SUVs on the market today are nothing more than normal cars with jacked-up ride heights and plastic styling panels. They are no more likely to leave the tarmac than the average family car.

Such cars are also known as crossovers, basically because they sit in the gap between a typical car and an off-roading 4×4, and this is especially true of small SUVs. Most of them are front-wheel-drive only, which once off the tarmac would quickly become pretty useless.       

As time goes on, the visual differences between SUVs and typical hatchbacks are becoming ever more blurred. In short, you will likely choose a small SUV over a small hatchback if you like a higher driving position and the more muscular styling.

If these things tick your boxes then there’s a whole lot of choice out there, with almost every manufacturer now aferring at least one small SUV. You can choose from budget models like the Dacia Duster, through mainstream entrants such as the sporty Ford Puma, to luxury heavyweights typified by the Range Rover Evoque. And there are plenty of full-electric small SUVs available too, a choice that is growing all the time.

Best car rankings

The Car Expert has the ultimate ranking of the best and worst new cars on sale, based on tens of millions of key data points.