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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 compiled and analysed more than 15,000 new car reviews from 35 of the UK’s top motoring titles to produce our Expert Rating Index.

Why rely on one person’s opinion when you can have all of the top reviews gathered together in one place?

How our Expert Rating scores are calculated
How Expert Ratings can help your car buying decisions

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.

Current models

Kia Niro EV

Expert Rating 79%
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.

Ford Puma ST

Expert Rating 79%
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.

Hyundai Kona Electric

Expert Rating 77%
The second-generation Hyundai Kona Electric offers an impressive battery range and interior, but other EVs are more interesting to drive.

Ford Puma

Expert Rating 76%
The Ford Puma has received excellent media reviews and sits at the top of the small SUV class, according to our unique Expert Rating index.

Volvo XC40

Expert Rating 75%
The Volvo XC40 has received many good reviews and awards, with particular praise for its quality, refinement, styling and safety.

Range Rover Evoque

Expert Rating 74%
The Range Rover Evoque is a very capable premium SUV with a plug-in option, but reliability issues blunt its appeal.

Hyundai Kona

Expert Rating 74%
The second-generation Hyundai Kona is more spacious and refined than its predecessor, but the performance of hybrid models is uninspiring.

Jeep Avenger

Expert Rating 74%
The compact Jeep Avenger has been widely praised for its practical design and battery range, but other small electric SUVs are more affordable.

Skoda Kamiq

Expert Rating 71%
The Skoda Kamiq has received universally positive media reviews to date, with praise for its comfort, practicality and value for money.

Kia Niro

Expert Rating 71%
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.

Vauxhall Mokka Electric

Expert Rating 70%
The Vauxhall Mokka-e has an effective drivetrain, petrol-like driving characteristics and bold styling, but is less practical than rivals.

BMW X1

Expert Rating 70%
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.

Toyota Yaris Cross

Expert Rating 69%
The Toyota Yaris Cross is a stylish small SUV with an efficient hybrid powertrain, but it's not quite as comfortable as some rivals.

SEAT Arona

Expert Rating 69%
The SEAT Arona is one of the highest rated small SUVs, with particular praise for its driving dynamics and equipment levels.

Volkswagen T-Roc

Expert Rating 69%
The Volkswagen T-Roc has received generally positive media reviews, with an overall Expert Rating that is very competitive in its market segment.

BMW iX1

Expert Rating 69%
The BMW iX1 is a fast and roomy electrified SUV packed with plenty of useful on-board tech, but its price might give you a shock.

Volkswagen T-Cross

Expert Rating 69%
The Volkswagen T-Cross has received consistently good media reviews, with particular praise for its comfort and driving dynamics.

Volkswagen T-Roc R

Expert Rating 69%
The Volkswagen T-Roc is a performance compact SUV with impressive pace and handling, but its price tag will deter many buyers.

Peugeot e-2008

Expert Rating 68%
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.

Peugeot 2008

Expert Rating 68%
The Peugeot 2008 has received positive reviews, with praise for its design and quality but criticism for its relatively high price.

Audi Q3

Expert Rating 67%
The Audi Q3 has received generally good reviews from UK motoring media sources, with most praising its quality and technology systems.

Volvo XC40 Recharge

Expert Rating 67%
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is an impressive, fast but expensive electric crossover. Lower-spec, more affordable models are also on the way.

Vauxhall Mokka

Expert Rating 67%
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.

Mini Countryman

Expert Rating 66%
The Mini Countryman has received good media reviews, with the plug-in hybrid scoring better and the JCW model not as well.

Volkswagen Taigo

Expert Rating 66%
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.

Audi Q2

Expert Rating 64%
The Audi Q2 range has received generally good media reviews, although its overall score is off the pace of the best in its class.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Expert Rating 64%
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.

Renault Captur

Expert Rating 64%
Media reviews for the Renault Captur have been generally positive, and it is a significant improvement over the original model.

Kia XCeed

Expert Rating 63%
The Kia XCeed has had generally positive reviews, although it's more expensive than the Ceed hatch and less practical than an SUV.

Hyundai Bayon

Expert Rating 63%
The Hyundai Bayon is a sensible small SUV that has received positive reviews thanks to its practical interior and generous on-board tech.

Dacia Duster

Expert Rating 63%
The Dacia Duster has received a broad range of media reviews, ranging from outstanding to outright recommendations not to buy one.

Fiat 600e

Expert Rating 63%
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.

Hyundai Kona N

Expert Rating 62%
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.

Nissan Juke

Expert Rating 62%
The Nissan Juke has received widespread praise for its smoother styling compared to the divisive original, as well as being much better to drive.

BMW X2

Expert Rating 61%
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.

Mazda MX-30

Expert Rating 61%
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.

Volvo C40

Expert Rating 60%
The Volvo C40 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.

Mercedes-Benz EQA

Expert Rating 60%
The Mercedes-Benz EQA is an electric SUV/crossover and the entry-level of the battery-powered EQ range, praised for its interior refinement.

Lexus UX Hybrid

Expert Rating 60%
The Lexus UX has received average to good scores from the UK media, with praise for its urban fuel economy and urban driving dynamics.

MG ZS EV

Expert Rating 58%
The MG ZS EV is a practical small electric budget SUV, although quality is average and it has less range than more expensive rivals.

Honda HR-V

Expert Rating 58%
The hybrid-only Honda HR-V is an efficient all-rounder, but other family SUVs are more engaging to drive, and more practical too.

Alfa Romeo Tonale

Expert Rating 58%
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.

Citroën C3 Aircross

Expert Rating 58%
The Citroën C3 Aircross has received average reviews, with praise for its versatility but criticism for a lack of refinement.

Renault Arkana

Expert Rating 57%
The Renault Arkana is a larger and sleeker version of the Captur SUV, but it appears to be a victory for style over substance.

Jaguar E-Pace

Expert Rating 56%
The Jaguar E-Pace has received mixed reviews from the UK motoring media, with performance-oriented titles giving it better scores than consumer titles.

Suzuki Vitara

Expert Rating 56%
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.

Honda e:Ny1

Expert Rating 55%
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.

Kia Stonic

Ratings and reviews 55%
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.

Fiat 500X

Expert Rating 54%
The Fiat 500X has received mostly average to good reviews from the UK media, with praise for its stylish design and driving dynamics.

DS 3 E-Tense

Expert Rating 54%
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.

SsangYong Tivoli

Expert Rating 53%
The SsangYong Tivoli range has received mixed reviews rfrom the UK motoring media. It's considered good value but relatively unrefined.

Lexus UX Electric

Expert Rating 51%
The Lexus UX Electric has received mostly average scores to date, with praise for its urban driving dynamics but criticism for its poor range.

Vauxhall Crossland

Expert Rating 49%
The Vauxhall Crossland has received average media reviews, and our unique Expert Rating places it in the bottom half of its market segment.

DS 3

Expert Rating 47%
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.

Jeep Renegade

Expert Rating 47%
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.

MG ZS

Expert Rating 39%
The MG ZS has received generally poor media reviews, and currently has one of the lowest Expert Ratings of any car we have analysed.

Ford EcoSport

Expert Rating 39%
The Ford EcoSport received mostly poor to average media reviews, although the updated version launched in 2017 is considered an improvement.