SUVs are everywhere, and the emerging trend of the small compact SUVs is really popular with drivers. Offering plenty of boot and passenger space, whilst not feeling clunky and large, the small SUV is a chance to get the best of both worlds. With the massive demand for small SUVs, car makers have flooded the market with plenty of great options, and finding the right one for you can seem scary. With that in mind, here’s some of the best small SUVs you could go for.
👉 Dacia Duster
One of the most popular cars on this list, the Dacia Duster is reliable, versatile and easy to drive. A clean, modern interior makes this a great car for the family, with a heads-up touchscreen display and smart contours throughout. The Dacia Duster can also come as an automatic, making it one of the best automatic small SUVs available in the UK. A newer Dacia Duster can range anywhere from £18,000 to £25,000, and a used model can be as low as £7,000, making it a great, cheap small SUV option.
A long-standing compact SUV, the Nissan Juke is one of the most popular options in the small SUV range, with its reliability and interesting look. Appearing as a smaller car with a higher suspension, the Juke deceives in its size, with plenty of boot and passenger space. In terms of small SUVs, there aren’t many that fit the description better than the Nissan Juke. More modern models have updated tech, too, like displays with all the information you could need. Throughout its years, the Nissan Juke has been chosen by drivers due to its reliability and practicality, and this doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. Nissan is committed to the Juke line and is always looking at ways to develop the driving experience. Prices for a Nissan Juke vary massively based on age. As a rough guide, a new model will set you back around £24,000 to £28,000, with used models starting anywhere from £5,000. The current highest tier option for the new Juke line is the Nissan Juke Tekna, which offers advanced safety features and a large infotainment screen. This model is around £28,000.
A very similar look to the Nissan Juke, the Puma is Ford’s answer to the small SUV question. One of the smaller options in this list, Ford defines the Puma as a compact SUV. Later models now come with the option of a hybrid engine, appealing to those looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Although the Puma appears small from the outside, it is surprisingly spacious and perfect for small families. An added bonus of the Puma is that it comes with the reliability that lots associate with Ford. A rather unspectacular car that probably won’t turn heads, the Ford Puma is a safe option that you can trust to get your family from A to B. A new Ford Puma comes in around £26,000 and rises to £33,000, making it one of the more expensive cars on this list.
Seen as the most affordable and smallest Lexus yet by Autotrader, the LBX is a compact SUV that offers hybrid fuel, helping you split the cost of petrol and electric, and bring down those fuel costs that add up over time. In a market where hybrids lose value quite quickly, the Lexus might do better than rivals, purely based on its reputation for building great cars. Built for the European market, the smaller Lexus is designed for inner city driving, providing comfort on those long drives. Equipped with a fairly standard infotainment system, the LBX lags behind some of the options on this list for the level of tech. The electric engine is perfect for inner city driving, though, keeping noise down and limiting your use of petrol. Overall, the Lexus LBX is another good option, and for a price of £29,600, it’s one of the best deals on this list.
A popular option in the compact SUV space, the T-Roc has been on our roads for a few years, meaning there are plenty of good used options for a fair price. What you get with this car is Volkswagen’s reliability and finish, with practicality a key feature. According to Carwow, the T-Roc doesn’t hit the mark in its overall drive vs competitors, which could be a reason to look elsewhere. Nevertheless, a good all-round family car for a used price of £11,000 - £15,000 is a great short-term option. If you are looking for a cheap small SUV, a used T-Roc meets the bill. If you have some more cash to play around with, though, there are plenty of options that are a better use of your funds.
Skoda has forever been a symbol of reliability, solid builds and good finishes. The Karoq is no different, and although it doesn’t wow, it’s a solid option for small SUV searchers. There isn’t much glitz and glimmer, but instead a car that does its job, getting you from A to B. The exterior can seem slightly dated, especially against options like the Lexus LBX. To buy a Skoda Karoq isn’t to buy something flashy and extravagant, but a car you can rely on. There’s plenty of used options on the market, but a new Skoda Karoq will set you back anywhere from £30,000 to £44,000, an expensive pick against others in this blog.
Seen as a premium compact SUV, the Range Rover Evoque is a shrunken-down version of the classic Range Rover Discovery or Sport, and offers plenty of bang for your buck. Of course, the price tag is higher for an Evoque vs other small SUVs, with new models hitting the market at £42,000 and rising based on spec. What you get for your price, though, is the Range Rover finish, with a luxury interior matched to a sharp exterior. Older models have slightly dated tech, but this is still good enough to satisfy your music, call, and map needs. Newer models now also come with the option of plug-in-hybrid fuelling, appealing to those looking to limit their carbon footprint.
The second Volvo in our list, the EX30 is slick and stylish on the outside and just as good on the inside. With an electric engine, there is the benefit of saving on fuel costs, but the downside that electric cars lose value quickly over time. A range of 296 miles is great, though, and makes those long family journeys achievable on one charge. The infotainment system is slightly clunky, appearing as a large tablet device on your dashboard. Some of the icons within it are quite small, making it quite hard to quickly click something like maps whilst driving.
With all this in mind, the price of £33,000 to £47,000 is steep, but what you get is a solid, clean, modern car—just get used to the large screen!
The winner of the 2025 Carwow Urban Living Award, the Toyota Yaris Cross, has caught plenty of attention. A cheaper option on this list, you’re guaranteed good build quality with Toyota and a solid drive. The car isn’t kitted out to the max with tech, but this is made up for with an easy and comfortable drive. The price is also great, with new options ranging from £26,500 to £36,000. This is one of the cheaper cars on our list, and a true sign of value for money. If a simple drive with plenty of space at a cheap price is up your street, look no further than the Toyota Yaris Cross.
One of the early entrants to the small SUV space, the BMW X1 has since grown in size and fits more in the SUV space. In saying that, the older X1s are a true definition of compact SUVs. The iconic BMW logo sits at the front of the car, in front of the unmistakable grille that is so recognisable with BMW models. A leather finish and comfortable seating, older X1s still have plenty to offer. Starting from £10,000 for a used model, you can get your hands on a pretty good deal. The fear about used cars being too old isn’t an issue here either, with BMW known for its fantastic build quality that last for many years.
If you do have your eyes on a newer model, though, your price can be anywhere from £36,000 to £54,000.
There’s plenty of great cars on this list, and something for everyone.
If you are looking for a cheap option that does the basics, we recommend either the Dacia Duster or the VW T-Roc.
If you're looking for a tech-filled modern car and aren’t afraid to break the bank, a new Range Rover Evoque or BMW X1 are your best bet.
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