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Best small SUVs 2025

High quality small SUVs from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.5/5 from 74,579 reviews
Last updated October 19, 2025 by Mario Christou

Best small SUVs 2025: our favourite city-friendly SUVs

The best small SUVs give you all the advantages of a regular SUV but with the added positive of not feeling big and intimidating to drive.

Buying a small SUV means you get a raised driving position that gives you a better view of the road ahead, but it also means that it can be easier to load items into the boot, or children into child seats. Less time spent doubled over trying to squeeze a tantruming toddler into the back of a car is always a good thing.

It is worth noting that small SUVs tend not to be much more practical than equivalent hatchbacks, but then they’re usually no less practical either. That means you’ll typically get similar boot capacity, often more than enough for the weekly shop, and some can even squeeze in some flat pack furniture.

What most of the cars in this list have in common, though, is that they’re not particularly roomy in the back seats. If you regularly carry adults or growing teenagers this could be a problem, so it’s worth bearing in mind. (And if they’re roomy in the back seats, the trade off tends to be a small boot.)

Carwow’s expert reviews team has rigorously tested every small SUV you can buy, good and bad, to put together this list of the very best and worst – and there’s something for every budget.

Citroen e-C3
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended

1. Citroen e-C3

EV Grant options
9/10
Citroen e-C3 review
Battery range up to 201 miles
Key features: The Citroen e-C3 is a small, quirky-looking SUV that’s very comfortable and offers plenty of space inside - for a car with such a small footprint. The 310-litre boot is plentiful, and the small Citroen is also one of the cheapest electric cars you can buy.

Who is it for?: It’s most at home in town, so if you have an urban commute but you still want plenty of headroom, the e-C3 makes a lot of sense.

Why is it number 1?: Even with a modest 200-mile range, the e-C3’s mix of practicality, comfortable suspension and that super-cheap entry price means it tops this list - and also earned it a commendation in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.

What's good

  • Perky performance
  • Rather comfortable
  • One of the cheapest EVs you can buy

What’s not so good

  • Sub-200 mile range
  • Awkward boot shape
  • No heat pump will hit efficiency in winter
Dacia Duster
2025
Smart Spender Award

2. Dacia Duster

9/10
Dacia Duster review
Key features: Dacia has pulled a blinder with the Duster as it’s affordable, fun to drive, spacious inside and it looks great. You get beefy, tough-looking body cladding on the outside and a generous 472-litre boot. It’s got genuine off-road ability, too, and a range of petrol and hybrid engine options to choose from.

Who is it for?: For people who value practicality and versatility over a posh badge, the Duster makes for an excellent value-for-money proposition.

Why is it number 2?: The Duster’s affordable price and solid practicality bag it a second-place result, because it’s not quite as refined as the Citroen e-C3.

What's good

  • Great value
  • Four-wheel drive available
  • Keeps the Duster's character intact

What’s not so good

  • Cheap plastics inside
  • Seats don't fold totally flat
  • No more diesel option
Kia EV3

3. Kia EV3

9/10
Kia EV3 review
Battery range up to 375 miles
Key features: Kia’s outrageous styling means the EV3 looks like a spaceship, one that’s oh-so comfortable and practical inside. The interior is just as funky as the exterior; spacious with a 460-litre boot, and the EV3 also offers an excellent 375-mile electric range in high-trim levels. Entry-level cars only have a 270-mile range, though.

Who is it for?: Small families will find the EV3 easy to live with, so long as you have easy access to charging, with its charming looks and spacious cabin.

Why is it number 3?: It’s an excellent small SUV that’s fun to look at, easy to live with and very comfortable, so the Kia EV3 lands a third-place result on this list.

What's good

  • Up to 375-mile range
  • Comfortable to drive
  • Roomy back seats and boot

What’s not so good

  • Heat pump only available on most expensive model
  • Some cheap-feeling interior parts
  • Lots of annoying bongs and chimes

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Volvo EX30

4. Volvo EX30

9/10
Volvo EX30 review
Battery range up to 295 miles
Key features: It’s a revolutionary car for Volvo, the EX30, with a super-simple design that looks great, while the minimalistic interior is full of sustainable materials and it has a 318-litre boot. It’s a very comfortable car to drive, and the dual-motor version offers crazy performance, though the single-motor long range version is our pick of the bunch with 295 miles to a charge.

Who is it for?: Style-conscious commuters who are after something comfortable to potter about in will love the EX30, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Why is it number 4?: For all of its great features, the EX30’s screen-focused interior is a bit annoying, as are the intrusive driver aids. It’s still a great car, that being said.

What's good

  • Really comfortable
  • Great assistance tech
  • Good value for money

What’s not so good

  • Small boot
  • Tight rear seats
  • All cabin controls run through the touchscreen
Toyota Yaris Cross
2025
Urban Living Award

5. Toyota Yaris Cross

9/10
Toyota Yaris Cross review
Key features: For maximum fuel economy in an SUV, look no further than the hybrid-only Toyota Yaris Cross. It’s quite good fun to drive, offers a high seating position, is spacious inside and offers a 397-litre boot. It’s easy to live with and features aggressive-yet-cutesy styling, while easily achieving over 70mpg around town.

Who is it for?: Small families that can’t quite commit to an EV should be tempted by the Yaris Cross, as it’s very cheap to run for a car with a petrol engine under the bonnet.

Why is it number 5?: It’s a great car that offers a lot of good traits for the price, but the Yaris Cross is a bit less comfortable than its alternatives and the engine can get noisy when accelerating at high speeds.

What's good

  • Hybrid engine is economical
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Raised ride height gives excellent visibility

What’s not so good

  • Engine can be noisy
  • Fidgety over bumps
  • Slightly dour interior
Renault Captur

6. Renault Captur

8/10
Renault Captur review
Battery range up to 28 miles
Key features: The Renault Captur is a very sharply-styled little SUV that has an impressive 484-litre boot, slick infotainment system, and an efficient hybrid engine. There’s also an affordable entry-level petrol engine if you’re budget conscious. The interior is high quality and looks very posh if you opt for the large, portrait-oriented infotainment.

Who is it for?: For chic families; the Renault Captur looks more stylish than most of its alternatives, so it makes for a head-turning little commuter.

Why is it number 6?: While front cabin space and boot space is excellent, the rear seats are a bit of a squeeze compared to other small SUVs. The hybrid version is much more expensive than the petrol car, too.

What's good

  • Great Google-based infotainment
  • Hybrid model is economical
  • Big boot for a small SUV

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm over bumps
  • Some safety kit reserved for top-spec models
  • Hybrid system hesitant at times
Toyota C-HR

7. Toyota C-HR

8/10
Toyota C-HR review
Key features: Another eye-catching design both inside and out, you can consider the Toyota C-HR the Yaris Cross’s bigger sibling. It’s definitely more stylish, and unlike the Yaris you can opt for a C-HR in self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid forms; it’s highly fuel efficient.

Who is it for?: Small families for whom the Toyota Yaris Cross is too small, but still want the excellent ten-year warranty that Toyota offers - as well as the efficient hybrid tech.

Why is it number 7?: It’s a good SUV with highly fuel-efficient engine options, but the rear seats and boot are smaller than some of its alternatives.

What's good

  • Looks great
  • Comfortable suspension
  • Low running costs

What’s not so good

  • Noisy engines
  • Feels cheap in the back
  • A touch pricey
Ford Puma

8. Ford Puma

8/10
Ford Puma review
Key features: The Ford Puma is one of the most fun-to-drive small SUVs on sale. It’s easy to drive around town, has a large 456-litre boot and you can choose from two petrol engine options, or the electric Puma Gen-E. You also get a large infotainment screen on the dashboard.

Who is it for?: Somebody who needs a bit more practicality than a small hatchback can offer, but doesn’t want to sacrifice driving fun in the process.

Why is it number 8?: The Puma is a good car and more fun to drive than its alternatives, but the interior quality is a touch behind other small SUVs.

What's good

  • Eye-catching looks
  • Comes loaded with kit
  • Large boot is impressively versatile

What’s not so good

  • Back seats a bit tight on space
  • Interior feels very cheap
  • You sit higher up in other SUVs
Volkswagen T-Cross

9. Volkswagen T-Cross

8/10
Volkswagen T-Cross review
Key features: The T-Cross is the smallest SUV Volkswagen sells, but it still manages to pack a lot of space into its small, upright body. The interior quality is solid, too, while the 385-litre boot is about average compared with alternatives. You have three petrol engines to choose from, with various power outputs.

Who is it for?: People who want something small and easy to live with in town, but with a premium badge on the boot, a petrol engine and plenty of space inside.

Why is it number 9?: It’s not a particularly interesting or exciting car, nor is it particularly handsome, but the T-Cross offers a charming blend of practicality and sensibility.

What's good

  • Generous boot space
  • Lots of room for passengers
  • Loads of standard equipment

What’s not so good

  • Not very exciting
  • Annoying climate controls
  • SEAT Arona is cheaper
BMW X1

10. BMW X1

8/10
BMW X1 review
Key features: As one of the poshest small SUVs on sale, the BMW X1 offers a very fancy interior (by small SUV standards), plenty of road presence and lots of badge appeal. It’s rather fun to drive on a twisty road and the 550-litre boot is excellent, plus you can choose from petrol or plug-in hybrid engine options - as well as the electric iX3.

Who is it for?: People who like the idea of a small SUV but have the budget for a car that stands out for the crowd with fancy styling, and a desirable badge.

Why is it number 10?: The downside to its poshness is that the X1 is by far the most expensive car on this list, and while it’s good to drive and practical, you have to choose it with your heart over your head.

What's good

  • High-quality finish and materials
  • Good space throughout
  • Good to drive everywhere

What’s not so good

  • Infotainment too reliant on touchscreen rather than buttons
  • Pricey for a family SUV
  • Folding rear seats down can be a faff

Small SUVs to avoid

KGM Tivoli

The KGM Tivoli is a quirky small SUV that might appeal if you’re really keen to have something unique on your driveway. It’s really practical and you get loads of kit for your cash, but apart from that it’s hard to find many positives. Inside it feels pretty old school, with a sluggish infotainment system and constant irritating bonging sounds. The engine feels ancient too – it’s quite powerful but fuel economy is awful, and it’s noisy and unrefined too.

Honda e:Ny1

The Honda e:Ny1 has some redeeming features in that it’s comfortable and has decent rear seat space. But as an electric car it feels a generation old already. Its 256 miles of range is reasonable but far from the likes of the Kia EV3, and the 78kW fast charging speed is, well, not very fast. At all. And while it soaks up bumps nicely, it wobbles about on a country road. It’s also not great for interior storage and the boot is small. Basically, there are plenty of electric SUVs that are better and cost less, too.

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How to choose the right small SUV for you

Size

It might seem obvious, but small SUVs tend to not be the most practical cars. Front seat space is usually not too bad, but often you have to make a choice between rear seat space or a big boot. Some cars, such as the BMW X1, come with sliding rear seats so you can choose for yourself. Regardless, you might find that a small SUV doesn’t actually suit your needs, particularly if you regularly carry adults or have lots of luggage – check out our list of the best SUVs of all sizes if you need something a bit bigger.

Cost

Most small SUVs represent pretty good value for money, but it’s always a good idea to shop around for deals, whether you’re buying outright, financing or considering leasing. When you’re budgeting for a new car, remember to also consider running costs, such as fuel, insurance and taxes.

Fuel

When buying your small SUV, take the time to think about what fuel type is the best for you. Electric cars are well-suited to being city cars, but they’re only worth it if you have somewhere to charge cheaply, such as at home or work. Smaller EVs tend to have smaller batteries with lower ranges, so aren’t ideal if you do a lot of miles. Petrol power could be a good option if you can’t charge an electric car or regularly do long journeys, while a hybrid car is a good compromise between the two.

Advice about small SUV cars

Compact SUVs FAQs

The Renault Captur is the winner here. If you push the rear seats forward to maximise boot space you get a massive 616 litres of luggage capacity.

Bit of a strange one this; while the Skoda Karoq and Volkswagen Tiguan are very closely related under the skin, the Tiguan has a much higher towing weight — 2,500kg instead of 2,100kg. If you want something smaller (and cheaper) that can still tow a lot, a Dacia Duster 1.5 diesel will haul 1,500kg, which is about as good as it gets for smaller SUVs.

Check out our guides on the best cars for towing and UK towing laws for trailers and caravans for more advice.

The Citroen C3 starts at just under £18,000, making it the least expensive SUV on sale right now. It’s not cheap and nasty though, it’s actually a great little car. The Dacia Sandero Stepway costs a little bit less, but that’s more of a hatchback with a ride height increase than an actual SUV. It is surprisingly spacious, though.

The most economical small SUV is the Toyota Yaris Cross, which has an official fuel economy figure of up to 64.1mpg – and that’s perfectly achievable in the real world, too.

If you want low running costs, consider the Volvo EX30 and Citroen e-C3. If you can charge at home, both will cost much less to run than any petrol-powered car.

The Skoda Karoq takes the prize here, because it has really good seats, and it's quite a bit bigger than most of the other models on this list, meaning you’ve got a lot more space for legs and heads.

Check out our pick of the most comfortable cars to buy.

The Toyota Yaris Cross is another winner here. Toyota has a fantastic reputation for building reliable cars, and you get the best warranty in the business to back it up – if you service the car annually, the warranty lasts up to 10 years/100,000 miles.

Because they do pretty much everything a hatchback does, but with a higher view out of the road and easier access for people who find climbing down into lower cars tricky. Strapping young kids into the back of an SUV also tends to be easier than in a hatchback.

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