Last updated September 27, 2024 by
Darren Cassey
Most affordable SUVs of 2025
It’s easy to see why SUVs are so popular these days. You get a high driving position that gives a clear view of the road ahead, they typically feel more safe and secure, and have an upmarket image. However, all of this combines so that they are typically more expensive than similarly sized hatchbacks – but there are some great cheap SUVs to be found.
That’s where our expert car reviews team comes in. They have looked at the cheapest SUVs you can buy and filtered out those you should avoid to provide this definitive list of the best affordable SUVs.
Sure, these low cost cars won’t be super luxurious, but they will all offer a combination of practicality, solid interiors and a decent driving experience.
Okay, so the Volvo EX30 isn’t exactly cheap, but it is very good value for money, which makes it worthy of inclusion, we reckon. It’s so good it won Carwow Car of the Year 2024. Why? Well it’s an electric SUV with a price tag that won’t make your eyes water, from a brand with loads of badge appeal and styling that makes it look much pricier than it is. Oh, and it’s really good to drive, too. It’s not very spacious and the boot is quite small though, so it might not work for you if you need lots of room.
2025
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended
What's good
What’s not so good
The Citroen C5 Aircross is another award winner because it won Carwow’s Family Values Award in 2024. It achieved this by being priced in line with small cars while itself being fairly big and spacious inside, with a huge boot. The cabin is not exactly posh, but it doesn’t feel cheap and nasty either. Comfort is the name of the game so it’s not exactly exciting to drive, but it will soak up potholes on the school run nicely.
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What's good
What’s not so good
Dacia has been synonymous with building affordable cars for some time now, and the Jogger is no different. While you argue about whether it’s an SUV or an estate, let us explain why it’s so highly rated – for a start, it’s the cheapest seven-seater by a long way, and the third row is more spacious than many bigger alternatives can manage. The base petrol engine is rather gutless, especially if you’ve filled all the seats, but if you can stretch your budget a little further you can go for a fuel-sipping hybrid.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
Battery range up to 199 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Another excellent small, electric SUV is the Citroen e-C3. Unlike the Volvo EX30, the e-C3 is not trying to be posh, but you still get cool, quirky styling and a simple but funky cabin. It’s also really comfortable to drive and has perky performance that makes it a brilliant little town car. Where it loses out to the EX30 is its sub-200-mile range, and the lack of a heat pump means your range could really suffer in winter, too.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Skoda Karoq is pushing the definition of 'cheap', but if you're after value for money it's certainly worthy of inclusion. It's a small SUV that feels decidedly not small inside. There's loads of space in the cabin and plenty of useful cubby holes that are ideal for tackling family life. With the sliding rear seats you can open up a massive boot, too. Sure it's a bit dull to look at and to drive, but if you want a car to do a job, it's a capable option.
What's good
What’s not so good
At more than £30,000 the SEAT Tarraco isn't exactly cheap, but for a seven-seater SUV it's great value. The Dacia Jogger is cheaper, but the SEAT feels much nicer inside, with more eye-catching looks. It's very similar to the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volkswagen Tiguan under the skin, which is great news - it means you get a range of really good petrol and diesel engines and a generally solid feel to the way it drives. Though the third row of seats is quite cramped, it's a really useful extra to have in a family car - and they leave a huge boot when they're folded down.
What's good
What’s not so good
If you’re looking for a fairly large SUV at the most affordable price possible, the MG HS is the car for you. Its boot is vast in comparison to similarly priced cars, and the plug-in hybrid engine has a hugely impressive 75-mile range, so if you can keep it charged then it’ll be super-cheap to run. The downsides are that it’s pretty bland to drive and the infotainment is fiddly, while MG came rock bottom of the latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey.
What's good
What’s not so good
The T-Cross might cost a bit more than some on this list, but it still represents pretty good value for money. You get a decent-sized boot and space for tall people in the back seats, so it's usefully practical. But it also feels well-built and you get that reassuring Volkswagen quality shine through, even if it's not quite as plush as the likes of the Peugeot 2008.
2025
Urban Living Award
What's good
What’s not so good
The Yaris Cross isn't the cheapest small SUV to buy, but the extra purchase price can be offset by its rock-bottom running costs. This car's hybrid engine is amazingly efficient, with over 60mpg very possible to achieve. Plus, a flawless reliability record and ten-year warranty mean it's set up for a whole lifetime of cheap motoring. It's practical and good to drive, too.
Battery range up to 28 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
The Renault Captur is a great small SUV. It has the typically Renault stylish looks, but you also get a bigger boot than many alternatives, while the latest models have an excellent Google-based infotainment system. And if you go for the hybrid you get a smooth engine that’s great on fuel. It’s not particularly comfortable though, and you have to shell out for top-spec models to get the best safety kit.
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