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Compare the best petrol SUVs

High quality petrol SUVs from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.5/5 from 59,485 reviews
silver citroen c3 aircross parked

Best petrol SUVs of 2024

So, you want to buy an SUV but you don’t want the guilt of driving around in a big diesel vehicle. Well then, petrol looks like a good option for you, so these are the best SUVs on sale right now with petrol engines.

Volvo XC40

1. Volvo XC40

7/10
Volvo XC40 review
Battery range up to 26 miles
When we say petrol, for the XC40 we actually mean plug-in hybrid. There are two options; a 211hp T4 and a 262hp T5, and both can manage an official28 miles on a full charge of their batteries. Long-range economy will probably drop to around 45mpg, but they’ll charge up in just three hours from a domestic three-pin socket. A regular petrol XC40 is also available.
BMW X3 (2017-2024)

2. BMW X3

8/10
BMW X3 (2017-2024) review
Battery range up to 26 miles
BMW offers you a choice of either petrol or plug-in hybrid power for the X3 (and diesel, but we’re ignoring that for now…). You can have a 20i 2.0-litre turbo with 184hp, or a 30e plug-in hybrid with 292hp. The PHEV version has an official 141mpg, but it’ll likely be closer to 40mpg on a long run with the battery depleted. There’s also the 360hp M40i and the 510hp X3M, but perhaps those are for another day…

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Volkswagen T-Cross
2024
Urban Living Award
Highly Commended

3. Volkswagen T-Cross

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8/10
Volkswagen T-Cross review
The VW T-Cross actually has a petrol-only lineup (VW is dropping diesel engines from most of its model ranges — wonder why?) so you have a choice of a 1.0-litre TSI petrol three-cylinder with 110hp, and either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic DSG gearbox. There’s also a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, with 150hp and a standard automatic, which is really refined and smooth. The peppy little 1.0 does the job just fine, though, and can average 47mpg.
Peugeot 2008

4. Peugeot 2008

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8/10
Peugeot 2008 review
The 2008 uses Peugeot’s long-serving 1.2-litre ‘PureTech’ three-cylinder turbo engine. The basic model has 100hp, and can nudge up to 52mpg economy. The more powerful 130hp version is slightly more thirsty, but also a better all-rounder in performance terms. At the top of the tree there’s a 155hp version, which gives the 2008 junior hot-hatch performance.
Skoda Karoq

5. Skoda Karoq

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9/10
Skoda Karoq review
The Karoq comes with two petrol engine options. There’s a basic 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, with 110hp, which you’d think would be inadequate for a car of its size, but which is actually fine as long as you’re not trying to haul an Airstream caravan. The better option is the 150hp 1.5-litre engine, though, which is very refined and decently economical.
Dacia Jogger
2024
Smart Spender Award

6. Dacia Jogger

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9/10
Dacia Jogger review
Is the Jogger an SUV or is it really an MPV? That’s a debate for another time, but one thing is certain — it only comes with a petrol engine. And only one engine at all, in fact — a 110hp 1.0-litre TCE three-cylinder turbo. Like most things about the Jogger, the engine is just fine, and does the job you need it to. It’ll be joined by a hybrid version during 2023.
Renault Captur

7. Renault Captur

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8/10
Renault Captur review
Battery range up to 28 miles
Renault offers a choice of 1.0-litre TCE 90hp three-cylinder or 1.3-litre 140hp TCE four-cylinder petrol engines in the Captur. The 90hp one isn’t exactly quick, but it’s fine and we’re not sure it’s worth upgrading to the 1.3. You can also choose a 1.6-litre hybrid (which is capable of 56mpg) or a plug-in hybrid, which has a 30-mile electric range.
Citroen C3 Aircross

8. Citroen C3 Aircross

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9/10
Citroen C3 Aircross review
The Citroen C3 Aircross’ petrol engine lineup is pretty straightforward — you get a choice of the 1.2-litre PureTech three-cylinder turbo engine (shared with Peugeot) in either 100hp or 130hp forms, with an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox for the 130hp version. Economy is good (up to 52mpg) and even the 100hp has plenty enough power for most people.
Peugeot 3008 (2020-2023)

9. Peugeot 3008

8/10
Peugeot 3008 (2020-2023) review
The 3008 borrows the same 1.2-litre turbo three-cylinder petrol engine as the smaller 2008, and it’s not disgraced in the bigger car. OK, it’s no ball of fire, but it gets out of its own way OK. Perhaps a better petrol-engined bet in the 3008 is the pricey plug-in hybrid version. Well, versions actually, as you can choose from 225hp front-wheel drive, or 300hp four-wheel drive models, both with an electric range of up to 39 miles.
Volkswagen Taigo

10. Volkswagen Taigo

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7/10
Volkswagen Taigo review
The Taigo is basically the same as the Volkswagen T-Cross under the skin, so it’s no surprise that it uses the same engine lineup — 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder turbo with 110hp, which comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, or an optional seven-speed DSG automatic. Or there’s the bigger, smoother, 1.5-litre 150hp four-cylinder turbo, with a standard automatic. Both are fine engines, and very frugal, but the Taigo itself seems a bit pricey next to the T-Cross.

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Advice about petrol SUVs

Petrol SUVs FAQs

That’s a question that soon won’t be relevant — most manufacturers are steadily dropping diesel models in favour of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, as well as the rapid move to electric. Still, if your regular mileage involves pounding up and down the motorway all day long, then you might well still be wise to buy a diesel, as they’re more economical in such conditions. If you’re a low mileage driver, though, then petrol (or hybrid) is still the best bet. Of course, it’s also well worth considering the increasing number of fully-electric models, as long as you’ve got a driveway at home where you can charge up.

In theory, it’s the new BMW X1 xDrive25e plug-in hybrid, which gets an official 353mpg on the combined economy cycle test. Of course, that’s not real, as you’d have to drive it virtually everywhere on electric power to get anything like that figure. In real-world terms, the best is probably the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid, which can get better than 60mpg in real world conditions if you drive carefully.

It’s probably the BMW X3 with its eight-speed automatic gearbox. This box is made and supplied by German transmission makers ZF, and it’s a brilliant device. It changes gear smoothly and quickly, and can actually help to save on fuel and emissions compared to a manual gearbox. Worth remembering that Peugeot also uses the same eight-speed auto in the 2008 and 3008, and that Citroen uses it too.

Check out our pick of the best automatic SUVs.

As an all-rounder, it’s hard to beat the Volvo XC40. Both of its plug-in hybrid petrol engines are frugal and powerful, as well as having decent electric-only range. The XC40 is also very good to drive, and it’s roomy and practical too. Of course, if you’re watching the pennies (and who isn’t these days?) then the only real answer is the Dacia Jogger.

We’d find it very hard to get past a BMW X3 in this regard — that 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder is an excellent engine, mixing impressive performance with solid economy, and good refinement too. If the X3 is too expensive for you, look at the Skoda Karoq — that 1.5-litre engine is a gem.

The Peugeot 2008 1.2 130hp is a surprising star here, as the little engine punches well above its weight and price by hauling as much as 1,250kg of braked weight. You can do better than that, with a SEAT Ateca or Volkswagen Tiguan, which will pull more than 2,000kg, but in both cases you have to upgrade to an expensive 2.0-litre TSI turbo engine.

Take a look at our guide on the best SUVs for towing to see our top recommended SUVs.

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