Sales figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that after years of growth, SUVs accounted for a third of all new car registrations – up from just 12% in 2014.
That huge appetite for taller, more rugged-looking vehicles can be controversial, particularly if your idea of an SUV is an enormous, fuel-guzzling tank. But that often isn’t the case, as many of the UK’s most popular cars are actually small SUVs – cars barely bigger than your average hatchback.
A great example of this is the Ford Puma – the UK’s best-selling car in both 2023 and 2024 – taking over from where the slightly smaller and sales chart dominating Fiesta left off.
At just 4.18m long and 1.8m wide, the Puma isn’t much bigger, just taller, more practical and with the high driving position and rugged stance desired by so many new car buyers.
But which small SUVs are the top choices on the market in 2025? Our list is made up of the most popular small SUV reviews with RAC Drive readers. Read on to find out the ten top picks.
Best small SUVs 2025: the shortlist
1. Dacia Duster
- Price: from £19,380
It doesn’t matter if you have a Ferrari or a Fiat on the drive, you’ll probably appreciate the all-round appeal of the Dacia Duster. Even in this more advanced, high-tech latest generation model, this small SUV’s rugged ability and no-nonsense appeal still shines through.
It’s also an awful lot of car for the money, too: even though it’s the second largest car in this list, it’s by far and away the cheapest, yet even base Essential trim has more niceties than ever before. You also get the option of hybrid power for the first time in the new model, making it one of the cheapest hybrid cars on sale.
2. Lexus LBX
- Price: from £29,995
It seems RAC Drive readers like a dose of luxury in their small SUV: the Lexus LBX is very popular despite its slightly more premium price tag. It might be based on the humble Toyota Yaris Cross underneath, but you’d have a hard time telling unless you knew.
Lexus has completely overhauled every aspect, with a sharper design, much classier cabin with luxury car tech features and a more powerful and more refined hybrid powertrain. There are more practical choices here, but none with such a sense of occasion.
3. Renault Captur
- Price: from £22,195
The Renault Captur and Dacia Duster might be closely related under the skin but they’re very different cars on the outside – with the Renault favouring a more classically stylish look and a higher quality interior. We love the Captur’s Google-based infotainment system and mix of physical buttons, too, while the sliding rear seats are the icing on the cake for practicality.
On the road the Captur has a comfortable ride and cruises quietly. While performance is perfectly adequate for pottering about in the keenly priced TCe 90 petrol model, the Captur E-Tech Hybrid is much swifter, smoother around town and also delivers strong fuel economy.
4. Vauxhall Mokka
- Price: from £24,590
The Vauxhall Mokka has long been a favourite with British car buyers, and the latest model is no different. Its striking exterior design cuts a dash like the previous version never could, but ease-of-use is the order of the day inside, with simple and intuitive controls along with decent standard kit levels. There are more practical alternatives here, but the Vauxhall still offers enough space for a small family.
On the road the Mokka delivers a reassuringly easy driving experience, with tidy handling, quiet cruising manners and an impressively strong 136hp turbo petrol engine in standard or even faster mild-hybrid form. Don’t forget the Mokka Electric, too – a solid family EV option with similar levels of performance and a range of up to 252 miles.
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5. Nissan Juke
- Price: from £24,045
The Nissan Juke is the funky small SUV that kickstarted this segment’s huge popularity, inspiring many imitators. Although this second-generation model isn’t the newest kid on the block, it remains popular with RAC Drive readers and the buying public alike.
Much of that is due to its striking design, but the latest Juke is far more practical than the first version, with plenty of legroom for four adults and a decent boot. It also has a much smarter, higher quality interior that feels surprisingly premium, plus plenty of standard technology. The 1.0-litre petrol engine is gutsy enough but not the fastest, while the Juke Hybrid offers stronger performance mixed with frugal running costs.
6. Jeep Avenger
- Price: from £25,219
A small SUV from Jeep? That’s right, and despite the typically on-brand chunky design the Avenger is by far and away the smallest car here. That dinky shape makes it an absolute doddle to drive about town and park, but we also love Jeep’s quirky design touches that give the Avenger real personality.
Like the Peugeot and Vauxhall in this list you can specify petrol or electric power in the Jeep Avenger without compromising on practicality. Alright, so the Avenger’s boot isn’t huge and the back seats are tight for adults, but we love the little Jeep’s agility combined with a comfortable ride. The EV versions manages a range of up to 248 miles, but there’s also the 4xe hybrid with all-wheel drive adding to the Avenger’s already decent mud-plugging ability.
7. Peugeot 2008
- Price: from £27,940
The latest Peugeot 2008 has been around for a good few years now, but with a facelift it still looks fresh and modern. It also has an impressively posh-feeling, classy cabin for a small SUV (even if the Lexus sets an even higher standard) plus loads of standard kit. Peugeot’s quirky ‘iCockpit’ driving position takes some getting used to, however.
On the road the 2008 blends decent agility with a really mature, comfortable feel at motorway speeds, while both the petrol engine and e-2008 electric version (with a 250-mile range) offer punchy performance. There are cars here that offer better rear-seat access, but at least the 2008’s boot is a good size.
8. Skoda Kamiq
- Price: from £24,975
If you want a car to tick all the sensible boxes we can understand why you’d quickly gravitate towards a Skoda, and the Kamiq is a popular small SUV that punches above its weight and price in terms of practicality. It manages to cram impressive levels of space into a compact package, with plenty of family-friendly ‘Simply Clever’ touches typical of the brand, too.
It’s not just a great family hauler, though, as the Kamiq also manages a very well-rounded driving experience. It’s smooth and comfortable, but also handles tidily and is easy to drive around town with a tight turning circle – the only thing missing is a high driving position. Still, if you can live with that, the solid and user-friendly Kamiq is a superb small SUV choice.
9. Kia Niro:
- Price: from £30,270
The Kia Niro is the largest and most expensive car here, crossing into the realms of larger family SUVs. However, it’s still good value for what it is, and is just about compact enough to qualify for this list. While it might not be the most visually exciting car in this list, RAC Drive readers love the Niro’s blend of all-round talents.
It’s the only car here to come with full hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric power options, meaning there’s something for every need. All offer great efficiency and low running costs, however, while the Niro majors on comfort over agility on the road. It’s extremely spacious in this company, too, offering real family car appeal, while the seven-year warranty gives it real appeal on the secondhand market too.
10. Ford Puma
- Price: from £26,580
The massively popular Ford Puma follows in the footsteps of the beloved Fiesta, and it shares a lot with that car under the skin – albeit in a far more practical package. That relationship also makes the Puma the most entertaining car to drive in this list, with agile handling, a slick manual gearbox and willing petrol engines.
While it’s a little noisier and firmer than other cars in this list, it’s hardly unpleasant, while the Puma’s cabin is comfortable and well-equipped. There’s also plenty of storage, and although it isn’t the roomiest car here there’s enough space for four medium-sized adults or growing children. What’s more, the Puma has a useful deep boot area (called the Megabox) with a drain plug – great for washing out muddy boots!
Best small SUVs FAQs
What is the best small SUV on the market?
The Dacia Duster is a seriously good value proposition if you’re looking for a small SUV, while we also highly rate the spacious Skoda Kamiq, the classy Lexus LBX and the well-priced Renault Captur.
What is the best SUV on a budget?
We reckon nothing can beat the Dacia Duster as a budget SUV offering. It’s priced like a small car yet offers rugged looks, a practical cabin, a comfortable drive and good off-road ability.
What is the top selling small SUV?
In the UK the Ford Puma absolutely dominates the sales charts. It was the best-selling car in 2023 and 2024 and is already on track to achieve the same milestone in 2025.
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