Best small SUVs 2026 and the one to avoid – tried and tested

The previous Volkswagen T-Roc was one of our favourite options in the small SUV class, so this latest version had quite the challenge to live up to it. Fortunately, it does so and then some, resulting in what we think is the best small SUV you can buy.

At the moment, you can only have the T-Roc with mild-hybrid petrol power, put a pair of regular hybrid options will join the range later this year. It's the mid-range 148bhp petrol that's our favourite, because it delivers plenty of pep while keeping running costs sensible.

The T-Roc feels sure-footed through corners, and while it isn't as sharp to drive as the rival Ford Puma, it handles well enough. You can pay more for fancy adaptive suspension, we don't think there's any need to, because even on its standard setup the T-Roc does an excellent job of soaking up all of the lumps and bumps that you're likely to find on urban roads.

Being slightly longer than its predecessor, the latest T-Roc is even more spacious inside, meaning four tall adults will find they have room to stretch out on a long journey. And while the Dacia Duster has a slightly bigger boot on paper, we still managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases into the T-Roc's boot – more than enough for the needs of most families. The seats are impressively versatile, too, with a handy ski-hatch that's ideal for loading in longer items.

"I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the entry-level T-Roc feels inside, with its padded fabric on the dash and door cards – it helps this small SUV to feel a cut above the competition." – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor

Read our in-depth Volkswagen T-Roc review

Earlier this year we named the Kia EV3 as our Small Electric SUV of the Year, meaning that if going electric fits in with your lifestyle and budget, it's absolutely the car you should choose. 

While you can pay for a Long Range model which offers an impressive 375 miles of range, we think the Standard Range version, with its 270-mile official range, will suit most people just fine. The single 201bhp electric motor which powers the front wheels offers plenty of punch, and allows for a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.5sec.

Most versions deal well with lumps and bumps around town, and although no version of the EV3 feels especially agile to drive, it does at least handle predictably so long as you don't put your foot down all the time.

It's also a cracking choice for your family, with more space for rear passengers than in the rival Jeep Avenger Electric or Mini Aceman. Plus, the boot is only slightly smaller than that of the Kia EV6 from the class above – in our tests, we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below the load cover. 

"I like having somewhere to store my charging cables, and in the EV3, that's in a dedicated storage area underneath the bonnet. That means I don't have to go rummaging for them in the main boot, which might be full of luggage." – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

Read our in-depth Kia EV3 review

We thought the Lexus LBX was so good back when it first launched in 2024 that we named it as our overall What Car? Car of the Year – and it remains one of the best cars of its kind.

Key to the LBX's lasting appeal is its ability to save you money. You see, it's a hybrid, meaning that it has an electric motor as well as a petrol engine, and can drive at lower speeds on electric power alone. And that adds up to upwards of 50mpg in real-world conditions, potentially saving you a small fortune at the pumps.

While it's not the most fun small SUV to drive, the LBX strikes a good balance between agility and comfort, while its ride does a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps in the road.

It's family friendly, too. A couple of tall passengers will be perfectly happy on the rear bench, while the boot should have no trouble in swallowing your holiday suitcases. It's worth noting, though, that the Volkswagen T-Roc can carry more still.

"Not only is the LBX’s interior beautifully screwed together, but it also features a more appealing mix of materials than any of its rivals. In our recommended Premium Plus model, for example, I like the squidgy leather which sits atop the dashboard." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Lexus LBX review

If you want to get the most bang for your buck from a small SUV, then the Skoda Karoq should be near the top of your shortlist.

Not only is the Karoq keenly priced against rivals, but it also comes loaded with kit. Indeed, even entry-level models give you 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and automatic lights and wipers. And upgrading to our preferred SE L Edition trim, with its larger wheels and more adjustable rear seats, won't cost much either.

Skoda's mid-range petrol engine, badged as the 1.5 TSI 150, is our pick of the range, because with 148bhp it never feels out of puff, yet it should still keep your running costs in check. As a bonus, the Karoq's ride is much more comfortable than that of the closely related Seat Ateca.

"One of the reasons why I'd recommend Karoq's SEL trim is because it brings Varioflex rear seats that can slide and recline independently of one another, and even be removed entirely." – Dan Jones, Reviewer

Read our in-depth Skoda Karoq review

On the face of things, the Renault 4 had a relatively easy start in life, because it's largely based on a former What Car? Car of the Year, the Renault 5. And indeed, the 4 takes many of the things that we love about that car, and translates them onto a more practical SUV body. And while nobody is going to claim that the 4 is an ideal car in which to transport four lanky passengers, there are at least four decently-sized seats with good knee room – it's the room for your feet and your head which are at a premium.

Every Renault 4 comes with a 148bhp electric motor which drives the front wheels, and which draws its energy from a 52kWh (usable capacity) battery. The resulting official range is around 245 miles, and that's not as far as the rival Kia EV3 can manage. However, it's in the same league as a lot of other electric SUV rivals, including the Jeep Avenger electric and Ford Puma Gen-E.

A tight turning circle makes the 4 a doddle to drive around town, and although the ride is slightly firmer than we'd like at low speeds, it's supple enough to take the sting out of sharp edges and potholes.

"Leather might be associated with Range Rovers these days, but the original 1970 car actually had fabric upholstery, and the Evoque harks back to those days by giving you the option of plush wool seats." – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our in-depth Renault 4 review

The Skoda Kamiq is a great all-rounder, offering a decent blend of all of the main attributes that small SUV buyers are looking for – even if it doesn't end up as our champion.

It's a great choice if you don't want to sit too high up, because you sit lower down in the Kamiq than you do in many other small SUVs. The driving position is good, and you get plenty of adjustment so getting comfortable shouldn't be a problem. Your passengers will have plenty of space to get comfy, too – there's noticably more leg room than there is in the Ford Puma, for example – and you can fit more into the Kamiq's boot than you can into the rival Lexus LBX or Nissan Juke.

It's the mid-range 113bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine that's our preferred choice in the Kamiq, where it brings the kind of flexible performance which makes driving a doddle, whether you're pootling around town or venturing onto faster roads.

"I really enjoyed threading the Kamiq through tight urban streets, because it has a tighter turning circle and lighter steering than most rivals." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Skoda Kamiq review

The original Nissan Leaf was one of the founding fathers of the modern electric car, but in more modern times began to look a little behind the curve compared with rivals. This new version, though, is bang up to date, and has morphed into a small SUV to appeal to a wider spectrum of potential buyers.

Where this Leaf keeps the philosophy of the original is with its tempting price. Although it'll cost you more as a cash purchase than the smaller Renault 4, it will also cost you less than equivalent versions of the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq, and that's before you take the Government's electric car grant into account. And no matter which version you go for, you get plenty of kit, with even entry-level Engage models coming with 18in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and a heat pump to warm the interior efficiently.

Every Leaf gets the same 75kWh battery which sends 215bhp to the car's front wheels. The result is a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.2sec, which is slightly faster than the Kia EV3 can manage. With an official range of 386 miles, the Leaf can travel further than any version of the EV3, Renault 4 or Elroq, which is good news for range-conscious buyers. But if you live in the city, a version with a smaller battery is arriving soon, offering around 270 miles and dropping the price even lower.

In terms of a warranty, every Leaf is covered under the brand's three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, with the battery itself covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes sooner.

“Activating 'e-pedal' gives you a one-pedal driving mode, so when you lift off the accelerator the car comes to a complete stop – I found this useful around town, meaning I hardly had to touch the brakes myself.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Nissan Leaf review

You might think that Volkswagen would be in danger of competing with itself, given that the T-Cross competes not only with the slightly larger Volkswagen T-Roc, but also with the brand's other small SUV, the Taigo, but in fact each has a slightly different niché – with the T-Cross being pitched as more of an urban companion.

Our preferred engine choice, the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol, has plenty of pep for town driving, though it is a little slower to get up to motorway speeds than the equivalent engine in the Ford Puma. The T-Cross rides pretty well compared with most other small SUVs, soaking up lumps and bumps easily, while its light steering makes it easy to weave and dodge around city traffic.

Despite its small size, there's a surprising amount of space in the T-Cross, and more head and leg room than you'll find in the Ford Puma or Nissan Juke. With the rear seats slid all the way back, there's 385 litres of available space in the boot, which we found was enough to take five carry-on suitcases. It's worth noting that some rival small SUVs offer more space, though.

"I can imagine plenty of buyers being tempted by the 18in alloy wheels which are optional on some trim levels, but I think these make the ride overly firm. Instead, stick with the smaller 16in and 17in rims." – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor

Read our in-depth Volkswagen T-Cross review

A former What Car? Car of the Year winner, the Ford Puma remains one of the best small SUVs to drive, offering the kind of nimble handling and bump-aborbing ride which means you'll want to thread it along a country road. Helping that feeling is the peppy yet frugal 1.0-litre petrol engine, which revs well and puts its power down smoothly.

The Puma is also a practical choice, with a big boot which can swallow six carry-on suitcases. That's one less than we managed to fit into the rival Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Roc, but still enough for the needs of most families. Likewise, while you're unlikely to hear many complaints from rear-seat passengers, it's worth noting that some rival small SUVs offer more knee-room. Where the Puma fights back is in its secret under-boot storage area, which can easily swallow your muddy boots or an extra bag – it also contains a plug so can be hosed down if things get a bit muddy.

You'll pay more to put a Puma on your driveway than you would for a Nissan Juke or Skoda Kamiq, but then again, that's partly because no trim is considered basic – even entry-level Titanium comes with luxuries including 17in alloy wheels, automatic climate control and a 12.8in digital driver's display.

"Our favourite petrol engine isn't just punchy, it's also frugal thanks to mild hybrid technology. I found it could return 45mpg without trying too hard." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Read our in-depth Ford Puma review

The Dacia brand is synonymous with building cars for smaller budgets, so as you'd hope, the Dacia Duster is one of the cheapest small SUVs you can buy, comfortably undercutting most small SUV rivals. And don't think that means you don't get any kit, because even entry-level Expression cars come with cruise control, air conditioning and 17in alloy wheels. In fact, we don't think there's much reason to venture further up the trim ladder.

You can choose between mild hybrid and full hybrid power in the Duster, and it's the former which we recommend. This setup includes a punchy petrol engine which can hit 62mph in 9.4sec, so it's quite a bit faster than the rival Renault Captur in entry-level form. 

Thanks to new underpinnings shared with the latest Dacia Sandero and Renault Clio, the latest Duster rides comfortably, and feels more settled over broken surfaces than the rival MG ZS. And while the best small SUVs, such as the Volkswagen T-Roc, ride and handle with more aplomb, the Duster can happily take the sting out of potholes and the like.

Where the Duster feels like it's been built to a price is inside, where you'll find plenty of hard surfaces and not much design flourish. Still, if you view your small SUV as being a family workhorse, this approach makes a lot of sense. You get a good view out of the Duster, thanks to a high driving position.

Dacia as a brand performed well in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, but in case something does go wrong, every Duster is covered for up to seven years or 75,000 miles if you get it serviced at an authorised dealer every year. That's better than the warranties you get from most rivals.

“Like some other Dacia car models, the Duster is available with a YouClip for clipping your phone or other items to the interior. I'd find it quite handy.” – George Hill, Used Car Writer

Read our in-depth Dacia Duster review

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