The best small SUVs – driven, tested and ranked

Best for: Electric ownership

The Skoda Elroq is one of the best small SUVs on sale and the number-one electric option. 

Its strength of performance is clear, yet there is no compromise on efficiency, range, drivability or ride comfort. It’s intuitive and pleasant both to drive and to interact with.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

The Elroq marks a step forward in Skoda's design philosophy, with a sharper and tougher look that stands out far more than many of its rivals. 

Several different battery sizes and powertrain options are offered too. Drivers will get 232 miles of range in the Elroq's most basic form, rising to 360 miles with the largest available battery. 

Inside, the Elroq is a thoroughly pleasant place to sit, with decent material quality and an intuitive infotainment system. There's a good mix of grainy fabrics and harder plastics, plus several different storage compartments tucked away. 

Prices start from £31,510, which is competitive, but you will need to spend a bit more to have the best Elroq experience. 

Best for: All-round ability

With its lighter chassis, more commodious dimensions and much-improved dynamics, you would expect the latest Qashqai to do well. And for the most part, it does.

The Qashqai remains true to the safe, predictable and rational formula of the models released before it.

Sam Phillips, Staff Writer

There's little here for keen drivers and both the 1.3-litre mild-hybrid petrol and novel e-Power hybrid powertrain are a little breathless, but what did you expect?

Performance and handling aren't what the Qashqai is about and, as one tester put it, "it's very thoughtfully designed for families, well equipped and costs peanuts to buy and run".

If you must have a two-pedal version, we would go for the hybrid, rather than the wheezy CVT petrol.

The interior doesn’t look as jazzy as some, but the materials are pleasing, it’s solidly built and it's very easy to use, thanks to plenty of real buttons.

All early Qashqais had a multimedia system that was easy enough to use but looked slightly dated. About two years in, higher trims got a new system that retains all the usability but looks a lot nicer.

A game-changing effort? Not any more, but it's a demonstration that Nissan knows its customers extremely well. It's difficult to beat among the non-premium ranks.

Best for: Luxury feel

The Volvo XC40, the Swedish car maker's compact sibling for its established XC60 and XC90 SUVs, has been a real success.

In its pragmatic, comfort-orientated, functionality-focused way, the XC40 is a classic Volvo to its core.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

It's a model that offered instant kerbside appeal when it launched back in 2017, with a charismatic and alluring design that helped bring younger family buyers into Volvo showrooms.

In addition to its funky exterior, the XC40 also offers a cabin of laudable richness, comfort, usability and quality. 

While it isn't the most practical car in the small SUV class, it certainly has plenty of luxury car ambience. 

It currently offers only two mild-hybrid petrol powertrains (unless you count the electric EX40 too), but both are good options.

If an SUV's mission is to lift its driver above the hustle and bustle and filter out the pain from the daily grind, few do it better than the XC40. 

Best for: Range of powertrains

The Audi Q3 is a stalwart of this class and comes with a good range of powertrains: petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid.

This car still has real-world strengths that might make it better to live with than key rivals.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

There’s also the option of the slope-backed Sportback bodystyle, although you’re better off maximising interior space with the regular version.

The Q3 is in general a strong contender, with slick drivability and plenty of space, but there are some quirks to the line-up. For one thing, the PHEV is surprisingly good value. For another, rolling refinement isn’t always as strong as it might be.

The powertrains are well-mannered enough, but just make sure you don’t overdo it on the size of the wheels and ruin the ride. 

The latest versions are also lacking just a touch in terms of that bulletproof interior feel.

Best for: Spacious interior

Kia's new small electric SUV is one of the finest on sale, offering a huge battery and great levels of performance. 

Although it’s not quite the game-changer it seems at first, the EV3 is still quite the achievement and is making the class that bit more competitive.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Of the two battery options, it's the larger 81.4kWh pack that impresses most, producing a claimed range of 367 miles on a charge. 

Power comes from a 201bhp electric motor, making the car nippy enough, hitting 0-62mph in 7.6sec. That's more than enough poke for everyday and motorway driving. 

The EV3 is spacious too, offering a 460-litre boot (plus a tiny 20-litre frunk under the bonnet), which is easily accessible. Rear leg room is also on the more practical side compared with rivals such as the Jeep Avenger. 

Sounds good, doesn't it? There are a couple of downsides, though, including some efficiency gripes and frustrating ADAS. Other options are also more fun to drive. 

Best for: Interior layout 

The arrival of the fourth-generation Tucson was something of a watershed moment for Hyundai.

The Tucson shows that Hyundai can do both style and substance.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Stylistically, it was a drastic departure from its handsome but slightly dull predecessors, and its cabin reaches new heights in terms of material appeal too.

Hyundai has long been trying to rebrand itself as an upmarket contender in Europe, and the Tucson has helped move the firm much closer to the Germans.

Dynamically, it plays things pretty safe, with a handling balance that prioritises ease of use over out-and-out dynamism, but it's still enjoyable enough to pedal down a twisty road. 

More so than ever before, this is an impressively polished small SUV that's absolutely worthy of your attention.

All of the Tucson’s powertrains are based around a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, among them mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids. 

Best for: Diesel lovers

Like the XC40, the Mazda CX-5 is one of the senior citizens of this class, but it's easily one of the best-looking SUVs on the market.

The sense of relative lightness and compactness, crispness, precision and simplicity make it great to drive.

Murray Scullion, Digital editor

Also spacious and well-packaged, the CX-5 boasts a solid, stylish and beautifully made interior, with the sort of usability that many other car makers could learn from.

It can also hold its own for driving dynamics, with a handling pep that has made it one of our favourite small SUVs.

All CX-5 grades come with a choice of mild-hybrid petrol engines, but the unfashionable 2.2-litre diesel is our top pick, limited to range-toping Takumi grade. 

Overall, the CX-5 offers a healthy mix of fun, frugality and family-friendly space, so it deserves serious consideration from buyers who want a car that does a little bit of everything.

Best for: Hassle-free family life

The Kia Sportage is one of the UK's best-selling cars and it's easy to see why. Its design isn't for everyone, but it's a refined, grown-up and tech-laden package.

Spec advice? If you have taller passengers to think about, avoid the panoramic sunroof of the GT-Line and GT-Line S trims.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

It's not quite as spacious as the best, but it has enough room for most family needs.

Plus there's a wide range of engines, from mild-hybrid petrols and diesels through to a BIK tax-busting plug-in hybrid.

It also comes loaded with standard kit, can be easily connected to your smartphone and is backed by Kia's excellent seven-year warranty.

To drive, the Sportage is something of a mixed bag. The handling is safe and predictable, but it's fairly inert when you're pressing on, while poorly surfaced roads quickly upset its composure. It's reasonably refined but doesn't ride as well as many rivals, jostling occupants over even smaller bumps.

Overall, the Sportage is a smart, well-equipped and hassle-free family SUV, but those wanting a little emotional uplift should look elsewhere.