The best small SUVs – driven, tested and ranked

Best for: All-round ability

Right up until the end of its lifecycle, the old Qashqai stayed doggedly at the sharp end of the sales charts in this class, and so with its new, lighter chassis, more commodious dimensions and much-improved dynamics, you'd expect this new third-generation model to hit the ground running. And for the most part, it does.

There's little here for keen drivers, and both the 1.3-litre mild-hybrid petrol and novel e-Power hybrid 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’d 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.

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. Currently, the model is only offered with two mild-hybrid powertrains, 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 Volvo XC40. 

Best for: Range of powertrains

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

There’s also the option of the slope-backed Sportback body style, 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: Interior layout 

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

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, with mild and plug-in hybrids available. 

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.

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 (trim levels) come with a choice of mild hybrid petrol engines, but the unfashionable 2.2-litre diesel is our top pick, limited to the top-spec Takumi model. 

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.

It's not quite as spacious as the best, but there's 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 market-leading 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.

Best for: Ride comfort

It has taken Citroën’s entry to the small SUV class until middle age to feature in this list. Like a lot of Stellantis products, the C5 Aircross has wanted a really good engine – and now that’s exactly what it has received.

The familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder has gained the help of an electric motor and has swapped its eight-speed automatic gearbox for a seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

If you’re tired of every car pretending to be sporty, the C5 Aircross is for you: soft, pillowy seats and pliant suspension combine to make quite a relaxing car. It’s roomy and decent value too.

The multimedia is quite clunky and around town, the ride can deteriorate. The entry-level manual is also vague, while the plug-in hybrid doesn’t have the punch its 221bhp promises.

Best for: Performance

The Range Rover Evoque was previously the best small SUV money could buy, and while it's not quite as good as it once was, it's still an option to add to your shortlist. 

Its design still looks the part, but its trump card is its handling. It's more dynamic than the Qashqai and the Tucson - even in a plug-in hybrid form - and its powertrains are all slick and responsive. 

The Evoque's cabin still feels luxurious, but it's let down hugely by its ride quality, which was needlessly firmed up as part of the model's update, which it received in late 2023. 

Its interior has also taken a hit, with the previous well-considered combination of physical buttons and a touchscreen replaced by a singular central touchscreen. 

That said if you're after a good small SUV, the Evoque is still a good option. It's just more middle-of-the-road than a class leader.