Best used small SUVs (and one to avoid)

The Ford Puma was an instant success, earning our overall What Car? Car of the Year award and becoming one of the best-selling cars in Britain soon after its release.

The recipe is simply brilliant. You take the tried-and-tested Ford Fiesta as the basis, retain the class-leading, super-sharp driving experience and add a higher driving position and welcomed layer of practicality. You can fit six carry-on-sized suitcases in the Puma's main boot compartment and if you lift its 'false' boot floor, you’ll find a large well underneath that can swallow two more cases.

Used prices are very reasonable. Running costs are reasonable, too, thanks in part to its good fuel economy. 

"Before I drove this car for the first time I had doubts if a small SUV could really be an entertaining drive, but take it from me the Puma is great fun.' - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Ford Puma 1.0T Ecoboost MHEV Titanium, 48,270 miles, £13,000

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Stick to the cheaper engines and trims, and the VW T-Roc is an even better buy than the rival Skoda Kamiq and the VW T-Cross. The T-Roc’s cosseting ride, superb refinement and practical boot will appeal to families, plus it has one of the best driving positions of any car in the class.

Later models have a much-improved interior, with soft materials and bright plastic finishes where you’d want them.

"I think this T-Roc combines all that's best of modern VW in a small and entertaining package. Top marks." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Volkswagen T-Roc 1.0 TSI Design, 48,495 miles, £13,995

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The Audi Q2 is the car that proves that small doesn’t necessarily mean cheap, because it essentially takes all the good qualities of larger Audis and wraps them up in a compact, stylish package. It has bold, chunky styling on the outside and a well-finished, sporty interior inside. It has tidy handling too.

It may be a bit more expensive to buy than your average car in this class, but the Q2 remains great value. In other words, this premium small SUV is worth the premium price. 

"Oh, all that Audi high-quality feel in a small and easy-to-park SUV. I'm hooked." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Audi Q2 1.0 TFSI 30 Technik, 23,305 miles, £15,000

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In contrast to the Cross and T-Roc, the Skoda Kamiq sits you quite low to the ground; in fact, its driving position is barely any more elevated than that of the Skoda Scala family hatchback. However, in every other respect, it's a brilliant little SUV that makes for a great used buy, with a supple, well-controlled ride and a remarkably spacious interior. The interior feels classier than that of the T-Cross, too.

If you’ll mainly be driving in town, then the entry-level 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine is peppy enough and the cheapest on the used car forecourt.

"You'll be surprised by this small Skoda. Its interior is really nice, and it drives smoothly too. One of the best." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Skoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI SE, 39,034 miles, £10,000

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The Volkswagen T-Cross is comfortable and easy to drive, and surprisingly roomy, too. A couple of six-footers will have plenty of space in the back, and, if you slide the rear bench forwards, there’s almost as much boot space as in some larger family SUVs. Despite that, the T-Cross’s compact dimensions make it easy to handle in town. The T-Cross also comes loaded with safety kit.

It's not quite as well-rounded as the T-Roc, but you'd still be mighty pleased with one of these. 

"I like its chunky styling and the T-Cross has a functional but solid interior. I really like that sliding rear seat, which adds useful practicality." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI SEL, 44,248 miles, £13,995

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Thanks to its squared-off corners, raised ride height and the option of four-wheel drive, the Suzuki Vitara has some of the off-road abilities people associate with larger SUVs. On the road, the balance between ride and handling is well judged, it's spacious inside and it's even quite fun to drive; it's well equipped, too, and you can pick up a good 2017 car from just £7000.

"It's feeling a little old-school now, maybe, but the Vitara is a really good used buy. According to our surveys, it's bound to be reliable." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Boosterjet MHEV SZ-T, 41,253 miles, £10,995

Read our full used Suzuki Vitara review

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The Seat Arona is a great small SUV, thanks to its roomy interior, comfortable ride and perky petrol engines. And like the Puma borrows parts from the Fiesta, the Arona's DNA is shared with the Seat Ibiza – a small car that's a very composed and capable handler, even if it doesn't quite reach Fiesta heights of fun. 

Indeed, if you want your small SUV to drive well, this is another good choice. The Arona performs well and can enthusiastically tackle corners thanks to its compact size and relatively light weight. Reliability is a little mixed, though. 

"The Arona was one of our very favourite small SUVs but this year its reliability let it down, hence it finds itself near the bottom of the 10 rather than up the top." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Seat Arona 1.0 TSI SE Technology, 14,920 miles, £11,000

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Few small SUVs bank on retro style, but the Mini Countryman is one of them. The model pulls it off, too, thanks to its looks being met with a plush interior and good performance. Moreover, there's a variety of engines to choose from, including a plug-in hybrid version.

All of this does demand a premium, which means the Mini doesn't finish higher up. There again, it's fairly reasonable given the luxury.  

"There's something very familiar about the Mini in all of its many variants, and the Countryman is an incredibly popular car. You pay a little more for it, though." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Mini Countryman 1.5 Cooper Classic, 21,000 miles, £18,500

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The Renault Captur fails to blow any class leaders out of the water in any area, but it's a comprehensively good package and a reasonably priced one at that. It delivers on what many buyers want from their small SUV, too. You sit noticeably higher up than you would in a regular hatchback, for instance. You also have handy, sliding rear bench and a good-sized boot.

It's nothing special to drive, unfortunately, plus a fair few rivals have punchier, more varied engine ranges, but it's still a very likeable car. 

"I'll be honest, I thought the first Captur deadly dull, but this latest version is so much better it can't even be related to the first." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Renault Captur 1.0 TCe Iconic, 41,586 miles, £12,000 

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A bit of a wildcard, this: the little Suzuki Ignis is about as small as SUVs come, resembling a city car in most measurements. That has its advantages, though. The Ignis is easy to manoeuvre around town, great on fuel and it goes for relatively cheap money – it's certainly more affordable to buy (and run) than many small SUV rivals.

It's pretty practical for such a small car, too, thanks in part to sliding and reclining rear seats. 

"I'm 6ft 3in tall and I fit very nicely in the Ignis, even in the back for short journeys. It's fun, too, although it's certainly not a quick car." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dueljet SZ3, 14,500 miles, £10,000

Read our full used Suzuki Ignis review

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