New BMW 3 Series

Jeep Avenger

Renault Captur

BMW X3

Kia Sportage

Aston Martin Vantage

BMW 5 Series

best-used-small-suvs-for-less-than-pound10000

It's fair to say that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-suv">small SUVs</a>&nbsp;have almost – if not completely – replaced the conventional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>&nbsp;as the most popular car class in Britain. After all, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>&nbsp;(a small SUV) continues to outsell any other new car on the market.&nbsp;

However, what if you can't stretch to a new Puma, or even a used one?&nbsp;Good used Pumas&nbsp;are yet to dip below the £10,000 mark and there are plenty of people with that amount as their maximum spend limit. Well, fortunately&nbsp;there are still alternatives – and great ones at that – you can consider. So here's our top 10 list of used small SUVs you can buy for £10,000 or less.&nbsp;

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Best used small SUVs for less than £10,000

Hatchback

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

KONA

In regards to equipment levels and the performance of its engines, the&nbsp;Hyundai Kona&nbsp;is pretty generous and it represents good value. There's even a silly quick&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n23382">Hyundai Kona N</a>&nbsp;version, too – you'll need a bigger budget for one of those, mind you.

However, like the Stonic, the Kona's ride isn't particularly smooth and the model is&nbsp;a bit lacking in the space department. Hyundai's&nbsp;warranty – while still longer than most at five years – is shorter than Kia's, too, hence the Kona places just below the rival Stonic.&nbsp;

"With its impressive&nbsp;276bhp engine, the Kona N certainly caught my eye." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2019 Hyundai Kona&nbsp;1.0 T-GDi SE,&nbsp;63,198 miles, £9920

10: Hyundai Kona

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Decent performance</li>
	<li>Generous kit</li>
	<li>Good infotainment</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Bumpy ride on 18in wheels</li>
	<li>Not very practical</li>
	<li>Auto braking not standard</li>
</ul>

Estate

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

STONIC

One of the downsides of going used rather than new&nbsp;is that you often have little or no manufacturer warranty left.&nbsp; That's not the case with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a>&nbsp;and this, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/stonic/estate/review/n116">Kia Stonic</a>; you have seven years (from new) of warranty here and many examples within our £10,000 budget are younger than that.&nbsp;

It's good to drive, too, even if the ride is on the firmer side. Another reason it doesn't rank higher is that the Stonic isn't particularly spacious by small SUV standards.&nbsp;Head room is fine, but leg room is tight next to&nbsp;the Seat Arona and the larger Skoda Kamiq, especially if there’s someone tall sitting up front.&nbsp;

"The Stonic is a good, safe bet. However,&nbsp;there are small SUVs – quite a few, in fact – that I'd choose above it." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2021 Kia Stonic&nbsp;1.0 T-GDi 2,&nbsp;64,561 miles, £9600

9: Kia Stonic

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Punchy 1.0-litre engine</li>
	<li>Plenty of standard equipment</li>
	<li>Agile handling</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
	<li>Lack of adjustable lumbar support</li>
	<li>Rivals are more practical</li>
</ul>

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has been enjoying decent success in recent years, thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

Its expertise focuses on smaller cars, although its high-riding SUV range is also hugely credible, especially the Ignis and Vitara, which are both rated highly by What Car?’s testers and which have enjoyed success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Well priced, decent to drive and full of useful tech, Suzuki’s cars also generally stand out for delivering good fuel economy. The Ignis, Celerio and Baleno have all stood head and shoulders above the competition during our True MPG testing.

SUZUKI

IGNIS

The little&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/ignis/hatchback/review/n17225">Suzuki Ignis</a>&nbsp;is about as small as SUVs come, resembling a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-used-city-cars/n17033">city car</a>&nbsp;in most measurements. However, that does yield some&nbsp;advantages. The Ignis is easy to manoeuvre around town, great on fuel and even fairly recent examples are available for&nbsp;very reasonable&nbsp;money – it's certainly more&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

"I find the Ignis an adorable little SUV and I was pleasantly&nbsp;surprised by the level of practicality it possesses." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dueljet MHEV SZ-T, 35,202 miles, £9199

8: Suzuki Ignis

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious for a city car</li>
	<li>Most models well equipped</li>
	<li>Agile in corners</li>
	<li>Top-notch reliability</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Jiggly ride quality</li>
	<li>Vague steering</li>
	<li>Fiddly touchscreen system</li>
</ul>

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-3/hatchback/used-review/n17568">Mazda CX-3</a>&nbsp;serves up&nbsp;quite an old-school driving experience: the steering is rather slow and the engines need revving rather hard for them to really get going. It's a tidy handler, though, feeling pretty light on its feet by small SUV standards.&nbsp;Mechanically, the CX-3 is closely related&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/2/hatchback/used-review/n826">Mazda 2</a>&nbsp;small car and that's a good egg too, so perhaps the CX-3's handling&nbsp;talents should come at no surprise.&nbsp;

"I find the CX-3's back to basics approach rather refreshing, actually." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Mazda CX-3 2.0 SKYACTIV-G SE-L Nav,&nbsp;52,354 miles, £9594

7: Mazda CX-3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Classy interior</li>
	<li>Beefy petrol engines</li>
	<li>Low used prices</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
	<li>Limited rear seat space</li>
	<li>Some concerning recalls</li>
</ul>

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

YETI

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/yeti/estate/used-review/n621">Skoda Yeti</a>&nbsp;may be the oldest car on this list, but it continues to impress us even 15 years or so after its initial release. It's incredibly spacious and practical inside and an immensely comfy cruiser, making it a wonderful choice for families.&nbsp;

And naturally, the benefit of being a bit older than our other recommendations is that the Yeti&nbsp;is generally&nbsp;a cheaper buy. Go for an early car and you'll only be paying around £5000 for a respectable example. Go for a later one and you'll still be paying less than £10,000 in some cases.&nbsp;

"The Yeti is a car that you can instantly tell is the product of a clear, collective vision and an&nbsp;aim to build the ultimate family car.&nbsp;Sure, it's dated in places – the interior being the obvious one – but in many ways the Yeti still feels fresh to me." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2016 Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI SE,&nbsp;63,000&nbsp;miles, £9990

6: Skoda Yeti

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Fun to drive for an SUV</li>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
	<li>Some efficient versions</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Too much wind and road noise</li>
	<li>Ride is jittery on poor surfaces</li>
	<li>Removable rear seats are fiddly</li>
</ul>

VITARA

With its squared-off corners, raised ride height and the option of four-wheel drive, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/vitara/4x4/review/n76">Suzuki Vitara</a>&nbsp;has some of the off-road abilities people associate with larger SUVs. On the road, the balance between ride and handling is well judged, too, plus&nbsp;it's even quite fun to drive. Admittedly, the interior is one of the cheaper-feeling ones on this list, but at least it feels well-screwed together.

"The Vitara is a tough, reliable choice, as seen in our latest reliability survey. I certainly found that reassuring when taking the model&nbsp;off the beaten track." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Boosterjet MHEV SZ4,&nbsp;60,712 miles, £9995

5: Suzuki Vitara

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good driving manners</li>
	<li>Spacious and practical interior</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Reliability</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>High emissions on some petrol models</li>
	<li>Diesel engines can be noisy</li>
	<li>Some of the trim feels flimsy</li>
</ul>

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

CAPTUR

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/review/n20">Renault Captur</a>&nbsp;is a comprehensively good package and&nbsp;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 just nothing special to drive, unfortunately, plus a fair few rivals have punchier, more varied engine ranges – hence it's not higher up on this list.&nbsp;

"I appreciated the Captur's sliding and reclining rear bench when I needed to prioritise either rear-passenger space or boot space." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Renault Captur 1.0 TCe Launch Edition, 60,764 miles, £9995&nbsp;

4: Renault Captur

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Affordable to buy and run</li>
	<li>Sliding rear seats are standard from new</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Engines are relatively weak</li>
	<li>Rivals have more rear seat space</li>
	<li>E-Tech PHEV is disappointing to drive</li>
</ul>

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

COUNTRYMAN

Few small SUVs bank on retro style, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/review/n71">Mini Countryman</a>&nbsp;is one of them. The model pulls it off, too, thanks to its looks being met with a plush interior and good performance.

There's a variety of engines to choose from, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a>&nbsp;version – although you'll need to stretch our budget by a couple grand to get one of those. The 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel are both&nbsp;strong units, though, and they're accessible within the £10,000 limit.&nbsp;

"I was very impressed with the Mini Countryman's interior. There are lots of expensive-feeling materials, build quality is solid and the infotainment system looks and feels slick. As small SUVs go, the Countryman&nbsp;is one of your more premium options and it definitely feels it to me." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;Mini Countryman 1.5 Cooper,&nbsp;80,000 miles, £9000

3: Mini Countryman

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Neat handling</li>
	<li>Strong engines</li>
	<li>Luxurious interior and large boot</li>
	<li>Reliability</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
	<li>Average rear space</li>
	<li>There are larger SUVs available for similar money</li>
</ul>

KAMIQ

For an SUV, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a>&nbsp;sits&nbsp;you quite low to the ground; in fact, its driving position is barely any more elevated than that of the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/scala/hatchback/review/n19190">&nbsp;Skoda Scala</a>&nbsp;family hatchback. However, in every other respect, it's a brilliant little SUV, with a supple, well-controlled ride and a remarkably spacious interior. The interior feels classier than that of the rival&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">VW&nbsp;T-Cross</a>, 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. Still, you might have to shop around or haggle a tad with this one, because it's&nbsp;only just dipped within budget. If you do, though, you'll have a great buy on your hands.&nbsp;

"Initially, I was rather perplexed by the low driving position – the Kamiq didn't really feel like an SUV at all from behind the wheel –&nbsp;but those feelings soon went away. You just have to think of it as a chunky-looking small car, more than you do a small SUV, and then such concerns should drift away and all you're left with is a top-notch product." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2021&nbsp;Skoda Kamiq&nbsp;1.0 TSI SE,&nbsp;83,000&nbsp;miles, £9499

2: Skoda Kamiq

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Remarkably roomy interior and large boot</li>
	<li>Better-finished inside than many of its rivals</li>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>No sliding or reclining rear seats</li>
	<li>Not especially well equipped</li>
	<li>Other small SUVs have a higher driving position</li>
	<li>Reliability mixed</li>
</ul>

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

ARONA

With £10,000 to spend, we consider the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona</a>&nbsp;the very best small SUV&nbsp;you can buy used. Why? Well,&nbsp;it has a&nbsp;roomy interior,&nbsp;comfortable ride and perky range of engines. What's more, thanks largely to the&nbsp;Arona's mechanical DNA being shared with the great-handling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a>,&nbsp;it tackles a twisty road with fantastic poise and composure.&nbsp;

The value on offer here is unmatched, but it isn't just the buying cost that's impressively reasonable. For instance, go for the 1.0-litre petrol engine, drive smoothly and you should see north of 50mpg and, in turn,&nbsp;low fuel bills.&nbsp;

"There's very little I dislike about the Arona and there's certainly nothing major. It ticks all the boxes – reasonable buying and running costs, a great driving experience, enough space and practicality to cater for my family." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2019&nbsp;Seat Arona 1.0 TSI SE Technology, 44,500 miles, £8995

1: Seat Arona

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good ride comfort on standard suspension</li>
	<li>Big boot for class</li>
	<li>Excellent 1.0-litre petrol</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Average interior quality</li>
	<li>Reliability could be better</li>
	<li>Some road noise</li>
</ul>

Small SUVs are some of the most popular used cars in the UK right now. Here are our top 10 favourites for less than £10,000

NEW REVIEWS:

Best used small SUVs for less than £10,000

Small SUVs are some of the most popular used cars in the UK right now. Here are our top 10 favourites for less than £10,000...

What are all-season tyres - and are they worth buying?

New issue of What Car? magazine on sale now

Hyundai Ioniq 9 revealed: new electric seven-seat SUV gets 385-mile range

Skoda Elroq: 8 big things to love

Best upholstery cleaners 2024 - the products to bring sparkle to your seats

New Mini Cooper Convertible review: four-seat convertible driven

Also consider

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information