Volkswagen Taigo

Toyota Yaris Cross

Renault Captur

Volkswagen T-Cross

Seat Ateca

Audi Q2

Ford Puma

Skoda Karoq

real-mpg-most-economical-small-suvs

As every driver knows, we’re getting less petrol and diesel for our pound these days – making fuel economy a more important consideration than ever before.

But while the latest official economy tests, known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP</a>, are designed to be more representative, the MPG figures you’re likely to get in the real world can still be very different – leaving you with a bigger hole in your wallet than you might have expected.

To help you with this, we carry out our own independent testing on a wide variety of new models as part of our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/real-mpg-calculator">Real MPG</a>&nbsp;tests, in order to find out what kind of economy you should really expect from the car you’re interested in.&nbsp;In this article, we’re looking at the most fuel-efficient small SUVs, ranked in order of average Real MPG.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Real MPG: most economical small SUVs

Hatchback

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

C3 AIRCROSS

Real MPG Average&nbsp;46.4mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;41.2mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;41.2mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;58.3mpg

The main draw of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c3-aircross/hatchback/review/n17381">Citroën C3 Aircross</a> are reasonable costs to buy and, in the case of the 1.2-litre Puretech 110 engine, thoroughly pleasing running costs.&nbsp;

We like that despite costing thousands of pounds less than some rivals, the C3 still places families front and centre by offering versatile seating, with 60/40 split-folding rear seats standard across the range, and a sliding rear bench available on top-end models.

The C3 Aircross&nbsp;is a good bet if you want a small SUV with a big boot, too, because we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf – one more than the Seat Arona could manage – and most models come with a handy two-level system which makes it easier to slide in longer items.

Just be aware that while the C3 Aircross&nbsp;is&nbsp;reasonably priced as a new car, it&nbsp;depreciates quickly – meaning it can make a sensible used buy.

10: Citroën C3 Aircross 1.2 Puretech 110

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Relatively high driving position</li>
	<li>Versatile seating</li>
	<li>Cheaper than many rivals</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Disappointing driving experience</li>
	<li>Heavy depreciation</li>
	<li>Fiddly touchscreen</li>
</ul>

Estate

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

T-CROSS

Real MPG Average&nbsp;46.6mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;38.6mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;41.2mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;62.7mpg

Under the skin, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">Volkswagen T-Cross</a> is pretty much identical to the Seat Arona, above, and with the same engine it’s hardly surprising the economy figures are so close. The rural economy offered by the 1.0 TSI T-Cross is better than the Arona, but in our other tests, it was a step behind.&nbsp;

Despite being closely related to the Arona, the T-Cross is more spacious for rear passengers than its Seat sibling, with noticable increases in both head and leg room. Its unobtrusive central floor tunnel makes it easier for three passengers to sit side by side on the rear bench, too.

A sliding rear bench allows you to prioritise either rear passenger comfort or boot space – slide it all the way forwards, and you'll have 455 litres below the parcel shelf. Slide it backwards, and space drops to 385 litres – still enough for five carry-on suitcases.

9: Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious, flexible interior</li>
	<li>Impressive for safety</li>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Only slightly cheaper than the superior T-Roc</li>
	<li>Engines could be more flexible above town speeds</li>
	<li>Top-spec Style and R-Line trims too pricey</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

Real MPG Average&nbsp;46.7mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;35.6mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;43.9mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;60.7mpg

This 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine is the baby of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona</a> range, and while it feels a little sluggish at low revs, it's perfectly fine once you get moving – plus, as our Real MPG results prove, it's pleasantly efficient.

The Arona handles well, and offers a more agile and entertaining drive than either its Citroën C3 Aircross or Renault Captur rivals. It does a good job of soaking up the lumps and bumps of battered British roads, too – especially if you stick with the smallest 17in alloy wheels.

While not up to the standards of the Audi Q2 inside, the Arona features soft-touch materials in the places you're likely to touch regularly, and everything feels built to last.

8: Seat Arona 1.0 TSI

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Tidy handling</li>
	<li>Roomier than many rivals</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>So-so interior quality</li>
	<li>Top trims are too pricey</li>
	<li>Rivals have more flexible rear seats</li>
</ul>

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

MOKKA X

Real MPG Average&nbsp;47.0mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;42.4mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;42.6mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;56.9mpg

Now replaced by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/mokka/hatchback/review/n17360">Vauxhall Mokka</a>, the original <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/mokka-x/hatchback/used-review/n960">Mokka X</a> wasn't the most practical&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-small-suvs-2023/n17050">small SUV</a>&nbsp;when it was on sale, nor was it the best to drive – but it was fairly cheap to buy, especially with a range of discounts offered. However, its diesel engine – the first on this list – made partial amends for that by costing relatively little to run if you were covering enough miles to justify its purchase.

There are a good number of examples on the used market if you're tempted, with prices starting from around £8000. That'll get you a car with fairly high mileage, however, so we'd budget around £9000 for a low-mileage car in good condition and with a full service history.

7: Vauxhall Mokka X 1.6 CDTi 136

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Fashionable styling</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Ride and refinement below par</li>
	<li>Rivals are more comfortable</li>
</ul>

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

2008

Real MPG Average&nbsp;47.3mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;39.4mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;42.9mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;60.5mpg

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n110">Peugeot 2008</a> has been facelifted since our economy tests, but the fundamentals remain in the latest version because the 1.2-litre Puretech 130 engine is still the backbone of the range. During our tests it returned an average of 47.3mpg across our range of road types, with an impressive 60.5mpg during our rural simulation.

That’s all the more impressive because the models with the Puretech 130 engine&nbsp;feel pleasantly peppy, even when you've loaded them to the gunwhales with people and luggage. Speaking of space, you'll get your holiday suitcases into the 2008's boot without any trouble, but it's worth bearing in mind that rivals such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/review/n20">Renault Captur</a>&nbsp;offer more room.

The 2008's interior has plenty of visual wow factor, even giving the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Audi Q2</a>&nbsp;a run for its money in this regard. Those looks are mostly backed up by high-quality materials, too.

6: Peugeot 2008 1.2 Puretech 130

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Classy interior</li>
	<li>Decent ride comfort</li>
	<li>Punchy, frugal petrol engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>More expensive than mainstream rivals</li>
	<li>Relatively heavy deprecation</li>
	<li>Driving position won't suit everyone</li>
</ul>

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

Real MPG Average&nbsp;47.4mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;63.7mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;39.7mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;52.0mpg

This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-hybrid-cars-2023/n17013">hybrid</a>&nbsp;version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona</a>&nbsp;is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, producing a total of 139bhp when they work together. That makes for punchy performance and the ability to drive around town for short distances using electric power alone – explaining the stellar figure of 63.7mpg around town. It’s also good on rural roads, as the 52mpg result attests, but a disappointing 39.7mpg on motorways prevents it from moving up our list.

It's worth noting that the Kona has been facelifted since our test, but the hybrid remains the most frugal option in the line-up barring the all-electric Kona Electric. Like the pre-facelift model, the Kona isn't especially inspiring to drive – for that, look at the Volkswagen T-Roc – but it's not uncomfortable and is pleasantly hushed even at motorway speeds.

If you regularly ferry around tall passengers, then they'll thank you for choosing the Kona, because it offers more rear leg room than most rivals, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>, and there's no shortage of head room either.

5: Hyundai Kona Hybrid 1.6 GDi

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Low CO2 emissions (Hybrid)</li>
	<li>Generous standard kit</li>
	<li>Good infotainment system</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Low speed ride can be fidgety</li>
	<li>Boot could be bigger</li>
	<li>Depreciates faster than rivals</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

VITARA

Real MPG Average&nbsp;47.7mpg |&nbsp;Town&nbsp;40.2mpg |&nbsp;Motorway&nbsp;43.6mpg |&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;59.8mpg

The Suzuki Vitara 1.6 petrol is&nbsp;no longer available to buy new, but there are still plenty to choose from on the used market. Low prices allied to an average economy figure of 47.7mpg means the Vitara is a savvy small SUV for those on a tight budget. It shines in other areas, too: it's in our top ten&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-small-suvs/n26154">most reliable small SUVs</a>, drives well and is spacious.&nbsp;

Used Vitaras are fairly plentiful on the used market, and just £7000 is enough to put one on your driveway. That'll be for an older car with higher-than-average mileage, though, so be prepared to budget around £10,000 for a newer example which has covered fewer miles.

Yet, if you’re keen on buying new, then consider the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/vitara/4x4/review/n76">Suzuki Vitara</a>&nbsp;1.4 Boosterjet Hybrid, which achieved an impressive 46.7mpg average figure in our tests. You can search new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/suzuki/vitara/4x4/deals">Suzuki Vitara deals</a>&nbsp;using What Car?'s New Car Deals service.

4: Suzuki Vitara 1.6 petrol

<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>

TAIGO

Real MPG Average&nbsp;50.5mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;41.6mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;45.8mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;62.5mpg

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/taigo/hatchback/review/n23908">Volkswagen Taigo</a> is often overlooked in favour of the excellent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">Volkswagen T-Cross</a>, but with its coupe looks, it offers a dose of style to rival the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>. But while the Ford could only muster an average of 45.1mpg in our tests, the Taigo easily returned more than 50mpg.

We recommend the 113bhp version of the Taigo's 1.0-litre petrol engine if you reguarly drive on the motorway, but if you don't need its extra turn of speed or just value efficiency over energy, the 94bhp version tested here is the one we'd go for. And we're not saying this version is slow, either – indeed, it does an admirable job of keeping pace with faster traffic.

It's easy to get comfortable inside the Taigo, with lots of adjustment in the seating position and steering wheel. And while you won't have to look far to find hard, scratchy plastics, there are some pleasantly soft materials used in the places you touch frequently. If interior quality is more important to you than efficiency, then we'd point you in the direction of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Audi Q2</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/review/n71">Mini Countryman</a>&nbsp;instead.

3: Volkswagen Taigo 1.0 TSI

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Surprisingly spacious interior</li>
	<li>Cheap running costs</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rivals are more fun to drive</li>
	<li>So-so interior quality</li>
	<li>Reliability could be better</li>
</ul>

IGNIS

Real MPG Average&nbsp;59.9mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;51.3mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;53.3mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;74.8mpg

Four different versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/ignis/hatchback/review/n17225">Suzuki Ignis</a> featured in our table of the most economical small SUVs, all averaging more than 50mpg. But it’s the latest versions with fuel-saving&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a>&nbsp;technology which top our list with a mightily impressive figure of 59.9mpg – in fact, it even beat the Toyota Yaris Cross which tops our list on rural roads.

There are compromises to be made, however. The Ignis' brakes might feel more consistent than they do in other mild hybrids, but the car's stopping performance isn't very good – it took 8.3m further than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a>&nbsp;to stop from 70mph in our tests, for example. Plus, the steering is inconsistently weighted and there's more body roll through corners than you'd find in the rival&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/used-review/n794">Volkswagen Up</a>.

Inside, we like that visibility out the front of the Ignis is good due to its short bonnet, but the same can't be said of looking out the back, because those heavily styled rear pillars get in the way. A rear-view camera is standard to help combat this, but you have to view it on a slow, low-resolution touchscreen.

2: Suzuki Ignis K12D 1.2 Dualjet Hybrid

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good fuel economy</li>
	<li>Spacious for a small car</li>
	<li>Generous equipment</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Ride can be fidgety</li>
	<li>Vague steering</li>
	<li>Poor infotainment system</li>
</ul>

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

YARIS CROSS

Real MPG Average&nbsp;60.1mpg&nbsp;| Town&nbsp;103.3mpg&nbsp;| Motorway&nbsp;45.5mpg&nbsp;| Rural&nbsp;70.5mpg

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris-cross/estate/review/n23440">Toyota Yaris Cross</a> is evidence, if any were needed, that not all SUVs are gas-guzzlers. Not only does it top our list of most economical small SUVs, it’s the most economical car we’ve ever tested – with a remarkable average figure of 60.1mpg. Yet like many other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid cars</a>, it shines even more brightly in the stop-start of round-town driving, where the hybrid system tops up the car’s battery and assists the 1.5-litre petrol engine for short journeys. At the hands of our highly testers, it achieved more than 100mpg here.

The four-wheel drive Yaris Cross is barely any less impressive, recording a test average of 51.2mpg, with figures of 74.5mpg (town), 40.8mpg (motorway) and 58.5mpg (rural) and proving that reassuring four-wheel grip needn’t attract huge fuel bills.

Elsewhere, the Yaris Cross offers the kind of raised-up driving position which SUV buyers love, and while the materials used inside aren't up to the standard of the plush&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/juke/hatchback/review/n45">Nissan Juke</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/review/n71">Mini Countryman</a>, everything does at least feel well screwed together.

A couple of six-footers will easily fit into the back of the Yaris Cross, and boot spaces matches that of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a>.

1: Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very efficient</li>
	<li>Lofty driving position</li>
	<li>Uncluttered dashboard is easy to use</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Could be more spacious in the back seats</li>
	<li>Vocal engine when accelerating</li>
	<li>Not as fun to drive as the Ford Puma</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

Real MPG Average 39.3mpg | Town 29.4mpg | Motorway 37.6mpg | Rural 50.7mpg

In the grand scheme of things, this petrol-engined version of the previous <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/used-review/n887">Mini Countryman</a> doesn't put in a terrible performance, but&nbsp;compared with some of the other small SUVs here its score is a little disappointing.

And the least economical small SUVs: Mini Countryman 1.5 Petrol

Real MPG Average 39.3mpg | Town 32.2mpg | Motorway 36.5mpg | Rural 49.2mpg

In stark contrast to the 1.0-litre <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">Volkswagen T-Cross</a>, this 1.5-litre variant is the second thirstiest small SUV we've tested.

Volkswagen T-Cross 1.5 TSI EVO

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Real MPG Average 38.5mpg | Town 28.6mpg | Motorway 36.8mpg | Rural 49.9mpg

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Audi Q2</a> is a desirable small SUV with a classy interior and tidy handling, but while the 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine you get here is pleasantly punchy, it will cost you more to fuel than any other small SUV we've put through our Real MPG test.

Audi Q2 35 TFSI

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

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