Not all of the best SUVs are massive fuel-chugging eco terrorists. If you genuinely need 4x4 capability but don’t a need a great deal of space there are some awesome compact off-roaders on sale in the UK. This is our fully updated list of the best small 4x4s of 2024.
To qualify for our selection below, we’ve looked for pint-sized four-wheel drive vehicles that are less than 4.4m long that also offer true off-road talent.
The resulting round-up of the best small 4x4s on sale still manages to cover a wide range of budgets and tastes. So if you’re after go-anywhere grip in a compressed package, we reckon we’ve got a machine here to suit you.
Best small 4x4s on sale in 2024
Best small 4x4 overall – it’s great value
You can even have a hybrid model now, which is also the only way to get an automatic transmission. But the 4x4 versions are based on the tried and tested 1.2-litre TCe turbo petrol with three cylinders and plenty of spirit. Off-road gadgets include a front-mounted camera and hill descent control that even work in neutral.
To find our more, read our full Dacia Duster review
Pros
- Great value for money
- Now even better off-road
- Comfortable, and clever inside
Cons
- Still not very refined
- Rear seats a little cramped
Best small 4x4 for style AND capability
Where it differs dramatically from Defenders of old is in the on-road driving experience and the luxury. The modern Defender drives almost as well as a Land Rover Discovery, while the beautifully executed exterior design is matched by a wonderfully chunky yet premium interior. The available tech is incredibly clever, too.
To find out more, read our full Land Rover Defender review
Pros
- Amazing off-road
- Also good on it
- Stylish and trendy
Cons
- No longer a simple tool
- Usual Land Rover reliability worries
2024’s answer to the Fiat Panda 4x4
The Ignis looks cool, too, with some neat retro styling touches. It is also rather flimsy inside and was rated just three stars for crash safety by Euro NCAP back in 2016, when the tests were considerably easier. But the lightweight build means impressive mpg, so it’s cheap to run as well as buy.
To find out more, read our full Suzuki Ignis review
Pros
- Tiny mountain goat of a 4x4
- Very economical
- Cute looks
Cons
- Cabin feels cheap (because it is)
- Not good on the motorway
Suzuki’s best off-roading all-rounder
In fact, it’s rather fun to hurry along, with a good turn of speed and tidy handling – thanks again to Suzuki’s lightweight-build philosophy. You can get a more road-oriented Suzuki SUV still in the form of the S-Cross, but this is a smidge less capable off road; we certainly recommend trying the Vitara first.
To find out more, read our full Suzuki Vitara review
Pros
- Best blend of on- and off-road prowess from Suzuki
- Keen handling
- Lightweight and efficient
Cons
- A bit flimsy in places
- Avoid the full hybrid model
Best small 4x4 for premium style
Even with this capability it’s still one of our favourite premium SUVs. It’s also available with comprehensively electrified drivetrains now, including a plug-in hybrid variant that gives you a decent slug of zero emissions motoring for cruising quietly and responsibly around town.
To find out more, read our full Range Rover Evoque review
Pros
- Stylish and premium
- Very capable off-road
- Plug-in hybrid available
Cons
- Range Rover reliability has never been a strong point
- Repairing off-road damage may be costly
Best small 4x4 with Jeep heritage and off-road upgrades
The Renegade is no exception. While conventional 4x4 versions are no longer available, the 4xe plug-in hybrid model does offer all-wheel-drive, and it’s sold in ‘Trail Rated’ Trailhawk specification. This means increased ground clearance and wading, plus additional underbody protection, upgraded electronics and even mud and snow rated tyres. It’ll get you home.
To find out more, read our full Jeep Renegade review
Pros
- Proper off-road spec in a small package
- Some zero-emissions capability
- Cute design features
Cons
- Compromised performance in many areas
- Not easy to see out of, which can be a pain off-road
Small 4x4s coming soon
There aren’t a huge number of new models on the horizon that we’d consider for proper off-road activities, but there is a new variant of the Jeep Avenger available that we’re keen to try.
Smaller and newer than a Renegade
Should you want to explore this, it’s the Avenger 4xe you’ll be after. It’s the plug-in hybrid variant, but also the only Avenger will all-wheel drive courtesy of the inclusion of two electric motors. With 10mm higher ground clear and 400mm wading depth, it’s more capable in other ways, too.
Read our main Jeep Avenger review
Pros
- Electric motors mean plenty of torque
- Off-roading upgrades
- Rest of the range pretty useful, too
Cons
- Cramped inside
- Build quality a little dubious
What if I want four-wheel drive but don’t care about off-roading?
If you’re more interested in all-weather traction than crossing a muddy field, there are a number of other small SUVs you could consider.
Highlight examples include the Audi SQ2, the Skoda Karoq, the Cupra Ateca and the VW T-Roc – which are all related and part of the wider Volkswagen Group. If you’re interested in going electric, then you could consider the Volvo EX30 and a number of Smart models; we’d recommend the Smart #3 as the best of its offerings so far.
There are also a number of family cars that can be had with four-wheel drive. The Suzuki Swift, for example, which is likely to prove very grippy given it has so many decent small off-roaders in the family. The Cupra Leon, the VW Golf, the Audi A3 and the BMW 1 Series aren’t quite as adventurous, but are also available with all-wheel drive as well. Though often this facility is focused on performance versions, which are more expensive to buy and run.
Small 4x4s buyers guide and FAQs
What is the most reliable small 4x4 to own?
In terms of small off-roaders like these, if reliability is your top priority target one of the Japanese offerings from Suzuki or Subaru. Both of these companies have very well established reputations for building dependable cars.
Ironically, the most expensive 4x4 on this list – the Land Rover Defender – comes from a manufacturer with one of the worst reputations for reliability. The budget-friendly Dacia Duster should generally be fine, however.
All that being said, if buying a used 4x4, be sure to ask how and where the vehicle has previously been driven. These kinds of 4x4 car are likely to have spent time tackling tricky terrain off-road and may well have sustained damage in the process.
What is the best daily driver small 4x4?
If you’ve got the money, the Range Rover Evoque will be by far the best choice of the vehicles in our main list for driving every day, with the Land Rover Defender a close second. These have by far the most sophisticated basis of any of the cars on this list – which is one of the reasons they’re comparatively expensive. This is in stark contrast to the original Defender, which was very difficult to drive on road.
If you’re doing a lot of road miles, all of the above will do a decent job now, and we certainly wouldn’t shy away from the more budget-friendly Dacia Duster, which is a great all-rounder. If buying used, we’d avoid the Suzuki Jimny, and the Jeep Wrangler (previously available as a smaller two-door model) can be hard work, too. This is still much better than the Jimny, though.
What is the most comfortable small 4x4?
Again, the Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Evoque – and by quite some distance.
The latest Dacia Duster is much improved in this area, too.
How do I choose a small 4x4?
You need to consider your budget, but also what you want to use it for. Some are very much working vehicles – the Suzuki Jimny in particular – while others, such as the Dacia Duster and Suzuki Vitara straddle the line between working and everyday use more effectively.
Where can I go off-roading in a 4x4 in the UK?
You’ve got a couple of main choices here. You can go to purpose-designed locations that allow off-roading with the safety net of on-hand experts who can help get you – and your car – out of trouble should the worst happen.
Alternatively, the UK is criss-crossed by a network of public-access ‘green lanes’. The best way to find out more about these it to join an organisation such as the Green Lane Association.
CJ Hubbard leads Bauer’s Digital Automotive Hub, writing and reviewing for Parkers and CAR. His Bauer career started as Associate Editor of CAR magazine in 2014, but he’s been a motoring journalist since 2006, and written for titles including Which?, the Sunday Times, Auto Express and Pistonheads.
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