SUVs, as common on UK roads as they ever have been, possess the practicality of Mary Poppins’ carpet bag. And these days, the best cars also tend to be SUVs.
Making an ideal choice for drivers and families with active lifestyles, SUVs tend to swallow luggage and passengers like a magic chalk drawing (without the freaky dancing penguins, of course). If you’re looking for budget-friendly SUV recommendations, this list comprises the UK’s cheapest SUVs based on their RRP price.
Of course, while these are the cheapest in terms of cash prices, it doesn’t mean they’re the cheapest when it comes to finance. It’s also worth bearing in mind that these picks are powered by fossil fuels – unlike these best electric family cars.
UK’s Cheapest SUVs for 2024
Renault-related budget SUV is simple yet smart
While this is for the very cheapest Essential model (so basic it does without alloy wheels or electric rear windows), it’s an affordable starting point for drivers facing rising energy costs in a cost-of-living crisis.*
To learn more, read our full Dacia Duster review
Pros
- Attractive styling
- Not lacking kit
- Available with four-wheel drive
Cons
- Rear seats don't fold flat
- Fair amount of road noise
Friendly and frugal cheap SUV
Good news: that means running costs are superbly low. The 1.2-litre engine should do close to its official 60mpg (we certainly managed even more in our Suzuki Ignis long-termer), plus, Suzuki has a solid reliability record, meaning trips to the dealer should be minimal. Obviously, this tiny car is nowhere near as practical as other cars on this list, but you can option it with four-wheel drive.*
To learn more, read our full Suzuki Ignis review.
Pros
- Genuine off-road capability
- Low running costs
- Easy to get in and out of
Cons
- Limited luggage capacity
- Struggles on motorways
MG ZS
Designed with value in mind
Your sub-£20,000 will afford you an Excite model with the 1.5-litre engine and a manual gearbox. Standard kit is good – you’ll get Apple CarPlay, (but weirdly, not Android Auto), plus a reversing camera.*
To learn more, read our full MG ZS review
Pros
- Seven-year warranty
- Decent standard kit
- Impressive practicality
Cons
- Rivals outshine the ZS
Award-winning budget landboat
Does it succeed? Well, the Jogger won the Parkers 2023 Best Value Car of the Year, so in our opinion, yes. While it might be lacking in luxuries compared with cars which share the same basic platform, but it more than makes up for it with that price tag.*
To lean more, read our full Dacia Jogger review
Pros
- Seven seater
- Incredibly spacious for it's size
- Comfortable and easy to drive
Cons
- Low-rent interior compared to rivals
- Seats aren't especially flexible
Practical choice for a cheap SUV pick
Taller than a hatchback, the C3 Aircross is easy to get in and out of and with petrol and diesel engines on offer as well as manual and automatic gearboxes, has broad appeal. The real clincher? The price tag is really tempting and means the C3 will make most drivers’ cheap SUV short lists.*
To learn more read our full Citroen C3 Aircross review
Pros
- Persuasive price tag
- Well-equipped
- Very supple seats
Cons
- Manual box ambiguous
- Average infotainment package
KGM Tivoli
Specialist carmaker shouldn't be written off
To get the cheapest model you’ll have to make do with a 1.2-litre petrol engine, but we recommend upgrading to the 1.5-litre as it’s quieter and quicker. It’s backed by SsangYong’s seven-year/150,000 mile warranty too – a great deal for those looking carefully at their budgets.*
To learn more, read our full KGM Tivoli review
Pros
- Spacious
- Impressive five-year warranty
- Plenty of kit
Cons
- Automatic gearbox not recommended
- Fierce competition arguably better
Competent and customisable compact family SUV
Sure, there are rivals that offer a more inviting interior or greater space, but very few do that with such a feeling of solidity for such little money.*
To learn more, read our full Kia Stonic review
Pros
- Range of peppy engines
- Customisable flexibility
- High level of standard equipment
Cons
- Basic interior plastics
- Dull when pitched against rivals
An affordable, comfortable and compact SUV
Under the bonnet, the Hyundai Bayon keeps things nice and simple. You only get the choice of 1.0-litre petrol engines, with either 100 or 120hp. Both get the option of manual or auto gearboxes and importantly, everything about the Bayon is feather-light and easy-to-use.*
To learn more, read our full Hyundai Bayon review
Pros
- Smooth mild-hybrid engines
- Loads of safety kit
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- Limited choice of engines
- Boot space wanting
Smart, stylish and fun SUV
The 1.0-litre engine offers top real-world fuel economy, while the 1.5-litre gives punchy driving performance. Entry-level models come with wireless phone charging, cruise control and a leather-trimmed steering wheel, demonstrable of the great value the Arona provides.*
To learn more, read our full SEAT Arona review
Pros
- Economical
- Plenty of standard kit
- Punchy engines
Cons
- Firm ride
- No electrified choice
Renault's baby SUV
Like the bigger car, and indeed the smaller Clio beneath it, the Captur is generously equipped, and nicely put together. The 145 hybrid engine can be a little irksome as the gearbox likes to hang on to gears, but it offers a usable amount of power.
To lean more, read our full Renault Captur review
Pros
- Great towing capacity
- Impressive five-year warranty
- One of the larger cars on this list
Cons
- Noisy engine
- Shallow boot
* These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 19 December 2023, but are subject to change without prior notice. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different and the availability of credit is subject to status. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Parkers cannot recommend a deal for you specifically.
What is an SUV?
The SUV initialism stands for Sport Utility Vehicle, but you should consider the Sport an acknowledgement of the activities you can do rather than the lap-times you can pump out.
Sling golf clubs and footballs in the rear, bikes on the back or kayaks on the top. Best of all, thanks to their slightly rugged capabilities, you won’t feel bad about parking them away from the road in order to get to your chosen activity.
SUVs have been around since the thirties if you wanna get technical, or at least since the eighties if you don’t. But it’s this past decade where the SUV has really made progress. They’re now aimed at regular people who might need a bit of go anywhere-ability rather than battle-worn adventurists.
In other words, most modern SUVs exchange four-wheel drive and locking diffs for Isofix points and automatic gearboxes.
Being a cheapest list, you won’t find footballer-spec SUVs like a Range Rover or anything as advanced as a plug-in hybrid.
Instead, the cars mentioned here are aimed at people who like the look of something big and expensive but prefer small car running costs.
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