Best small SUVs – Pictures

The Citroen C3 Cactus is one of the most distinctive SUVs on the market, with its unmistakeable Airbump body cladding.

Based on the regular C4, the Cactus is a fine choice with which to take on the urban jungle, with a choice of economical engines that are a pleasure to drive.

The C4 Cactus dashboard is good looking and functional and there's plenty of interior storage, as well as a very good boot. 

The Dacia Duster has to be the best value SUV on the market today, although entry-level Access models are spartan in the extreme.

The Dacia Duster is based on proven technology from Renault, with some models benefitting from the French company's latest and impressive TCe turbocharged petrol engines

Inside the Dacia Duster is functional rather than luxurious, with air-conditioning absent on the entry-level Access. Step up through Ambiance, Laureate and beyond and the list of standard equipment steadily increases.

The Mazda CX-3 can hold its head high among the best small SUVs to drive, with responsive steering and plenty of power

The Mazda CX-3 is also among the most reliable small SUVs, with excellent results in our Driver Power survey. The 1.5-litre diesel is economical, too.

Inside the CX-3 the dashboard is smart and modern, with all models well equipped. SE-L Nav is our favourite, offering the best balance between standard equipment and affordability

The Audi Q2 is possibly the most desirable small SUV on the market today, blending Audi's cool good looks with a real sense of quality.

However, the Q2 is also among the most expensive small SUVs you can buy, with prices ranging to over £35,000. The engines are excellent, especiailly the 1.4-litre TSI petrol.

Inside, the Audi Q2 offers everything you'd expect of a small Audi. Equipment levels are generous, but with any Audi the options list is long and can substantially increase the price. Quality, though, is among the very best on the mark

The Kia Niro is something a little different, with the hybrid engine appeal of a Toyota Prius allied to a compact SUV bodystyle which offers plenty of space and flexibility.

The Niro's impressive economy and low CO2 emissions make it a good company car choice, while equipment is generous accross the range.

Inside, the Niro is another example of Kia's rapidly-improving material quality and the design is neat and tidy, too. Drivers will also enjoy the raised driving position the Niro offers compared to other compact hybrid cars.

The Honda HR-V is a great example of Honda's clever design thinking, managing to fit more interior space than a Nissan Qashqai into a package that's far more compact and easy to drive

There are 1.6-litre diesel and 1.5-litre petrol engines to choose from in the HR-V, and you can choose a CVT automatic gearbox, but this adds cost and blunts performance – we prefer the excellent manual gearbox

The chief party piece of the HR-V's interior is its rear "magic seats" which can flip up like cinema seats, allowing bulky items to stand up in the rear footwells. SE trim is reasonably well equipped and offers the best value of the ra

The Peugeot 2008 wears the French company's latest, very attractive corporate look, while its stepped roofline lends extra distintiveness

The 2008 offers Grip Control, a system that increases traction on rough roads without four-wheel drive, and there's a choice between 1.2-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines – the most powerful versions are our favourites.

The real selling point, though, is the 2008's spacious, stylish interior which is very modern to look at, and is built from excellent materials. Equipment is high on most models, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for interaction with

The Yeti is the oldest design on our list, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Its design concept has proven extremely successful, and the Yeti remains a popular buy among those who need a no-nonsense compact SUV

Despite its boxy looks, the Yeti is actually a real pleasure to drive, whatever the road. The steering is responsive and the engines all feel strong. If a four-wheel drive version is selected you'll have impressive off-road ability, to

The Yeti's interior is designed for practicality rather than luxury, but quality is good nonetheless. Four adults fit easily, the luggage area is absolutely enormous and the rear seat can be slid to and fro or removed altogether. There

Ssangyong might not yet be a household name, but the Tivoli is its strongest offering yet. It's also thoroughly individual looking inside and out, with a broad choice of models.

The Tivoli can be specified with an automatically-activated four-wheel drive system, and you can choose a petrol or diesel 1.6-litre engine. However, we found that the diesel was smoother than the petrol.

For its low price, the Ssangyong Tivoli is surprisingly well equipped – there's no real need to upgrade from SE to EX or ELX trim levels. The Tivoli also has an interestingly styled interior that offers plenty of space and practicality

The Renault Captur is the smallest SUV in the French maker's range and is actually a sister car to the Nissan Juke, with which it shares much of its engineering. The Captur is our favourite of the two, thanks to its extra practicality.

The Captur has a strong range of petrol and diesel engines, and thanks to its light weight none deliver less than 50mpg. The best for economy is the 1.5-litre dCi diesel, managing 78mpg in some models. Like the Peugeot 2008, four-wheel

The Captur feels good inside, with a smartly designed dashboard and a sense of spaciousness for front and rear seat occupants. The entry level models arent especially well equipped and we would suggest stepping up from Expression+ to D