Best affordable SUV cars
Looking for an SUV on a budget? Our guide takes a look at the best available for an affordable price, from brands such as Ford, Vauxhall, Renault, and more
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SUVs have been incredibly popular in recent years, whether that’s for their better visibility, increased practicality, or real off-road ability.
The best affordable family SUVs blend these aspects along with affordability – both in terms of purchase price and running costs – to make for the perfect all-rounders.
Below, we outline some of the best affordable used SUV cars to consider when shopping for your next family motor.
Top affordable SUVs: Vauxhall Mokka
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The Vauxhall Mokka is a top contender among affordable SUVs, combining versatility, style, and that all-important affordability.
It has a distinctive design with an appealing two-tone paint job, giving it a sporty vibe.
Because the Mokka was reintroduced recently, it features plenty of top-notch car tech and connectivity options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Compared to other electric SUVs, the Mokka-e is affordable despite its impressive 200-mile range, but if that’s out of the question, we’d also recommend the punchy 1.2-litre petrols.
Suzuki Ignis – the smallest affordable SUV?
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The Suzuki Ignis is one of the smallest crossovers you can get, and like the Fiat Panda 4x4, it has a real go-anywhere attitude.
In some configurations, the Ignis is three times lighter than a Range Rover, helping it to scramble over rough terrain with surprising ease.
Its highly distinctive boxy styling gives it a lot of character, and that character continues inside, where pops of the exterior paint colour carry over, for example on the door panels.
Suzuki is renowned for building robust, affordable cars, but the Ignis is still packed with plenty of equipment, especially if you want an ‘ALLGRIP’ 4x4 model, which is reserved for top-spec SZ5 variants.
Affordable used SUV cars: Renault Captur
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Sharing many parts with the popular Clio, the Captur is an appealing option for those looking for a high driving position without having to get an unnecessarily large car. It provides good visibility in and around town.
The Captur is a practical car that has lots of luggage capacity and an equally spacious interior for passengers, plus wide-opening doors and ISOFIX points for young families.
Because it’s based on a supermini, it benefits from a range of incredibly efficient petrol and hybrid setups, so it won’t cost as much to run as you might think.
Audi Q3 – an affordable SUV with the best interior?
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The Audi Q3 is a car that seamlessly blends practicality with luxury, and offers a premium alternative to make other small crossovers.
It can also be more affordable than some other luxury models – like the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA – especially if you’re looking at newer examples.
It might be Audi’s second-smallest SUV in the brand’s Q series, but it’s packed with car tech like a large infotainment display and a digital driver’s display.
Because it’s slightly larger than some other SUVs on this list, it comes with a few more powerful engines, including a plug-in hybrid capable of around 30 miles between charges.
Best affordable SUVs in the UK: Ford EcoSport
 "Ford EcoSport")
The Ford EcoSport offers a winning combination of practicality, versatile engines and well-equipped trim levels, and while it looks pretty chunky, it’s still small enough to fit comfortably into a parking space.
The pick of the bunch is a model with the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, badged ‘EcoBoost’, which is pretty punchy but should be able to get over 40mpg, even in this SUV.
Ford no longer sells the EcoSport, but even used models get the brand’s capable and functional infotainment system. Look for newer versions with the ‘SYNC 3’ system for the best experience.
Citroen C4 Cactus – the best affordable SUV town car?
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While technically a crossover, the C4 Cactus is more similar to a raised hatchback, making it an excellent pick for driving around town where compact dimensions really matter.
Ever since it launched, it has featured plenty of quirky styling cues, including the plastic body cladding that Citroen calls ‘Airbumps’.
They’re designed to absorb the impact from minor bumps, like another car door opening into yours, in turn reducing repair bills.
The quirkiness extends to the inside, where automatic models have one long front bench rather than two separate seats.
More broadly, the 1.2-litre petrol is a great pick, offering a balance of efficiency and performance.
Affordable used SUV: Nissan Juke
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The Nissan Juke is a compelling choice for those seeking an affordable yet stylish crossover, and its eye-catching design continues to prove popular well over a decade since its launch.
Its compact size is an asset to urban driving, where the higher seating position gives the driver a good view without the car being too big to weave in and out of traffic.
Still, there’s enough space for five and, despite the stylish sloping rear roofline, headroom is good for rear-seat occupants.
Fiat 500X – the most stylish affordable SUV car?
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Fiat encapsulated the iconic design of the Fiat 500 in the 500X crossover model, which looks like an inflated version of the popular city car with an extra pair of rear doors.
Overall, the car adds a touch of uniqueness and style to an otherwise predictable SUV sector.
The interior is fairly similar to that of the Fiat 500, featuring a touchscreen display and plenty of easy-to-use physical controls on the backdrop of a body-coloured piece of trim to remind you what colour car you’re driving.
Newer versions come with mild hybrid assistance in the name of emission reduction, but you’ll also be able to find Sport models with a smooth-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Best affordable SUVs: Peugeot 2008
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Although the Peugeot 2008 is more affordable than many other SUV options, it still packs a (stylistic) punch and plenty of Peugeot brand identity, such as the claw-like LED daytime running lights that are typical of all of the French brand’s cars these days.
It shares a lot of parts with the Vauxhall Mokka, but its interior feels notably more premium. High-spec models come with a smart 3D-effect digital instrument cluster.
You can get electric versions, badged e-2008, which open the door to ultra-low running costs, but the majority of buyers go for the very capable 1.2-litre petrol.
Hyundai Kona – the most efficient affordable SUV?
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Hyundai has only recently introduced its second-generation Kona, but the first model is still one of the most efficient and affordable SUVs, especially in electric form, where it can travel up to 300 miles between charges (with the larger battery pack).
Besides this, you can also get petrol, mild hybrid and hybrid options, or – if you want to push the boat out – a 280hp 2.0-litre petrol engine. That one’s not so efficient, however.
Being a Hyundai, everything’s built to an exceptionally high quality, and standard kit is very good, leaving little need to go for a top-spec model.