Cheapest SUV 2022
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get yourself into a stylish, practical and good-to-drive SUV. Many of the cheapest SUVs in the UK are yours for less than £20,000, and several cost less than even the most basic Ford Fiesta.
The appeal is undeniable. Brits love SUVs for their high seating positions, their rugged designs that shrug off everyday battle scars, and the fact that they are generally roomier and more practical than hatchbacks.
Even the cheapest SUVs feel confident and commanding to drive, and they generally have good equipment levels – so you won’t miss out on any creature comforts.
Also consider that a higher-riding SUV feels that bit safer than a lower, more conventional car, and it’s easy to see why sales continue to soar.
Here is our guide to the very cheapest SUVs in the UK. They are listed in order of price, starting with the most affordable SUV currently on sale.
Cheapest SUVs in the UK
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Dacia Duster
The Dacia brand is all about value for money and the Duster SUV exemplifies this perfectly. A family-sized five-seater, plentiful passenger space is supported by a holiday-ready 445-litre boot. Entry-level Essential spec is pretty basic – you don’t get alloy wheels or a touchscreen media system – but does include air-con and electric windows, so it’s still tolerable. Most customers, however, choose the posher Comfort or Prestige trims, and even these are priced below some basic superminis. The sweet turbocharged petrol engine is just enough for everyday driving and, uniquely, you can get a Bi-Fuel version, allowing you to fill up with half-price LPG.
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SsangYong Tivoli
The SsangYong Tivoli is another bargain-priced family SUV – and the most obvious rival for the Dacia Duster. It’s similar in size, has an interior that’s just as roomy, and almost matches the Dacia for boot space, with 423 litres on offer. If that’s not enough, a stretched Tivoli XLV offers a mammoth 723 litres with the seats up. Powering entry-level versions is a smooth 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, with a 1.5 motor offering more oomph if you have a bigger budget. Equipment levels are good and you can also choose higher-spec Tivolis with an automatic gearbox.
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Suzuki Ignis
The Suzuki Ignis is a micro-sized SUV. A really distinctive design, its boxy lines give it a rugged look. Despite measuring just 3.7 metres in length, though, it still squeezes in five-door functionality. Space inside is eye-opening, given its dimensions, with even adults likely to find the rear seats comfortable. Suzuki fits an efficient mild hybrid engine, which is a real fuel-sipper, and also sells the top-spec variant in all-wheel-drive guise, for guaranteed grip in all weathers. Equipment levels aren’t bad: all except base-model cars come with a colour touchscreen, which offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
MG ZS
The MG ZS is a well-priced alternative to pricier rivals such as the Ford Puma and Volkswagen T-Cross. Both Excite and Exclusive grades have a good haul of standard features, and even the entry-level engine is a 1.5-litre unit with 106hp. If you can stretch to it, we prefer the 1.0-litre turbo; power is similar but it’s more flexible and has a six-speed gearbox for quieter motorway running. You can have it with an automatic gearbox, too. Neatly styled and with a smart interior, the MG ZS bolsters its cheapest SUV credentials further with a competitive seven-year warranty, giving reassurance for those who plan to own their car for many years.
Citroen C3 Aircross
The Citroen C3 Aircross earns its place in our guide to the UK’s cheapest SUVs thanks to a new, value-packed variant called the C-Series. Despite a low price, it still comes with alloy wheels, climate control and tinted rear windows, so it’s hardly a stripped-out special. The Citroen Advanced Comfort programme brings special ultra-soft seats and a ride quality tuned for absorbency, making it a luxurious feeling car to drive. It’s also extremely practical, with a big boot and fold-flat rear seats. There’s even a folding passenger seat, allowing the C3 Aircross to swallow loads up to 2.4 metres long.
Kia Stonic
The Stonic is the funky crossover SUV alternative to the Kia Rio supermini. It uses the same selection of fuel-efficient engines, including an advanced range-topper with a DCT automatic gearbox and 48V mild hybrid tech. We like the cheapest 1.0-litre turbo engine best, which is capable of more than 51mpg and 0-62mph in under 11 seconds. All versions of the Stonic offer a good standard spec, including a comprehensive array of active safety equipment. Kia’s famed seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty also reassures – and suggests how reliable the Stonic is likely to be.
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Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke arguably invented the small SUV sector and this second-generation car is a larger, more sophisticated evolution of the original. It certainly still stands out, while Nissan has made big steps forward in terms of practicality and interior quality. It’s a much nicer car to travel in than the original, helped by increased rear-seat space and a much more useful 422-litre boot. There’s just a single 1.0-litre turbo engine on offer, but it’s a fairly powerful one, producing 114hp. You can also have a DCT automatic version, complete with Nissan’s advanced ProPilot driver-assist technology.
Skoda Kamiq
The Skoda Kamiq is the smallest SUV in the Czech firm’s line-up. It’s very much part of the family, with styling that makes it look like a shrunken Karoq or Kodiaq. Also like those cars, it’s spacious inside, with a decent boot and ample room for rear-seat passengers. The workmanlike dashboard is clear and easy to use, and equipment levels aren’t bad for the money. All versions use a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine with varying power outputs, and an automatic gearbox is optional. Robust and stable on the move, the Kamiq also feels hardy enough to shake off the trials of family life, and keep coming back for more.
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SEAT Arona
The SEAT Arona is the high-riding SUV sister to the Ibiza supermini. As SEAT thinks of itself as a sporty, youthful brand, even the basic version features 17-inch alloy wheels, while sparkling LED headlights are standard across the board. All versions get a colour touchscreen and you can move up to SE Technology grade for less than £1,000. This includes a larger 9.25-inch touchscreen, complete with built-in sat nav and a wireless smartphone charger. To make things simple, metallic paint is included in the list price, and buyers can even choose a contrasting roof colour for free.
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Hyundai Bayon
The Bayon is a new arrival in Hyundai’s comprehensive line-up of SUVs. Intended as a roomier, more practical alternative to the sporty Kona, the Bayon has a large and accommodating interior, plus a 401-litre boot that expands to more than 1,200 litres with the rear seats folded. With its slimline LED running lights, the Bayon has distinctive front-end styling. We also like the infotainment system, with a screen that measures up to 10.25 inches. Buyers can choose an optional Bose premium audio system, while even the most affordable version features 48V mild hybrid technology, designed to save fuel in everyday driving.
Are the cheapest SUVs safe?
Modern cars rarely compromise on safety and even the cheapest SUVs in the UK generally have solid Euro NCAP crash-test ratings. The newest, Hyundai’s Bayon, scored four stars in the 2021 Euro NCAP round of testing – and this is a test that becomes more challenging all the time. Look out for cars that come with a good selection of active safety assistance features, such as lane departure warning, as standard. Autonomous emergency braking that can detect pedestrians and cyclists is a particularly valuable addition.
How roomy are the cheapest SUVs?
The cheapest SUVs certainly don’t require you to compromise here. Even the smallest of all, the Suzuki Ignis, is far roomier inside than you’d expect. Meanwhile, the UK’s cheapest SUV, the Dacia Duster, offers levels of space inside comparable with family hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. Because SUVs are taller than regular cars, they generally all have good headroom, while their boxy lines allow for decent-sized boots. Fold down the rear seats and you’ll have an even larger and more practical space.
Can you get an electric version of the cheapest SUVs?
The MG ZS is one of the UK’s cheapest SUVs – and is also available in pure electric MG ZS EV guise. Naturally, this too is one of the UK’s cheapest electric cars. It’s not as affordable as the petrol version, admittedly, but it’s still competitively priced. Look out for an electric option coming to some of the other cheapest SUVs soon. Dacia may even be readying its true bargain-priced SUV EV, the Spring, for sale in the UK soon.
