Top 10: New crossovers for £18,000 or less
While we may not be fans of the 'crossover' label, there's no denying their appeal. Combining practicality, style and low running costs - they've become the family car of choice for many.
Kia Stonic
The Kia Stonic is a sound buy with an affordable price tag and a seven-year warranty. Our budget will only get you the entry-level 2 trim, but it is fairly well equipped - with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 17-inch alloy wheels and rear parking sensors as standard. You'll be able to upgrade to the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine too.
Suzuki Vitara
The new Vitara is a world away from its predecessor, which although a favourite of ours because of its no-nonsense approach, was hardly cutting edge. The latest Vitara is more refined, comfortable and offers great value for money too - with prices starting at £16,999 for the SZ4 with the new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Volkswagen T-Cross
The Polo-based Volkswagen T-Cross is the newest and arguably the most fashionable car to feature here. Our self-imposed £18,000 budget will get you an entry-level S model with the 95PS petrol engine and five-speed manual gearbox. We doubt there'll be many discounts available, unfortunately, as it's still very new.
Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona is an affordable and quirky rival to the SEAT Arona and Honda HR-V. However, Hyundai's smallest and cheapest crossover falls short on quality with its cramped interior and poor ride making it an underwhelming daily driver. On the plus side, it's affordable, with the entry-level S model starting at £17,305 when paired with the 120PS 1.0-litre petrol engine.
Citroen C3 Aircross
When the Citroen C3 Aircross first arrived in 2017, it was a real bargain, with a £14,000 price tag. Now, even the cheapest models are slightly over our budget, starting at £18,040. Prices aside, it's a very versatile little crossover, offering a comfortable ride and quirky looks. We like it.
SEAT Arona
The SEAT Arona is one of the best compact crossovers money can buy - and not a lot of money, for that matter. Our budget will get you the entry-level SE model with the 95PS 1.0-litre petrol engine - and, because it's a SEAT, you won't have to pay extra for metallic paint.
Dacia Duster
While an £18,000 budget will get you an entry- or mid-level version of most of the crossovers here, you'll struggle to go over budget with the Dacia Duster. You can comfortably afford a top-spec Prestige model with a choice of petrol and diesel engines - even four-wheel drive, if you need it.
Ford EcoSport
Based on the Ford Fiesta, the EcoSport is a surprisingly spacious crossover that provides excellent value for money, with a start price of £17,850. For that you get Zetec spec with 16-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch multimedia display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a Quickclear heated windscreen. There's just one engine in budget - the 100PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol - or hit the classifieds for a pre-registered 125PS model.
SsangYong Tivoli
While SsangYong might not be a well-known brand, it's popular with owners - coming top in our 2018 Satisfaction Index. Not only does the Tivoli represent excellent value for money, we also think it's a genuinely great crossover. For less than £18k you can get a mid-range LE model with the 1.6-litre petrol engine.
Vauxhall Crossland X
In a market that includes the SEAT Arona and Suzuki Vitara, the Vauxhall Crossland X hasn't got a great deal going for it. While our £18,000 budget will get you a new Crossland X, that's only for the basic SE with the underpowered 83PS 1.2-litre petrol engine. By the time you add metallic paint as an option, it'll be more than £18,000.
