Everyone wants an SUV these days, and no wonder. These high-riding vehicles have come to dominate the British car market thanks to their combination of versatility, practicality, ease of access, high driving position, visibility and the increased feeling of protection they bring their occupants.
But SUVs are expensive to buy, right? Well, that’s not necessarily true. In fact, so far have SUVs come from the big, costly, off-road beasts they once were, that you can now find them among some of the cheapest cars on sale in the UK.
But don’t just take our word for it. Peruse our guide below to find out which SUVs are currently the cheapest on sale in the UK. We’ve ranked the top 10 in descending order. And along the way, we’ll try to help you to figure out which one is right for you as your next new car (or used car). Note: prices correct at time of publication and are regularly checked, but remain subject to change.
The 10 Cheapest SUVs on Sale in 2025
- Dacia Sandero Stepway (from £15,700)
- Toyota Aygo X (from £16,515)
- Suzuki Ignis (from £17,949)
- Citroën C3 (from £17,990)
- Dacia Duster (from £18,850)
- Seat Arona (from £19,995)
- Kia Stonic (from £21,265)
- Renault Captur (from £21,695)
- MG ZS (from £21,995)
- Hyundai Bayon (from £22,480)
- Other Popular SUV Choices and Prices
- What is an SUV and What Makes a Good One?
1. Dacia Sandero Stepway (from £15,700)
Leave it to budget brand Dacia to come up with the cheapest SUV on the market today. Okay, so it’s little more than a Sandero supermini with loftier suspension and some chunkier styling elements, but to our eye, it looks rugged enough to convince as an SUV, and at this price, it’s very difficult to argue with the amount of style and practicality you get. Yes, you make a few compromises for the pricetag, most notably in the areas of interior quality, dynamic polish, and luxury and safety kit, but those are understandable given the price.
Dacia Sandero Stepway Review
2. Toyota Aygo X (from £16,515)
Some might argue whether the Toyota Aygo X is an SUV at all, or merely a city car with a jacked-up suspension and extra body cladding, but in fairness to it, the Toyota is far from being the only car on this list at which that accusation can be levelled. Regardless, it’s a relentlessly cheery and characterful little car, and it has a surprisingly generous amount of interior space given its compact dimensions. It also delivers brilliant fuel economy, and even the entry-level Pure version comes with stacks of standard equipment.
Toyota Aygo X Review
3. Suzuki Ignis (from £17,949)
Long gone are the days when bargain cars weren’t stylish; the Ignis is laden with neat design touches, both inside and out, and thanks to its clever sliding rear seat and a remarkably fuel efficient mild hybrid engine, there’s substance beneath its style. Granted, it’s smaller than most of the other SUVs here, sitting below the Vitara in Suzuki’s line-up of Sports Utility Vehicles, so interior space isn’t quite as impressive, but its compact dimensions make it extremely easy to drive and park in town.
Suzuki Ignis Review
4. Citroen C3 (from £17,990)
Despite the name, this new C3 is closer in spirit to the old Citroen C3 Aircross that featured on this list last year, given it’s a five-seat SUV; it’s therefore to Citroen’s credit that it has been able to keep this completely new car within striking distance of the old one’s price. It’s cheap and cheerful inside, but still looks and feels stylish, and there’s plenty of space; out on the road, meanwhile, it’s one of the most comfortable new SUVs on the market today. For this price, you’ll be getting a mild hybrid petrol engine, though an electric version is also available.
Citroen C3 Review
5. Dacia Duster (from £18,850)
Dacia has just released the third-generation Duster; like its predecessors, it’s a brilliant car, with a peppy powertrain, a roomy interior, and a comfortable ride. It isn’t quite as affordable as it once was — with the result that some rivals have undercut it — but this is still a lot of car for the cash. OK, it’s a sea of grey plastic inside, but clever styling means it doesn’t actually feel too dour, and the Duster is smart enough on the outside that you won’t feel ashamed to catch sight of it on your driveway. The cheapest version comes with two-wheel drive, but you can have four-wheel drive if you spend a bit more, and this turns the Duster into a surprisingly rugged compact off-roader.
6. Seat Arona (from £19,995)
Seat’s Arona is getting rather long in the tooth — it’s been around since 2017 — but rather than pension it off, Seat has instead priced it aggressively, adding a bare-bones S version with a low starting price to try to compete with the Dacia Duster and Citroën C3. And it’s worked; this is now one of the most affordable SUVs on the market. And despite its age, the Arona is still a good little car, with slick styling, peppy engines and sharp handling; inside, meanwhile, it’s a cheerier place to be than most SUVs of this price, with colourful accents, a digital dashboard, and an easy-to-use instrument layout.
Seat Arona Review
7. Kia Stonic (from £21,265)
The Stonic’s always felt a little bit underwhelming, but at this price it’s hard not to be at least a little bit whelmed. This is a smart little car that feels more like a jacked-up hatchback than a proper SUV, and its mature styling means it feels a little more grown-up than some of its more faddish rivals. What’s more, you now get a mild hybrid powertrain as standard in the Stonic for reduced running costs, not to mention a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. For the price, no other car can boast that combination.
Kia Stonic Review
8. Renault Captur (from £21,695)
The Captur has the distinction of being the most affordable hybrid SUV on sale in the UK today, which means not only is it cheap to buy, but its low MPG figures mean it’ll be cheap to run, too. It’s hard to get too excited about the way the Captur drives, but with its spacious interior, versatile seating (the rear bench slides back and forth like it does in some much pricier models), and a huge boot, it is immensely practical. It’s smartly finished inside, too, with a plush interior that feels more upmarket than anything else you can buy for the price.
Renault Captur Review
9. MG ZS (from £21,995)
The ZS is better known as a bargain-basement electric car, but the petrol version looks like pretty tremendous value, too. Granted, its interior quality and driving dynamics aren’t quite as polished as some of its more expensive rivals’, but the ZS makes up for this with a generous spread of equipment, an impressive warranty (seven years or 80,000 miles), and an interior that’s spacious enough for a family to use without compromise.
MG ZS Review
10. Hyundai Bayon (from £22,480)
Hyundai’s Bayon isn’t perhaps as affordable as some of its rivals here, but it’s designed to be simple and no-nonsense — and that fact has helped keep its price at a reasonable level. The Bayon’s main draw is its extrovert styling; it’s also helped along by generous kit lists, even in its most affordable trim levels. To drive, the Bayon is a little ordinary, but it rides bumps well, and its turbocharged engines are perky and responsive. In the back, there’s plenty of room, and a decent-sized boot — and of course, you get Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty thrown in.
Hyundai Bayon Review
Other Popular SUV Choices and Prices:
KGM Tivoli: Price from £23,030
Nissan Juke: Price from £23,500
Haval Jolion: Price from £23,995
Skoda Kamiq: Price from £24,755
Volkswagen T-Cross: Price from £24,895
Vauxhall Mokka: Price from £25,105
Omoda 5: Price from £25,235
Mazda CX-30: Price from £25,865
Hyundai Kona: Price from £26,040
Toyota Yaris Cross: £26,155
Ford Puma: Price from £26,350
Suzuki Vitara: Price from £26,949
Peugeot 2008: Price from £28,830
What is an SUV and What Makes a Good One?
It is worth defining what we mean by SUV, or Sports Utility Vehicle. You might also refer to cars like these as a Crossover.
They are, basically, any family car that has the basic shape of a traditional off-roader, but they don’t have to have four-wheel drive or any of that other stuff you don’t need on the school run. Well-known examples of SUV cars include the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. However, these examples are all too big and too expensive to feature on our list of the best cheap SUVs, which mainly features compact SUV choices for obvious reasons. You won’t find any cars on our list from premium brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes or Volvo, either, and neither will you find cars with diesel engines or an automatic gearbox. You certainly won’t be stretching to a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Nevertheless, the best cars in our list of the most affordable family SUVs, still provide sensational all-round ability, with a fun-yet-comfortable driving experience, good motorway manners, lots of room inside, plenty of boot space, impressive quality and all the creature comforts you could want, including climate control, cruise control, a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, maybe even satnav.
