The Best Small SUVs Of 2015 (2024)

Ben Griffin analyses the relative merits of the best small SUVs on sale in 2015.

With the small SUV, or ‘crossover’ market exploding recently, choosing the right model can be incredibly tough. Luckily for you we’ve driven most of them and have come up with this delightful little list of the finest offerings to help ensure you get the right car for the job. Read on.

Citroen C4 Cactus (the quirky one)

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The Citroen C4 Cactus has quirky air bumps on its sides, which help reduce the chance of its body being damaged by other drivers (or yourself) when opening doors in a car park. It’s more spacious than a Nissan Juke and somehow even bolder when it comes to design. It is also cheap to buy and, with the right engine, it’s free to tax and supremely frugal (91.1mpg is claimed). Forgo creature comforts and it can be had for a mere £12,990, which is a bargain given its 358-litre boot,comfortable interior and refined ride.

From £12,990

Nissan Juke (the bold one)

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The Nissan Juke is one of the best known crossovers on the planet, and that’s because it’s proven to be capable in and out of town since it landed in 2010. With the 1.5dCi it offers 61.4mpg and 104g/km of CO2, which makes it one of the most frugal cars in our list. There’s a sporty Nismo RS version for those who crave performance but the standard car is sufficient for most, not to mention much cheaper. Boot space is 354 litres so it’s competitive in this group, while its five-star Euro NCAP rating inspires confidence in a worst case scenario.

From £13,930

Jeep Renegade (the off-roader)

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The Jeep Renegade is by no means perfect, but for going off the beaten track it’s our first choice– even if you opt for the base two-wheel drive model.To be fair it’s an enjoyable drive and the variety of bright colours do a good job of disguising the fact it’s a box with wheels. It has the same boot space as the Fiat 500X, rising to 1,297 litres with the rear seats folded down, whilethe grumbly 1.6-litre MultiJet II diesel offers 120g/km of CO2 and 51.4mpg. The ability to adapt to various terrain types to maximies traction is a bonus for those who prefer the company of trees and fields.

From £16,995

BMW X1 (the luxury choice)

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Imagine a smaller BMW X5. That’s pretty much the new X1 in a nutshell. It’s a premium take on the compact crossover and as such the interior is plush, and features a rather excellent sat-nav as standard. A sliding rear seat means you can eke out a generous 505 litres of boot space, or maximise legroom for taller passengers. ThexDrive25d, meanwhile, can manage 56.6mpgand 132g/km of CO2 so it’s frugal. Fast, too, when you consider thesame engine’s 146mph top speed.

From £28,330

Dacia Duster (the cheap one)

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There are plenty of reasons why the Romanian Dacia Duster should be taken seriously, its ridiculously low price being chief among them. But it’s also pretty good on fuel and has lots of space. No one can argue with the 475-litre boot (rising to 1,636 with the seats down) in the two-wheel drive model. Nor would anyone argue with its rugged, no-nonsense design. Just about everything else is more fun to drive in our list but you can make up for that with the thousands you’ll save when buying one.

From £9,495

Fiat Panda Cross (the off-roader)

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Sitting between the Fiat Panda and the Panda 4×4 is the Panda Cross, a crossover that offers the potential for off-roading shenanigans with city car practicality. The more frugal diesel(60.1mpg and 125g/km of CO2) is pricey but will pay for itself in the long run if you can stomach its tractor-esque engine sound. Even though it’s a tiny car (370cm long), the 225-litre boot is usable, especially if you make use of the 60:40 split folding rear seats. Not exactly cheap, but well worth considering for those who want to make parking as easy as possible.

From £16,225

Skoda Yeti (the multi-talented one)

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Forget the emissions furore surrounding parent company VW. The Skoda Yeti is still a delightful car that punches well above its weight in terms of practicality. It’s got 180mm of ride clearance and 416 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place, rising to 1,518 litreswhen folded flat.Up to 68.9mpg in its 2.0-litre turbo diesel guise makes it affordable to run, while those boxy dimensions make it supremely spacious, so tall relations will be catered for. There are more stylish options in our list, but very few quite as characterful.

From £16,945

Fiat 500X (the pretty one)

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For those who love curves and find the 500 too small, Fiat offers the 500X, a crossover with 179mm of ground clearance and rugged plastic cladding for added off-roading protection. Its tall design means gangly people will want to ride in it willingly, while the 350-litre boot means it can take a fair amount of shopping and Ikea clutter. What it lacks in refinement it makes up for with charm and style without breaking the bank. Go for the 1.6-litre MultiJet II diesel as it’s the most frugal yet nippy enough to raise the odd smile.

From £14,595

Ssangyong Tivoli (the underdog)

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Ssangyong who? Yeah, most people have no idea, but the Tivoli happens to be a talented runaround. Not only is it cheap, the 1.6-litre e-XDi 160 turbo diesel is nippy and capable of a claimed 65.7mpg with the likable manual gearbox. Avoid the much less frugal petrol, though. Headroom is a strong suit, while the interior is more stylish than a number of its rivals and the 423-litre boot is competitive, too. Look past the badge snobbery and this is a surprisingly talented option that stands out.

From£12,950

The Best Small SUVs Of 2015 (2024)

FAQs

What is the most reliable small SUV in 2015? ›

In initial quality, the practical 2015 Chevrolet Equinox ranked highest (in a tie) in the Compact SUV segment. In the Compact SUV segment, the sensible 2015 Ford Escape ranked highest (in a tie) in initial quality.

Which compact SUV has the least problems? ›

Most reliable small SUVs
  • Suzuki Ignis (2016-present) Reliability rating 99.4% ...
  • Mazda CX-3 (2016-2023) Reliability rating 98.3% ...
  • Hyundai Kona (2017-2023) Reliability rating 98.2% ...
  • Audi Q2 (2016-present) ...
  • Toyota Yaris Cross (2021-present) ...
  • Mini Countryman (2017-present) ...
  • Honda HR-V (2015-2022) ...
  • Volkswagen T-Cross (2019-present)
Mar 16, 2024

What is the best small SUV around? ›

Top Gear's top 20 small SUVs in the US
  • Hyudai Ioniq 5. ...
  • Nissan Rogue. ...
  • Toyota RAV4. ...
  • Genesis GV70. ...
  • Audi Q4 e-tron. ...
  • Porsche Macan. ...
  • Volvo XC40. ...
  • Ford Bronco Sport. Don't underestimate the baby Bronco.

What's the longest lasting small SUV? ›

Reliability ratings for small and compact SUVs are calculated based on analyzing over 12 million vehicles to assess a model's long term durability. The most reliable small and compact SUV is the Honda CR-V with a 9 out of 10 reliability score.

What is the best SUV for no problems? ›

The Most Reliable SUVs
  • 2024 Kia Seltos: J.D. Power Reliability Score: 87/100.
  • 2024 Chevrolet Blazer: J.D. Power Reliability Score: 88/100.
  • 2024 GMC Terrain: J.D. Power Reliability Score: 88/100.
  • 2024 Nissan Murano: J.D. Power Reliability Score: 89/100.
  • 2024 Chevrolet Equinox: J.D. Power Reliability Score: 90/100.

What is the most reliable 10 year old SUV? ›

Best 10-year-old used SUVs (2024):
  • Lincoln MKX: $1,481.
  • Buick Encore: $1,550.
  • Honda Pilot: $1,654.
  • Toyota Sequoia: $1,703.
  • Mazda CX-5: $1,719.
  • Acura MDX: $1,876.
  • Toyota 4Runner: $1,908.
  • Toyota RAV4: $1,927.
1 day ago

What is the most dependable used small SUV? ›

Chevrolet Equinox

The Equinox is the most reliable used compact SUV according to the study. The current model was introduced in 2018 and has been a strong seller for Chevy but is usually outperformed by rivals including the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

What is the number one selling compact SUV? ›

Toyota RAV4

What is the number one most reliable SUV? ›

Most reliable SUVs
  • Honda HR-V. CarMax owner rating. 4.3. ...
  • Kia Telluride. CarMax owner rating. 4.9. ...
  • Lexus NX 200t. CarMax owner rating. 4.8. ...
  • Kia Niro. CarMax owner rating. 4.6. ...
  • Hyundai Palisade. CarMax owner rating. 4.8. ...
  • Mazda CX-3. CarMax owner rating. 4.3. ...
  • Cadillac XT5. CarMax owner rating. 4.6. ...
  • Nissan Rogue Sport. CarMax owner rating. 4.6.

Which small SUV has best resale? ›

Best Resale Value SUVs By Category
  • Best Resale Value Subcompact SUV - Subaru Crosstrek (69.8% 5-yr resale value)
  • Best Resale Value Luxury subcompact SUV - Lexus UX 200 (66.4% 5-yr resale value)
  • Best Resale Value Small/Compact SUV- Toyota Corolla Cross (68.6% 5-yr resale value)
Nov 7, 2023

Which is more reliable, a Honda CRV or a Toyota RAV4? ›

Overall Reliability Rating

The severity and frequency of repairs are both much lower than other vehicles, so the RAV4 is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road. The Honda CR-V Reliability Rating is 4.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 2nd out of 26 for compact SUVs.

Which small SUV has the smoothest ride? ›

What is the most comfortable small and compact SUV?
  • Subaru Forester.
  • Ford Bronco Sport.
  • Subaru Outback (suv)
  • Nissan Rogue.
  • Ford Escape.
  • Mitsubishi Outlander.
  • Toyota Corolla Cross.
  • Hyundai TUCSON.

What small SUV lasts 300,000 miles? ›

Honda's top-selling CR-V compact SUV combines versatility, fuel efficiency and legendary Honda reliability. There are many examples of this durable crossover reaching past 300,000 miles with proper care and maintenance.

Which SUV has the longest life expectancy? ›

Longest-lasting SUVs
  • Toyota Land Cruiser, 47.9%
  • Toyota Sequoia, 47.1%
  • Honda Pilot, 42.7%
  • Toyota 4Runner, 41.0%
  • Acura MDX, 29.2%
  • Honda Element, 27.8%
  • Honda CR-V, 27.5%
  • Subaru Outback, 22.3%
Jun 15, 2023

What is the best SUV to buy for longevity? ›

2021 Toyota 4Runner - Most Reliable SUVs

The off-road-ready Toyota 4Runner isn't just a fan favorite for its capability; its durability and reliability are time-tested, too. A strong value when new, the 4Runner comes with lots of infotainment and active safety technology.

What is the best second hand SUV to buy? ›

Best used SUVs to buy in 2024
  • Mazda CX-5. 8/10. ...
  • Jaguar I-Pace. 8/10. ...
  • Nissan Qashqai. 8/10. Nissan Qashqai review. ...
  • Hyundai Tucson. 7/10. Hyundai Tucson review. ...
  • SEAT Ateca. 7/10. SEAT Ateca review. ...
  • Ford Kuga. 7/10. Ford Kuga review. ...
  • Toyota RAV4. 8/10. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review. ...
  • Dacia Duster. 6/10. Dacia Duster (2017-2024) review.

How many miles should a 2015 SUV have on it? ›

Most experts agree that a car should be driven no more than 12,000 to 15,000 miles in a year. So, good mileage for a used car that is six years old should have no more than 72,000 to 90,000 miles on the odometer. Otherwise, you're looking at a car that has endured a lot of wear and tear in a short amount of time.

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