Top 10 Compact SUVs for 2018

An imminent facelift has cemented the Duster in our top 10 as it will soon be given a new lease of life. The Duster is the most accessible compact SUV on the market, with a starting price of just £9,495. There is simply no other SUV anywhere near that price tag. We’ve featured the Duster in a number of lists before and we adore its simplicity, reliability and willingness to go anywhere and do anything without causing any fuss.

Launched in 2017, MG say they offer premium style, without the premium price on their new SUV. There are 3 ZS model choices, Explore, Excite and Exclusive ranging from £12,495 to £17,495. The 1.5 petrol engine offers 49.6mpg and the 1.0 diesel slightly less. Good looks and a great interior finish combined with a 7 year warranty make this a value for money compact SUV. 

When the Juke was first introduced it would be fair to say that it had a bit of a Marmite effect. Some loved the shape, while others were not so keen. Nobody can deny that the country has really warmed to the Juke, and Nissan have sold between 90,000 and 106,000 models in Europe each year since 2011 - which is impressive consistency. Right now you can pick up a brand new model from just £15,085 which is exceptional value considering the huge range of agreeable engines and vast amount of personalisation available. 
 

Starting at £15,620, the Captur is one of the most affordable compact-SUVs on this list, although its a fair bit dearer than the Duster - but that’s hardly a fair comparison. The star of the show is the 1.5dCi Dynamique Nav model, boasting an engine shared with the Duster, which will return a staggering 78.5mpg on a motorway run.

A brand new entrant into our listicles is the new Hyundai Kona. Released late last year as a brand new model to the UK, and the first thing we must address is the styling. Hats off to the team at Hyundai for producing what is probably their most radically styled vehicle to date. It might not be to everyone’s tastes, few cars are nowadays, but if you can get on with the outrageous profile of this car then by all means, go for a test drive. The cheapest model starts from £16,450 and is quite economical, returning 54.3 mpg, but the bravest buyers should also look at the 1.6litre Turbo ‘T’ model which does the 0-60mph sprint in just 7.9 seconds. Even this model is pretty economical, returning a steady 42.2mpg - not bad considering the performance. It is worth mentioning that the ‘T’ model does start from a un-Hyundai-like £25,260 which some speculative buyers might find difficult to stomach.
 

Starting at £16,260, the ASX is a niche choice, sure, but a solid option in this fiercely competitive segment and one that will surely set buyers apart from the rest of the market. There is plenty of space for 5 adults to comfortably be transported, and the boot also offers a capacious 442 litres of luggage space, which is on par with competitors from the segment above. Ok, it won’t be the best selling compact SUV in 2018, but for those who’d rather not conform then the ASX is one to shortlist. We’d recommend the 1.6 litre model in the ‘3’ spec level, which is well equipped and also offers over 61mpg.
 

Another debutant in the Regit listicles. The SEAT Arona is a compact SUV which boasts serious pedigree, as does anything that comes out of the Volkswagen Audi Group nowadays. Harnessing the same punchy-yet-frugal petrol engines which exist in the Audi, Skoda and VW lineup, this is a car which strikes the balance between desirability and affordability. More reasonably priced than it’s cousin the Audi Q2 and more appealing than the Skoda Karoq, both of which share the same platform as the Arona. Sceptics may be wary that this is only the second SUV that SEAT have produced but, following the huge success of the larger Ateca, this will certainly be a safe bet for prospective buyers. The Arona starts from £16,750.
 

We’ve been singing the praises of Mazda’s CX range for a good while now. The guys at Mazda have done well to implement the driving characteristics of their non-SUV range into the CX (SUV) models. We’d go as far as saying that the CX-3 could be the most encouraging and best-driving model in the compact SUV market, but that’s subjective. Styling isn’t particularly radical on the outside, ‘nor is it mind-blowing on the inside either, but it’s not distracting and the interior layout is particularly intuitive. The starting price is slightly steep compared to competitors, at £18,695, but models are pretty well spec’d from entry level upwards. 
 

Another car making its first appearance in a Regit listicle! The T-Roc has been built by Volkswagen to lineup against the Audi Q2 and SEAT Arona. Priced from £18,955, it is more affordable than the handsome Audi but roughly £1,500 more than the sporty SEAT. This price structure is reflected in the standard features though, which is necessary because they all share roughly the same engine options. We’re certain the T-Roc is going to sell in droves due to the impeccable reputation that VW has on our shores, but will it be the best selling compact-SUV on the market in 2018? It’s as good as impossible to guess due to how heated the competition is.  
 

A brand new model in the Audi lineup and it goes straight to the top of our list of compact SUVs. Firstly, it’s going to be the most desirable compact SUV on the market, largely thanks to the Audi badge on the front grille but also because of the striking front profile and luxurious interior that comes factory-fitted with every Audi. The Q2 pricing starts from the other side of the £20,000 mark, at £21,665, making it the most expensive car on this list, but Audi have famously competitive finance deals available which should make this a particularly popular car. We’re confident you’ll be seeing plenty of these take to the roads in 2018.