The idea of having a family SUV big enough to fit up to seven people is becoming increasingly popular, especially for those in the UK that have had to come to the terms with the fact that a family holiday by plane might be a little less likely this year. But, who is to say that family city trips in the UK are off the cards?
When travelling with your family this year, you might have realised your current family car just isn’t quite cutting it when it comes to practicality, safety and most importantly, space to fit the whole family. However, as much as a spacious car might seem appealing to large families, it’s understandable that driving a hefty family SUV for the first time might be a little daunting if you are only used to your standard five-seater.
So, what better way than to invest in a smaller compact family SUV that still features all the special features and style that a standard SUV does? A compact family SUV isn’t just ideal for when comfortably taking the whole family on a road trip around the UK this year, but it’s also practical enough to be used day-to-day for work or to drop the kids off at school. In fact, compact family SUVs have really found their own niche in recent years, highlighting themselves as much more efficient and less bulky than standard SUVs.
In this article, we will discuss what makes a compact SUV different from any other and the top 10 compact family SUVs that are ideal for your staycation this year.
What’s The Difference Between A SUV & A Compact SUV?
Before we get into our top 10 compact family SUVs of 2020, you might be wondering what actually is the difference between a standard SUV and a compact SUV? Well, investing in a compact SUV rather than a standard SUV for your family essentially means you are getting more for your money, better mileage and you still get to keep the classic SUV style. So, what more could you want? To give you a little bit more of an insight, we have discussed some of the main differences below that you might look for when purchasing a compact SUV over a standard SUV.
Size
As previously mentioned, it’s understandable that you might not want the bulky feel of a standard SUV every time and everywhere that you drive, so choosing a compact SUV for your family car is ideal as you get the best of both worlds – the style of a standard SUV but without the bulky size. Especially for a family car, the size of a compact SUV is much more practical as it’s ideal for city driving rather than off-road.
Mileage
Let’s be honest, you don’t even need to be a car expert to know that standard SUVs are not great when it comes to mileage production. On the other hand, compact SUVs have much better mileage which is better for both your wallet and the environment.
Power Level
As you probably already know, SUV has the term ‘sport’ in it and this is definitely for a reason! This is because an SUVs purpose is to fulfil all your sporting needs when it comes to driving, so that’s why their level of power is vast. However, if a standard SUVs power is what compels you, but you have a family and live in the city, then swaying towards a compact SUV is probably your best bet!
Ride & Handling
Leading on from city living with a family, a standard SUV would not be the most practical to drive around in or get stuck in traffic in. This is where compact SUVs are ideal because they actually drive around like a common car and are built on platforms for common cars rather than trucks.
Ride Height
Lastly, one of the more significant reasons someone might be attracted to standard SUVs is their distinctively high ride height which is perfect for giving a clearer driving view. Compact SUVs might have a less prominent ride height, but you will still find they ride higher than a common car.
Now for the exciting part; take a look below at our top 10 compact family SUVs of 2020 that are perfect for you and your family.
1. Suzuki Swift 4×4
To kick off the top 10 compact family SUVs of 2020, we have the Suzuki Swift 4×4. It might be a last generation model, but Suzuki are renowned for their compact off-road designs, it’s ideal if you are looking for a reasonably priced hatchback that still lives up to off-road abilities. As familiar as we are with bad weather all year round in the UK, the Suzuki Swift 4×4 is perfect for those families that live in slightly more remote locations and frequently have to face the effects of mud, snow and grass.
Some of the top advantages of the Suzuki Swift 4×4 is that it’s solid enough to tackle almost any weather conditions and it’s super affordable. In fact, you can bag a Suzuki Swift 4×4 2015 model for as low as £4,000.
2. Hyundai Kona
Even though you might find the second compact SUV on our list, the Hyundai Kona, is slightly larger than the rest, it’s definitely one of the prettiest on the market. It’s safe to say that the Hyundai Kona has one of the edgiest-looking designs out of our top 10 compact family SUVs. In fact, the contemporary design of the Hyundai Kona has been designed for style as well as performance, targeting mainly young millennials.
The Hyundai Kona comes in at a slightly higher price, starting at £17,505. However, this is understandable as this compact SUV is a little larger than others in our top 10. Also, opting for the Premium GT version of this compact SUV will bump up the price even further as it features four-wheel drive. Alternatively, the SUV is available in cheaper models such as Premium and Premium SE which are perfect for if you want a balance between affordability and performance. In fact, all the Hyundai Kona models are known for both their sleek exterior and interior, and their range of trim options.
3. Peugeot 2008
The Peugeot 2008 didn’t have the best start when it was first introduced to the SUV market, following on from the famous Peugeot 208. However, as compact SUVs have become increasingly popular, the Peugeot 2008 has finally found its niche. With slight tweaking from the first generation model, the Peugeot 208 compact SUV has now found its place in the lineup with the 3008 and 5008 models.
Even though the Peugeot 2008 is classed as a compact SUV, it has a great amount of interior legroom compared to other compact SUVs and it is available at a starting price of £20,150. The Peugeot 2008 might also only be a 2 wheel drive, but an exclusive Grip Control system can be fitted for an extra cost which is designed for low-grip conditions such as snow, mud and sand. Not to mention, this compact SUV also comes with a range of stylish trim styles.
Another popular type of car that is penetrating the car market is electric cars and the Peugeot 2008 is now available in a fully electric version which features a 50 kWh battery, making it much more efficient than any standard SUV.
4. Vauxhall Adam ROCKS
Our next car model in our top 10 compact family SUVs is a golden oldy, the Vauxhall Adam ROCKS. This compact SUV might not be on sale anymore, but it’s available for second-hand at a range of affordable prices. For example, if you are looking for a second-hand 2015 Vauxhall Adam ROCKS with low mileage, you are looking at the reasonable price of £8,000.
When searching for your Vauxhall Adam ROCKS, we recommend you go for a 1.4-litre engine which has 89 BHP, making the compact SUV much more efficient to drive rather than with the smaller 1.2-litre engine. The ride height on the Vauxhall Adam ROCKS is up by 15mm and its robust, yet compact design makes it ideal for city driving with the family. In fact, Vauxhall released the ROCKS Air model in 2018 which even features an electric sunroof and a small 1.0-litre turbocharged engine which is perfect for casual trips.
5. Fiat Panda 4×4
Our fifth car model in our top 10 compact family SUVs is the Fiat Panda 4×4 which is available in the standard Panada model and the Panda Cross 4×4. The standard Fiat Panda 4×4, perfect style for city driving with family is available from a reasonable price of £14,870.
If you fancy a compact SUV that is also suitable for some occasional serious off-road driving then the Panda Cross 4×4 ( starting at £16,735)
is probably the best for you. This is because it’s a 4 wheel drive and comes installed with mud and snow tyres. This isn’t all…raised suspension, drive mode selector, built in skid plates and an exclusive designed trim all come included in the Panda Cross 4×4 too. So, if you want the best of both worlds when it comes to both practical and off-road driving, the Fiat Panda 4×4 model and design will be ideal for you!
6. Ford Ecosport
Our next compact SUV on the list is the Ford Ecosport. The Ecosport is the smallest SUV by Ford, being as small as the size of a Ford Fiesta. Starting at £17,850, the Ford Ecosport now comes with the Ford SYNC system as standard which features a 8-inch colour touchscreen and a premium option of a 10 speaker B&O sound system.
When it comes to choice, the Ford Ecosport does not disappoint, offering a range of different engine types. In fact, the 1.0 litre EcoBoost Petrol engine has even won Engine Of The Year 6 years in a row so it really is a winner! Available in both petrol and diesel engines, the Ford Ecosport is perfect for both driving through busy city traffic and family road trips.
7. Seat Arona
Next in our top 10 compact family SUV lineup, we have the Seat Arona. The Seat Arona compact SUV is a newbie, launching early this year and is roughly the same size as the Seat Ibiza hatchback. Starting at a standard small SUV price of £17,150, the Seat Arona is available in a range of different colours and alternating roofs at no extra cost which gives it more of a personalised feel that everyone will love. This compact SUV also has built-in cruise control.
Some more interior gadgets that can be enjoyed by all the family are a 6.5 inch infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto along with Mirror Link.
8. Kia Picanto X-Line
Our next compact family SUV in our top 10 might not have the luxury of being a 4 wheel drive, but it certainly has the compact style that you will be looking for when purchasing your small SUV. The Kia Picanto X-Line is another compact SUV that is ideal for city driving with family as it includes built-in autonomous city braking. Like the Seat Arona, the Kia Picanto X-Line also features a tonne of technology that makes it family-friendly. This includes all round LED lights, rear privacy glass and a 7” touchscreen. Also added to create a typical SUV style, the compact SUV features 16-inch alloy wheels, rear and front bumpers and a faux skid plate.
The Kia Picanto X-Line with all these free features is available from £14,345 with an added £700 for automatic. However, if you fancy a little more luxury, such as cruise control, automatic air conditioning, heating seats, wireless phone charging, parking sensors and a sun roof, take a look at the X-Line S model which starts at £14,395.
9. Suzuki Ignas 4×4
As we get further down our list of top 10 compact family SUVs of 2020, you will come across another Suzuki. This time, we are talking about the Suzuki Ignas 4×4 which is said to be the new generation of the Suzuki Swift 4×4. This is because the Suzuki Ignas uses the same system as the Swift 4×4, yet it features a new simple mechanical feature which locks and starts to power the back wheels whenever the SUV feels slipping. The compact SUV does this without any user interaction so it really is simple. The Suzuki Ignas compact SUV is extremely small for an SUV which makes it the perfect SUV for manoeuvring around busy cities.
The most basic Suzuki Ignas 4×4 starts at £12,249 which is for the SZ3 model or you can pay a little more for a four wheel drive (SZ5 model) which is £14,749. However, if you don’t want four wheel drive but would like both the interior and exterior kit to be slightly more luxurious, you can go for the mid level SZ-T model which features roof rails, air conditioning and a rear parking camera.
Mazda CX-3
Last but not least, we have the dark horse in our top 10 compact family SUVs line up. Mazda’s may not be the most popular brand of car in terms of volume in the UK, but the Mazda CX-3 is a compact SUV that is too good not to mention! The Mazda CX-3 is perfect for when going on family road trips, yet it still has that off-road look that you would see from a typical SUV.
Prices for the Mazda CX-3 start at £19,395 which is for the SE Nav+ model, featuring 16-inch alloy wheels, a sat nav, a 7 inch infotainment system, cruise control, heated mirrors and a six speaker stereo system. If you want the Sport Nav+ model for £22,095, you will find added extras, such as rear privacy glass, even larger alloy wheels and different headlamps but the visual difference is barely noticeable.
Where Can I Lease Or Buy A Compact Family SUV?
Are you in need of a practical compact SUV that will be ideal for driving you and your family around? Well, this is possible with the use of the Cars2Buy website where you can easily search and compare a range of different compact SUV deals which includes both car leasing and purchasing options.
To start your leasing or purchasing journey today, all you have to do is simply select the make and model of the compact SUV you’d like to compare deals on and this will generate a list of all the best price comparison SUV options. If you need any more information about our SUV leasing comparison deals or car purchasing deals, feel free to contact our team at Cars2buy here.