Small SUVs have become one of the default choices for Australian buyers. They sit a little higher than a hatchback, carry a family's luggage on a weekend away and are easy to park in town. That popularity also makes choosing one harder, because almost every brand now sells at least one.
The original version of this post was a five-car roundup written as if our team had tested each car. Car Domain does not road test cars. That version's prices are also out of date. This refreshed guide explains how to find the best small SUV for your own needs. It draws on sales data and official sources you can check.
How big the small SUV market is
Small SUVs priced under $45,000 are now Australia's third-largest segment by sales 1. Only four-wheel-drive utes and the cheaper medium SUVs sell in bigger numbers 1. GoAuto counted 137,553 sales in that segment to the end of August 2025 1. That was up 2.0 per cent on the same period in 2024, while the overall market fell 2.1 per cent 1. In other words, buyers were moving into small SUVs even in a softer year for new car sales overall.
For the full 2024 year the segment sold 151,619 vehicles, a 12.4 per cent share of the market, and GoAuto projected about 165,000 for 2025 1.
What Australians are buying
The leading small SUVs over the first eight months of 2025 were 1:
- the Hyundai Kona, with 15,127 sales 1;
- the MG ZS, with 14,419 1;
- the GWM Haval Jolion, with 12,278 1;
- the Chery Tiggo 4, with 11,841 1;
- the Mazda CX-30, with 8,434 1.
Sales numbers tell you what is popular, not what is best for you, but a strong seller does usually mean a wide dealer network and plenty of used examples later on.
Petrol, hybrid or electric
The biggest change in small SUVs over the last few years is the choice of powertrain. Many models now come in more than one form. The Kona, for example, has petrol and hybrid versions as well as a fully electric one 1. The MG ZS and Haval Jolion offer a choice of petrol or hybrid 1.
Petrol
A conventional petrol engine is usually the cheapest to buy. It suits drivers who do modest distances or a lot of country driving, where a hybrid's advantage around town matters less.
Hybrid
A hybrid uses a battery and electric motor to help the petrol engine, and it recharges itself as you drive and brake. It does not need to be plugged in. Some models have moved entirely to hybrid power: the Toyota Corolla Cross range in Australia became hybrid-only in July 2024 3.
Battery electric
A battery electric small SUV uses no petrol at all, but it needs reliable charging, ideally at home. The current Kona Electric arrived in Australia on 9 January 2024 in standard and extended range versions 2. Before choosing one, read our guide to how long an electric car takes to charge, and if you live in an apartment, our post on why apartment owners struggle with electric cars.
The rules around emissions are also pushing brands towards hybrid and electric versions. Under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, penalties for brands whose new cars exceed the carbon dioxide limits began accruing on 1 July 2025, and those limits tighten each year 7.
The best small SUV is the one that fits
Small SUVs vary more in size than their label suggests. The current Kona, revealed in December 2022, grew by about 150 mm in length over the first generation, with a wheelbase 60 mm longer and 31 mm more rear legroom 2. That is a real difference if you carry adults or child seats in the back.
Practical checks at the dealership tell you more than any brochure:
- fit your child seats, pram or sports gear before you buy;
- sit behind the driver's seat set to your own driving position;
- open the boot and check the floor height and the shape of the opening, not only the litre figure;
- check where a spare wheel is kept, or whether there is one at all.
Making the most of a test drive
Book a test drive long enough to include a stretch of highway as well as suburban streets. Small SUVs with small engines can feel fine around town and then struggle when you need to overtake or climb a long hill with a full load. Listen for road and wind noise at 100 km/h, because it is tiring on a long trip.
Try parking the car in a tight spot and reversing it using the camera and sensors, since that is where you will use them most. If you share the car with another driver, bring them along so they can check the seat, mirrors and controls. Take the time to pair your phone and try the navigation and voice controls, which you will use every day.
Safety and running costs
Safety equipment and crash performance differ between models and even between versions of the same model. Look up the exact model and build year on the ANCAP website, which publishes independent crash test results for new cars sold in Australia 5. A rating applies to a particular model range and date, so check that it covers the car you are looking at.
For running costs, the government's Green Vehicle Guide lists official energy use and emissions figures for new vehicles 6. That makes it easy to compare different versions of the same model side by side. Then get your own quotes for insurance and servicing, and check tyre prices for the wheel size you want.
Driver assistance features
Most new small SUVs now carry driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking and lane keeping aids, but how well they work and how intrusive they feel varies. A test drive on roads you know is the best way to judge them. Pay attention to how the lane keeping system behaves on country roads with worn line markings, and whether you can easily adjust warnings that annoy you.
Warranty and servicing
Warranty terms differ between brands, so read the fine print rather than comparing headline years. Kia, for example, has offered a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty across its Australian range since 1 October 2014 4. Ask what each warranty covers, what servicing it requires and whether it passes to the next owner if you sell the car.
Towing and touring
Small SUVs are not designed for heavy towing. If you plan to tow a trailer, bike rack or small camper, check the braked and unbraked towing capacity in the owner's manual for the exact version, as it can change with the engine and drivetrain. Anyone towing a caravan should look at our list of the 10 best cars for towing a caravan instead.
Where small SUVs come from
The segment has grown out of small hatchbacks, and many small SUVs share their mechanical parts with a hatch. The Toyota Corolla Cross, for example, uses the same TNGA-C platform as the Corolla hatch and the C-HR 3. It went on sale in Australia on 12 October 2022 with a 2.0-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre hybrid, and all-wheel drive was offered on hybrid models 3.
The Kona tells a similar story of rapid change. The first generation was revealed in June 2017 2. The second went on sale in Australia on 7 July 2023 with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, a 1.6-litre hybrid and a turbocharged 1.6-litre with all-wheel drive 2. Hyundai designed this generation first as an electric car and then adapted it for petrol and hybrid versions 2.
Buying new or used
Small SUVs are popular on the used market too. A car that is a couple of years old can be a sensible way to get a newer model for less. If you are buying used, ask for the service history and check any remaining new car warranty. Our guide on why you should never skip a scheduled service explains why the history matters, and when to buy a car and when to lease covers the finance side.
If one of the brands above interests you, our histories of Kia in Australia and Mazda in Australia give some background. Use our car loan calculator to check repayments, browse cars for sale on Car Domain, and read our buying safety tips before you pay a deposit.
Sources
- GoAuto, Market Insight: Small SUV segment sales soar, accessed 2 November 2026
- Wikipedia, Hyundai Kona, accessed 2 November 2026
- Wikipedia, Toyota Corolla Cross, accessed 2 November 2026
- GoAuto, Kia launches industry-first seven-year warranty, accessed 2 November 2026
- ANCAP, ANCAP Safety, accessed 2 November 2026
- Australian Government, Green Vehicle Guide, accessed 2 November 2026
- GoAuto, Mazda Australia asks for CX-5 hybrid ASAP, accessed 2 November 2026
