Top Five Small SUVs of 2024

Small SUVs continued to sell well in Australia throughout 2024, which meant there were plenty of them for us to review.

As we continue to recap our 2024 year, we’re rounding up the highest-rated cars from Australia’s hottest new car segments into a list to show you what we liked most.

We’ve made mid-size SUVs and utes so far, which means small SUVs are now up for grabs. For this list, we’ve limited the VFACTS sales charts to the sub-$45,000 segment because they’re much more accessible to people who just want to get behind the wheel.

Some of these models have been reviewed multiple times this year, so we’ve only shown the variant that received the highest rating.

Prices are based on each manufacturer’s configurators for a Victorian postcode, which should provide a representative estimate of what the average Australian buyer will ultimately pay.

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Click on the car name in the table above to go directly to the information on the page, or scroll further to the full article.

Toyota Corolla Cross

Our best small SUV under $45,000 for 2024 was the Toyota Corolla Cross, which was awarded a score of 8.4 by senior contributor Matt Campbell.

That score was for the base GX Hybrid, which we thought offered exceptional value, space and efficiency under a barebones presentation. ‘Basic but brilliant’ was the term used to sum up the Corolla Cross, and our rating reflects that.

During our test it achieved excellent fuel consumption of just 4.3L/100km, and thanks to its excellent safety and interior space ratings we found it fit for purpose.

We didn’t like that it comes with halogen daytime running lights instead of LEDs. That led us to suggest that stepping up to the GXL for an extra $4000 was worth it, especially when you consider that this base specification is already over $40,000.

Still, we thought it was a well-thought-out small SUV that can get the job done comfortably and without any frills.

You can read our full review of the Toyota Corolla Cross GX Hybrid here

Do you want to buy a Toyota Corolla Cross? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Toyota Corolla Cross

Skoda Kamiq

The Skoda Kamiq received a facelift this year and our comprehensive review of the new two-model range by market journalist Josh Nevett recorded a score of 8.4.

It was praised for its high-quality technical upgrades, while also benefiting from the functionality of a large car in its small car frame. Better yet, we said it was a value proposition, especially considering the base selection costs just $33,990 drive-away.

We gave it high individual scores across the board, led by a suitability rating of 9 and a safety rating of 8.9. The Kamiq also impressed with its low cost of ownership and fuel efficiency, the latter a product of its two quality engines; turbos with three or four cylinders.

One negative aspect was the Monte Carlo’s “polarising” interior design, while we were disappointed that the base-spec Select lacks adaptive cruise control.

As is often a complaint with dual-clutch cars, we also found the Kamiq’s DSG unit to be clunky at low speeds, although it did provide solid performance on the road.

You can read our full review of the Skoda Kamiq here

Interested in buying a Skoda Kamiq? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Skoda Kamiq

Nissan Qashqai

As reviewed by marketplace editor James Wong, the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power scored a respectable 8.2 in March this year.

We liked the seemingly easy performance of the hybrid Qashqai, something that is a result of Nissan’s unique internal combustion electric motor compared to other traditional hybrids. That gives it a more electric vehicle (EV) feel, although a normal engine can still be heard.

That also contributes to its refined driving characteristics, as it is usually quiet at low speeds and generally very smooth. Nissan supports these features with a luxurious interior that exceeds the price of the Qashqai.

Yet it was not all positive. We don’t like that the e-Power Qashqai is only available in one top-spec Ti variant, as this seems to push it out of the realm of many hybrid buyers. It’s also significantly more expensive than the non-hybrid equivalent.

We also felt like the ride could be a little firm at times, but none of that was enough to detract from an otherwise solid Toyota hybrid rival.

You can read our full review of the Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power here

Do you want to buy a Nissan Qashqai? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Nissan Qashqai

Volkswagen T-Roc

We’ve published a handful of reviews for Volkswagen’s T-Roc small SUV this year, but it was senior contributor Matt Campbell’s review of the Style that scored the highest at 8.2.

The Style is a step up from the bottom of the T-Roc range, and we liked it for its easy driving characteristics and well-laid out cabin. It’s also a significant improvement on the features list over the base CityLife without being too much more expensive.

We felt it was well suited to its purpose and scored highly for ride comfort and infotainment technology. Under the hood is a simple 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder sent to the front wheels only, with higher performance options reserved for more expensive T-Rocs.

On the other hand, we found the eight-speed automatic wasn’t as sharp as Volkswagen’s typical dual-clutch DSG, but that did mean low-speed drivability was improved.

The second row isn’t very large either due to the small SUV frame, and rough roads can cause quite a bit of cabin noise. Still, we thought it was a solid choice for crossover customers.

You can read our full review of the Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style here

Do you want to buy a Volkswagen T-Roc? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Volkswagen T-Roc

Honda HR-V

Honda’s smallest SUV entered 2024 with a fresh new design, and news editor William Stopford thought its top-spec variant was worth a score of 8.1.

That variant is the e:HEV L, the only hybrid in the range. We liked how refined it seemed, and the second-row Magic Seats proved practical in the real world.

The cabin is also well appointed and spacious, while everything is practical and easy to operate in daily use. Even those coming to the HR-V for the first time will likely find it easy to settle in.

It lost points because of its price and the lack of a spare wheel, and we really couldn’t get over the fact that it’s only a four-seater. There’s plenty of room for a third seat in the second row, but the lack of a center seat belt means it can’t legally be used as a seat.

While the HR-V may not feel as premium as its ZR-V sibling, there’s a lot it does right to earn a spot on this list.

You can read our full review of the Honda HR-V e:HEV L here

Interested in buying a Honda HR-V? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

MORE: Everything Honda HR-V

Honorable mentions

There were four other small SUVs that also received an 8.1, and we think they deserve a mention as well.

The last spot on the list above could easily have been taken by the Mazda CX-30 G25 GT SP, although the Honda comes in first place alphabetically. You can read the review of the CX-30 here.

Our all-encompassing review of the new Toyota C-HR range could also sneak in, but since a later review of the specific GR Sport variant scored a 7.9, we decided to give it an honorable mention anyway.

The updated MG ZS range also scored an 8.1, but since that was also a broad review of a model we haven’t specifically reviewed yet, it gets an honorable mention. Just like the new C-HR GR Sport, the outgoing MG ZST scored a 7.6.

Finally, there is the Omoda E5, which scored an 8.1 in its independent review. We gave it an honorable mention because we haven’t gotten our hands on one yet to test it at home in the usual way.