Renowned motoring publication Auto Express has listed what they think are the best small SUVs on sale in the United Kingdom with the winner praised for its size, practicality and competitive pricing11:05, 22 Jul 2026Updated 11:07, 22 Jul 2026SUVs are a popular type of vehicle in the UK with the vehicle type coming in all shapes and sizes. With this in mind, car publications now have separate categories for the vehicle depending on whether they’re small, medium, or large.‌In a recent list published by Auto Express, they stated what they thought were the best small SUVs on sale in the UK.‌Coming in first was the £23,400 Renault 4 which came ahead of the £22,000 Citroen C3 Aircross and the £21,800 Dacia Duster that came in second and third respective.‌Speaking about the Renault 4, the reviewers praised it for being more practical and bigger than its sister car the Renault 5 and having more “competitive pricing” than rivals as well as more equipment on the inside.However, it lost marks for having slightly small back seats that lacked a bit of space, for having a slowish 100kW charging speed and the fact the column shifter could be confused for the same control used to change the wipers.‌Nevertheless, it came out on top. Auto Express concluded: “The Renault 4 might share its platform with the hugely-popular Renault 5 supermini, but thanks to its longer wheelbase it’s more practical and there’s a bit more room for everyone to stretch out.”Deputy editor of the magazine, Richard Ingram, added: “On the road, the R4 feels neatly tied down, despite Renault claiming it has a slightly softer set-up than the 5, with a willingness to change direction that’s missing in plenty of its rivals.”The rise, and continuing popularity, of SUVs of all shapes and sizes has in part led to a greater debate about whether cars are getting too big.‌According to data and research, cars have gotten heavier and larger in recent years, leading to the term ‘Carspreading’ to describe the phenomenon.For example, the average weight of a car has grown from 1,365kg to 1,592kg in the past seven years. Furthermore, the Express reported that the average width of new cars grew from 182cm in 2018 to 187.5cm last year at a time when the average parking space is about 180cm wide.‌What this means in practice is that cars are getting harder to park (because they’re larger) and putting more pressure on the roads themselves (because they’re heavier).This is also leading to concerns about pedestrian safety. Although today’s cars are very safe, their weight means they carry more momentum if they hit someone or something.Despite the increasing size of cars being considered problematic, manufacturers have been defended for simply trying to make their cars safer, following new regulations, and responding to customer feedback.Article continues belowSpeaking to the BBC Just Auto’s David Leggett said: “Manufacturers have had to do things like improve structural crash protection, and fit more airbags. At the same time, they want to improve interior cabin space and put more features into vehicles, so the net result is rising pressure for bigger vehicle dimensions."