The Ford Puma shares a surprising amount in common with its namesake coupe from the 1990s . Both are cars of their time built to appeal to the buying habits of the nation, and both are stylish-looking and great to drive, hence why the latest Puma tops this list of the best cheapest small SUV cars. 

Of course, the Puma crossover (another name for small SUV cars) pulls well ahead of the old two-door model when you consider practicality. The current Puma will happily accommodate four adults, its boot is big, and under the boot floor, you’ll find Ford’s Megabox. While it might sound like something you’d buy in a Scottish kebab house, the Megabox is, in fact, a large plastic-lined hidden compartment with a drain plug in the floor for easy cleaning. It’s perfect for muddy boots or dirty kit. You could even fill it with ice to keep drinks cool on a family outing.

Thankfully, Ford’s managed to combine this practicality with its trademark agile handling, and you can have the Puma with a variety of frugal petrols, including a particularly thrifty mild-hybrid.

If you’re looking for a great family car, then the Skoda Kamiq is arguably the best cheapest small SUV car on this list. What's more, offering great value is a cornerstone of Skoda’s success: not that the Skoda's handsome styling gives the game away that this is one of the thriftier options.

The same is true on the inside. Most of the areas you’ll touch are made from soft and spongy plastics and you get an intuitive infotainment screen that makes counting one-two-three seem complicated. There’s loads of space in the front, enough room for tall adults in the back, and you get a boot that’s large, square and easy to load.

‘Easy’ is how we’d describe the driving experience. The controls are light, the suspension smooths out bumps and all the engines have enough power and they’re all cheap to run. We’d go for a 95PS 1.0-litre petrol in SE trim for its improved infotainment and rear parking sensors.

The SEAT Arona shares most of its parts with the Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Cross but adds a sportier slant to the recipe, evident by its sharp styling and chiselled body creases.

You keep all the practical bits, though. That means you get an interior that looks nicely built, is logically laid out and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, so you can use your phone’s sat-nav through the car’s big screen. You also get just enough room for four tall adults and a boot that’ll carry a week’s worth of their luggage.

Out on the road, the Arona feels nippy and agile and the basic 115PS petrol delivers balanced performance. We’d choose it in FR trim for its sportier styling and rear parking sensors, LED headlights and electric foldaway mirrors.

The Volkswagen T-Cross is the final instalment in the VW Group (Skoda, SEAT and Volkswagen’s) crossover trilogy. It costs a little more than the Kamiq and Arona compared like-for-like, though the extra outlay buys you the most desirable badge of the three.

On the inside, it feels very similar to its sister cars. Gaps between panels are consistent and the interior feels like it will deflect the worst treatment your family can throw at it. You can have colourful trims and spec up to a large multi-function screen that replaces the conventional analogue dials. The interior is also practical enough to carry four adults and a couple of large suitcases.

SE models get all the kit you need – including adaptive cruise control and alloy wheels – and the 95PS petrol engine copes well with a variety of driving.

Better than any other car here, the Peugeot 2008 shows how a cheap small SUV car can offer a striking design in a practical package. It has a toothy grin, a smattering of curves and creases, plus taillights that look like they have been swiped into the back of the car by a marauding big cat. 

Its capacity to dazzle continues on the inside where you’ll find a pair of large infotainment screens that have pretty graphics and slick animations. It’s cool then, but also practical. There’s plenty of room for tall adults upfront, and you’ll get two more giants in the back without having to field too many complaints. Meanwhile, the boot is large and you get loads of useful storage areas sprinkled around the cabin.

You'll want the 130PS PureTech 1.2-litre petrol engine, which gets great fuel economy and actually feels quite quick. Allure models, meanwhile, get a sporty body kit, upgraded infotainment and front and rear parking sensors. The Vauxhall Mokka is also worth checking out as well as it's based on the same platform as the Peugeot 2008.

Back in 2010, the original Nissan Juke sparked the SUV crossover craze by applying jacked-up 4x4-style looks to a small car. All these years on, this latest model applies improvements across the board, while keeping the striking design that proved such a hit with the original.

That said, the changes are most notable on the inside. Where the first Juke felt a little flimsy inside, there's sense of quality to the latest car, and you get more space, too: four adults will fit without complaint and the boot is large and flexible. Avoid the basic model and you also get a decent infotainment system. 

The 115PS petrol is nippy and cheap to run, while the hybrid version is pricier but even more frugal. The Juke is tidy in corners and – so long as you avoid cars with 19-inch alloy wheels – is reasonably comfortable. Acenta models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a rearview camera.

The Renault Captur is another pioneer of the crossover genre. It’s based on the firm’s small hatchback, the Clio, but has jacked up suspension and a higher, flatter roofline.

The former of those two qualities give you a raised driving position with a good view of the road ahead, while the latter means the Captur has enough interior space for four adults and a boot that’s significantly bigger than the Clio’s. Even basic models get an infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and cruise control. However, we’d upgrade to mid-level trim for its smart alloy wheels and rear parking sensors.

The best thing about the Captur, though, is how comfortable it is. With supple suspension that's great at mopping up scruffy road surfaces, it's a really relaxed way of getting around.

Like the vast majority of Toyota's other cars, the Toyota Yaris Cross is a hybrid, and no mainstream car manufacturer has more experience in building hybrid cars. That helps make it one of the best of its type, with a smooth powertrain that provides stunning economy figures - helped further by the car's diminutive size - and also packs plenty of punch.

Inside, you'll find a smartly trimmed and solidly made cabin with lots of space for people and luggage, making it ideal for a small family. It's also good to drive, with smart handling and a ride that's comfortable enough.

Perhaps the best thing about the Yaris Cross, though, is how painless it'll be to own. Toyota's reputation for reliability is second-to-none, and if you get your car service according to schedule within the Toyota main dealer network, you get a warranty that could last up to ten years.

Small SUV cars don’t get much cheaper than the Dacia Duster. And, despite its low price, the Duster is a car with rugged SUV styling and impressive go-anywhere ability if you buy a model with four-wheel drive.

Whichever version you choose, though, the Duster has space for four adults and a big boot. Sure, there’s a no-frills air to the cabin quality, but the design is neat and everything feels robust.

It’s worth going for a mid-range model, which adds kit like a seven-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control and a reversing camera. Unless you plan to go off-road or tow, we’d go for a two-wheel-drive model that’ll improve fuel economy. 

If you're looking to buy an electric car, the MG ZS EV is one of the most affordable entry points into EV ownership. The latest version of the all-electric SUV provides a range of up to 273 miles, which ought to be plenty for day-to-day driving. It's just as practical as many of the petrol-powered SUVs featured here, too, with a big boot and space for up to five adults (at a push).

If you're looking for an SUV just to cover the school run or a short commute, earlier MG ZS EV models can manage 163 miles between charges. They represent excellent value for money on the used market, with lightly-used examples available from as little as £20,000.