Not all of the best SUVs are massive fuel-chugging eco terrorists – if you genuinely need 4x4 performance and don’t a need a great deal of space there are some awesome small off-roaders available.
To qualify for our list below, we’ve looked for compact four-wheel drive vehicles that are less than 4.4m long and available with literal cross-country capability.
The resulting selection of the best small 4x4s on sale still manages to cover a wide range of budgets and tastes. So if you’re after go-anywhere grip in a compressed package, we reckon we’ve got a machine here to suit you.
Best small 4x4s 2024
Budget-friendly off-road brilliance (Editor’s choice)
Not every version is four-wheel-drive, and inevitably those that are come at the highest price. It’s also a little noisier and more uncomfortable than pricier options. But as a no-nonsense piece of kit it’s a clear winner.
Find out more from our full Dacia Duster review
Pros
- Great value for money
- Can really off-road
- Lots of space
Cons
- Poor Euro NCAP score
- Not very refined
Small, posh off-roaders come no better than this
Where it differs dramatically from Defenders of old is in the on-road driving experience and the luxury. The modern Defender drives almost as well as a Land Rover Discovery, while the beautifully executed exterior design is matched by a wonderfully chunky yet premium interior. The available tech is incredibly clever, too.
Find out more from our full Land Rover Defender review
Pros
- Amazing off-road
- Also good on it
- Stylish and trendy
Cons
- No longer a simple tool
- Usual Land Rover reliability worries
Off-road like a boss after taking the doors and roof off
The on-road experience is still very much an interactive affair, as you’ll really need to drive this thing to get the best out of it. Off-road it’ll scale mad trails without breaking a sweat. Better yet, Jeep still designed the Wrangler so customers can unbolt the doors, remove the roof and even lower the windscreen. Nothing is more outdoors on wheels than one of these.
Find out more from our full Jeep Wrangler review
Pros
- Serious off-road ability
- Unique removable body bits
- Old-school charm
Cons
- Vaguely unpleasant to drive on-road
- Our last long-term test car broke
2024’s answer to the Fiat Panda 4x4
The Ignis looks cool, too, with some neat retro styling touches and a neat stance. It is also rather flimsy inside and was rated just three stars for crash safety by EuroNCAP back in 2016, when the tests were considerably easier. But the lightweight build means impressive mpg, so it’s cheap to run as well as buy.
Find out more from our full Suzuki Ignis review
Pros
- Tiny mountain goat of a 4x4
- Very economical
- Cute looks
Cons
- Cabin feels cheap (because it is)
- Not good on the motorway
The off-road legend lives on – as a van
It doesn’t help that the only version still on sale is actually a van; the Jimny Commercial ditches the rear seats to create a tiddly load area, but in doing so removes more weight from over a back axle that was already unnervingly keen to overtake the front. The reason for this approach is a tax loophole that makes the Jimny’s nasty emissions more tax friendly. Your call.
Find out more from our full Suzuki Jimny Commercial review
Pros
- Outstanding off-road ability
- Cult appeal
- Charming looks
Cons
- Terrible to drive on the road
- Now only comes as a two-seater commercial vehicle
Suzuki’s best off-roading all-rounder
In fact, it’s rather fun to hurry along, with a good turn of speed and neat handling – thanks again to Suzuki’s lightweight-build philosophy. You can get a more road-oriented Suzuki SUV still in the form of the S-Cross. But this is a smidge less capable off road and quite a chunk more expensive to buy, being over 25% more expensive. We certainly recommend trying the Vitara first before you commit.
Find out more from our full Suzuki Vitara review
Pros
- Best blend of on- and off-road prowess from Suzuki
- Keen handling
- Lightweight and efficient
Cons
- S-Cross is nicer still – at a price
- Avoid the full hybrid model
Looks like a car, lives its best life off road
And the truth is, if it wasn’t for the off-road brief of this particular listicle, we wouldn’t be recommending this machine at all. But Subaru’s 4WD gear is pretty solid, and the XV pulls off the neat trick of looking largely like a car but still being a capable mud-plugger when required. Could do with a better engine and gearbox, but it’s a neat tool in this frame of reference.
Find out more from our full Subaru XV review
Pros
- Car-like looks
- Capable 4x4 system
- Likely to last
Cons
- Engine is inefficient and slow
- CVT automatic only
Small 4x4s buyers guider and FAQs
What is the most reliable small 4x4 to own?
In terms of small off-roaders like these, if reliability is your top priority target one of the Japanese offerings from Suzuki or Subaru. Both of these companies have very well established reputations for building dependable cars.
Ironically, the most expensive 4x4 on this list – the Land Rover Defender – comes from a manufacturer with one of the worst reputations for reliability. The budget-friendly Dacia Duster should generally be fine, however.
All that being said, if buying a used 4x4, be sure to ask how and where the vehicle has previously been driven. These kinds of 4x4 car are likely to have spent time tackling tricky terrain off-road and may well have sustained damage in the process.
What is the best daily driver small 4x4?
If you’ve got the money, the modern Land Rover Defender will be by far the best choice for driving every day. It has by far the most sophisticated basis of any of the cars on this list – which is one of the reasons it’s the most expensive. This is in stark contrast to the original Defender, which was very difficult to drive on road.
Most of the others on this list are okay on the road, but we’d avoid the Suzuki Jimny if you do a lot of road miles. The Jeep Wrangler can be hard work, too, but it’s still much better than the Jimny.
What is the most comfortable small 4x4?
Again, the Land Rover Defender – and by quite some distance. The Dacia Duster is a good second place choice here, but beware the slightly offset driving position.
How do I choose a small 4x4?
You need to consider your budget, but also what you want to use it for. Some of the above are very much working vehicles – the Suzuki Jimny in particular – while others, such as the Dacia Duster and Suzuki Vitara straddle the line between working and everyday use more effectively.
Where can I go off-roading in a 4x4 in the UK?
You’ve got a couple of main choices here. You can go to purpose-designed locations that allow off-roading with the safety net of on-hand experts who can help get you – and your car – out of trouble should the worst happen.
Alternatively, the UK is criss-crossed by a network of public-access ‘green lanes’. The best way to find out more about these it to join an organisation such as the Green Lane Association.
CJ Hubbard leads Bauer’s Digital Automotive Hub, writing and reviewing for Parkers and CAR. His Bauer career started as Associate Editor of CAR magazine in 2014, but he’s been a motoring journalist since 2006, and written for titles including Which?, the Sunday Times, Auto Express and Pistonheads.
