Auto Express has named the Renault 4 as the best small SUV on sale in the UK, ahead of the Citroen C3 Aircross and Dacia Duster.
Third place: Dacia Duster
The £21,800 Dacia Duster came third. It was praised for being comfortable, spacious, having a “well designed interior” and being “genuinely desirable”. However, it lost marks for a “high boot lip”, louder wind noise at “higher speeds”, and not the highest Euro NCAP rating.
Second place: Citroen C3 Aircross
The £22,000 Citroen C3 Aircross took second place. It was praised for fitting seven people in a small area, a comfortable ride, and “plush seats”. But it lost marks for the third row being “only suitable for temporary use”, “numb steering”, and a speedometer that “isn’t very accurate”.
First place: Renault 4
The £23,400 Renault 4 came first. Reviewers said it compared well to the Renault 5, praising its “competitive pricing” and “generous standard equipment”. It lost marks for space around its back seats, a maximum 100kW charging speed, and the shifter being mistaken for windscreen wiper controls.
Deputy editor Richard Ingram said: “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 Renault 4 is still quite stiffly sprung, with a hard-ish edge to the ride around town, but things are much smoother at higher speeds.”
SUV parking tax consideration
Separately, Bath and North East Somerset Council has started consulting the public on a possible SUV parking tax that would charge larger cars more. Councillor Joel Hirst said: “The way we manage parking has a direct impact on road safety, fairness, and the council’s ability to maintain essential services. What we’ve proposing to do will help us achieve this. Higher charges for larger vehicles and discounts for smaller ones will encourage more people to use safer, smaller and cleaner vehicles, which will also help improve air quality.”
