CarSorted Verdict:
- Cheapest five-star: MG ZS Vibe, $22,990 RRP, or the Haval Jolion at $23,990 drive-away to 30 November.
- Hybrid: Yaris Cross Hybrid ($31,790, 3.8 L/100km) for fuel, Corolla Cross GX ($37,440, 425 litres) for space.
- Electric: BYD Atto 3 from $39,990; the Kia EV3 is the cheapest to charge on our sums.
- Boot and city: Renault Symbioz for 563 litres; Suzuki Ignis for tight streets.
- AWD: Yaris Cross AWD at $34,790, or the Crosstrek at $38,990 for gravel.
- Wait for: the electric C-HR (mid-2027, confirmed) and the Omoda 4 (first half of 2027). The plug-in Atto 2 DM-i is on sale from $24,990 before on-road costs, per BYD.
Small SUVs are the first new car for a lot of Australians, and the downsizer's car for a lot more. Heading into 2027 the class is busier than ever. Kia has just replaced the Seltos with a hybrid-only model, BYD has priced a plug-in Atto 2 under $25,000 before on-road costs, Toyota has confirmed an electric C-HR, and Chinese brands keep pushing the floor down. Meanwhile the Yaris Cross, one of the most popular in the class, carries a safety rating that lapses at the end of next year. So the useful question isn't only “which is best?”. It's also “is the one I want about to change?”.
This guide works from 196 small SUVs on sale in our directory on 12 November 2026, all five-seaters under 4.5 metres long and priced at or under $80,000, from 60 nameplates and 30 makes. If you want the short category list, our 2026 small SUV guide still stands. This one gives you one pick per question, who it suits, what to watch, and a short “buy now or wait” call. The facts, side by side. Your decision.
The picks at a glance
One row per question, with the figure from our row for that car on 12 November 2026 and its price basis. RRP is before on-road costs; drive-away includes them. Detail and runners-up for each are below.
| Question | Pick | Winning figure | ANCAP on record | Buy now or wait? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest five-star (RRP) | MG ZS Vibe | $22,990 RRP | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest five-star (drive-away) | GWM Haval Jolion Premium | $23,990 drive-away | 5 stars (2022) | Now; offer to 30 Nov |
| Lowest fuel use, cheapest five-star hybrid (RRP) | Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid 2WD | 3.8 L/100km, $31,790 | 5 stars (2021) | Now; rating lapses end 2027 |
| Hybrid all-rounder | Toyota Corolla Cross GX | $37,440, 425 L, 4.2 L/100km | 5 stars (2022) | Now |
| Cheapest five-star electric (RRP) | BYD Atto 3 Essential | $39,990 RRP | 5 stars (2022) | Now |
| Cheapest to run (electric, home charging) | Kia EV3 Air Standard Range | About $585 a year | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Longest electric range | Renault Scenic E-Tech Long Range | 625 km WLTP | 5 stars (2022) | Now |
| Biggest boot | Renault Symbioz Techno | 563 litres | Hasn't been rated | Now |
| Easiest to park | Suzuki Ignis GL | 3,700 mm, 9.4 m | Hasn't been rated | Now |
| Cheapest all-wheel drive (RRP) | Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid AWD | $34,790 RRP | 5 stars (2021) | Now |
| Cheapest five-star 1,500 kg towing | GWM Haval Jolion Premium | 1,500 kg, $23,990 drive-away | 5 stars (2022) | Now; offer to 30 Nov |
Compare these picks side by side
6 of them on 200+ specs, price, safety and running cost in one view.
Each price is that car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Buying now or waiting: how to use this guide
Most small SUVs don't change much from one year to the next, and most of the picks here aren't about to. The change in 2027 is at the electric and plug-in end. Toyota Australia has confirmed the electric C-HR for mid-2027, with a targeted range of over 500 km and no price yet. BYD has put the plug-in Atto 2 DM-i on sale from $24,990 before on-road costs. Leapmotor has priced the B03X from $26,990. Omoda Jaecoo says the Omoda 4 small SUV launches in the first half of 2027, and Mitsubishi has confirmed the electric ASX VR-e. GWM is reported to have the Haval Jolion Max due in the first three months of 2027 as a plug-in and an EV.
Our rule of thumb: buy now when the car isn't changing, the price is on the manufacturer's list or on a drive-away offer you can use before it ends, and the ANCAP rating will stay current for a while. Wait when a replacement or a cheaper electric version is confirmed and close. Negotiate when the outgoing car is still in stock beside its replacement, like the run-out petrol Seltos.
“Confirmed” and “reported” aren't the same, and we keep them apart. Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means Australian motoring media have it, often from the manufacturer's local people, but the manufacturer hasn't put it on its own page. Neither gives you a price until the price list is out.
The state of small SUVs heading into 2027
The 196 rows split like this: 84 petrol, 59 hybrid, 52 electric and a single plug-in hybrid (the CUPRA Formentor VZe). Fourteen makes sell a small hybrid in our set, from Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Honda to MG, GWM, Chery and Renault, and 16 sell a small electric SUV. Kia has gone hybrid-only with the new Seltos, while the old petrol Seltos is in run-out.
Safety ratings are a mixed picture in this class. 85 of the 196 rows hold five stars, but 84 hold no ANCAP result on our record, and that includes some very popular cars: the Mazda CX-3 and CX-30, Hyundai Venue, Volkswagen T-Roc and T-Cross, Kia Stonic and the new hybrid Seltos. Others hold fewer than five stars: four for the Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Inster and Suzuki e Vitara, three for the Renault Duster and Jeep Avenger, and one for the Suzuki Fronx (2025). A missing rating isn't a bad result. It's no data, and we won't borrow an older model's stars to fill it.
Pricing is the other story. A five-star small SUV now starts at $22,990 before on-road costs (the MG ZS) or $23,990 drive-away (the Haval Jolion on a GWM offer, and the Chery Tiggo 4). Many drive-away prices are campaigns with end dates, so in this guide we quote the end date wherever the manufacturer prints one.
How we picked
What counts as small. We sort by measured length, not marketing labels: five-seat SUVs under 4,500 mm, the same bands our 2027 mid-size SUV guide and 2027 family car guide use, so the three agree. That catches the Yaris Cross (4,180 mm), Kona (4,350), ZS (4,430) and Corolla Cross (4,460). Cars from 4,500 mm, like the Leapmotor B10 and Mazda CX-5, are in the mid-size guide. We cap the price at $80,000.
Prices. An RRP is before on-road costs; a drive-away price includes them. We never rank one against the other. RRP picks only use prices whose source on our row is the manufacturer's own configurator, price feed, list or release: 94 of the 196 rows. Rows with an RRP we estimated from a drive-away price, or with no named source, appear in the tables but don't win a price pick. Drive-away figures are Victorian unless stated; 64 rows hold one.
Running costs. We use the same sum as our car pages: 15,600 km a year (300 km a week), the official combined figure, $1.95 a litre for regular unleaded, $2.10 for premium and 30 cents a kWh at home.
Safety. We show the ANCAP result our row holds and its year. Where we hold none, we say ANCAP hasn't rated it or we have no data. Nothing here is called the safest (ANCAP explained).
CarSorted
Shortlisting already?
Compare any two side by side or see this month's manufacturer deals. Figures come from manufacturers' own published documents.
Cheapest five-star small SUV: MG ZS Vibe, $22,990
Why. The ZS Vibe is $22,990 before on-road costs on MG's national configurator, the lowest manufacturer-sourced RRP of any small SUV in our set, and it holds five stars from ANCAP (2025). That's the same car our 2027 family car guide names as its cheapest five-star small SUV. It has a 443-litre boot, MG's 10-year or 250,000 km warranty (with servicing conditions) and uses 6.7 L/100km, about $2,038 a year or $39 a week in fuel on our sums. The next-cheapest small SUV on a published RRP is the Hyundai Venue at $23,750, which holds no ANCAP result on our record.
Who it suits. A starter car, a downsizer or a family on a tight budget that wants a full-size small SUV with a current five-star result. What to watch. It's rated to tow 500 kg on our row. MG also sells the ZS as a Hybrid+ at $30,990 on our row (4.7 L/100km, about $30 a week on premium fuel), but that price doesn't yet name its source, so it doesn't win a pick here.
On drive-away: Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4, $23,990
The Haval Jolion Premium is $23,990 drive-away for private buyers in Victoria on GWM's offers page, a $3,000 saving that ends on 30 November 2026. It holds five stars (2022), seven years of warranty with no kilometre limit and a 1,500 kg towing rating, the most of any five-star small SUV under $30,000 on our rows. The boot is 337 litres. The Chery Tiggo 4 Urban is also $23,990 drive-away on our row (its source and state aren't named yet), with five stars (2023) and a 380-litre boot, though it's the thirstiest of the three at 7.4 L/100km, about $43 a week.
Our take: the ZS gives you the biggest boot and the longest warranty of the three; the Jolion tows the most. MG is also advertising the ZS Vibe at $22,990 drive-away in NSW on an offer to 31 December, so price both in your state. Jolion vs Yaris Cross | Tiggo 4 Hybrid vs ZS.
Buy now or wait? Buy now if the price works; none of the three has a replacement confirmed. If you're cross-shopping the Jolion, note GWM is reported to be adding the bigger Jolion Max in early 2027, without a price yet (Jolion Max story), and the Jolion offer ends on 30 November.
Best hybrid: Yaris Cross for fuel, Corolla Cross for space
Fifty-nine rows in the set are hybrids that never need plugging in, a few of them mild hybrids. For a small SUV that does mostly city and suburban driving, this is where the fuel savings are biggest.
Fuel saver: Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid, $31,790
Why. The Yaris Cross GX Hybrid 2WD is $31,790 before on-road costs on Toyota's list, the cheapest five-star hybrid small SUV on a published RRP, and it shares the lowest combined figure of any small SUV without a plug, 3.8 L/100km, with the Lexus LBX. That's about $1,156 a year or $22 a week on regular unleaded on our sums, against $39 a week for a petrol ZS. The boot is 390 litres and the AWD version drops it to 314.
Who it suits. City and suburban drivers who want a small fuel bill without plugging in. What to watch. Its five-star rating is from 2021 and runs to 31 December 2027 on our record, and it's rated to tow 400 kg.
All-rounder: Toyota Corolla Cross GX Hybrid, $37,440
The Corolla Cross GX is $37,440 on Toyota's list with five stars (2022), a 425-litre boot and 4.2 L/100km, about $25 a week. It's the bigger, more family-friendly Toyota: 280 mm longer than the Yaris Cross, with more boot and more rear-seat room. Toyota added a GR Sport flagship this year (Corolla Cross story). Towing is 750 kg on our rows.
The other hybrids worth a look
Kia's new Seltos S Hybrid is $37,990 before on-road costs or $39,990 drive-away nationally on Kia's pricing, with a 483-litre boot, 5.1 L/100km and seven years of warranty, but ANCAP hasn't rated the new car (Seltos story). The Hyundai Kona Hybrid is $36,950 with 3.9 L/100km and a 1,300 kg towing rating, but four stars (2023). Honda's HR-V e:HEV uses 4.3 (four stars, 2022). GWM's Jolion Hybrid is $32,990 drive-away with five stars (2022) but a 255-litre boot. The Renault Symbioz full hybrid is $42,990 with 460 litres and 4.7 L/100km; ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record.
Our take: the Yaris Cross is the fuel pick and the cheaper buy; the Corolla Cross is the one to choose if the boot and the back seat get used every day. The new Seltos has the biggest hybrid boot of the three on paper but no rating yet. Kona vs Yaris Cross | Kona vs Corolla Cross.
Buy now or wait? Buy now. Neither Toyota has a replacement announced on our record. If a current ANCAP result matters, the Corolla Cross's 2022 rating runs to the end of 2028 on our rows, a year longer than the Yaris Cross's. For the Seltos, waiting for an ANCAP result is reasonable; the run-out petrol Seltos is worth negotiating on.
Ways to buy
For the 4 cars on this page.
Compare 6Finance
From ≈$78/wk(≈$337/mo)
Estimate on the Chery Tiggo 4 at $21,800 estimated RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Lease the BYD Atto 3Best small electric SUV
Fifty-two rows in the set are electric, from 16 makes. Small EVs make the most sense for city driving with home charging, where they cost a fraction of a petrol car to run.
Cheapest five-star: BYD Atto 3, $39,990
The Atto 3 Essential is $39,990 on BYD's Build & Price, the cheapest five-star (2022) small electric SUV on a published RRP, with a 440-litre boot and 16 kWh/100km, about $14 a week to charge at home on our sums. Our Essential row doesn't hold a range figure; the Atto 3 EVO Dynamic at $41,990 is rated at 420 km and the EVO Premium at $46,990 does 510 km and tows 1,500 kg. On drive-away, the Chery E5 is $37,990 with five stars (2022). Cheaper again but with four stars: the tiny Hyundai Inster at $37,500 (Hyundai is running $35,990 drive-away to 31 December, per our Inster story) The Suzuki e Vitara is $46,990 drive-away, also with four stars.
Cheapest to run: Kia EV3, from $47,600
The EV3 Air Standard Range is $47,600 on Kia's price feed and uses 12.5 kWh/100km, about $585 a year or $11 a week to charge at home, the lowest of any small SUV in the set on our sums. It holds five stars (2025), 436 km, a 460-litre boot and seven years of warranty. The Air Long Range at $53,315 does 604 km. Only the Renault Scenic E-Tech Long Range goes further at 625 km WLTP, for $59,990, with a 545-litre boot and five stars (2022).
Our take: if you can charge at home, a small EV costs a third or less of a petrol SUV to run on our sums. Without home charging, public fast charging costs several times more per kWh, and a hybrid usually wins. EV charging guide | B10 vs Atto 2.
Buy now or wait? This is where waiting could pay. Toyota Australia has confirmed the electric C-HR for mid-2027 with a 74.7 kWh battery, a targeted range over 500 km and 416 litres of cargo space, no price yet (C-HR story). Leapmotor has priced the B03X at $26,990 before on-road costs (B03X story), and Mitsubishi has confirmed the ASX VR-e electric (ASX VR-e story). Our 2027 Chinese EV guide covers the Chinese options in more depth.
Best small SUV for families: the biggest boots
If the pram, the sports bags and the shopping all have to fit, these lead the class on our rows. The Renault Symbioz Techno mild hybrid holds 563 litres and is $35,990 drive-away on Renault's Build & Price, a $4,000 saving on an offer for cars bought and delivered by 31 December; ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record (Symbioz story). The electric Renault Scenic E-Tech holds 545 litres with five stars (2022), the biggest boot of any five-star small SUV on our rows. The Skoda Karoq holds 521 litres from $40,990 drive-away, Skoda's price for cars sold and delivered by 31 December. Among hybrids, the new Seltos has 483 and the Corolla Cross 425; the petrol Mitsubishi ASX holds 484 but four stars (2024).
Rear-seat room and ISOFIX positions matter as much as the boot for a family car. If you're fitting two child seats and a pram on a typical day, a mid-size SUV is often the easier fit; see our mid-size guide.
Best small SUV for the city: Ignis, Yaris Cross, EV3
The Suzuki Ignis is the shortest small SUV in the set at 3,700 mm, with a 9.4-metre turning circle and 4.9 L/100km, at $25,135 drive-away on our row (source not yet named); ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record. The Skoda Elroq electric has the tightest turning circle on our rows at 9.3 metres. Among five-star small SUVs, the MINI Aceman is the shortest at 4,073 mm and the Yaris Cross the shortest under $40,000 at 4,180 mm, and the Lexus LBX, Kia EV3 and Toyota C-HR turn in 10.4 metres. The Hyundai Inster is just 3,825 mm long, with four stars (2025).
Best value all-wheel drive: Yaris Cross AWD and Subaru Crosstrek
The Yaris Cross GX Hybrid AWD is $34,790 on Toyota's list, the cheapest all-wheel-drive small SUV in the set on a published RRP, with five stars (2021) and 4.0 L/100km. Its rear axle is driven by an electric motor, which helps on wet grass and slippery driveways rather than proper dirt roads. The Subaru Crosstrek is $38,990 with Subaru's full-time AWD on every grade, five stars (2024) and a 1,400 kg towing rating, though its 291-litre boot is small. The Crosstrek Hybrid is $40,090 at 6.5 L/100km.
Our take: for town with the odd wet campground, the Yaris Cross AWD is the cheap, frugal choice. For gravel roads and snow trips, the Crosstrek is the one. Kona vs Yaris Cross.
Towing with a small SUV
Most small SUVs aren't built for heavy towing, and some small hybrids are rated very low: 400 kg for the Yaris Cross and 750 kg for the Corolla Cross on our rows. If you need 1,500 kg for a box trailer or a small camper, the cheapest five-star option is the Haval Jolion at $23,990 drive-away. The Hyundai Kona manages 1,300 kg (four stars). The highest rating in the set is the Volvo XC40 B4 at 2,100 kg, though ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record and our $54,990 for it doesn't name its source. Among electric small SUVs, the smart #1 is rated to 1,600 kg and the Atto 3 EVO Premium to 1,500.
Towing and payload calculator
Check a 1,000 kg trailer against four small SUVs that publish their masses: the rig check compares the trailer with each car's tow rating, payload and gross combination mass.
Sitting out: the Hyundai Kona 2.0 FWD (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record) and the Toyota Corolla Cross GX FWD (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record).
Best value Chinese small SUVs
Chinese brands set the price floor in this class. Beyond the MG ZS, Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4 above, the Tiggo 4 Hybrid is $31,268 drive-away with a 470-litre boot (ANCAP hasn't rated the hybrid on our record), the Jaecoo J5 petrol is $25,990 drive-away with an eight-year warranty and the electric J5 EV is $35,990 before on-road costs, both without an ANCAP result on our rows. GAC's Emzoom Luxury is $26,990 drive-away on our row (source not yet named); GAC has said seatbelt pretensioners and rear belt reminders return on the base Premium from MY27 production (Emzoom story). Our 2027 Chinese cars guide has the full picture.
Pick two
Any two of the picks, side by side
Tap two to compare price, fuel or energy use, range and safety.
| Spec | MG ZS Vibe | GWM Haval Jolion Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $22,990RRP, before on-roads | $23,990drive-away, not an RRP |
| Fuel use | 6.7 L/100km | 6.7 L/100km |
| Electric-only range | N/Ano plug, cannot run on battery alone | N/Ano plug, cannot run on battery alone |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Braked towing | 500 kg | 1,500 kg |
| ANCAP | 5 starstested 2025 | 5 starstested 2022 |
| Warranty | 7 yrdistance not on record; up to 10yr / 250,000 km if every scheduled service is done in the MG dealer network | 7 yrunlimited km |
| Service interval | 15,000 km | 15,000 km |
Figures come from our car database, which is built from Australian manufacturer documents. A blank field reads “No data” rather than a zero or a dash.
Cars in this story
7 cars
Price shown is each car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Images: GWM Australia.
See all Toyota modelsSmall SUV comparison table
The picks and the main rivals, read live from each linked row. The figures update when the manufacturer's price or specification changes.
| SUV | RRP | Drive-away | Fuel or energy | Boot | Towing | ANCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG ZS Vibe | $22,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 6.7 L/100km | 443L | 500kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| GWM Haval Jolion Premium | no RRP on record | $23,990 drive-away (VIC) | 6.7 L/100km | 337L | 1,500kg | 5 stars (2022) |
| Chery Tiggo 4 Urban | $21,800 est. RRP | $23,990 drive-away (VIC) | 7.4 L/100km | 380L | no data | 5 stars (2023) |
| Hyundai Venue | $23,750 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 7 L/100km | 355L | 1,100kg | no data |
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid 2WD | $31,790 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 3.8 L/100km | 390L | 400kg | 5 stars (2021) |
| Hyundai Kona Hybrid | $36,950 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 3.9 L/100km | 407L | 1,300kg | 4 stars (2023) |
| Toyota Corolla Cross GX | $37,440 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 4.2 L/100km | 425L | 750kg | 5 stars (2022) |
| Kia Seltos S Hybrid | $37,990 RRP | $39,990 drive-away (VIC) | 5.1 L/100km | 483L | 910kg | no data |
| Mazda CX-30 G20 Pure | $34,760 RRP | $33,990 drive-away (VIC) | 6.3 L/100km | 317L | 1,200kg | no data |
| Honda HR-V Vi X | $29,900 est. RRP | $32,900 drive-away (VIC) | 6.2 L/100km | 304L | 1,000kg | 4 stars (2022) |
| Subaru Crosstrek 2.0L | $38,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 7.2 L/100km | 291L | 1,400kg | 5 stars (2024) |
| Renault Symbioz Techno | no RRP on record | $35,990 drive-away (VIC) | 6.4 L/100km | 563L | 1,500kg | no data |
| BYD Atto 3 Essential (electric) | $39,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 16 kWh/100km | 440L | 750kg | 5 stars (2022) |
| Hyundai Inster (electric) | $37,500 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 14.3 kWh/100km | 280L | no data | 4 stars (2025) |
| Kia EV3 Air (electric) | $47,600 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 12.5 kWh/100km | 460L | 500kg | 5 stars (2025) |
| Renault Scenic E-Tech LR (electric) | $59,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 17.1 kWh/100km | 545L | 1,000kg | 5 stars (2022) |
“No data” means our row doesn't hold the figure yet, not that the car lacks it.
Running costs: petrol vs hybrid vs electric, per week
Fuel or electricity only, on our arithmetic from each row on 12 November 2026: 15,600 km a year (300 km a week) and the prices above. Price, fuel, warranty and servicing cells read our rows live.
| SUV | Type | Price | Fuel or energy | A year (est.) | A week (est.) | Warranty | 5-yr capped servicing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG ZS Vibe | Petrol | $22,990 RRP | 6.7 L/100km | $2,038 | $39 | 10yr / 250,000 km | $2,039 |
| GWM Haval Jolion Premium | Petrol | $23,990 drive-away (VIC) | 6.7 L/100km | $2,038 | $39 | 7yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Chery Tiggo 4 Urban | Petrol | $21,800 est. RRP | 7.4 L/100km | $2,251 | $43 | 7yr / unlimited km | $1,445 |
| Mazda CX-30 G20 Pure | Petrol | $34,760 RRP | 6.3 L/100km | $1,916 | $37 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Honda HR-V Vi X | Petrol | $29,900 est. RRP | 6.2 L/100km | $1,886 | $36 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Subaru Crosstrek 2.0L | Petrol | $38,990 RRP | 7.2 L/100km | $2,190 | $42 | 5yr / unlimited km | $2,373 |
| Suzuki Ignis GL | Petrol | $22,850 est. RRP | 4.9 L/100km | $1,491 | $29 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid 2WD | Hybrid | $31,790 RRP | 3.8 L/100km | $1,156 | $22 | 5yr / unlimited km | $1,375 |
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid AWD | Hybrid | $34,790 RRP | 4 L/100km | $1,217 | $23 | 5yr / unlimited km | $1,375 |
| Hyundai Kona Hybrid | Hybrid | $36,950 RRP | 3.9 L/100km | $1,186 | $23 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Toyota Corolla Cross GX | Hybrid | $37,440 RRP | 4.2 L/100km | $1,278 | $25 | 5yr / unlimited km | $1,375 |
| Honda HR-V e:HEV X | Hybrid | $36,250 est. RRP | 4.3 L/100km | $1,308 | $25 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Kia Seltos S Hybrid | Hybrid | $37,990 RRP | 5.1 L/100km | $1,551 | $30 | 7yr / unlimited km | no data |
| MG ZS Excite Hybrid+ | Hybrid | $30,990 RRP | 4.7 L/100km | $1,540 (95 RON) | $30 | 10yr / 250,000 km | $1,980 |
| Renault Symbioz Full Hybrid | Hybrid | $42,990 RRP | 4.7 L/100km | $1,540 (95 RON) | $30 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid L | Hybrid | $40,090 RRP | 6.5 L/100km | $1,977 | $38 | 5yr / unlimited km | $2,373 |
| BYD Atto 3 Essential | Electric | $39,990 RRP | 16 kWh/100km | $749 | $14 | 6yr / 150,000 km | $1,626 |
| Chery E5 Ultimate | Electric | $34,550 est. RRP | 15.5 kWh/100km | $725 | $14 | 7yr / unlimited km | $1,145 |
| Hyundai Inster Standard Range | Electric | $37,500 RRP | 14.3 kWh/100km | $669 | $13 | 5yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Kia EV3 Air Standard Range | Electric | $47,600 RRP | 12.5 kWh/100km | $585 | $11 | 7yr / unlimited km | no data |
| Renault Scenic E-Tech LR | Electric | $59,990 RRP | 17.1 kWh/100km | $800 | $15 | 5yr / 100,000 km | no data |
The pattern: the petrol small SUVs in the table cost about $29 to $43 a week in fuel on our sums, the hybrids about $22 to $38, and an EV charged at home about $11 to $15. The Yaris Cross Hybrid saves about $17 a week, or roughly $880 a year, over a petrol ZS; it also costs $8,800 more on RRP, so on fuel alone it takes about ten years to pay back. Buy the hybrid for the lower running costs and the resale, not because it's cheaper overall.
On warranty, MG leads at 10 years or 250,000 km and Mitsubishi offers 10 years or 200,000 km on the ASX, both with servicing conditions. Jaecoo offers eight years; Kia, Chery, GWM, Skoda, GAC and Mahindra seven. We hold a five-year capped servicing total on 82 of the 196 rows; Toyota's hybrids sit at $1,375 on our rows, so “no data” usually means the manufacturer doesn't publish a total in a form we've recorded.
Weekly fuel cost at a glance
Put in your own week: commute, school run, weekend trips. The calculator prices the same driving in the ZS, Yaris Cross, Corolla Cross and EV3. Cars without the figure it needs sit out rather than run on a made-up one.
- MG ZS Vibe
$1,366 a year, rated 8.5 L/100km urban, 5.7 extra-urban, 6.7 combined (ADR 81/02)
$26 a week
- Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid 2WD
$784 a year, rated 3.3 L/100km urban, 4.2 extra-urban, 3.8 combined (ADR 81/02)
$15 a week
- Toyota Corolla Cross GX FWD
$875 a year, rated 4 L/100km urban, 4.5 extra-urban, 4.2 combined (ADR 81/02)
$17 a week
- Kia EV3 Air Standard Range
$357 a year, rated 125 Wh/km (stored figure)
$7 a week
Lowest
Assumes 20 km each way, 10 trips a week, mild weather and the official combined road mix; unleaded at $1.95/L, home charging at 27c/kWh (VIC reference price (Victorian Default Offer, Jemena flat rate (the middle of the five Victorian zones, 25.96c to 31.98c))). Plug-in hybrids are costed with the battery not charged. Fuel only.
Repayments at a glance
What three of the picks cost a week on finance. The rate and term are assumptions you can change, not a quote or advice.
- MG ZS Vibe
$22,990 RRP, ≈$83 a week
≈$360/mo
Lowest - Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid 2WD
$31,790 RRP, ≈$124 a week
≈$537/mo
- Toyota Corolla Cross GX FWD
$37,440 RRP, ≈$150 a week
≈$650/mo
Assumes $5,000 deposit over 5 years at an assumed 7.5% p.a. Estimate only, not an offer of credit or a quote; your rate and repayments will differ.
Estimates only. Based on standard assumptions. Not financial advice. Individual results vary.
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
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Budget bands: what your money buys
Here's how the set splits by price. We use the manufacturer's RRP where its source is named, otherwise the drive-away figure, so each band mixes the two bases. Treat the edges loosely.
| Budget | Rows | Nameplates | Five-star rows | Hybrid / plug-in / EV rows | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | 21 | 12 | 8 | 2 / 0 / 0 | ZS, Jolion, Tiggo 4, Venue |
| $30,000 to $40,000 | 59 | 29 | 17 | 26 / 0 / 8 | Yaris Cross, Corolla Cross, Seltos, Kona, Atto 3 |
| $40,000 to $50,000 | 53 | 28 | 21 | 16 / 0 / 12 | EV3, Crosstrek, Lexus LBX, Karoq |
| $50,000 to $80,000 | 63 | 25 | 39 | 15 / 1 / 32 | Scenic, MINI Countryman, Volvo EX30, XC40 |
The pattern: under $30,000 it's almost all petrol, mostly Chinese brands plus the Venue. Between $30,000 and $40,000 is the hybrid sweet spot. Above $50,000, electric cars make up the largest group.
Who should buy what
- Lowest price with five stars: MG ZS Vibe on RRP or Haval Jolion on drive-away.
- Lowest fuel bill, no plug: Yaris Cross Hybrid, about $22 a week.
- Small family, no plug: Corolla Cross Hybrid, 425 litres.
- Home charging, city driving: Kia EV3 or BYD Atto 3.
- Biggest boot: Symbioz, or the five-star Scenic.
- Tight inner-city parking: Suzuki Ignis or Yaris Cross.
- Gravel roads and snow: Subaru Crosstrek.
- A box trailer on weekends: Haval Jolion, 1,500 kg.
A note on safety: what ANCAP has and hasn't rated
ANCAP ratings run for six years, then lapse unless the car is retested. The Toyota Yaris Cross holds a 2021 five-star rating that runs to 31 December 2027 on our record, the only small SUV in the set whose rating lapses in 2027. The Corolla Cross, Haval Jolion, Atto 3 and Honda HR-V were rated in 2022 and run to the end of 2028.
No ANCAP result on our rows for at least some grades of: the Mazda CX-3, CX-30, Hyundai Venue, Volkswagen T-Roc, T-Cross, Kia Stonic, the new hybrid Kia Seltos, Renault Symbioz, Suzuki Ignis, Vitara, Skoda Kamiq, Karoq, Peugeot 2008, Jaecoo J5, BYD Atto 2, Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid and Volvo XC40, among others.
Our take: between two otherwise equal cars, the one rated in 2024 or 2025 has passed a tougher test than one rated in 2021. That's a fair tiebreaker for a car you'll keep for years.
What's coming for small SUVs through 2027
Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its own Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means it's in Australian motoring media but not yet on the manufacturer's own pages. None of these is in the picks above.
| Coming | Type | Timing and price, as stated | Status and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota C-HR (electric) | Electric, over 500 km targeted; size not yet published | Mid-2027; no price | Confirmed (Toyota Australia), our story |
| BYD Atto 2 DM-i | Plug-in hybrid | On sale per BYD; from $24,990 RRP, launch drive-away on stock delivered by 31 December | Confirmed (BYD Australia), our story |
| Leapmotor B03X | Electric | From $26,990 RRP; dealers from November | Confirmed (Leapmotor Australia), our story |
| Omoda 4 | Small SUV | First half of 2027; no price | Confirmed (Omoda Jaecoo Australia), our story |
| Mitsubishi ASX VR-e | Electric | Fourth quarter of 2026 stated; no price | Confirmed (Mitsubishi Motors Australia), our story |
| GWM Haval Jolion Max | Plug-in hybrid and EV; size not yet published | January to March 2027; no price | Reported, our story |
| Volvo XC40 and EX40 (update) | Petrol and electric | 2027; no price | Reported, our story |
Already here and new since the 2026 guide: the hybrid-only Kia Seltos (October 2026), the Renault Symbioz, the Suzuki e Vitara, the Kia EV3 range (with a new GT-Line AWD, per our EV3 story) and the BYD Atto 3 EVO. For every body type, see 2027 new cars month by month.
What could change these picks
GWM's Jolion offer ends on 30 November 2026 and Hyundai's Inster drive-away offer on 31 December. An ANCAP result for the new Seltos or the Symbioz would change how we show them, and could put the Seltos in the hybrid picks. When the Atto 2 DM-i and B03X move to on sale in our directory, they'd become the cheapest plug-in and the cheapest electric small SUVs on a published RRP. The Yaris Cross rating lapses at the end of 2027 unless ANCAP retests it. We'll update this guide when any of these happen, or when a price we quote changes.
Other small SUVs on sale
The picks above aren't the only choices. Also in the set, from the variant linked: Mazda CX-30, Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai e-POWER, Volkswagen T-Roc, T-Cross, Skoda Kamiq, Toyota C-HR, Lexus LBX, MINI Countryman, Volvo EX30, Jeep Avenger, Renault Duster, Suzuki Fronx, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Audi Q2.
How to choose a small SUV: six checks
- Decide on the powertrain before the badge. Mostly city driving with home charging suits an EV; no charging suits a hybrid.
- Check the boot with your own gear. Small SUV boots run from about 230 to 560 litres on our rows.
- Check the ANCAP year, or whether there is one. Plenty of popular small SUVs hold no current result.
- Compare on one price basis. Get a drive-away quote in your postcode for each car on your list, and ask when any offer ends.
- Check the tow rating if you'll ever use a trailer. Some small hybrids are rated to 400 kg.
- Drive the shortlist. The figures narrow it down; a test drive tells you about the seats, the ride and the visibility. Our 2027 hybrid guide is a good next read.
Keep reading
Head-to-heads: Kona vs Yaris Cross | Kona vs Corolla Cross | Jolion vs Yaris Cross | Tiggo 4 vs Yaris Cross | Tiggo 4 Hybrid vs ZS | Sealion 5 vs Yaris Cross | B10 vs Atto 2
The brands: Toyota | MG | GWM | Chery | Hyundai | Kia | Mazda | Honda | Subaru | BYD | Renault | Suzuki
More guides: Best Small SUVs (2026) | Best Mid-Size SUVs (2027) | Best Family Cars (2027) | Best Hybrid Cars (2027) | Best Chinese Electric Cars (2027) | Best Small Cars (2027)
Compare what's on sale now
Head-to-heads with the cars this story is about and their closest rivals on sale now, plus the buying guides that cover them.
- GWM Haval Jolion vs Toyota Yaris Cross
- GWM Haval Jolion vs Kia Seltos
- Kia Seltos vs Toyota Yaris Cross
- GWM Haval Jolion vs MG ZS
- BYD Atto 3 vs Subaru Crosstrek
- Subaru Crosstrek vs Toyota Corolla Cross
- MG ZS vs Suzuki Ignis
- Kia EV3 vs Renault Scenic E-Tech
Buying guides
- Best Electric SUVs in Australia 2026
- Best Plug-in Hybrid SUVs in Australia 2027: One Winner Per Question
- Best Electric Luxury SUV Australia 2026
- Best Small SUVs Australia 2027: Buy Now or Wait?
Or pick any two cars on our compare page, or browse the full car directory.
MORE:BYD Ti7 Seven-Seat Plug-In Hybrid Type-Approved for Australia, No Launch Date or Price Yet
MORE:GWM's First Australian V8 Won't Be a Plug-in Hybrid, GWM Says, and a Tank Is the Likely Home
Shopping for an SUV now?
The facts, side by side. Your decision.
Disclaimer: Figures are from the manufacturers' Australian documents as held in the CarSorted directory on 12 November 2026, with prices on the basis stated beside them. Fuel and electricity estimates are our arithmetic on official figures, not your real-world use. Campaign prices change and have end dates. Timing for coming models is as the manufacturer or Australian media stated it, and can slip. ANCAP results are shown as our rows hold them, with their year. This is general information, not advice. Confirm price and specification with the dealer before you buy.
