The best small SUVs for city driving

SUVs are popular in part because of their high ride heights, commanding visibility to the road and roomy interiors. However, many medium and large SUVs feel cumbersome in urban driving. Smaller and more agile vehicles are a great alternative that will help make urban driving less demanding. Edmunds’ experts rounded up five city-friendly SUVs that are right at home navigating heavy traffic and squeezing into curbside parking spots. All prices below include destination charge.

Kia Soul

Living in the city can mean space is at a premium. With that in mind, car buyers who want a roomy vehicle with a small footprint would be wise to put the Kia Soul on their shopping list. The Soul is Kia’s smallest vehicle, but its boxy shape provides generous amounts of head and legroom in both the front and second rows. The 24.2 cubic feet of cargo hold is also commendable.

Edmunds cites the Soul’s agile handling and fuel-guzzling engine as reasons to buy it. Both will come in handy for city driving. Considering that city living isn’t cheap, it’s helpful to know that the Soul is the cheapest of the five vehicles listed here. One downside to know about the Soul: You can’t get it with all-wheel drive.

Starting price: $21,665

Buick Envista

Standing out in an urban environment requires a little more. That’s why the Buick Envista is on this list. It has an eye-catching design that cuts a stylish path through traffic. Few tools can do this at such a budget-friendly price.

Inside and out, the Envista looks and feels like a more expensive vehicle than it actually is. The touch screen interface is attractive and easy to use; Available features like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, power liftgate, and rain-sensing wipers add luxury appeal to Buick’s cheapest SUV. One trade-off is cargo space; The Envista’s fast shape means boot space is less than what many rivals provide.

Starting price: $24,795

Volkswagen Taos

The Volkswagen Taos is a compact SUV that Edmunds thinks is superior to many similarly sized rivals. The Taos is easy to manoeuvre, and its upright shape and large windows mean outside visibility is excellent. This is very important in the handling and thrust of urban driving. Passenger and cargo space are among the best in the class, and the Taos’ engine is powerful enough for quick getaways at stoplights.

Every 2025 Taos comes with a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen and wireless device charging. Since navigating city traffic can be a challenge, it’s good to know that driver-assistance features like rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and automatic emergency braking are standard.

Starting price: $25,420 (2024 model year)

Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek has standard all-wheel drive and the rugged appearance of a vehicle designed for life in the wilderness. Fortunately, the Crosstrek is just as capable in the urban jungle. Subaru gives the Crosstrek a raised ride height to help it off-road, but that extra clearance also comes in handy when dealing with large speed bumps or steep parking lot entrances.

If you’re constantly in a rush, Edmunds recommends ditching the base 152-horsepower four-cylinder engine and switching to the more powerful 182-horsepower version. Subaru puts this on every 2025 Crosstrek except the base trim level. The interior is simple but durable, with controls logically placed and within easy reach. With a capacity of 19.9 cubic feet, cargo space is on the smaller side among compact SUVs. However, its low loading floor and wide-opening hatch make it easier to take large items on board.

Starting price: $26,540

Mercedes-Benz GLB

The Mercedes-Benz GLB proves its premium price with cutting-edge technology, smooth ride and powerful performance. The upright shape of the GLB is also practical. This subcompact Mercedes has 22 cubic feet of cargo volume and an adult-sized second row. There’s even an optional third row, but it’s only suitable for children.

During testing, Edmunds noted that the standard 221 turbocharged four-cylinder engine had enough grunt to propel the GLB from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Want to shorten your commute even further? The AMG GLB 35, a sportily tuned model with 302 horsepower, is even faster and rides on a low suspension. You can get the GLB with some useful tech features, like a surround-view parking camera system, but be aware that adding too many options can push the GLB’s price well above the skyline.

Starting price: $46,950

Edmunds says

These five small SUVs make a conscious choice for city dwellers with their modest size, sharp driving style and fuel-guzzling engines.

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This story was submitted to: Associated Press by automotive website Edmunds. Nick Kurczewski contributes to Edmunds.