The best small SUVs for city driving

SUVs are popular in part because of their increased ground clearance, excellent visibility of the road, and spacious interiors. However, many midsize and large SUVs feel bulky when driving around town. Smaller, more maneuverable cars are a great alternative to help make city driving less tiring. Edmunds experts have rounded up five city SUVs that are great at navigating busy traffic and squeezing into curbside parking spots. All prices below include destination charges.

Kia Soul

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

Edmunds highlights the Soul’s agility and fuel-efficient engine as reasons to buy it. Both should come in handy when driving around the city. And given that city living doesn’t come cheap, it helps to know that the Soul is the cheapest of the five cars listed here. One downside to know about the Soul: It can’t be purchased with all-wheel drive.

Starting price: $21,665.

Buick Envista

To stand out in an urban environment, you need something special. That’s why the Buick Envista earns a spot on this list. It has an attractive design that navigates traffic jams in style. Few cars can do this at such an affordable price.

Inside and out, the Envista looks and feels like a more expensive car than it actually is. The touchscreen interface is attractive and easy to use, and available features like heated front seats and steering wheel, a power liftgate and rain-sensing wipers add an upscale feel to Buick’s cheapest SUV. One trade-off is cargo space: the Envista’s streamlined shape means trunk volume is smaller than many competitors.

Starting price: $24,795.

Volkswagen Taos

The Volkswagen Taos is a compact SUV that Edmunds says outperforms many similarly sized competitors. Taos is easy to maneuver, and its upright shape and large windows provide excellent outward visibility. This is of great importance when driving around the city. Passenger and cargo space rank among the best in its class, and the Taos’ engine is powerful enough to pull away quickly at stoplights.

Every 2025, Taos will feature a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen and wireless device charging. And since navigating city traffic can be challenging, it’s nice to know that driver-assistance features like rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and automatic emergency braking come standard.

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

Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek has standard all-wheel drive and rugged looks built for the wilderness. Luckily, the Crosstrek handles the urban jungle equally well. Subaru gives the Crosstrek increased ground clearance to help with off-road driving, but that extra ground clearance also comes in handy when dealing with large speed bumps or steep garage entrances.

If you’re usually in a hurry, Edmunds suggests ditching the base 152-horsepower four-cylinder engine and upgrading to the more powerful 182-horsepower version. Subaru puts it in every 2025 Crosstrek except the base trim. The interior is simple but solid, with controls laid out logically and within easy reach. At 19.9 cubic feet, cargo space is the smallest among compact SUVs. However, the low cargo floor and wide-opening hatch make it easy to carry bulky items on board.

Starting price: $26,540.

Mercedes-Benz GLB

The Mercedes-Benz GLB justifies its premium price with advanced technology, a smooth ride and strong performance. The vertical shape of the GLB is also practical. This pint-sized Mercedes has 22 cubic feet of cargo volume and an adult-friendly 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 has enough power to propel the GLB from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Want to reduce your travel time even further? The sports-tuned AMG GLB 35, with 302 horsepower, is even quicker and features a lowered suspension. You can get a GLB with some useful tech features, like a surround-view parking camera system, but keep in mind that adding a lot of options can send the GLB’s price soaring well above the city skyline.

Starting price: $46,950.

Edmunds says

These five small SUVs have modest proportions, sharp driving manners and fuel-efficient engines, making them a smart choice for city dwellers.

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This story was provided by Associated Press from the automotive site Edmunds. Nick Kurczewski is an Edmunds contributor.