Big in the city

A small crossover is a top choice for the urban jungle, but which of our trio is the best used buy?

Peugeot 2008 2008 Bluehdi 100 Allure

Years: 2016 to date Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 99bhp Ins group: 18 Official econ/co2: 76.3mpg/97g/km Why? Facelifted 2008 is smarter looking than ever inside and out, and is the roomiest car here.

£9,000

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THE 2008 has been around since 2013, but a facelift last year updated Peugeot’s smallest SUV with fresh looks in line with more recent additions to the range. And while the small crossover market is becoming crowded, the 2008 is a decent effort thanks to a blend of a classy cabin and good practicality – the 360-litre boot is the biggest of these three.

Running gear is shared with the C4 Cactus, although the Peugeot is slightly less economical. The 2008 scored a good result in our Driver Power 2017 owner satisfaction survey, placing 16th overall. Peugeot as a manufacturer ranked a respectable 13th.

Citroen C4 Cactus C4 Cactus Bluehdi Flair

Years: 2015 to date Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 99bhp Ins group: 18 Official econ/co2: 78.5mpg/95g/km Why? Eye-catching looks add a dash of desirability, plus the Cactus should be the cheapest car to run.

£8,000

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CITROEN’S C4 Cactus is probably one of the most eye-catching small crossovers you can buy, although the quirky looks with those Airbump panels aren’t to everyone’s tastes. Compared with the Peugeot, the Citroen boasts more hatchback-like proportions, but with a 358-litre boot it’s almost as practical.

The cabin itself is pretty spacious, and well appointed, too. It’s also the cleanest car of these three and has the best economy, with CO2 emissions of 95g/km and a claimed fuel return of 78.5mpg. Despite this, the C4 Cactus performed poorly in Driver Power 2017, finishing 73rd out of 75 cars.

Ford Ecosport Ecosport 1.5 TDCI Titanium

Years: 2015 to date Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl, 94bhp Ins group: 10 Official econ/co2: 64.2mpg/115g/km Why? Ford’s Ecosport does boast one trump card – its group 10 insurance rating is low for the class.

£9,480

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FORD’S Ecosport has always had it tough in a class that’s crowded and increasing in quality. With 355 litres of boot space and a side-hinged tailgate, it’s marginally the least practical car of the three. And while the 1.5 TDCI diesel engine provides smooth performance, it can’t compete with the fuel efficiency of the Bluehdi units in the other two cars. Nor is it as good to drive.

The Ford does sit in a significantly lower insurance group, so premiums should be much cheaper. The Ecosport didn’t feature in our latest satisfaction survey, but Ford finished 19th in the manufacturers’ chart.