The Fastest SUVs Under £30,000

The SUV market has been the fastest growing sector in the automotive world, over the past decade or so. Where SUVs used to be large, slow alternatives to an estate car, you now have multiple models from every manufacturer. But have they changed that much since?

Part of the appeal of modern SUVs lies in the crossover market. Better defined as smaller SUV models, these are more practical than a hatchback but focused on style and performance more than passenger space. The small SUV market has pushed manufacturers into creating sportier versions of their SUV models, and prices have risen as a result.

Luckily there are still some great options for anyone on a budget. Today, we wanted to talk about the best SUVs you can buy right now for under £30,000. That might seem like a lot, but in the SUV world, a great option is hard to find unless you have deep pockets

So what are the fastest SUV models on sale for under £30,000? 

The Fastest SUVs You Can Buy For Less Than £30,000

In this article we’ll look at the five fastest SUVs you can buy right now for under £30k. We’ve chosen five different manufacturers and some very different vehicles, so no matter what you are looking for in a performance SUV, it should be here.

Mini Countryman Cooper – £28,815

The first option on our list comes from Mini, and it’s the Countryman. This is the largest car Mini produces, and competes with the likes of the Audi Q2 and VW T-Roc. As with most Minis, the Countryman is priced at the higher end of the market, with plenty of optional extras. Starting at just over £28,000, the Cooper spec provides a great balance of performance and features.

Performance in the Countryman Cooper is provided by a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine, generating 136 bhp. These aren’t huge numbers in the SUV world, but you’ll get to 60mph in under 10 seconds, which is enough for most owners. There is a John Cooper Works spec that gets you over 300 bhp, but the starting price of more than £36,000 isn’t worth it in our opinion.

The Countryman is a great example of a modern SUV, with little focus on off-roading, and more on passenger comfort and style. Like most of the current Mini range, the design isn’t going to put many off, but it’s not exactly memorable. Overall, the Countryman is unlikely to meet your expectations if performance is the main focus, but it’s a competent small SUV.

Cupra Formentor V1 TSI – £29,880

If you thought the Countryman was slightly boring, you’ll be interested in our next choice. This is the Cupra Formentor, the latest model from Seat’s performance division. Let’s get straight to it – this is exactly what you want a performance SUV to look like. Cupra has nailed the design here, and ignoring the fake exhausts, this will give you the feeling of a premium SUV.

The performance stats on the Cupra almost back the design up. On the V1 TFSI version, starting at just under £30,000, you get 150 bhp and a 0-60 time of 8.7 seconds. Higher spec models improve the performance, but costs quickly increase, making the V1 a great option on a budget. Handling is also strong, which is helped by the low ride height of the Formentor.

If you’re looking for a crossover SUV that is happy to focus on performance, this is the model for you. Practicality is fairly strong in the Formentor too, but it’s not exactly top of the class there. Buy a Formentor and you’ll be guaranteed two things; an enjoyable drive, and plenty of looks

Audi Q2 35 TFSI – £29,965

From Spain to Germany, our next car is the Audi Q2. The Q2 has been a minor sensation for Audi, and one of the more popular premium crossovers. The badge has helped, but a solid design and plenty of features have pushed the Q2 near the top of most crossover lists.

Performance is solid too. The 35 TFSI is our pick, coming in just below the £30,000 mark. For this you get 148 bhp, resulting in 0-60 times of 8.5 seconds. This is a front-wheel-drive car after all, missing out on Audi’s Quattro system (you need the higher spec version for that).

We can’t ignore the pricing here, as the £29,965 doesn’t tell you the full story with the Q2. As with most Audi models, the optional extra list is long and expensive, and you can easily spec this car to the north of £40,000. As with any extra features, these are up to you, but you’ll have to go without some features if you’re on that £30k budget.

Volkswagen T-Roc TSI – £29,995

We are staying in Germany for our next car, the VW T-Roc. As Audi and VW share a parent company, the T-Roc is a very similar car to the Audi Q2, and this shows in the performance stats. Looks wise, I have to admit I prefer the VW, with a more premium-looking design.

As we mentioned, performance in the T-Roc is almost identical to the Q2. The version we’ve chosen, the 1.5L TSI, also has 148 bhp, but you get a slightly better 0-60 time of 8.3 seconds. The T-Roc is a better vehicle than the Q2 in other areas too, with plenty more features as standard, avoiding those dreaded optional extras costs. 

Overall, we feel the T-Roc offers the best value for money on this list, although the last car may change your mind. In a crowded market sector, if you’re after a small SUV with strong performance, the T-Roc should definitely be on your shortlist.

Ford Puma ST – £30,270

Our final car is slightly controversial, and it’s the Ford Puma ST. In case you missed it, this model starts at over £30,000, but before you get to the comments, I’ll try and explain. We know that we are breaking our own rules here by including the Puma ST, but the performance of this small SUV needs a mention on this list, even if it does stretch the budget.

Ford has given the Puma an ST badge, and as result, it has a reputation to live up to. Fortunately, this is another great addition to the ST lineup, and the performance of this Puma model is ahead of anything else we’ve looked at. From a 1.5L petrol engine, you get 200 bhp and a 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds. That’s over a second quicker than any other SUV under £30k, and hopefully, you’ll now agree that we needed to include the Ford Puma.

The even better news is that this is a great car in its own right. Ignore the ‘loud’ paintwork – after all a Ford ST needs to stand out – and you’ll find plenty to enjoy here. The driving experience is excellent, and this is surprisingly practical. In our minds this is easily the most fun you can have in an SUV for £30,000 (and a bit)

Summary

There we are – five of the fastest SUV models on sale right now for less than £30,000. These cars won’t compete with any performance saloons or hot hatches, but they will give you a surprising amount of driving entertainment, alongside practicality. The small SUV/Crossover sector has become increasingly popular in the last few years and looking at these cars, it’s easy to see why.

Mini Countryman Cooper – £28,815

Cupra Formentor V1 TSI – £29,880

Audi Q2 35 TFSI – £29,965

Volkswagen T-Roc TSI – £29,995

Ford Puma ST – £30,270

Our pick would definitely be the Ford Puma ST – if you’re after performance from your SUV, you can’t beat that value for money. Plenty of you will be more interested in the T-Roc, Countryman, and Q2 with their premium design and options, even if they do sacrifice some performance.

A final mention has to go to Cupra Formentor. Design-wise it’s one of the best sporty SUVs on the market right now, and if you’re looking for something different it’s definitely worth considering. 

Thanks for reading. If you’ve enjoyed this article and want to find out more, check out the links below:

The Best New Hyundais For Under £30,000

Comparing The Volkswagen Golf R vs The Honda Civic Type R

The Five Best Hot Hatchbacks

The Best Kia Models For Under £30,000