Thinking about scaling down? Now is the time to buy a petrol crossover that's cheap to run before everything gets way more expensive. Here are some of the cars I'd recommend to the thrifty family-car buyer, with actual fuel consumption figures from real-life road testing.
Toyota: Small and medium crossovers for the win
I'd buy any Toyota crossover, like the stylish 1.2T C-HR, the more conservative Toyota Starlet Cross (1.5), or the larger Toyota Urban Cruiser (1.5). You can't put a price on peace of mind, and Toyota gives you just that. Expect realistic consumption in the mid-6 L/100 km range for these cars. Read all Urban Cruiser reviews here.
Suzuki: The king of value-packed crossovers with low running costs
Any Suzuki crossover, although I'd probably skip the S-Presso and opt for an Ignis, which should give you 5.4-6 L/100 km if you drive like a well-mannered person. A Suzuki Fronx is going to be the ultimate family all-rounder.
Then there's the bigger Grand Vitara (on which the Toyota Urban Cruiser is based), and now the new Across too. The last 3 all have a punchy yet efficient 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engines, with consumption around 6.5L/100 km. Read all Grand Vitara reviews here.
Mahindra: Not the sub-par Indian brand we used to know
Mahindra has improved in leaps and bounds, and you'd be wise to consider a Mahindra XUV 3X0. We're talking a 5-star GlobalNCAP safety rating, an energetic yet frugal 1.2T, and enough space for a small family. One of the best in the segment! Gave us 6-7L/100 km in heavy traffic. If you're buying used, the previous XUV 300 is a solid choice, too.
Kia: The Sonet continues to impress
You cannot go wrong with the Kia Sonet. It's safe, it's sophisticated, it's reliable. Build quality is good, too. We've all driven the Sonet, and actual consumption is 6-7 L/100 km in the 1.5. (The 1.0T's 7.8 to 8.1L/100 km is just a little too high for our list.) It's also a good pre-loved buy. Read all Kia Sonet reviews here.
Also consider: Its cousin, the Hyundai Venue.
Honda: Your forever-crossovers
Honda's Elevate is a great choice too; Hondas are built to last, and even though the Elevate is not what I'd call fancy, it's going to stay in the family until your kids graduate from varsity. Fuel consumption in our test model was 7-7.8 L/100 km. Buying used? You can stick with the Elevate or opt for a 1.5-litre Honda BR-V or Honda HR-V.
Volkswagen: The Germans know how to build compact SUVs
The T-Cross has proven itself to be a reliable companion and an ace family transporter for those who don't need a huge car. During our time with us, the 1.0 TSI's consumption was around 6.5 L/100 km. Also makes a good choice used. Also consider: The VW Taigo. Read our reviews of the T-Cross here.
Mitsubishi: Japanese build quality and value
Another 1.5-litre crossover that is extremely easy to live with is the Outlander Sport (read our review). A win if you like to stand out from the crowd. We tested it in 2025, with average consumption of 6.9 to 7.3 L/100 km. Other used cars to consider are the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and ASX.
Going the plug-in hybrid route instead? Read our article that lists the PHEVs with the longest range in SA.
