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Compact SUVs more popular than ever

Each brand brings its own interpretation of luxury, sportiness and ease of use. In this blog, we compare the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Audi Q3, Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz GLB, BMW X2 and the Lynk & Co 01.

From Italian style and dynamic handling to Scandinavian design and innovative technology, these models each offer a unique experience.

We look at aspects such as driving comfort, interior quality, technology, practicality and, of course, overall driving pleasure.

Whether you're looking for sportiness, luxury, versatility or smart connectivity, this overview helps you find the compact SUV that best suits your needs.

Alfa Romeo Tonale‍

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compact SUV that immediately stands out for its beautiful, timeless Italian design. With sharp lines, a distinctive grille and elegant proportions, the Tonale exudes style and flair, both in the city and on the highway. The interior combines luxurious materials with modern technology, making every ride feel both comfortable and premium. When it comes to driving experience, the Tonale excels with its very good handling. The car sits tightly on the road, with direct steering and dynamic handling, making driving really enjoyable and sporty.

For those who want to combine sportiness and efficiency, the 280 PHEV version offers an attractive option. This plug-in hybrid provides powerful performance, while being economical and fully electric for short trips. Thanks to this combination of design, driving pleasure and technology, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compelling choice in the compact SUV segment. ‍

Alfa Romeo Tonale — Highlights & Tips

Timeless Italian design and sporty handling
280 PHEV: powerful, economical and partly electric driving
Purchase advice: pay attention to versions and option packages for maximum luxury and technology
Maintenance: innovative digital maintenance certificate via Blockchain/NFT for a reliable history

See all Alfa Romeo Tonale ->

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Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 is a compact SUV characterized by a sleek, modern design and a premium interior. Thanks to high-quality materials, a well-organized dashboard and a large infotainment screen, the Q3 offers a luxurious and comfortable driving experience for everyday use and long journeys. The driving behavior is stable and calm, with sufficient maneuverability for urban traffic.

For those who value sportiness, there is the Audi RS Q3. This high-performance variant offers impressive performance thanks to a powerful engine and sporty-tuned chassis. The handling is dynamic and responsive, making it one of the sportiest choices in the compact SUV segment. At the same time, the RS Q3 maintains the practical features of the regular Q3, such as a spacious trunk and modern safety and driver assistance systems.

Together, the Q3 and RS Q3 form a versatile offering: the regular Q3 for comfort and luxury, the RS Q3 for dynamic performance and a sporty driving experience.

Audi Q3 — Highlights & Tips

Modern, sleek design with premium interior
Comfortable handling and practical features
RS Q3: sporty, powerful performance and dynamic handling
Maintenance: more expensive compared to other brands in this test

Volvo XC40

The Volvo XC40 is one of the most popular compact SUVs in the Netherlands, and for good reason. The business, Scandinavian design appeals to many buyers: sleek, functional and timeless, with an interior that exudes luxury and comfort without unnecessary frills.

The XC40 offers a comfortable and stable driving experience, with a well-organized cab and modern Volvo safety and infotainment systems. In addition, it is spacious enough for daily use and longer rides, making it practical and stylish.

With a range of powertrains, including petrol, mild hybrid and fully electric variants, the XC40 offers something for everyone. The combination of Swedish design, solid build quality and smart technology makes the Volvo XC40 a strong player in the compact SUV segment.

Volvo XC40 — Highlights & Tips

Business and timeless Scandinavian design
Comfortable and stable ride, luxurious interior
Various powertrains: gasoline, mild hybrid, and fully electric
Maintenance: pay extra attention to the hybrid powertrain for optimal performance and longevity

Find a Volvo XC40 ->

Mercedes-Benz GLB

The Mercedes-Benz GLB is a compact SUV that primarily looks practical and spacious. The design is somewhat traditional and less conspicuous than some competitors in this class, so the model may look a bit old in terms of appearance. Nevertheless, the GLB still exudes the typical Mercedes quality and solidity.

Inside, the GLB offers a comfortable and functional interior, with plenty of space for passengers and luggage. The model has modern infotainment and safety technologies, and the optional third row of seats also makes it suitable for larger families.

The ride is comfortable and focused on ease of use rather than sportiness, making it a solid choice for those who value reliability and practicality over a striking design.

Mercedes-Benz GLB — Highlights & Tips

Practical and spacious interior, optionally with third row of seats
Comfortable driving, focused on ease of use
Traditional design, less conspicuous than competitors
Modern infotainment and safety technologies

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BMW X2

The BMW X2 is a compact SUV that stands out for its sporty look and dynamic handling. With its coupe-like roofline and clean lines, the X2 exudes flair and style, while the interior combines premium materials and modern technology for a comfortable and luxurious experience.

For those looking for an extra sporty experience, there's the BMW X2 M35i. This high-performance variant features a more powerful engine, sporty suspension and direct steering.

The result is a highly dynamic and enjoyable driving experience, without losing the practical use of a compact SUV. The X2 M35i's chassis offers both everyday comfort and sporty cornering stability, making it one of the most enjoyable compact SUVs in its class to drive.

With its combination of design, premium interior and outstanding driving characteristics, the BMW X2 is an attractive option for those who want to combine sportiness and luxury in a compact SUV.

BMW X2 — Highlights & Tips

Sporty, coupe-like design and premium interior
Very good suspension, dynamic and enjoyable driving
M35i: powerful engine and sporty performance
Maintenance: comparable to Audi Q3, therefore more expensive than average in this class

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Lynk & Co 01

The Lynk & Co 01 is a compact SUV that is doing surprisingly well in the Netherlands. The car shares a lot of technology with its partner, the Volvo XC40, such as platform and powertrains, making it solid and reliable. In terms of design, the Lynk & Co 01 stands out for its modern, Scandinavian-inspired appearance, although it was originally only available in two colors, making it recognisable and exclusive.

As an occasion, the Lynk & Co 01 is particularly interesting. Because the model has been on the market for several years, prices have become competitive, while the car still offers the quality and technology of a modern compact SUV.

This makes it attractive for buyers who want a well-equipped, stylish and affordable SUV with a Swedish touch without paying the top prize.

Lynk & Co 01 — Highlights & Tips

Power: 180—254 hp depending on engine variant
Partly the same technology as Volvo XC40: reliable platform and powertrain
Original only available in two colors, striking design
Maintenance: parts sometimes difficult to deliver at first; now competitively priced as a used car

See all Lynk & Co 01 ->

Conclusion: compact SUVs

All models discussed are strong choices, but preference depends on what you're looking for.

Sporty and dynamic: The BMW X2 and Alfa Romeo Tonale (especially the 280 HP PHEV) offer the most driving pleasure and a sharp chassis.
Comfort and Swedish reliability: The Volvo XC40 and Lynk & Co 01 impress primarily with their Swedish roots, practical features and modern technology; the Lynk & Co 01 is also competitively priced as a used car.
Premium and versatile: The Audi Q3 (especially the RS version) offers impressive performance and luxury, but the maintenance and purchase price are high. The Mercedes GLB is a solid, spacious and comfortable SUV, with a traditional design but less conspicuous or sporty than the competitors.

In short: those looking for sportiness choose the BMW X2 or Alfa Romeo Tonale, those who want reliability and comfort go for the Volvo XC40 or a Lynk & Co, and those looking for premium luxury and performance can look at Audi Q3 or Mercedes GLB.

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