Also, your budget would get you into a 2015 Ssangyong Tivoli 1.6 petrol.

Here is a Tivoli,

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20180523679...1

And here is a Kia Soul,

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20181018160...1

In case you are unfamiliar with what either looks like!.

Wouldn’t touch the Juke, it’s nothing more than a heavier, thirstier, less enjoyable driving Renault Clio. The Suzuki is fine but if it simply has to be an SUV I’d also be looking at a 1.6 petrol Kia Sportage or Hyundai ix 35. Both are reliable and well made if a bit drab to drive but both are vastly superior to a Juke. Personally I’d rather have a more mainstream family hatch like a Toyota Auris, Honda Civic, Ford Focus 1.6 or Mazda 3 all petrol at this money. They’ll drive better, be just as practical, be better on fuel and it’ll give you much more choice.

The problem with the ix35 and Sportage is that they are both pretty porky (around 1380kg), so the n/a 1.6 needs to be worked pretty hard. By contrast the Soul weighs around 160kg less but has the same engine (it is a smaller car though). Suzukis are generally pretty svelte and the SX4 S-Cross is no exception with the 1.6 petrol tipping the scales at just under 1100kg, so under normal driving duties i would expect its mpg to be no lower (and possibly higher) than a 'normal' car with a similar n/a 1.6. There would probably be a difference at higher speeds where the poorer aerodynamics of an SUV would have an effect.

I think if it was the ix35 or sportage it would have to be diesel based on the mpg returns.

But saying that I think the sx4 scross(petrol or diesel) is tempting based on advice.

5-10k per annum, doubtful it would be worth the risk of going diesel for that mileage?

Personally, I'd favour the Kia Soul if it's looks appeal. A word of caution though, there are a variety of funky looking special editions, most of which have very large wheels with ultra low profile tyres. These apparently give a very harsh ride, so i would avoid these and go for a model with a more modest wheel/tyre combo.

I think if it was the ix35 or sportage it would have to be diesel based on the mpg returns.

But saying that I think the sx4 scross(petrol or diesel) is tempting based on advice.

Your mileage doesn't warrant a diesel, and as others have said, buying one looks good on paper as regrads the fuel cost, but a second hand modern diesel can very easily be a ruinous purchase - people often get rid of them either just before the warranty runs out or when they know it has an issue they don't want to pay for.

Either way, using it (the previous owners or yourself) in that way (low mileage/repeated short trips from cold) can easily lead to major and very expensive problems (far outweighing the cost of owning a petrol version) in short order. Its a big risk for the vast majority of makes, except, perhaps, Hondas, who seem more (but not completely) resilient to DPF problems, etc, but you pay a higher price for them as a result.

Note that in the grand scheme of things, the fuel cost difference for relatively low mileage will pale into insignificance compare with the purchase and maintenance costs.

Better to find a newer generation economical petrol (e.g. VAG's small capacity TSIs) or low weight non-turbo petrols (not many around, only Mazda really do them) which are a bit more relaible over the long term but are about 5% less fuel efficient than the best turbo-petrols.

Many VAG cars about - I'll leave explanations to others with more knowledge, but I'd say most should get mid 40s mpg except for the bigger ones, some as high as 50 unless you're going to use it round town all the time.

For a small-ish SUV like the Mazda CX-3 2.0 petrol (unfortunately it's too new to be in your price range yet, cheapest are £10k for the first 2015 models) you'd get about low to mid 40s mpg out of it - on par with the bigger/heavier but more aerodynamic Mazda3. You may to consider the equivalent CX-5 which should return in 2WD petrol form (don't ever get the diesel) about 35-40mpg with a light foot;

Others with older style non-turbo engines around the 1.4/1.6L petrol like the Kias/Hyundais will likely get around the same, perhaps a bit less (high 30s), as they are older tech, but generally reliable units, just not that nippy.

The petrol engined cars will likely be more reliable over the longer term. I'd also go for the mid-spec cars as well, getting the lowest spec you absolutely need, so that insurance is less and there's less to go wrong. You'll also get higher profile (55 to 65)/smaller (15-17in/up to 215 wide) tyres which give a better ride, are less susceptible to damage, last longer, give better mpg and cost far less to replace.

What's the reason for getting an SUV - looks, high driving position, ease of entry? Some similar-ish MPVs and hatches might well suit both and the budget and give just as good interior and boot space.