Need lots of space for people and things – and maybe some off-road ability? These are the best large SUVs you should consider this year
There are two types of people – people that somehow make a small car work for family life, and those who wonder how on earth the small-car people do it. If you’re in the latter camp, where only a large car will do, then this is the list for you. Oh, that rhymed.
The cars on this list are widely available with four-wheel drive, either as standard or on selected engines, giving you the peace of mind if you occasionally need to head away from asphalt roads or if you live somewhere that bears the brunt of winter. With brawny engines, these big SUVs are usually pretty good tow cars as well.
Their high ground clearances also serve a purpose if you’re not Bear Grylls – you get a higher seating position for a clear view of the road ahead, and the raised body can also make it easier to get kids in and out. Due to their size, these best large SUVs often come with seven seats, giving you a couple of extra chairs for occasional use. We’ve listed them alphabetically.
1. Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 has graced a few of our best car lists, because it’s just so darn capable. Whether you’re going to be using Audi’s largest SUV for long motorway commutes, cross-country driving or to get to a ski resort, the Q7 never feels unruffled. Given it’s over five metres long, maybe it’s not surprising that the Q7 is so spacious, but even the third row of seats are suitable for adults. And young children, because there are Isofix points back there. The Q7 mixes people-carrier practicality with limousine luxury and so, while it’s not cheap, it still feels good value.
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2. BMW X5
A long time ago, the BMW X5 pretty much set up the luxurious, lifestyle-led SUV class – which now includes cars as varied as the Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes GLE and Aston Martin DBX. To this day, the X5 still combines all-wheel-drive confidence with a premium interior and a surprisingly sporty driving experience. It’s vast as a five-seater, while an optional third row is available to give you extra flexibility – even if the sixth and seventh seats are best for kids. Just like the Q7, you get the impression that the X5 will do everything you need with heaps of talent to spare.
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3. Hyundai Santa Fe
Previous generations of the Hyundai Santa Fe were sometimes overlooked by large SUV buyers, but the Korean brand has made sure that everyone looks twice at the new Santa Fe. Its unapologetic styling works alongside brash city skyscrapers or in the remote back of beyond. The Santa Fe is now a bit more road-focused than before, and more economical – there’s now only a choice of hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines. Rural buyers might mourn the loss of the old car’s diesel engine, but buyers are likely to prefer the top-notch interior to the old Santa Fe’s button-heavy layout.
See used Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs for sale or read our Hyundai Santa Fe review
4. Kia EV9
If you thought the Sorento (below) was big, park one next to the Kia EV9. Kia’s new electric seven-seater is a whopper, and that means there’s ample space for seven adults. All of whom will enjoy the high-tech, high-class interior that puts certain Mercedes and Audi models to shame. Over 300 miles to a charge is possible, and there’s still a big boot with all seven seats in place. It’s phenomenally capable, which rather softens the blow of paying £65,000 for a Kia. Still, that’s a whole Kia EV3 less than a Volvo EX90 – one of the few other three-row EVs on sale right now.
Read our Kia EV9 review
5. Kia Sorento
Underneath the skin, the Kia Sorento shares its oily bits with the Santa Fe, but you won’t see much evidence of that inside. The Sorento has a slightly more pared-back dashboard, but a similarly exhaustive level of equipment and palatial cabin space. Kia’s warranty is a little better unless you’re a high-mileage driver – Kia offers warranty to seven years or 100,000 miles, while the Santa Fe is covered for five years without a mileage limit. Otherwise, the diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines are the same, and you get a similar feeling of total competence.
Shop used Kia Sorento cars for sale or read our Kia Sorento review
6. Nissan X-Trail
Take the Nissan Qashqai, make it bigger and add the option for a third row of seats and, voila, that’s a Nissan X-Trail. It’s not the largest SUV on this list so you might find it a little easier to manoeuvre than some of its rivals, but it still offers a really good amount of space. There’s room to squeeze in a third row of seats – they’re optional so some cars will have seven seats and some won’t – and an airy cabin up front. The latest X-Trail also comes with the option of an E-Power hybrid engine, which feels like an electric car to drive but doesn’t need plugging in.
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7. Peugeot 5008
We’ve found the future. Not in a crystal ball, but in the beautiful cabin of the new Peugeot 5008. The showstopper is a 21-inch central screen that’s gently curved and seems to float above the dashboard. With nice textile materials and state-of-the-art tech as backup. There’s now a choice of hybrid or electric options, with the big-battery EV slated to manage 415 miles to a charge. Pick your jaw up, it’ll get dirty on the floor. Seven adults can fit in the clever 5008, although you’ll need the last-shape 5008 for three Isofix points or a diesel engine.
Shop used Peugeot 5008 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Peugeot 5008 review
8. Range Rover
We couldn’t have a list of large SUVs and not include the GOAT. Undoubtedly the Greatest of All Time, the Range Rover is the luxury large SUV that all the others try to beat. The latest one costs supercar money but it is a super car – it’s magnificently opulent inside, has the power to change the moon’s orbit and will still take you further off the beaten track than you’d be comfortable with. Serene at high speeds yet surprisingly easy to drive around town, the Range Rover is the ultimate automobile if you have deep enough pockets.
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9. Skoda Kodiaq
And just like that, Skoda’s winged arrow has brought us back to reality with a bump. Sorry. But the Skoda Kodiaq is a fantastic car for those of us whose names don’t start with ‘Lord’ or ‘Lady’. It’s solidly put together, has all the equipment you realistically need, engines that offer a good blend of economy and performance, and room for seven adults. Four-wheel drive is available on certain versions, and many cars come with an automatic gearbox. The Skoda Kodiaq really is a mainstream dream.
Shop used Skoda Kodiaq cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Skoda Kodiaq review
10. Volvo XC90
Loved by everyone from heads of state to the Highways Agency, the Volvo XC90 is a brilliant large SUV – even nearly a decade after it first launched. All current-shape XC90s have seven seats, and all those seats are big enough for adult buttocks and legs. If you’re up front, you get a cool, calm Scandi cabin to enjoy – no log fires, unfortunately – with plush materials and a crisp portrait-oriented touchscreen. Volvo is obsessive about safety, so the XC90 comes stuffed with active driver assistance tech. You might even find some bubblewrap stashed in the glovebox.
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