Loads of families have swapped their old hatchbacks or saloons for high-riding crossovers and SUVs – here are our favourite picks for family buyers.
While SUVs and crossovers have been around since the early '90s, growing families and a desire for more space and a higher driving position has seen the crossover market surge in popularity. The majority of SUV crossovers are based on smaller cars in the manufacturer’s range (e.g. the Volkswagen Tiguan is based on the Volkswagen Golf platform) so offer the easy ergonomics of a car with the cabin space and boot size of a 4x4.
We’ve put together a list of our favourite family SUVs, all available in store or online with our team of experts ready to help you with any questions you may have.
Best small family SUV – Skoda Kamiq
The Skoda Kamiq is a big car disguised as a small one. It’s roughly the same size as most of its rivals, but the Kamiq offers more legroom than cars like the Renault Captur, Ford Puma and Nissan Juke. Perfect if your kids are shooting up like sunflowers in manure.
The 1.0-litre petrol engine you’ll find in most Kamiqs is surprisingly punchy, but it’s also cheap to run – handy for when you get stung with unexpected after-school club bills.
Shop used Skoda Kamiq cars for sale or read our Skoda Kamiq review
Best mid-size family SUV – Kia Sportage
The last-generation Kia Sportage has found thousands of homes in the UK. Its long warranty, generous kit list and spacious cabin struck a chord with many buyers. If that, plus reliability, comfort and the availability of four-wheel drive all sounds good to you, we have lots of great-value Sportages for sale.
On the back of that car’s popularity, Kia could have rested on its laurels with the latest-generation car (pictured). But Kia has given the new Sportage even bolder styling, even greater practicality and an ultra-modern interior borrowed from its flagship electric car, the EV6. It has overhauled the engine range, too, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines being offered on the Sportage for the first time.
Shop used Kia Sportage cars for sale or read our Kia Sportage review
Best large SUV for families – Skoda Kodiaq
The Skoda Kodiaq is the largest model with the winged arrow badge, but it still features the same qualities you get in any Skoda. Namely smart styling, an intuitive and practical interior, an assured driving experience and clever features that make family life just that bit easier. As you’d expect, the Kodiaq offers more space than the smaller Karoq and Kamiq SUVs. Most Kodiaqs come with seven seats, adding the versatility of a third row when you need it or a massive boot when you don’t.
While some seven-seater cars have tight back seats, the Kodiaq can accommodate adults for short journeys. It may not be on your list if you’re after a car with three Isofix points across the middle row, but it’s otherwise a very appealing and complete family SUV.
Browse used Skoda Kodiaq cars for sale
Best affordable family SUV – Vauxhall Grandland
You don’t have to break the bank if you need the space of a family SUV. Check out the Vauxhall Grandland for proof – it’s similarly practical to the Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai but costs thousands of pounds less. You won’t feel like you’ve cheaped out in the Grandland. Its intuitive interior features plenty of solid-feeling materials and an appealing equipment list, including alloy wheels, smartphone connectivity, parking assistance and cruise control.
The Grandland is Vauxhall’s largest SUV and brings impressive rear-seat space and a large 514-litre boot. There are economical petrol and diesel engines, as well as a couple of plug-in hybrid models that offer a good-value avenue into electrification. These hybrid versions can drive for up to 40 miles on electric power with a fully charged battery, and doing that regularly will drastically cut your petrol costs.
Shop used Vauxhall Grandland cars for sale or read our used Vauxhall Grandland review
Most economical family SUV – Volkswagen Tiguan
Small caveat: you’ll probably never get anywhere near the Tiguan eHybrid’s quoted 712mpg. You’ll need to use the battery power for the majority of journeys and remember to keep it charged – which should be quite easy to do considering the Tiguan offers almost 80 miles of all-electric driving. It’s best as an electric car, too, with a useful boost to refinement and running costs versus the petrol engine.
If you’d rather not have the plug-in hybrid, the standard petrol engine returns 45mpg while the diesel model hits 52mpg – both decent figures for such a practical car.
Shop used Volkswagen Tiguan cars for sale or read our Volkswagen Tiguan review
Safest SUV for families – Audi Q6 e-tron
The new Audi Q6 is every bit as solid as it feels, as evidenced by its 2024 Euro NCAP safety test. With scores of 91% for adult occupant protection and 92% for child protection – as well as 81% for pedestrian protection and 80% for the on-board safety features – it’s clear that the Q6 truly deserves its five-star overall score.
Don’t worry if the budget doesn’t stretch to a Q6, as the much more affordable Nissan Qashqai scored 91% for both adult and child protection in 2021. Check out our in-depth Nissan Qashqai review.
There are also a number of incredibly safe electric SUVs – in 2022 the Tesla Model Y scored an astonishing 97% for adult protection and 87% for child protection, while the Smart #1 scored 96% and 89% respectively.
Best hybrid family SUV – Hyundai Tucson
Among the many changes introduced on this generation of Hyundai Tucson were a pair of hybrid engines – one that you have to plug in, and one that you don’t. The plug-in hybrid is a little more expensive like-for-like but offers the potential for lower running costs if you can recharge the battery regularly, and those two factors will help guide your decision.
Whichever Tucson you pick, you’ll get an arresting design with lots of slashes and creases, and that eye-catching light-up grille. The latest Tucson also packs a premium interior and Audi levels of tech, plus it also has one of the most spacious cabins in its class. Add in a grown-up driving experience and a long warranty, and the Tucson ticks a ton of boxes.
Take a look at our choice of used Hyundai Tucson cars
Best electric family SUV – Renault Scenic E-Tech
Ready to leave the petrol pump behind for good? You need something with a strong range figure and fast-charging. Many EVs offer this, but few have the space of the Renault Scenic E-Tech. The reborn Scenic has a palatial interior and a 545-litre boot, and an underfloor cubby to stash your charging cables.
Most Scenics feature an 87kWh battery for an official range of 379 miles, and the ability to recharge to 80% at a public fast-charger in around half an hour. Plug in when you get to a motorway service station and you’ll have enough charge for the rest of your journey by the time everyone has had a toilet break and a drink.
Read our Renault Scenic E-Tech review or shop used Renault electric cars
Best premium family SUV – BMW X1
BMW has a reputation for luxury, even in its more family orientated models. The X1 leads the way as its entry-level SUV offering in the lineup, sitting beneath the larger X3 and X5 models.
Despite being relatively compact, the X1 still has a 540-litre boot, perfect for fitting in suitcases ready for your next family holiday. As with any BMW, the infotainment system is one of the best features, with pro media and traffic programming being essential for anyone regularly travelling.
Regardless of trim level, all BMWs are well equipped from the factory with high-quality materials throughout. There are petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and, now, purely electric options, meaning the X1 should suit a lot of different buyers.
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Best luxury family SUV – Audi Q7
If you’ve got a healthy budget for your family SUV, the Audi Q7 is a top choice. For one thing, petrol and diesel cars get six Isofix points – they’re on every passenger seat – so it works if you’ve got a large brood or if you’re on football team transport duty. Adults can squeeze in the rearmost seats for shorter journeys, but they’ll be very comfortable in the front and middle seats.
The Audi Q7 is fantastic on long journeys – whether that’s a boring commute or an annual pilgrimage to a ski resort. But its massive boot and huge tech list makes it great for any family journey.
Browse used Audi Q7 for sale at Motorpoint
Shop SUVs and crossovers
Whether you are looking for an economical, prestige or super safe option, we can help find the right SUV or crossover for you. You can browse our entire range online, or view your own top picks in person at your local store. Take a closer look inside, or get a feel for owning it by taking one out for a test drive!
