The top 10 Volvo XC90 alternatives

If you're not sold on its restrained Swedish style, however, there are loads of premium SUVs to consider in its place. We've picked 10 of our favourite seven-seater cars that compete with the Volvo XC90.

Most of these cars are available as great-value nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.

BMW X5

Big SUVs often represent a compromise for on-road handling. Their size and shape makes them practical, but it also dulls the steering and means you need a big engine to get up to speed. Those drawbacks don't seem to apply to the BMW X5, however, which seems to bend the laws of physics to deliver super-sharp handling without affecting its composed ride quality. Petrol and diesel models are available with an optional third row of seats – like the XC90, they're not exactly huge, but still handy if you're occasionally on family bus duty.

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Mercedes GLE

The Mercedes GLE is the brand's answer to cars like the XC90. It looks big and imposing from every angle, and that size translates to lots of cabin space for passengers and cargo. Of course, it's not just the practicality that impresses, with upmarket materials and swish styling worthy of the three-pointed star. Like the BMW X5, it's available with an optional third row and, just like its Bavarian rival, space back there isn't exactly huge so think of it more as an occasional extra pair of seats.

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Audi Q7

Audi's Q7 completes the trio of big German SUVs. It's a little more affordable than the BMW and Mercedes options, both as a new car and as a used buy, but offers a very similar level of luxury and refinement. There's slick integration of Audi's modern-looking infotainment system in the dashboard, and loads of space in the first and second rows. The Q7 also has an ace up its sleeve for families with several younger children – five sets of Isofix points across the second and third rows, with just enough space to mount seats side-by-side.

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Range Rover Sport

The XC90 is a luxurious car with an understated sense of style, but if you want to really lean into those qualities, try out the Range Rover Sport. This brutish British SUV is optionally available with third-row seating, but every model comes standard with imperious looks and acres of upmarket materials. It's a noticeable step up in price compared to the Volvo, so you might need to shop older models to find one in your price range. Most come powered by fairly thirsty engines, too, so expect running costs a little higher than the XC90.

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Volvo EX90

Perhaps you want to stick within the Volvo lineup, but a car with a fuel-powered engine seems so stone age these days. If that's you, check out the Volvo EX90 – a relatively recent addition to the brand's range. It's the purely battery-powered version of the XC90 and, with 111kWh of energy stored under its floor, can cover more than 370 miles on a full charge. Don't think you have to cover those miles slowly, however, because there's more than 500hp between its two electric motors for rapid acceleration.

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Genesis GV80

You might not instantly be familiar with Genesis – Hyundai's posh brand – but it's arrived on the scene and shocked plenty of rivals with material quality and design that rivals uber-luxury marques like Bentley. What's more, it offers stunning quality and an enormous list of standard features for far less than most competitors, all with dramatic eye-catching styling that'll stand out in the company car park. If you're looking for a less-obvious rival to upmarket family barges like the XC90, the GV80 might be up your street.

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Lexus RX L

The 'L' in the Lexus RX L's name marks it out as the long-wheelbase version of the RX SUV, complete with third-row seating. It's not available as a brand-new car since the introduction of the latest RX, but you'll find models built until 2022 on the used market. Like other models in the Lexus lineup, it might not outperform rivals in direct comparison, but there's a reason residual values remain so strong – the brand's legendary reputation for reliability and customer service means lots of owners hang onto their Lexuses for many years.

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Kia EV9

What's a Kia doing on this list of luxury seven-seaters? Well, spend just a few seconds inside the EV9's cavernous interior and you'll see why it belongs here – interior quality is excellent, with upmarket materials and more standard features than you can shake several sticks at. As the name implies, this is a purely electric car and its nearly 100kWh battery pack delivers a range of more than 340 miles. Impressively, if you can find a charger fast enough, you'll be able to recover more than 150 miles of range in just 15 minutes.

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Land Rover Defender

The 21st-century Land Rover Defender is a very different car to the historic model it shares its name with. It still has all the real-deal off-road chops you'd expect from a Land Rover but there's far more refinement in the cabin and in its driving experience. You can still buy a stubby three-door Defender 90 model, but the five-door Defender 110 is available with seven seats, so you can bring the whole family along for the adventure. If that's not enough, the super-long Defender 130 is available with up to eight seats.

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Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB

If you need a seven-seat family car and you're going to use all the seats, all the time, the Volvo XC90 probably isn't going to cut it. Its third row is too tight for regular passengers and access isn't exactly easy through the rear doors. That's where van-like models such as the Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB mark themselves out, with proper space in every row for even tall adults, and cavernous cargo space when they're not being used. Plus, the ID.Buzz is powered by VW's easy-to-drive MEB electric platform with a range of nearly 300 miles.

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Big savings on spacious SUVs

Browse Motorpoint's huge selection of used SUVs for sale. For more tempting picks, see our choices for the best luxury SUVs on sale.