Best SUVs 2026

High quality SUVs from rated and reviewed dealers

Tom Wiltshire
Tom Wiltshire
Deputy Web Reviews Editor
Last updated on: 13/03/2026

Best SUVs of 2026

SUVs come in every size, shape, power source, and flavour imaginable. You can have a compact electric model perfect for nipping about town, a seven-seater for the run to netball practice or family holidays or a massive continent-crosser that cossets you like a luxury limo. The difficult part is sorting out which ones are worth your money.

The best SUVs make the most of their tall, boxy bodies with ample passenger space and a generous boot. They’re comfortable without feeling too heavy or unwieldy around town, and they have sensible running costs that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. A high driving position and chunky styling are built-in to the appeal.

Carwow’s expert reviews team has put together this list of the best SUVs you can buy, drawing on our own experience with combined decades of car testing. These are our favourites, which all deserve a place on your shortlist.

Volvo EX60

1. Volvo EX60

10/10
Volvo EX60 review
Battery range up to 503 miles
Best for: an accomplished electric all-rounder

The Volvo EX60 takes the top billing here because it just gets so many things right. Its understated styling proves you don’t need a gigantic grille to stand out, while the comfortable, roomy and beautifully finished interior is a triumph.

Better yet, it’s an electric car that makes long journeys effortless. Claimed range is 385, 410 or a whopping 503 miles depending on which version you go for. We achieved 350 miles from the middle of these options during testing, an excellent real-world figure that should certainly cover all but the very longest drives. Plus, rapid charging means a 10-80% top-up takes less than 20 minutes.

The EX60’s interior delivers expensive materials and wonderfully comfortable seats, just as you’d expect from Volvo. It’s somewhere you could happily spend hours, especially if you opt for an Ultra model with the superb Bowers & Wilkins stereo.

It’s here the Volvo’s few negatives surface - the dashboard is minimal to the point of being barren, and if you’re touchscreen-phobic you won’t appreciate how everything from the climate controls to the door mirror adjustment lives on the central display. However, the Google-powered software is responsive and easy to use, so the annoyance is alleviated somewhat.

There’s lots of clever tech inside, too. Models with a sunroof don’t get anything so old-fashioned as a blind - instead you get a huge electrochromic panel that darkens at the touch of a button. The seatbelts detect the size of the occupant and adjust their restraint accordingly. All clever stuff with a purpose.

Practicality is another strength. Tall adults can really stretch out in the back, and for younger passengers there’s ample space for a bulky child seat. The boot is a good size and there’s a useful bit of extra storage under the bonnet, too.

On the road, the EX60 impresses. It’s quiet and relaxing on the motorway, so you can really make the most of that long range. Light controls and great suspension make town driving effortless too, though a BMW iX3 is more entertaining on a country road and a Mercedes GLC a lick quieter at speed.

None of this spoils the EX60’s overall package, which is exceptional. It’s a car that makes living with a family-sized EV easier, and happily it’s just as appealing in its lower trim levels as it is in the top model.

What's good

  • Spacious cabin
  • High quality materials inside
  • Excellent range and fast charging

What’s not so good

  • BMW iX3 goes further for less
  • Boot is smaller than the Mercedes GLC EV’s
  • Button-free interior is annoying
Chery Tiggo 8
2026
Car of the Year Award

2. Chery Tiggo 8

10/10
Chery Tiggo 8 review
Best for: a bargain seven-seater

The Chery Tiggo 8 was our Car of the Year for 2026, a choice that surprised a lot of people - including us. It took the gong because it’s a car that makes you question why everything else is so expensive. For just over £33,500, you get a roomy interior, loads of standard equipment, and a brilliant plug-in hybrid engine. Take that sort of money to some car manufacturers and you’ll be lucky to get a wheel nut.

There’s a cheaper Tiggo 8 available, but it’s definitely better to choose the plug-in hybrid version. It’s smooth on electric power with up to 56 miles between charges, and when the engine joins in it doesn’t disturb the peace too much. Even if you don’t plug it in, fuel economy is good, especially on the motorway where 50mpg is totally possible. That’s not always a given with plug-in hybrids.

That feeling of more-for-your-money continues when you climb inside. The dashboard materials all feel posh, and the design is pretty slick. You don’t get much in the way of physical switchgear, but the touchscreen is easy to use with quick shortcuts to the most-used features just a swipe away.

There’s loads of space, too. Room for three adults across the middle row is impressive, and even seats six and seven are suitable for grown-ups - though children will be more comfortable on longer journeys. Luggage space is compromised with all seven seats up, but that’s par for the course - fold the back row away and the Tiggo 8 becomes a really roomy five-seater.

The driving experience isn’t as polished as the cabin. It’s fine around town, and smooth on the motorway, but the soft suspension feels wallowy over bumps and it leans a lot in the bends. Head out onto a country road and the steering feels like you’re piloting it via remote control, too.

If this doesn’t fuss you, though, the Tiggo 8 has space, equipment and affordability in spades. For family priorities, it’s top-notch.

What's good

  • Incredibly good value for money
  • High-quality interior
  • Technology is plentiful and works well

What’s not so good

  • Disappointing to drive
  • Tiny boot in seven-seat mode
  • Weird rear-view mirror
OMODA 7

3. Omoda 7

9/10
OMODA 7 review
Best for: style

If you like the sound of the Chery Tiggo 8 but can’t get on with its sensible looks, consider the Omoda 7 instead. Though it lacks the Tiggo’s third-row seating, it makes up for it with the design, which stands out from the growing crowd of affordable Chinese SUVs.

There’s a hint of Lexus about the borderless front grille, and the sharp nose and sleek silhouette work well. The interior isn’t as distinctive but does feel pretty upmarket, and it’s another car that proves you don’t need to spend luxury-car money to get lots of toys.

With no third row of seats, the five that remain are incredibly roomy, with space for tall adults front and back. The boot is huge, too, so family holidays won’t be an issue.

The design is a bit plain, following the usual playbook of massive infotainment screen and slim driver display. There are a few neat features, though - the central display can slide over to the passenger side on certain models, so if you’re parked up having lunch you can take the comfier seat and watch Netflix. There’s even a built-in fragrance diffuser to cover up the smell of your tuna sandwich.

There’s a petrol engine available, but as with the Chery you should forget about that and opt for the c.£32k plug-in hybrid instead. With 56 miles of electric range you should be able to cover all but the most gruelling commutes on electric power alone, with about 50mpg possible on longer journeys.

The suspension is a bit firm, so you feel lumps and bumps around town. The payoff is that it feels pretty agile on a twisting country lane - even enjoyable at times, which is something you can’t say about many SUVs.

Other annoyances include the button-free interior and that discounts aren’t typically as generous as the Chery. But these issues aside, the Omoda 7 is a very accomplished family car.

What's good

  • Refined plug-in hybrid engine
  • Capable on a good road
  • Lots of standard kit

What’s not so good

  • Complicated infotainment menus
  • Some weird interior materials
  • Boot is a bit shallow
Skoda Elroq
2026
Family Values Award
Highly Commended

4. Skoda Elroq

EV Grant options
9/10
Skoda Elroq review
Battery range up to 370 miles
Best for: everyday electric motoring

The Skoda Elroq is a car that makes total sense from the moment you first see it. It takes everything that’s good about the larger Enyaq and puts it in a smaller, more city-friendly and more affordable package.

As with all Skodas, the Elroq is packed with useful and thoughtful touches that make everyday life a bit easier. There’s an umbrella hidden in the door, for example, and a storage net beneath the parcel shelf that provides the most sensible charging cable storage we’ve ever seen. There’s no front boot, but that’s a small gripe when the actual boot is so big.

The interior has some cheap plastics which are forgivable but not particularly welcome at this price. The layout is sensible though, with some handy shortcut buttons alongside the large touchscreen. Usability has definitely been considered, though the software can be a bit glitchy at times.

On the road, the Elroq is quiet and relaxing rather than particularly exciting. Top models with adaptive suspension are very comfortable indeed, but even the standard models are good with only a little bit of a wobble over bigger bumps. There are a few battery options, with the largest capable of up to 370 miles. We didn’t quite achieve that in our testing, but 300 should be possible with a light right foot.

There are plenty of more glamorous electric SUVs, but the Elroq’s space, comfort and sensible details are difficult to argue with.

What's good

  • Great all rounder
  • Comfortable over long distances
  • Clever interior storage

What’s not so good

  • Boring to drive
  • Wobbly over big bumps
  • Scratchy plastics inside
Chery Tiggo 4

5. Chery Tiggo 4

9/10
Chery Tiggo 4 review
Best for: budget buyers

The Chery Tiggo 4’s headline feature is the price - it starts at less than £20,000, making it comfortably the cheapest hybrid SUV you can buy in the UK. It’s one of the cheapest SUVs, full stop, and for something with enough space to be a small family’s only car that’s seriously impressive.

It’s roughly the size of a VW T-Roc, giving you enough rear space for adults to sit comfortably and a whopping 430-litre boot. An awkward hump in the floor makes loading bulky items a bit of a pain, but it’s no issue with soft bags or shopping.

The interior is pretty smart, especially for the money. There are soft-touch plastics in the places you touch, and a nice bank of separate controls so you don’t have to do absolutely everything through the slightly fiddly touchscreen. You can find some cheap-feeling areas, but it’s way more upmarket than a Dacia Duster.

The self-charging hybrid engine is powerful, and pretty smooth if a bit noisy under acceleration. Fuel economy is good but not exceptional - at around 55mpg in the real world, it’s less than you’ll get from a Duster, but similar to an MG ZS Hybrid+.

The steering is the main disappointment of the Tiggo 4; it feels numb and oddly sticky. The body leans a lot through the bends, too, so keen drivers should look elsewhere. Anyone who’s just after an affordable, economical car with enough space for the family, though, should definitely consider the Chery Tiggo 4.

What's good

  • A full hybrid SUV for less than £20,000
  • Roomy back seats
  • Good standard equipment

What’s not so good

  • Pronounced hump in boot floor
  • Steering is very vague
  • Only average economy
Tesla Model Y
2026
Outstanding EV Award
Highly Commended

6. Tesla Model Y

9/10
Tesla Model Y review
Battery range up to 383 miles
Best for: the overall EV experience

The Tesla Model Y is one seriously useful SUV. Even this cheaper version has a colossal boot, lots of storage under the load floor and another capacious compartment under the bonnet. Three adults can fit across the back seats, too.

That makes it a particularly good choice for families burdened with big car seats, a pushchair and all the paraphernalia involved with kids. Wide-opening rear doors make loading them up and strapping them in easier, too.

The Tesla’s minimalist interior still feels quite nicely finished, though it’s totally bereft of buttons - you even have to select Drive or Reverse from a slider on the touchscreen, which is where you’ll find basics like your speed readout. It takes some getting used to. You don’t get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, either, though Tesla’s interface is so good you’re unlikely to miss them.

If you’ve a bit more money to spend, the Tesla Model Y Premium has a few extras this car misses out on - a bigger battery, fancier styling and more sophisticated suspension. But as a value proposition, the standard Model Y is very hard to beat.

What's good

  • Loads of space inside
  • Cabin still feels premium
  • Full of useful tech

What’s not so good

  • Noisy on the motorway
  • Too bumpy around town
  • Less range than the Premium version
Jaecoo 8

7. Jaecoo 8

9/10
Jaecoo 8 review
Best for: affordable luxury

The Jaecoo 8 offers a taste of luxury SUV ownership but without the luxury SUV price. From the eye-catching exterior styling to the Mercedes GLE-esque interior, there’s a lot to like on the face of things.

Dive deeper and you’ll find really generous equipment, plus an excellent plug-in hybrid engine with more than 80 miles of electric range. Performance is remarkable for such a larger car, too, and the 8 feels comfortable on a long journey. Though it’s not quite as polished as the best European SUVs, it’s one of the best Chinese cars to drive.

The biggest drawback is practicality. Though there are three rows of seats, the 8 isn’t much cop as a family bus. Luxury trim has seven seats while Executive models swap the middle bench for two individual chairs, leaving six seats overall. But they don’t move out of the way, making access to the very back extremely awkward.

Neither layout provides enough third-row room for adults to travel comfortably, and even children will find it a squeeze. Fold them away and you get a useful boot, though, so the Jaecoo 8 is best treated as a four- or five-seater with plenty of luggage space.

What's good

  • Plush interior
  • Loaded with standard equipment
  • Comfortable on a long journey

What’s not so good

  • Third row seats nearly useless
  • Six-seater package not worth the upgrade
  • Some build quality concerns

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MG S9

8. MG S9

9/10
MG S9 review
Best for: seven-seat space

Like the other Chinese-brand entrants on this list, the MG S9 delivers a startling amount of car for your money. Its particular speciality is the space available, though - this is one seven-seater SUV where even adults can get comfy in the third row of seats, and there’s room for most of their luggage in the boot too.

There’s plenty to like besides this, too. The interior’s loaded with features, and the infotainment largely makes sense - though it’s a bit slow in operation. The 62-mile electric range available from the plug-in hybrid system is impressive considering the size of the car, and there’s plenty of performance on tap too.

Bumpy roads do show another weakness - the suspension is a bit thumpy and clunky, with some pricier alternatives feeling rather better resolved. None of them can really match the MG’s combination of passenger space, equipment and price though.

What's good

  • Ample space inside
  • Generous standard kit
  • Impressive electric range

What’s not so good

  • Uncomfortable over bumps
  • Complicated infotainment
  • Interior feels cheap in places
Dacia Duster

9. Dacia Duster

9/10
Dacia Duster review
Best for: off-roading

Few SUVs these days are capable of going off-road - even the four-wheel drive ones. But the Dacia Duster is a properly rugged little car, with ground clearance and prowess on the rough stuff that shames many much more expensive SUVs.

The chunky cyber-punk styling makes it look much more expensive than it is - on the outside at least. Step into the cabin and the illusion continues only until you start touching stuff - it all feels hardwearing and well screwed-together, but cheap plastics dominate.

You get some very nicely straightforward controls, though. The infotainment system is intentionally light on features to make it easier to use, and there’s a nice row of physical air-con switches plus a button to quickly silence annoying beeps and bongs.

Engine choices include a two-wheel drive full hybrid capable of over 50mpg, or a 4x4 model capable of some surprising feats when you get off the beaten track. It’s good to drive on-road too, but its main appeal is that it does the practical stuff so well without pretending to be posher than it is.

What's good

  • Great value
  • Four-wheel drive available
  • Genuinely rugged off-road

What’s not so good

  • Cheap plastics inside
  • Seats don't fold totally flat
  • No plug-in hybrid option
Geely EX5

10. Geely EX5

8/10
Geely EX5 review
Battery range up to 280 miles
Best for: luxury on a budget

The Geely EX5’s plain styling doesn’t give off the best first impression, but thankfully it’s steeply uphill from there. It’s a fully electric SUV that prioritises luxury in the cabin and a generous helping of standard equipment.

Rear passengers get a particularly good deal, with tons of legroom and headroom, a great view out, and comfortable seats. The trade-off is the boot isn’t the largest, though the underfloor storage area adds some useful extra capacity.

The EX5 is comfortable and easy to drive, with more grip than you’d expect from a cheap electric SUV - Geely also owns sports car manufacturer Lotus, and it’s had a hand in tuning the EX5 for British roads.

Top models get big-car kit such as massaging seats, a premium stereo and a head-up display, but no version gets a big-car battery. Even the top model can only manage 280 miles on a charge (on paper) though in our testing the lesser 255-mile model got impressively close to its official figure. Charge up at home and don’t need to cross the country in one go? The Geely EX5 is a great option.

What's good

  • Plush interior with high-quality materials
  • Very roomy back seats
  • Top-spec model is loaded with kit for not much money

What’s not so good

  • Limited range and no big-battery option
  • Smaller boot than alternatives
  • Firm over bumps

Factors to consider

Cost

Naturally, how much you have to spend will dictate what you can buy. There are always great deals on Carwow, so while you might think you’re limited to smaller cars, you might find your budget can stretch to something bigger or posher.

Space

Do you need seven seats? Do you need a big boot? Can you get away with something smaller that might be cheaper to buy and run? Every car offers something a little different, so think about what you really need and find the cars that fit the bill.

Engine

Electric SUVs can be a great option if you have a home charger, in which case you could consider plug-in hybrids, too. But if not, self-charging hybrids can be great if you spend a lot of time driving around town, while diesel still makes sense if you do huge mileage.

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SUVs FAQs

An SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) typically has raised ground clearance making it look like a four-wheel drive car. People love the higher driving position and great view out you get in this type of car. They're typically designed to be more comfortable and easy to drive on the road than a proper off-road-ready 4x4, while also being practical for families.

While an SUV car looks like a 4x4 they don’t necessarily have four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive systems can be heavy, making cars less fuel efficient. Many customers like the styling of SUV cars but don’t need off-road capability. That’s why many modern SUVs have the option to have both two- and four-wheel drive. Indeed some SUVs are two-wheel drive only.

Today, SUVs are some of the most popular cars you can buy.

Learn more about what is an SUV.

On paper, this is a tie between the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350de plug-in hybrid diesel, and the BMW X1 xDrive25e, both offering 353mpg on the combined WLTP fuel economy test. Of course, that relies on you carefully charging up all the time and making the most of their electric driving abilities. For real-world economy, other great bets are the Toyota RAV4 (especially the plug-in hybrid version), the Mazda CX-5 SkyActiv-D, and at the smaller scale, the Peugeot 2008, which can hit 47mpg in petrol form.

To find out how to improve the fuel economy of your SUV, check out our guide on ways to get better MPG.

The Land Rover Defender is the theoretical winner here, with a maximum braked towing weight of 3,500kg. That can be matched by others, mind, and if we’re talking expert opinion, then the Caravan Club recommends the current Porsche Cayenne, which has lots of clever software that helps you tow more easily.

Check out or guides on the best SUVs for towing and UK towing laws for trailers and caravans.

The Skoda Kodiaq is the winner here, with a massive 835 litres beating even the massive Land Rover Defender’s 646-litre boot. Even the seven-seat version of the Kodiaq is big in the back, with 735 litres available. That said, if you want a seven-seater with a massive boot, check out the Peugeot 5008 which has a 780-litre boot when you fold the third row seats into the floor.

Take a look at our guide on the best cars with big boots to find out which cars we recommend.

Easy answer here — it’s the Land Rover Defender. Not only does it have permanent four-wheel drive, low-ratio gears, and optional adjustable air suspension, it also has a swathe of electronic off-roading aids from a low-grip launch control system to a camera setup that kinda-sorta allows you to see through the bonnet. Can’t afford a Defender? That’s OK — pick up a Suzuki Jimny. It’s tiny and unrefined, but brilliant in the mud.

Technically, you can pick up a Suzuki Ignis for around £18,000 and that’s kind of an SUV... OK then, what about a Citroen C3 Aircross for a similar price? Or a Volkswagen T-Cross for £23k? Sorry, we’re just messing about here, really. The actual answer is the Dacia Spring – it's an electric SUV that starts at less than £15,000, but it's small and doesn't have a very big range.

Approach choosing an SUV as you would any other car: think about price, value, economy, space, the type of driving you do, insurance costs - the lot! Do bear in mind not all SUVs are designed with practicality as their main focus: coupe-SUVs offer sleek looks, often at the cost of boot space or rear headroom, while some SUVs are more hatchback-like than others.

Depending on your budget there are a few good options. The BMW X5 is one of our favourite cars full stop, thanks to its combination of a posh cabin, great driving experience and practicality – but it's not cheap. If you want more value for money, the Citroen C5 Aircross offers big car space for small car money. If you want a seven-seater, the Hyundai Santa Fe is a brilliant option.

The Suzuki Jimny is an amazing off-roader and a characterful, fun town car, but if you're covering motorway miles on a regular basis it's rather unrefined. These days it’s no longer sold new, but you may still be tempted by a used example. Just go into Jimny ownership understanding the car’s strengths and weaknesses.

SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle. An SUV looks like it is suited to going off-road but these days SUVs don't necessarily come with four-wheel drive, which gives you the traction you need in tough conditions. You're more likely to see SUVs in supermarket carparks than in the wilderness. They are practical family cars that give passengers and driver a great view out thanks to their raised height over your average hatchback.

The Sports Utility name refers to the kind of lifestyle car makers want customers to imagine when driving them - going off for a weekend hiking or to the beach surfing - when doing more mundane tasks such as taking the kids to school. Whether you buy into the outdoorsy lifestyle or not SUVs are practical cars that can do most jobs very well.

It's rare for cars to be genuinely bad these days, but the Skywell BE11 manages to be just that. On paper it's got potential; spacious and well priced, but things fall apart as soon as you step inside. The interior quality is poor, the infotainment is awful, the suspension is comically bouncy and there's very little grip when cornering. The almost total lack of safety assistance systems is unacceptable in this day and age too. On top of all that, yes it's affordable, but it's not cheap enough to justify its flaws. Stay away.
The KGM - formerly SsangYong - Tivoli is cheap, but in very few ways is it cheerful. The USP is meant to be that you get a powerful engine and a lot of equipment for your money, and you do - but the payoffs are great. Yes, you get decent standard equipment - but the interior it's entrenched in feels cheap and nasty. It's uncomfortable to drive, and its thirst for petrol is incredible - you get less than 30mpg, which is unforgivable in what's still quite a small SUV.