Last updated July 03, 2024 by
Mario Christou
Best large SUVs of 2025
When it comes to transporting a large family, their luggage, the dogs, cats and the kitchen sink, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more practical solution than the best large SUVs.
Sure, there are some hugely practical estate cars on sale, but a large SUV offers much more headroom than an estate car - and the taller roofline also means you can fit bulkier items into the boot. An MPV might offer as much headroom, but they tend to be less stylish, and you don’t get the reassuring high seating position that you do in an SUV either.
Some SUVs are fitted with highly advanced four-wheel drive systems and big, thirsty engines, but more and more alternatives are available with two-wheel drive and efficient hybrid systems; much more practical on a day-to-day basis and perfectly at home on most commutes.
There’s even an assortment of large electric SUVs for sale, which makes for large electric SUVs make for quiet, comfortable cruisers - with usable range too.
For some real road presence, you can choose a posh large SUV. They tend to be big enough to cause a solar eclipse, but they’re properly luxurious and well-appointed inside, with enough room to carry a few sets of golf clubs in the back or luggage for a skiing road trip.
Our expert reviews team has tested every SUV on sale, and put together this list of the ten best large SUVs on sale. They suit a variety of needs and budgets, but if you can do without the high driving position then check out our list of the best estate cars on sale, or the best small SUVs if you fancy a car with a smaller footprint.
2025
Car of the Year Award
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: sheer, unadulterated practicality
The Hyundai Santa Fe is an enormous seven-seater SUV with head-turning looks and a range of efficient hybrid engine options. It’s such a good all-rounder that it was the overall winner of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
On the outside, the Santa Fe is one of the most uniquely styled cars on sale at the moment; the Santa Fe’s squared-off corners and retro pixel-effect light makes it look even bigger - and meaner - than it really is.
The interior isn’t quite as eye-catching as the exterior, but the Santa Fe is far nicer inside than Hyundais of old might lead you to believe. It’s not as supple to the touch as something pricier like its BMW alternatives, but the big Hyundai has a handsome, chunky dashboard with a curved dual-screen setup set back into it and an array of plush trims in most easy-to-reach places.
Interior storage is where the Santa Fe really excels, with nifty touches such as the dual gloveboxes, enormous door bins, double phone holders in the centre console, loads of cubbies in the back and a whopping 16 cup holders spread out across all three rows of seats.
Speaking of which, you can spec your Santa Fe as either a seven-seater or as a six-seater with a pair of armchairs in the middle row, in lieu of a bench. The third row isn’t hugely spacious, but there’s plenty of space for a pair of kids or adults on short trips.
You get decent boot space with the third row of seats up, and with them stowed away there’s a plentiful 628 litres of room.
The Santa Fe fares well on the road, with its small but fairly powerful hybrid engines providing a mix of good fuel economy and enough poke to keep up with traffic easily. It’s comfortable and easy to place thanks to its square corners, and it’s notably quiet and composed on the motorway. Country lanes aren’t much fun, but the Santa Fe feels at home wafting along between bends.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is an enormous seven-seater SUV with head-turning looks and a range of efficient hybrid engine options. It’s such a good all-rounder that it was the overall winner of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
On the outside, the Santa Fe is one of the most uniquely styled cars on sale at the moment; the Santa Fe’s squared-off corners and retro pixel-effect light makes it look even bigger - and meaner - than it really is.
The interior isn’t quite as eye-catching as the exterior, but the Santa Fe is far nicer inside than Hyundais of old might lead you to believe. It’s not as supple to the touch as something pricier like its BMW alternatives, but the big Hyundai has a handsome, chunky dashboard with a curved dual-screen setup set back into it and an array of plush trims in most easy-to-reach places.
Interior storage is where the Santa Fe really excels, with nifty touches such as the dual gloveboxes, enormous door bins, double phone holders in the centre console, loads of cubbies in the back and a whopping 16 cup holders spread out across all three rows of seats.
Speaking of which, you can spec your Santa Fe as either a seven-seater or as a six-seater with a pair of armchairs in the middle row, in lieu of a bench. The third row isn’t hugely spacious, but there’s plenty of space for a pair of kids or adults on short trips.
You get decent boot space with the third row of seats up, and with them stowed away there’s a plentiful 628 litres of room.
The Santa Fe fares well on the road, with its small but fairly powerful hybrid engines providing a mix of good fuel economy and enough poke to keep up with traffic easily. It’s comfortable and easy to place thanks to its square corners, and it’s notably quiet and composed on the motorway. Country lanes aren’t much fun, but the Santa Fe feels at home wafting along between bends.
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award
Battery range up to 45 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: being posh, practical and good to drive
It’s hard to believe that such a large, heavy car can be genuinely good at everything, but BMW has cooked up a storm with the latest X5 SUV. It won the Adventurer’s Choice category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards, thanks to its blend of style, posh interior, practicality and fun to drive nature.
It really is a looker, with a chiselled front bumper, sharp lines along its flanks and slender lights at both ends. Where some of its BMW counterparts look a bit fussy or gawky at some angles, the X5 manages to be easy on the eye in every trim level, plus you can spec it in some rather fetching colours - for a price.
The interior is great too, with BMW’s swish curved twin-widescreen setup perched atop of a plush dashboard. The graphics are crisp and clear and the displays are responsive to the touch, though the menus are a bit of a faff to sort through at times.
You’ve got buckets of room both front and back in the X5. Front and rear passengers alike won’t have any complaints on a long journey, even with three adults in the back. The boot is a good size at 650 litres in petrol and diesel models - and you can opt for a third row of seats in the diesel - but boot capacity drops down to 500 litres in the hybrid.
On the road the X5 defies its size, heft and high driving position in the way it drives. It may feel wide around town and on narrow streets, but 360-degree cameras and the optional four-wheel steering help to ease some of the stress - as does the comfortable suspension, which is unfazed by bumpy roads, though the optional large wheels do spoil it a bit.
Motorways are even more comfortable, especially on the optional air suspension which means the X5 glides over high-speed dips. Country lanes are where the X5 really impresses though, especially in top-of-the range M60i trim. There’s minimal body lean and as much grip around fast bends as you’ll find in some sports cars; it’s properly fun to drive.
The hybrid M50e is the one to go for if you’ve got easy access to a charger, as its electric range of over 60 miles means you should rarely see a petrol station. If the X5 just isn’t posh enough for you, there’s always its bigger-brother BMW X7 - but the X5 is the perfect all-rounder to us.
It’s hard to believe that such a large, heavy car can be genuinely good at everything, but BMW has cooked up a storm with the latest X5 SUV. It won the Adventurer’s Choice category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards, thanks to its blend of style, posh interior, practicality and fun to drive nature.
It really is a looker, with a chiselled front bumper, sharp lines along its flanks and slender lights at both ends. Where some of its BMW counterparts look a bit fussy or gawky at some angles, the X5 manages to be easy on the eye in every trim level, plus you can spec it in some rather fetching colours - for a price.
The interior is great too, with BMW’s swish curved twin-widescreen setup perched atop of a plush dashboard. The graphics are crisp and clear and the displays are responsive to the touch, though the menus are a bit of a faff to sort through at times.
You’ve got buckets of room both front and back in the X5. Front and rear passengers alike won’t have any complaints on a long journey, even with three adults in the back. The boot is a good size at 650 litres in petrol and diesel models - and you can opt for a third row of seats in the diesel - but boot capacity drops down to 500 litres in the hybrid.
On the road the X5 defies its size, heft and high driving position in the way it drives. It may feel wide around town and on narrow streets, but 360-degree cameras and the optional four-wheel steering help to ease some of the stress - as does the comfortable suspension, which is unfazed by bumpy roads, though the optional large wheels do spoil it a bit.
Motorways are even more comfortable, especially on the optional air suspension which means the X5 glides over high-speed dips. Country lanes are where the X5 really impresses though, especially in top-of-the range M60i trim. There’s minimal body lean and as much grip around fast bends as you’ll find in some sports cars; it’s properly fun to drive.
The hybrid M50e is the one to go for if you’ve got easy access to a charger, as its electric range of over 60 miles means you should rarely see a petrol station. If the X5 just isn’t posh enough for you, there’s always its bigger-brother BMW X7 - but the X5 is the perfect all-rounder to us.
Best for: electric poshness
If the X5 is BMW’s all-round overachiever, the iX is its posher cousin with a more out-there dress sense. It’s still got the same sporty, talented genes underneath, but in an even more upmarket package with a striking - if divisive - design.
It’s certainly attention grabbing, with the iX taking some classic BMW design cues and sending them to the future in a time machine. An exaggerated front grille, big wheel arches, super-slim taillights and some smooth curves on a large body mean the electric SUV looks like a caricature of the petrol-powered X3 and X5.
Nonetheless, the iX’s interior is sublime; minimalist and luxurious with soft, trimmed surfaces all over the place and some eye-catching colour combinations to choose from. The zinc-y trim pieces won’t be to everyone’s taste, but combined with the enormous dual-screen display setup the interior feels very swish.
While it’s very much X5-sized, the iX’s interior space is closer to the larger X7, with enough room inside for five adults to stretch out in comfort. There aren’t that many cubbies dotted around, but the door bins are huge; the 500-litre boot is a bit tight when compared to the iX’s alternatives, and for all its space you can’t spec a third row of seats.
On the move the iX feels sporty for such a large SUV, and around town it’s much easier to manoeuvre than you might expect thanks to its large windows and 360-degree camera system - though you are aware of its width on a narrow road. It’s comfortable too, especially when equipped with the optional air suspension.
Motorways are the iX’s forte, not just because of how the car dispatches wind and road noise, but because of the impressive range which varies between 365 miles and 426 miles depending on the iX model you opt for. Country lanes are remarkably easy to carve through in the iX, even if you can feel the car’s weight getting thrown around on sharper corners.
If the X5 is BMW’s all-round overachiever, the iX is its posher cousin with a more out-there dress sense. It’s still got the same sporty, talented genes underneath, but in an even more upmarket package with a striking - if divisive - design.
It’s certainly attention grabbing, with the iX taking some classic BMW design cues and sending them to the future in a time machine. An exaggerated front grille, big wheel arches, super-slim taillights and some smooth curves on a large body mean the electric SUV looks like a caricature of the petrol-powered X3 and X5.
Nonetheless, the iX’s interior is sublime; minimalist and luxurious with soft, trimmed surfaces all over the place and some eye-catching colour combinations to choose from. The zinc-y trim pieces won’t be to everyone’s taste, but combined with the enormous dual-screen display setup the interior feels very swish.
While it’s very much X5-sized, the iX’s interior space is closer to the larger X7, with enough room inside for five adults to stretch out in comfort. There aren’t that many cubbies dotted around, but the door bins are huge; the 500-litre boot is a bit tight when compared to the iX’s alternatives, and for all its space you can’t spec a third row of seats.
On the move the iX feels sporty for such a large SUV, and around town it’s much easier to manoeuvre than you might expect thanks to its large windows and 360-degree camera system - though you are aware of its width on a narrow road. It’s comfortable too, especially when equipped with the optional air suspension.
Motorways are the iX’s forte, not just because of how the car dispatches wind and road noise, but because of the impressive range which varies between 365 miles and 426 miles depending on the iX model you opt for. Country lanes are remarkably easy to carve through in the iX, even if you can feel the car’s weight getting thrown around on sharper corners.
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What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: a semi-posh seven seater
At a glance the Tayron may not seem quite as posh as some of the Korean and German cars on this list, but Volkswagen has done an excellent job of blending a practical interior with butch exterior design and some upmarket-feeling touches throughout.
The Tayron is a tough looking thing, and while there’s more than a passing resemblance to the five-seater Tiguan on which it’s based, the taller front end and roofline, flat bonnet and swollen wheel arches do just enough to mark the Tayron out as a different beast on the road.
Inside is a similar story, because while there are a lot of similarities to other Volkswagen models there are just enough swoopy trim pieces and funky ambient lighting to give the Tayron a much posher vibe. The spec-dependent 12.9-inch and 15.0-inch infotainment displays are some of the slickest in the business too, though the touchscreen heater controls are annoying to use on the go.
You get loads and loads of room in the Tayron, with plenty of headroom and legroom across all three rows of seats. You’ll just about fit seven six-footers in the Tayron, and with the third row of seats stored away you’ve got a whopping 850-litre boot capacity, plus a little underfloor storage.
It’s comfortable around town, though you get jiggled around a little on the optional big wheels, and even the mild-hybrid engines propel the big Tayron around with ease. Motorways are soothing to drive on, and country lanes are uneventful - ideal for a big family SUV.
At a glance the Tayron may not seem quite as posh as some of the Korean and German cars on this list, but Volkswagen has done an excellent job of blending a practical interior with butch exterior design and some upmarket-feeling touches throughout.
The Tayron is a tough looking thing, and while there’s more than a passing resemblance to the five-seater Tiguan on which it’s based, the taller front end and roofline, flat bonnet and swollen wheel arches do just enough to mark the Tayron out as a different beast on the road.
Inside is a similar story, because while there are a lot of similarities to other Volkswagen models there are just enough swoopy trim pieces and funky ambient lighting to give the Tayron a much posher vibe. The spec-dependent 12.9-inch and 15.0-inch infotainment displays are some of the slickest in the business too, though the touchscreen heater controls are annoying to use on the go.
You get loads and loads of room in the Tayron, with plenty of headroom and legroom across all three rows of seats. You’ll just about fit seven six-footers in the Tayron, and with the third row of seats stored away you’ve got a whopping 850-litre boot capacity, plus a little underfloor storage.
It’s comfortable around town, though you get jiggled around a little on the optional big wheels, and even the mild-hybrid engines propel the big Tayron around with ease. Motorways are soothing to drive on, and country lanes are uneventful - ideal for a big family SUV.
2025
Outstanding EV Award
Battery range up to 349 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: a spacious EV SUV
You’d be forgiven for thinking that you’ve stumbled onto the set of Blade Runner or Star Wars when a Kia EV9 drives past, because it appears to have been pulled out of a larger than life sci-fi movie.
It also happens to have won the Outstanding EV award in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
And it really is larger than life; the EV9 is huge. Long, wide, tall and dripping with road presence, it’s a menacing thing to behold. The interior is just as swish, with funky-looking seats, a dashboard which curves away from you and a crystal-clear triple-screen setup. It’s a shame that material quality doesn’t quite match the space-age design.
You can have your EV9 in six- or seven-seater guise, but no matter which version you opt for you’ve got acres of space inside. There are even footrests for the front two rows, lots of cubby storage throughout the cabin, and a huge 828 litres of boot space with the third row of seats up.
Range varies from 313 miles to 349 miles depending on whether you have the single- or dual-motor model, but that’s enough for a (well-planned) family road trip.
The EV9 has light steering and peppy motors which make town driving less arduous than you might expect of such a big car, but it’s not as comfortable as its alternatives. Motorways are more comfortable, but there’s a lot of tyre roar, and you do get wobbled around on twisty roads.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that you’ve stumbled onto the set of Blade Runner or Star Wars when a Kia EV9 drives past, because it appears to have been pulled out of a larger than life sci-fi movie.
It also happens to have won the Outstanding EV award in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
And it really is larger than life; the EV9 is huge. Long, wide, tall and dripping with road presence, it’s a menacing thing to behold. The interior is just as swish, with funky-looking seats, a dashboard which curves away from you and a crystal-clear triple-screen setup. It’s a shame that material quality doesn’t quite match the space-age design.
You can have your EV9 in six- or seven-seater guise, but no matter which version you opt for you’ve got acres of space inside. There are even footrests for the front two rows, lots of cubby storage throughout the cabin, and a huge 828 litres of boot space with the third row of seats up.
Range varies from 313 miles to 349 miles depending on whether you have the single- or dual-motor model, but that’s enough for a (well-planned) family road trip.
The EV9 has light steering and peppy motors which make town driving less arduous than you might expect of such a big car, but it’s not as comfortable as its alternatives. Motorways are more comfortable, but there’s a lot of tyre roar, and you do get wobbled around on twisty roads.
Battery range up to 414 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: a budget-friendly seven-seater EV
Okay, so it’s nowhere near as affordable as the petrol-powered 5008, but the Peugeot E-5008 is the most affordable electric seven-seater SUV on sale. That makes it a proper contender for people looking at petrol-powered options such as the Volkswagen Tayron and Skoda Kodiaq.
Not that it looks like a ‘budget’ choice, because the E-5008 is a properly stylish thing with its broad grille, tiny headlights, lion claw-themed running lights and angles aplenty. The interior carries on the ‘designed with a ruler’ theme, with a fantastic-looking dashboard that wraps around the driver and a rather pretty widescreen display that combines the infotainment and driver instruments.
It feels high quality inside, with fabric covering most of the harder plastics, and while there isn’t that much useful cubby space there is a lot of legroom and headroom all round. The third row is usably big, but best for short journeys. With the rear seats folded away there’s a huge 915-litre boot in the back, very handy.
On the road the E-5008 is one of the most comfortable cars on sale, period. It soaks up potholes and speedbumps as if it were filling them in and filing them down as you go, and it just gets better on the motorway. A 310- to 403-mile range makes the E-5008 a proper road trip machine, but the downside to its soft suspension is that the big Peugeot doesn’t feel at home when the going gets twisty.
Okay, so it’s nowhere near as affordable as the petrol-powered 5008, but the Peugeot E-5008 is the most affordable electric seven-seater SUV on sale. That makes it a proper contender for people looking at petrol-powered options such as the Volkswagen Tayron and Skoda Kodiaq.
Not that it looks like a ‘budget’ choice, because the E-5008 is a properly stylish thing with its broad grille, tiny headlights, lion claw-themed running lights and angles aplenty. The interior carries on the ‘designed with a ruler’ theme, with a fantastic-looking dashboard that wraps around the driver and a rather pretty widescreen display that combines the infotainment and driver instruments.
It feels high quality inside, with fabric covering most of the harder plastics, and while there isn’t that much useful cubby space there is a lot of legroom and headroom all round. The third row is usably big, but best for short journeys. With the rear seats folded away there’s a huge 915-litre boot in the back, very handy.
On the road the E-5008 is one of the most comfortable cars on sale, period. It soaks up potholes and speedbumps as if it were filling them in and filing them down as you go, and it just gets better on the motorway. A 310- to 403-mile range makes the E-5008 a proper road trip machine, but the downside to its soft suspension is that the big Peugeot doesn’t feel at home when the going gets twisty.
What's good
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Best for: unadulterated luxury
Range Rovers have been the last word in off-roader luxury for over 50 years, and the latest version is the best yet. It looks great, the interior is amazing, it’s hugely practical and it’ll take you almost anywhere.
It’s definitely the slickest-looking Range Rover there’s ever been, with the classic chiselled looks having been honed and refined into an aerodynamic package. It’s still stately, just a bit softer around the edges.
The interior is also a very modern take on a classic Range Rover design, with a chunky padded dashboard and ‘floating’ infotainment system dominating your field of view. The driver gets a swish digital display, and (almost) everywhere you can touch is trimmed in leather, wood, metal or soft fabric.
There’s plenty of space, especially in the long-wheelbase model where you can spec a third row for passengers, though it has a 706-litre boot to the five-seater’s 725 litres.
You can choose from a wide selection of engine options, from the entry-level 3.0-litre petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models to the spicy V8s, there’s an engine for everyone. There’s even an electric version on the horizon.
The Range Rover is hugely comfortable, even on the enormous 23-inch optional wheels. Big bumps around town can be felt, but aside from that the Range Rover is unfazed by broken roads and motorway dips, though you should choose a BMW X5 if you want a fun SUV on a country lane.
Range Rovers have been the last word in off-roader luxury for over 50 years, and the latest version is the best yet. It looks great, the interior is amazing, it’s hugely practical and it’ll take you almost anywhere.
It’s definitely the slickest-looking Range Rover there’s ever been, with the classic chiselled looks having been honed and refined into an aerodynamic package. It’s still stately, just a bit softer around the edges.
The interior is also a very modern take on a classic Range Rover design, with a chunky padded dashboard and ‘floating’ infotainment system dominating your field of view. The driver gets a swish digital display, and (almost) everywhere you can touch is trimmed in leather, wood, metal or soft fabric.
There’s plenty of space, especially in the long-wheelbase model where you can spec a third row for passengers, though it has a 706-litre boot to the five-seater’s 725 litres.
You can choose from a wide selection of engine options, from the entry-level 3.0-litre petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models to the spicy V8s, there’s an engine for everyone. There’s even an electric version on the horizon.
The Range Rover is hugely comfortable, even on the enormous 23-inch optional wheels. Big bumps around town can be felt, but aside from that the Range Rover is unfazed by broken roads and motorway dips, though you should choose a BMW X5 if you want a fun SUV on a country lane.
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award
Highly Commended
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: a sensible seven-seater
Closely related to the Volkswagen Tayron, think of the Skoda Koqiaq as its more sensible sibling. They’re both very similar, but the big Volkswagen manages to feel much posher for not much more money.
The Kodiaq is a bit bland to look at. You get the classic broad Skoda grille in between the big headlights, but it’s a little bit nondescript; smart, in a boring way. Higher trim levels look better than the entry level cars thanks to their contrasting trims and flashier wheel choices.
The interior is similar; well designed but not hugely interesting to behold. What is interesting, though, is just how many clever interior storage solutions Skoda has managed to cram into the Kodiaq. The infotainment is slick too, and there are some clever fabrics and textures dotted around the place to liven it up a little.
Your passengers won’t want for space, though the third row is best suited to short trips for adults, and with the rear seats stowed away you’ve got 910 litres of cargo capacity.
You get a range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines to choose from (the hybrid loses the third row of seats) and they’re all powerful enough to not feel strained around town, where it’s almost as comfortable as the Peugeot 5008. The engines are quiet once you’ve settled down to a motorway cruise, but the least powerful engine option is best around town.
Closely related to the Volkswagen Tayron, think of the Skoda Koqiaq as its more sensible sibling. They’re both very similar, but the big Volkswagen manages to feel much posher for not much more money.
The Kodiaq is a bit bland to look at. You get the classic broad Skoda grille in between the big headlights, but it’s a little bit nondescript; smart, in a boring way. Higher trim levels look better than the entry level cars thanks to their contrasting trims and flashier wheel choices.
The interior is similar; well designed but not hugely interesting to behold. What is interesting, though, is just how many clever interior storage solutions Skoda has managed to cram into the Kodiaq. The infotainment is slick too, and there are some clever fabrics and textures dotted around the place to liven it up a little.
Your passengers won’t want for space, though the third row is best suited to short trips for adults, and with the rear seats stowed away you’ve got 910 litres of cargo capacity.
You get a range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines to choose from (the hybrid loses the third row of seats) and they’re all powerful enough to not feel strained around town, where it’s almost as comfortable as the Peugeot 5008. The engines are quiet once you’ve settled down to a motorway cruise, but the least powerful engine option is best around town.
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Best for: going anywhere with the family
Though it may be the Range Rover that gets all the recognition and glory, the Discovery has been the family-favourite Land Rover for decades. It’s just as comfortable and almost as posh as the Range Rover, but it’s far more practical and affordable to buy.
It doesn’t look quite as slick as the Range Rover, but there’s no mistaking the Discovery for anything other than a Land Rover. It’s definitely posh, but in a more rugged way with its stepped roof and lower body cladding.
The interior isn’t as plush as in the Range Rover either, but it’s certainly trimmed better than in the Defender and there’s loads of room inside for seven people across all three rows. The boot is a prodigious 1,137 litres with the third row folded, too.
All Discovery models come fitted with air suspension as standard, and it glides over road imperfections in town. Motorways are quiet and refined too, but the downside of its soft suspension is that it feels a little wallowy on a twisty road.
Though it may be the Range Rover that gets all the recognition and glory, the Discovery has been the family-favourite Land Rover for decades. It’s just as comfortable and almost as posh as the Range Rover, but it’s far more practical and affordable to buy.
It doesn’t look quite as slick as the Range Rover, but there’s no mistaking the Discovery for anything other than a Land Rover. It’s definitely posh, but in a more rugged way with its stepped roof and lower body cladding.
The interior isn’t as plush as in the Range Rover either, but it’s certainly trimmed better than in the Defender and there’s loads of room inside for seven people across all three rows. The boot is a prodigious 1,137 litres with the third row folded, too.
All Discovery models come fitted with air suspension as standard, and it glides over road imperfections in town. Motorways are quiet and refined too, but the downside of its soft suspension is that it feels a little wallowy on a twisty road.
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Best for: punching above its price bracket
Okay so the Dacia Bigster isn’t actually as big as most of the cars on this list, and it’s nowhere near as posh, but it makes a stellar David in this bunch of expensive Goliaths. You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to get a practical, comfortable SUV.
It marks itself out from the smaller, cheaper Duster upon which it’s based with posher-looking bumpers, a bit more length, a taller roofline and a much larger boot. It’s handsome, definitely looking more expensive than it is from afar.
The interior is a similar story, because that’s where the bulk of the cost cutting has come into play. It looks cool, with a funky dashboard and infotainment system, but the materials are all very scratchy to the touch. You’ll fit five six-foot adults inside with ease, and there’s a huge boot to go with all that cabin space.
On the road the Bigster does thud through the odd pothole and bump in town, as the suspension is rather stiff. Motorways are more comfortable as the suspension settles down at a cruise, and the big Dacia actually feels quite nimble when tackling a country lane with a bit of gusto.
Okay so the Dacia Bigster isn’t actually as big as most of the cars on this list, and it’s nowhere near as posh, but it makes a stellar David in this bunch of expensive Goliaths. You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to get a practical, comfortable SUV.
It marks itself out from the smaller, cheaper Duster upon which it’s based with posher-looking bumpers, a bit more length, a taller roofline and a much larger boot. It’s handsome, definitely looking more expensive than it is from afar.
The interior is a similar story, because that’s where the bulk of the cost cutting has come into play. It looks cool, with a funky dashboard and infotainment system, but the materials are all very scratchy to the touch. You’ll fit five six-foot adults inside with ease, and there’s a huge boot to go with all that cabin space.
On the road the Bigster does thud through the odd pothole and bump in town, as the suspension is rather stiff. Motorways are more comfortable as the suspension settles down at a cruise, and the big Dacia actually feels quite nimble when tackling a country lane with a bit of gusto.
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How to choose the best large SUV for you
Budget
With so many large SUVs on sale at the moment, you could find yourself spending anywhere from around £25,000 to well over £125,000 depending on your budget and what you’re looking for in an SUV. For blank-cheque luxury, the Range Rover and BMW iX are pretty hard to beat, but the Volkswagen Tayron and Peugeot E-5008 strike a pretty good middle ground between value for money and badge appeal.
Intended use
Large families will likely require a seven-seater car, which immediately brings the Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tayron and BMW X5 to the front of the queue. For a car that feels at home doing the school run, an EV option makes the most sense, or for long-distance drivers then it’s worth checking out cars that come with diesel engines.
Where do you live?
If you regularly take long trips or you live in the countryside, the Land Rover Discovery is pretty hard to beat thanks to its go-anywhere off road ability. An EV such as the Kia EV9 makes a lot more sense if you live in town and have easy access to a charger though.
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