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Best SUV comparison 2023

High quality SUV cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.6/5 from 47,788 reviews

10 best SUVs to buy in 2023

Everyone wants an SUV right now, with family SUVs almost a default choice for people with kids. Why? Well, the arrival of the SUV in the mid 1990s marked a sea change in the car market, just as the arrival of the practical, flexible and easy-to-drive hatchback did a few decades prior.

Think of an SUV as a tall hatchback - both types of car tend to have a wide-opening, top-hinged boot and fold-down rear seats - but SUVs add in a raised driving position for a better view of the road, plus being taller can make them easier to get in and out of if you have reduced mobility, while strapping young kids into child seats is easier when you don't have to stoop down. It's a lot easier for designers to fit a third row of seats into an SUV shape, too, while subjective matters of image, fashion and road presence also come into play to a greater or lesser extent.

While some SUVs follow the hatchback-on-stilts formula, others are descended from proper off-roading stock. These 4x4s are cleaner and more sophisticated than the gas-guzzlers of old, but offer genuine off-road ability as well as the other advantages of an SUV.

Here are the best new SUVs on sale in the UK right now.

Skoda Kodiaq

1. Skoda Kodiaq

9/10
Skoda Kodiaq review
The biggest car that Skoda makes is also one of the best cars that Skoda makes. OK, so the Kodiaq is a laggard when it comes to offering hybrid or electric versions, but it sure delivers on the SUV front — bluff styling, masses of space inside, a huge boot, optional seats for seven, and a high-quality cabin. It’s even quite good to drive, while the driving position is more commanding than some SUVs, and it offers strong value, too. There’s a new Kodiaq on the way next year. To improve on today’s model, it will need to be very good indeed.
Volvo XC40

2. Volvo XC40

9/10
Volvo XC40 review
Battery range up to 26 miles
Hard to believe, but Volvo no longer sells saloons or estates in the UK. That’s turned the Swedish car maker into an SUV specialist. The XC40 looks like an SUV should — tall and chunky, but thanks to its inherent Volvo-ness, it’s also kind of unthreatening. You can have it with petrol, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric power and all three are good to drive, and pretty refined too. The cabin is beautifully designed, too, with a clean, sleek look, and thoughtfully chosen materials.
Audi Q5

3. Audi Q5

9/10
Audi Q5 review
Battery range up to 32 miles
The Q5 does everything the BMW X3 does, but arguably does it while looking slightly nicer. A recent update tidied up the styling and brought with it an improved infotainment system, and you can pick from petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid models. It’s a good thing to drive, blending comfort with engagement well, but it's not quite on par with the more dynamically focussed X3 in that regard. The Q5’s advantage over most alternatives is just how quiet and comfortable it is.
Volkswagen T-Cross

4. Volkswagen T-Cross

9/10
Volkswagen T-Cross review
We love the fact that VW’s smallest SUV eschews round, curvy styling in favour of a proper, upright, SUV look. It’s basically a Polo under the skin, so you get all of that car’s frugality and safety, but with more cabin space and a much bigger boot. The basic 1.0 TSI turbo three-cylinder is all the engine you’ll need, but if you do a fair few miles we'd opt for the 110hp version of this rather than the 95hp one. If you want punchier performance, there’s only a small fuel economy penalty if you choose the 150hp 1.5 TSI, although it does cost more to buy.

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Kia EV6

5. Kia EV6

9/10
Kia EV6 review
Battery range up to 328 miles
Kia’s dramatic EV6 puts the Korean company’s electric car chassis to good use. You’ll get a 328-mile range from the rear-wheel-drive model,, and ultra-fast charging which is usually reserved for the likes of Porsche and Audi. The cabin is spacious and beautifully designed, with a wraparound dashboard and a pleasingly cocooning ambience, particularly for the driver, while the EV6 is also really good fun to drive. That’s especially true of the GT model, which has a colossal 577bhp for a Tesla-baiting 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds.
Peugeot 2008

6. Peugeot 2008

9/10
Peugeot 2008 review
Just because you want a smaller SUV doesn’t mean that you want to sacrifice style. If that sounds like you, then the striking Peugeot 2008 is the SUV for you. Taking the 208’s styling (and chassis) and making it even more in-your-face, the 2008 offers decent interior space, and a sparky driving experience. Literally sparky if you go for the all-electric e-2008, although that model is a touch short on range maxing out at 250 miles in official tests. Do check you're happy with the small steering wheel that's looked over, rather than through, when viewing the driver display though. It takes a bit of getting used to.
Skoda Karoq

7. Skoda Karoq

9/10
Skoda Karoq review
The Karoq might just be the most sensible car you can buy. It’s massive inside — there’s a whopping 588-litre boot back there, and you can get Varioflex rear seats that come out altogether to make even more space. They’re standard on the SE L and an option on the SE Drive. It’s well-built and given Skoda’s reputation, should be reliable, too. You can even get it with a frugal 1.0-litre engine that sounds way too small to shift something like a Karoq around, but proves to be anything but. Skoda updated the Karoq with slightly tweaked styling and an updated infotainment system not too long ago, too. Exciting? Possibly not. Refined, comfortable and all the car you'll likely ever need? We'd say so.
Audi Q4 e-tron

8. Audi Q4 e-tron

9/10
Audi Q4 e-tron review
Battery range up to 329 miles
Want to trim your emissions and look good doing it? Then the electric Audi Q4 e-tron is the answer. The styling is what first draws you to the Audi, but there’s substance to back up the looks. You get a range of up to 321 miles, plus rapid charging to 80 per cent power in just 29 minutes. Inside, there's a typically stylish Audi cabin, and lots of space. It’s even pretty good to drive, and hugely refined. It's worth noting, though, that the Skoda Enyaq is mechanically similar but less expensive. It just doesn't quite have the Audi's premium edge, but it's well worth comparing the two cars closely if you're considering one of them. You’ll be happy with your choice either way.
Land Rover Defender

9. Land Rover Defender

9/10
Land Rover Defender review
Right, time to stop messing about. The other cars on this list are SUVs, but the Defender is not. It’s a proper off-roader, a 4x4, capable of climbing every mountain and fording every stream. Other SUVs tackle the school run. The Defender can tackle the school run when the school is on the other side of the Kalahari. Rugged and tough, but also comfy and refined on the road, with an excellent but expensive P400e plug-in hybrid option that’s surprisingly frugal on long journeys. The three-door 90 is the stylish option, while the long-wheelbase 130 has the most space. The 110 sits between the two and is the sweet spot in the range for most buyers.
BMW X3

10. BMW X3

8/10
BMW X3 review
Battery range up to 27 miles
From ugly duckling (the original X3 was seriously not good looking) to this current (relatively) swan-like model, the X3 is basically a 3 Series Touring on stilts. We mean that in a good way, because it combines a beautifully-made interior with plenty of cabin and boot space, and still manages to just about drive like a BMW ought to. Choose from petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, or even the fully-electric iX3. All models are four-wheel drive, except for the iX3 which sends power to the rear wheels. Whatever type of fuel is used, the X3 is not cheap, but popular, fast, practical, and lovely to drive or be a passenger in.

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Advice about SUV cars

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. SUVs are generally fun to drive – that’s why Sports is in the title – but are practical for families too, with spacious interiors and decent-sized boots – which is why Utility is used in their name.

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.

On paper, this is a tie between the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350de plug-in hybrid diesel, and the just-arriving new BMW X1 xDrive25e, both of offer 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 at 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? Isn’t it? OK then, what about a Citroen C3 Aircross for around £21k? Or a Volkswagen T-Cross for £23k? Sorry, we’re just messing about here, really. The actual answer is a Dacia Duster for — wait for it — around £17,000. It's an absolute bargain and makes anything else look like the wrong answer.

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 the size of your family and whether you need a seven seater, the Skoda Kodiaq is hard to beat.

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.

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