Best SUV comparison 2024

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.

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.