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Best SUVs 2021
High-riding SUVs look suitably imposing, give you the ever-popular raised driving position and are big enough to carry a family and its luggage without breaking a sweat. Lots even come with four-wheel drive to give you peace of mind if things get slippy. If this sounds like your kind of thing and you want to choose your ideal new model, we’ve narrowed down a list of the best SUVs currently on sale.
1. Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 is our top rated SUV. It looks superb inside and out, and provides all the space a small family needs. Its engines are punchy, yet economical and it’s reassuringly comfortable and safe to drive. Combine all this and you can see why the XC40 stands out as the best SUV there is.
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2. Skoda Kodiaq
The Kodiaq is one of the best SUVs on the market. It comes with either five or seven seats and a range of great petrol and diesel engines. Inside it feels very well built and it has one of the best touchscreens on sale.
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3. BMW X3
The BMW X3 is a practical SUV that’s fun to drive too. The boot is huge, the cabin can easily fit four fully-grown adults, while the infotainment is intuitive. Some desirable bits of kit are only optional extras however.
Read our review
4. Peugeot 3008
The Peugeot 3008 is a quirky and characterful SUV that looks upmarket inside and out. It’s practical, too, with its boot one of the biggest in its class. It’s comfy to drive, too, though the dashboard isn’t the easiest to use.
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5. VW T-Cross
The VW T-Cross is a small-on-the-outside, big-on-the-inside SUV that’s loaded with plenty of equipment as standard. Some alternative small SUVs are just a bit more stylish, however.
6. BMW X5
The BMW X5 has always stood out for the way it drives, but this latest model turns up the tech, the luxury and the space. Pretty much the perfect posh SUV but its a shame that a really comfortable driving position is an optional extra.
7. Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan is an SUV that’s very easy to live with. It’s practical, spacious and comes with easy-to-use tech. It’s a bit more expensive than some alternatives though.
8. Skoda Karoq
When it comes to family-friendly SUVs, you can’t go too far wrong with the Skoda Karoq. It has a well-built interior and practical interior, but it’s just not the most exciting SUV to look at and not that fun to drive.
9. Audi Q5
The Audi Q5 is a posh, practical and well-built SUV. It comfortable to drive and comes with lots of equipment, but alternatives from Mercedes and BMW just look a bit more stylish.
10. Peugeot 2008
The Peugeot 2008 is an SUV you can buy with your heart and your head. It looks cool, is cheap to run, easy to drive and has a big boot. But it’s a shame the back seats aren’t roomier.
Best cheap SUVs
Great styling and great practicality all for a great price… Our experts have picked the best cheap SUVs.
1. Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is the best cheap SUV. It looks and feels basic, but that’s to be expected when you can have it for less than £10,000. It does looks like a proper SUV, though, has space for four adults and big boot. While not quick, the Dacia is cheap to run particularly if you go for the diesel model.
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2. SsangYong Tivoli
The SsangYong Tivoli lacks the Tonka-toy appeal of the Dacia Duster, but it’s still recommendable as a cheap SUV thanks to its decent interior space and long five-year warranty. It’ll even handle light off-roading if fitted with the optional four-wheel drive system.
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3. Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda 4×4 looks quite expensive in this company, but it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a proper off-roader that doesn’t make you compromise in other areas. It’s cheap to run and has just enough space for four people with a few bags of shopping.
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4. Ford KA+ active
Okay, so the Ford Ka+ Active isn’t really an SUV – it’s just a small car with raised suspension and chunky bumpers. On the flipside, it’s cheap to run and its small size makes it perfect for town. It’s small inside, but should have space for four and two small suitcases
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5. Suzuki Jimny
Nothing else looks quite like the Suzuki Jimny, and not a lot will keep up with it off-road. On-road, though, it’s poor. Inside this cheap SUV is functional rather than fun. There’s swathes of hard, scratchy plastics might not look pretty, but will happily stand up to a harsh life.
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Best electric SUV
Electric SUVs combine the best of all words - great fun to drive, practical interiors and are emissions free. Bookmark this page and come back regularly as more electric SUVs come on sale.
1. Audi e-tron
Posh and practical, the Audi e-tron is a quick and spacious electric SUV. Packed full of high-tech kit, the interior looks like it’s been lifted out of a spaceship.
Read our review
2. Jaguar I-Pace
Consider the Jaguar I-pace if you’re after an electric SUV that’s packed with futuristic features, just be prepared for a high price tag.
Read our review
3. Kia e-Niro
There’s not much to choose between the Kia e-Niro and the Hyundai Kona EV. The e-Niro is slightly bigger, has a slightly longer range and is a bit more expensive.
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4. Mercedes EQC
The Mercedes EQC has stylish looks and is very comfortable to drive. You get the benefit of a good, high-up driving position and lots of high-tech features too.
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5. Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona Electric is quick and has a long range. Its boot is smaller than the standard Kona but it’s still practical enough to be a usable family car.
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Best small SUVs
Sometimes called SUV-b cars, small SUVs have a go-anywhere image and a higher driving position that give them more appeal than a run-of-the-mill small car. The best small SUVs are practical, easy to drive with a great view out and come with reasonable running costs. Here are the 10 highest-rated SUVs...
1. Peugeot 2008
The Peugeot 2008 looks a bit like a Peugeot 208 that’s spent some quality time with a benchpress. It’s a small but butch SUV with a raised ride height, but still gets the 208’s superb cabin and tech. It’s a bit cramped in the back but looks way more stylish than the VW T-Cross.
Read our review
2. VW T-Cross
The Volkswagen T-Cross is a surprisingly spacious small SUV which comes with loads of standard equipment and a bright, responsive infotainment system.
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3. Skoda Karoq
The Skoda Karoq does pretty much everything you need a small SUV to do – it’s well made, very practical and has good space for passengers and luggage. You might not think it is the most exciting to look at, however.
Read our review
4, Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona Electric gives you a surprisingly good, electric-powered alternative to the other small SUVs here. OK, so the batteries eat into boot space and rear seat space will also be tight for tall adults, but you do get plenty of room up front and the Electric also feels nicer inside than a regular Kona. The best thing about the Kona Electric is its range though, you’ll go much further in a Kona than in any other comparable electric car.
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5. Audi Q2
The Audi Q2 just about has it all for a small SUV – a premium badge, a luxurious cabin, plenty of space, powerful engines and a relaxed driving experience. Equally, handsome looks dominated by its large upright grille and a contrasting patch behind the rear door help it stand out in a car park.
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6. Ford Puma
You sit lower down in the Puma than you do in other small SUVs, but if you can live with that then you’ll get a stylish, well equipped, and fun-to-drive SUV. Other cars here will have more room for back seat passengers but the Puma’s party trick is a particularly practical boot.
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7. Skoda Kamiq
The Skoda Kamiq ticks lots of small SUV boxes. It’s comfortable, practical and easy to drive. It’s quite spacious for this kind of car but it’s a bit of a shame you have to get the more expensive trim levels to get the biggest infotainment screen.
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8. Volkswagen T-Roc
The VW T-Roc is stylish, comfortable to drive and comes with a decent amount of standard kit. The interior quality isn’t quite what you’d hope, mind you, considering the T-Roc is a wee bit more expensive than some other small SUVs.
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9. Nissan Juke
The new Nissan Juke has grown up. Compared with the original it has sharpened looks and much better tech. It’s not as practical as the more humdrum looking SUVs mind you.
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10. Suzuki Vitara
If you prefer your small SUV to look like an actual off-roader and not some jacked-up hatchback on stilts check out the Suzuki Vitara. It’s a non-nonsense SUV that’s well equipped too. There are more posh SUVs on this list that come with much nicer interiors though.
Read our review
Best large SUVs
Want a car that can pamper you like a spa weekend but can also traverse your country estate without getting stuck? Then you want a large SUV, so here are our experts' top 10.
1. BMW X5
The new BMW X5 not be the most revolutionary design, but each aspect of this large SUV has been honed to perfection. It’s very roomy, and there’s a seven seat option. Also the interior build quality is second to none while the infotainment system has so many different modes of input that there’s one to please everyone.
Read our review
2. Audi Q8
The Audi Q8 is based on the Q7 but it’s been set up for a slightly sportier drive yet the standard fit air suspension means it dances over bumps like ballerina. Inside it gets Audi’s latest and greatest technology and ice cool interior design.
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3. Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 is a well built large SUV and has excellent technology. The engines are smooth and punchy, it corners better than it has a right too and with the optional air suspension it’s one of the comfiest car ever. The cabin is very roomy too.
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4. Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 is a large SUV that’s almost as posh as BMW or Audi, yet refreshingly is a lot cooler and less ostentatious. It’s a genuine seven-seater too and even with the third row in use, the boot is still a decent size.
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5. Mercedes GLE
With its huge exterior presence and plush interior, the Mercedes GLE has everything you’d expect of a large SUV. Inside, the huge infotainment screens make you feel like you’re at the IMAX. And they’re available with Merc’s cool augmented sat-nav.
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6. Land Rover Discovery
With room for seven (and we’re talking about adults, not just two kids crammed into the boot) the Land Rover Discovery could be your ideal large SUV – especially if you regularly tow or actually take your car off-road. It’s brilliant over rough ground. Still, the base model misses out on sat-nav and you couldn’t say it’s fun to drive.
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7. Range Rover Sport
If you don’t need seven seats but lots of space and luxury take a look at the Range Rover Sport. It’s very comfortable and being a Range Rover, it can go further into the wilderness than a car ought to. Still, you’ll find cars like the X7 more fun to drive.
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8. BMW X7
With the BMW X7 you have genuine space for seven adults – no one will feel short-changed sat in any of its seats. It’s one of the best driving large SUVs too. It’s so large however, that you may feel a bit nervous navigating around tight city streets or in a multistorey carpark, and you’ll either love or hate the way it looks.
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9. Range Rover Velar
The Velar is probably the most striking SUV in the Range Rover line-up and sits between the smaller Evoque and slightly larger Range Rover Sport. The interior looks as good as the exterior and it comes with lots of decent tech too. It’s not the best at carrying three passengers in the back seats, though.
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10. Mercedes GLS
With the Mercedes GLS you get a supremely comfortable, large SUV that has a massive boot, too. The interior quality is not quite what you would expect for a car at this price and there’s only one engine option too.
Read our review
Best 7-seater SUVs
Seven-seaters SUVs used to be the preserve of parents bestowed with many children, but more and more people are buying them for the extra space they offer over regular five-seater models, as well as for the prestige that comes with that extra size.
1. Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 is the best seven-seater SUV. It’s more luxurious than butch, yet its combination of abilities makes it a great choice for many purposes. It has an interior packed full of Audi’s latest technology including the swanky Virtual Cockpit digital driver’s display. The engines are smooth and impressively frugal when you consider the size of it. The Q7’s third row of seats is good enough for kids but adults will complain on longer journeys.
Read our review
2. Skoda Kodiaq
The Skoda Kodiaq has a much lower price than an Audi Q7 but matches it on 7-seat SUV ability in many areas, especially those that matter to families. The Kodiaq excels at swallowing passengers and luggage while the solid-built interior can withstand years of abuse. A further feather in the Kodiaq’s cap are the lively, yet frugal engines and the quick-shifting optional auto gearbox. The Kodiaq’s third row is not much bigger than in a Q7, so it will be alright for kids but slightly cramped for adults.
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3. Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 SUV is a nice halfway point between the sensible Kodiaq and the luxurious Q7. The XC90 has a posh interior with a great, minimalistic design, super comfy seats and huge space inside. It’s available as a hybrid, if you’re eco-conscious, and goes over bumps in impressive comfort. The XC90s third row is best reserved for kids – there’s very little legroom back there.
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4. Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery is equally at home towering over other cars in congested city streets as it is blasting through fields and rough roads. The interior is spacious and well built, but avoid entry level models – they miss out on things like leather seats or sat nav. The Discovery engines, while not the most frugal here, are easily powerful enough to move this seven-seat SUV with ease. The Discovery’s third row is spacious enough for adults thanks to the boxy body so it’s the best SUV here for passengers.
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5. Kia Sorrento
The Kia Sorento might not have the tech-fest interior of the Audi Q7 or the off-road ability of the Land Rover Discovery, but what it does have is value in spades. For its price, the Sorento is a great seven-seater SUV. It has a solid interior, big boot, economical engines, even if they are a bit slow, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. The Sorento’s third row is more spacious than the Kodiaq’s but less so than the Discovery’s meaning you can fit two adults back there, but just for short trips.
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Best petrol SUVs
Choosing to drive an SUV doesn’t mean you have to settle for rumbly diesel engine. These are the best petrol SUVs available, with smooth engines that are better suited to town driving.
1. Peugeot 3008
The Peugeot 3008 is the best petrol SUV. It’s a sensible family car that manages not be dull. It looks great and it’s interior makes most other cars’ cabins look bland, yet it has space for four and their luggage. The 130hp 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine makes the 3008 nippy but also cheap to run.
Read our review
2. BMW X3
The BMW X3 gives you the best of both worlds – its SUV body gives you space for people and a pile of luggage, yet it’s just as good to drive as a normal BMW saloon. Best of all, the xDrive 20i petrol car has an impressive turn of speed but doesn’t cost a fortune to run.
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3. Skoda Karoq
The Skoda Karoq is hard to beat if you’re after a practical, well-priced SUV, it won the carwow Car of the Year Value Award. It’s well-built cabin is spacious and the back seats can be removed to carry big loads. The 1.5-litre 150ps petrol engine is cheap to run and reasonably quick.
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4. BMW X1
The BMW X1 might not look like a sporty BMW saloon, but it feels like one to drive and its SUV body gives you plenty of space and a great view out when driving. The X1 is available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine (in the 118i) which is cheap to run and reasonably nippy.
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5. Range Rover
The Range Rover is like a posh limo that has a practical boot and off-road ability that’ll humble most other SUVs. Choose the 5.0-litre petrol and it’ll have the measure of most sports cars on road too (on straights, anyway), but the running costs will be huge.
Read our review
Best diesel SUVs
You want a great SUV? You want your great SUV to have a diesel engine? Great... you've come to the right place. Our experts have pulled the best diesel SUVs on sale today.
1. Volvo XC40
Spec your Volvo XC40 with the D3 Diesel engine and you’ll get a smart SUV that should manage around 50mpg. It’s spacious and comfortable too and is particularly head-turning when you go for one of the two-tone paint schemes. The Volvo XC40 is the best diesel SUV.
Read our review
2. Skoda Kodiaq
The 150bhp, 2.0-litre diesel in the Skoda Kodiaq is quiet and you’ll likely get around 45mpg in everyday use. Overall, the Kodiaq is a spacious and practical SUV, and with this engine it will be fairly economical to run too.
Read our review
3. BMW X5
The BMW X5 30d is our favourite X5. It pulls hard from low revs and yet still has good fuel economy. Overall, the X5 is a comfortable SUV that’s fun to drive.
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4. Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 is available with a choice of two 3.0-litre, six-cylinder diesel engines, with either 218 or 272hp. The 272hp model offers noticeably more performance with a negligible cost to fuel economy. In other words, the huge Audi Q7 will keep pace with a Golf GTI off the lights but, perplexingly, will also be cheaper to run.
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5. Skoda Karoq
Choose your Skoda Karoq with the 150bhp 2.0-litre diesel as it’s smoother than the 1.6-litre. Effortless performance too. Overall the Karoq is a spacious family SUV with a big boot.
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Fastest SUVs
These are the kind of cars you'll see at the Premiership training ground or cruising around Knightsbridge - the fastest SUVs on sale today.
1. Tesla Model X
The Tesla Model X P100D is the fastest-accelerating SUV on sale. It has a huge 100kWh battery, a colossal 772hp on tap and there’s even a Ludicrous driving mode, which all-told, is a pretty accurate description when it’s selected.
Read our review
2. Lamborghini Urus
All-wheel drive and 650hp helps propel the Lamborghini Urus to 62mph from a standstill in just 3.6sec, and it’ll carry on to 190mph. It sounds fantastic, too, and looks like no other SUV, but it’ll cost you a cool £165,000 to own one – and that’s before you get busy with the extensive options list.
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3. Porsche Cayenne
Opt for the Cayenne Turbo and you get a Porsche SUV that’s big on performance, well-built and spacious and is still really sporty to drive despite its size.
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4. Alfa-romeo Stelvio-Quadrifoglio
A £70,000 SUV can hardly be called a bargain, but next to the £150,000 Lamborghini Urus the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio still looks it. You get beautiful Italian styling and an engine co-developed by Ferrari. The Stelvio isn’t just great in a straight line – it’s one of the best-handling SUVs we’ve ever driven, and to prove it we put our money where our mouth is and awarded it our Driver’s Award at the 2018 carwow Car of the Year Awards.
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5. Mercedes GLC
The Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S is eerily similar to the Alfa Romeo in terms of stats. It has same power from its V8 engine and the same 0-62mph sprint time, while opting for the optional Driver’s Package takes the top speed from 155 to 174mph. It lacks the Alfa’s handling finesse, but does offer a more luxurious cabin and a better infotainment system.
Read our review
Best luxury SUVs
There was a time when true luxury came in saloon form only. These days, with the interest in SUVs booming, high-end luxury has been given a raised ride height. And it makes sense, because the space and superior visibility large SUVs bring only adds to the sense of opulence. Here we’ve rounded up five of the best luxury SUVs.
1. BMW X7
The BMW X7 genuinely has limo-like space for seven people. It’s also great to drive and has a high-quality interior and therefore the best luxury SUV you can buy..
Read our review
2. Audi SQ7
The Audi SQ7 sits at the top of the Q7 range and is powered by a sledgehammer of a 4.0-litre diesel V8 engine. That means a 0-62 sprint time of less than five seconds, yet respectable economy at a cruise too. Clever active suspension that props up the SQ7 in corners will ensure you have fun driving it around corners, too. And, inside, you’ll also find it suitably top-of-the-range, with lashings of leather and a lengthy standard equipment list.
Read our review
3. Bentley Bentayga
When Bentley announced it was to make an SUV the purists weren’t happy, but today they line the street outside Harrods. And the Bentayga is fundamentally a good car, with a comfortable ride, wonderful engines and genuinely superb interior quality. It isn’t cheap to buy and is based on an Audi Q7, but it does at least look and feel the more expensive luxury SUV.
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4. Tesla Model X
Few luxury SUVs turn heads like the Tesla Model X. From its party piece Falcon wing rear doors that are hinged at the top and lift up, to its 17-inch screen that takes up almost all of the centre console, there really is nothing else like it. Of course, it’s also pure electric, will do 0-60mph in just 2.9 seconds and travel more than 200 miles on a full charge. It also has a high-quality interior and spongy air suspension.
Read our review
5. Mercedes G-class
This boxy bruiser has always been a leftfield choice. You do get quite a bit for your money – an iconic exterior design, super-strong suspension system, arguably the best off-road ability in class and one of the most impressive petrol V8 engines currently on sale. It’s far from a good value proposition but it’s difficult to ignore its broad range of abilities.
Read our review
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