The best family SUVs – driven, rated and ranked
With estate-like space, a high driving position ever-improving driving dynamics, family SUVs have largely become a go-to choice for drivers.
Not only are they ideal for ferrying the kids to school, but family SUVs are also useful for transporting cargo, long-distance commutes and holidays, be it in the UK or hopping on the ferry over to Europe.
In 2025, there’s more choice than ever. Family SUVs are available in petrol, diesel and hybrid guises, but there’s also an ever-increasing number of electric options out there.
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There’s also a varied choice of front-, rear- and all-wheel drive, although a proper hardcore off-roader should be considered if you’re planning on some proper mud-plugging.
Our top ten lists are curated following extensive testing from our experienced team of experts. Our top pick is the Skoda Kodiaq – read on to find out why, plus a series of contenders which are closing in…
1. Skoda Kodiaq
Pros Very roomy and practicalPHEV offers unrivalled electric rangeControls are well-resolved Cons Doesn’t ride as well as it shouldDSG automatic gearboxes can be indecisive at low speedToo many modes in PHEV version
Best for: All-around ability
After an ultra-sensible family SUV that, is undemanding to use and offers a truly huge amount of space for the money? Enter the Skoda Kodaiq.
So what are you sacrificing? A chunk of premium-feel materials compared with some rivals, for a start, although it's not as much of a step down as you might think. Plus everything feels well screwed together.
There are more upmarket family SUVs, but not many that offer as much space for the money. Five and seven-seat models are both on offer – the former especially helpful if you value boot space over everything else, as it offers an enormous 910 litres worth.
All versions handle tidily, with commendable agility and composure and a good feeling of connection from the steering fooling you into thinking it's smaller than it actually is.
PHEV models are available, which is great for company car drivers, but it’s worth knowing that they don’t come with seven seats because the third-row seats and the battery occupy the same space.
Read our Skoda Kodiaq review
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2. Kia EV9
Pros Bold and distinctive design provides strong kerbside presenceLarge, versatile interior has all the space you could really wantStrong electric range and excellent rapid-charging speed Cons Feels bigger and heavier on the road than key rivalsLacks a degree of easy car-park manoeuvrabilityMaterial cabin appeal is slightly short of the £75k luxury standard
Best for: Space
The EV9 looks like it just landed from a sci-fi movie set. People stare at it on the street; they seek you out in shops and cafes to talk excitedly about it and to ask what it’s like. And yet it handles the tediousness of family life elegantly and serenely.
It's smooth, quiet and brilliantly easy to operate, and will officially do up to 349 miles on a charge. Our testing suggests the big-battery versions should crack 300 miles in real-life conditions, but you can supplement this quickly with 220kW rapid charging.
But the real plus point of the EV powertrain is in its packaging. It enables the EV9 to make the most out of its gargantuan proportions.
It’s available with six or seven seats, and either way the third row is roomy enough for adults. Four of the five rear seats get their own cupholders and USB-C charging ports, as well as Isofix child-seat anchorages. The rearmost pair stow and deploy electrically and are easy to access.
Furthermore, the boot is big enough for a reasonable amount of shopping cargo with all seats in place. While in five-seat mode, the loading space is extremely generous. There's even a front boot, which is perfect for keeping the charging cables in.
Read our Kia EV9 review
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3. Peugeot 5008
Pros Direct, planted steeringVery spacious and quite practical insideFull-hybrid engine is extremely refined Cons Third row is lacking in creature comfortsInfotainment screen isn’t the most intuitive to usePerformance with seven people and luggage will likely not be enough
Best for: Style
While the previous generation Peugeot 5008 was a rather frumpy, unsightly SUV, the new model is significantly more stylish and enticing.
It sports a much sharper look in 2025 as well as a host of practicality upgrades and creature comforts. Front space is sizable, while passengers up to 6ft tall should be comfortable in the back. Add in a third row of seats, and you’ll be shifting the whole family around in style.
Boot space is competitive for the class, with 348 litres on offer with all three seats up. This increases drastically to 916 litres. That’s more than the ultra-spacious Santa Fe, the Skoda Kodiaq or the Dacia Jogger. Impressive.
The 5008 is propelled by mild hybrid power (a BIK-busting plug-in hybrid is on the way) with 134bhp and 170lb ft, which pushes it on to a reasonable 0-62mph sprint of 11.3sec. There’s an electric option too, named the E-5008 which claims up to 410 miles of range.
Read our Peugeot 5008 review
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4. Land Rover Discovery Sport
Pros Class-leading off-road abilityImpressive handlingMaterially appealing and practical interior Cons Powertrains still lack the punch of some of the best in classNot the most fuel-efficient car in its classStarting to feel its age
Best for: Luxury feel
The Discovery Sport may well be the entry-level Land Rover, but that doesn't mean it's short on the brand's trademark capability, comfort or charm.
Facelifted for 2019, the Discovery Sport sits on the same PTA platform as the Range Rover Evoque but hasn't lost out on any of the characteristics that we liked about the original. It's still higher-riding than many of its opponents and affords better visibility.
True to the Land Rover brand, the four-wheel-drive versions will also go further off-road than most owners will ever need. However, it also handles in an impressively tidy fashion, with accurate steering, good body control and surprising agility.
Its practical interior is available with seven seats for those who need them. The current versions have plenty of premium appeal and benefit from the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, which help give it a similar feel to the firm's upper-crust Range Rover offerings.
Most of the petrol and diesel engines have 48V mild-hybrid assistance, but the particularly slick P300e plug-in hybrid is the standout version, thanks to its well-engineered integration that allows a smooth transition between petrol and electric.
If you want a family SUV with more versatility and off-road ruggedness than the class average, the Discovery Sport delivers that with very few compromises. Still one of the best 4x4s by far.
Read our Land Rover Discovery Sport review
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5. Hyundai Santa Fe
Pros Distinctive, practical designHigh quality interiorPlenty of space Cons Unsophisticated rideDisappointing powertrainsPoor driver assistance features
Best for: Interior ambience
From a value-for-money bargain basement brand to a genuine premium player, Hyundai's head-spinning progress over the past decade or so almost beggars belief.
Yet you need to take only a cursory look around the Santa Fe to appreciate just how far the South Korean firm has come. This futuristic SUV features distinctive looks and a spacious and classy cabin, plus a range of drivetrains that includes a full hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
The key to the Santa Fe's appeal is its interior, which blends a real upmarket vibe with plenty of space. Unlike many seven-seat rivals, there's actually room in the third row for adults and access is fairly straightforward.
There's a vast boot, too: 725 litres with five seats in place. Quality is excellent, with numerous high-grade materials, loads of standard kit and a decent infotainment set-up.
It's not the most exciting car to drive, but the steering is light and precise and the Hyundai handles corners with surprising composure for something so tall and heavy. It's at its best when taking it easy, which is no bad thing when you consider its family-friendly credentials.
The relatively soft suspension can become a little discombobulated over really challenging surfaces, but the rest of the time the Santa Fe is a refined and relaxing companion that's as happy mooching about town as it is taking in a long-haul trip.
If you need a show-stopping car that fits seamlessly into family life, the Hyundai takes some beating. Compared with a lot of rivals, you’ll get far more space and equipment for the money, too.
Read our Hyundai Santa Fe review
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6. Nissan X-Trail
Pros Smooth and powerful hybrid powertrainPleasant interior and good multimediaGood to drive for a big, heavy SUV Cons Low-speed rideSmaller boot than rivalsDisappointing efficiency
Best for: An alternative choice
Unusually, the Nissan X-Trail is powered exclusively by three-cylinder engines. That doesn’t bode well for effortless motoring, but the opposite is true for the all-wheel drive e-Power hybrid versions.
Nissan claims that its hybrid system – where the engine only ever powers a generator and the wheels are driven by electric motors – provides an EV driving experience, but with the reassurance that you can simply fill up with petrol.
The X-Trail gets very close indeed, which makes it a very undemanding car to drive. Motorway efficiency is good but could be better, while efficiency in town is excellent.
Away from the novel powertrain, the X-Trail is very well considered. It’s a slightly smaller vehicle than cars like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Skoda Kodiaq, but still offers seven seats as an option. The second row has plenty of space, the rear doors open 90deg and the boot space is competitive.
In front, the X-Trail feels familiar from the smaller Nissan Qashqai, but that’s a good thing because there are big buttons for commonly used functions and the infotainment is mostly logical, which makes the car very easy and frustration-free to use. The front seats are very comfortable, too.
On the road, the X-Trail is an easy-going companion. It suffers from a slightly crashy low-speed ride but is very supple everywhere else, and even offers some dynamism in the corners.
Read our Nissan X-Trail review
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7. Renault Scenic E-Tech
Pros Excellent rangeGood looking inside and outImpressive infotainment Cons Strangely poor forward visibilityLacklustre performanceDisappointing ride quality
Best for: Electric range
Once an MPV, the Renault Scenic returned last year as an all-electric SUV. While you can no longer select it with seven seats, it’s still a brilliant family SUV with lots of space and a pleasant interior.
Entry-level cars come with a 60kWh battery as standard with a claimed range of 260 miles, but the 87kWh long-range option offers a mighty 379 miles on a charge. Power can range from a meagre 167bhp to 215bhp, which is acceptable.
Make no mistake: that’s a seriously impressive range. It puts the Scenic straight to the top of the segment, even outclassing the Tesla Model Y’s 331 miles and the 348 miles touted by the Skoda Enyaq iV.
It’s practical and smart inside too, with a sizable, responsive 12in touchscreen infotainment system. Its 545-litre boot is also impressive, and while rear passenger space isn’t quite class-leading, it’s still airy nonetheless.
Read our Renault Scenic E-Tech review
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8. Volvo XC40
Pros Quiet performance and frugalityClassy interiorRelaxed Volvo dynamics Cons Shortage of rear seat accommodationSmaller boot than averagePremium pricing
Best for: Simple yet effective infotainment
The Volvo XC40 has been a real success in the UK, and the model routinely entered the top ten best-sellers list during the last twelve months.
It first went on sale in 2017, but to this day it sports a charismatic and alluring design that looks great compared to many other blander family SUVs.
Its good looks continue on the inside. The XC40 offers a refined cabin with genuine richness, quality, usability and comfort.
It's fair to say, though, that the XC40 isn't the most practical family car out there, with a 452-litre boot and a cramped rear.
Read our Volvo XC40 review
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9. Audi Q5
Pros Retains the practicality of the previous X3Among the more dynamic-handling premium SUVsSome distinctive design touches Cons Infotainment is still quite dominating and attention-hungryStill feels its weight and bulk in terms of dynamicsRide is tetchy and firm on country road
Best for: Engine selection
The BMW X3 gained an extensive overhaul at the end of 2024, bringing with it a new design and some powertrain updates.
Thankfully, it's still one of the better SUVs in terms of driving dynamics, with a direct attitude and bags of grip. That said, it has compromised some of its comfort this time around, with a fidgety ride and a distinct firmness on the UK tarmac.
The X3's strengths are found in its performance. A selection of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines are available (the latter with mild hybrid assistance), while a plug-in hybrid offers 50-56 miles of electric-only range and 295bhp. The powerful X3 M50 tops the range with 393bhp.
BMW's family SUV is packed with technology with some physical controls, but it's also a bit confusing and fidgety to use. Regardless, it's still a nice place to sit with plenty of space in both the front and rear.
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FAQs
Which car is best for a family?
There’s a vast choice of models for those looking for a sensible, useable family car. SUVs are extremely popular for good reason: the lofty seating position means plugging in child seats is easy, the boot lip is great for sitting on to change muddy boots and the square shape of most SUVs means there’s usually plenty of interior space.
The tall stance of most SUVs means there’s a commanding view ahead, which isn’t just beneficial for the driver; kids are less likely to get car sick, and the dog should be able to see out, too.
Are MPVs losing out to SUVs?
In a word: yes. MPVs were once a familiar sight on the road, but aside from a few models derived from vans, there aren’t many left at all. Conversely, the SUV market continues to go from strength to strength: they’re desirable, increasingly good to drive, and the raised ride height frees up some very convenient space for manufacturers to store batteries as the world moves towards full electrification.
If there is a drawback, it’s that unashamedly boxy MPVs are – or were – often the last word in interior space and practicality.
What is the difference between an SUV and a crossover?
To a lot of people the terms SUV and crossover are interchangeable. And the actual definition varies depending on which part of the world you are from. In the UK, the term crossover generally refers to a car-like SUV rather than something that looks or feels that little bit more rugged. A Peugeot 2008 might be referred to as either a crossover or a small (or compact) SUV.
What does SUV mean in cars?
SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle. The acronym has been used for decades, but only really came into common usage in the UK in the late 1990s. The term replaced the ‘soft roader’ tag given to models like the Toyota RAV4 or Suzuki Vitara, and as models became more road-focused, largely replaced the term ‘off-roader’, too.
What are SUV cars good for?
SUVs are the stylish face of practicality. They mostly blend car-like driving dynamics in a practical bodystyle. Many drivers like the rugged looks, four-wheel drive and increased rode height because it endows – or appears to endow – the vehicle with a little more off-road ability, even if drivers will rarely leave the tarmac. SUVs are great for families and those who need a little more utility than a hatchback or estate car can provide. Sporty dynamics aside, they’re excellent all-rounders.
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