Best five large SUVs to buy in 2025
Big cars for families that like to live it large
Once upon a time, the humble people carrier (these days more commonly known as the multi-purpose vehicle, or MPV) was the car of choice for those with a big family, but both it and the estate car have been losing favour with buyers and replaced by big SUVs, sometimes with seven seats.
Not only do these leviathans offer the space of the old people carriers, but they add a bit of off-road capability, a more commanding view of the road, and a sense of safety and security, not to mention a bit more style. After all, a Volkswagen Touareg is a much more desirable thing than the VW Sharan ever was.
Admittedly, not every big SUV has seven seats and all-wheel drive, but those that do make for incredibly compelling family buses, and they’ve been commensurately successful. Car manufacturers everywhere are building ever better big SUVs, and the competition is hotting up.
But if you’re in the market for such a thing, which should you choose? Well, we’re here to help, with our round-up of the best big SUVs currently on sale in the UK.
Skoda Kodiaq
From £36,645
The Skoda Kodiaq has long been one of the best family cars out there, offering immense practicality and a bit of style. The latest iteration is the best yet. With a more modern infotainment system, a classy cabin and an even more stylish exterior design, it has somehow managed to improve on its already brilliant predecessor.
Customers can choose whether they want their Kodiaq with five or seven seats, and there’s a selection of well-equipped trim levels from which to pick, with even the most basic Kodiaqs getting 18in alloy wheels, a reversing camera and three-zone climate control, as well as wireless phone charging and heated front seats.
There’s also a selection of powertrain options available, all with automatic transmissions. For our money, the 2-litre diesels make the most sense, and they are offered in front- and four-wheel-drive forms. Company car drivers might prefer the tax-busting plug-in hybrid, while those on a budget can opt for the perfectly adequate 1.5-litre petrol version.
Whichever one you choose, the Kodiaq will be a wonderfully comfortable and roomy family car, and one that drives surprisingly well. Opt for an all-wheel-drive version, and it’ll be a strikingly capable off-roader, too.
Hyundai Santa Fe
From £46,775
The boxy new Santa Fe has a distinctly American attitude, but that’s no criticism. The futuristic-looking SUV is enormous and thoroughly modern, with lots of cool technology and sharp styling, but the real benefit of the new Santa Fe is space.
Often, even big SUVs such as the Santa Fe are only occasional seven-seaters, with back seats that are far too cramped for adults to spend any time in. But the current Santa Fe really does have capacity to carry seven adults. Perhaps those in the rearmost seats won’t enjoy it all that much, and getting in may not always be easy, but it is a true seven-seater.
Despite the American feel, the Santa Fe is not fitted with an enormous, thirsty petrol engine. Instead, Hyundai has opted for a choice of hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, both of which are based around a 1.6-litre petrol engine. In truth, neither will be that economical on a long drive — thanks in part to the Santa Fe’s bulk — but the plug-in option will undoubtedly be the Santa Fe of choice for those driving a company car.
Nissan X-Trail
From £35,175
The Nissan X-Trail was once a rugged, no-nonsense 4×4, but it has come a long way in the past 20 years. The latest model is the most refined version yet, swapping the original’s boxy image for that of an accommodating family SUV that shares much with the latest-generation Qashqai.
As a result, the new X-Trail is an incredibly refined and quiet thing, offered with a sophisticated petrol-electric hybrid system called e-Power. Essentially, it just uses the electric power to drive the wheels, which means smooth, powerful acceleration, but there’s a petrol engine there to keep the batteries charged. You never need to plug in — you just fill up with petrol — and you get the instant response of the electric motors, but the downside is that it isn’t much more efficient than the other engine option, a petrol-powered mild hybrid.
Available in five- and seven-seat forms, the X-Trail is spacious and cleverly laid-out, which ensures it slots into your life very neatly, and there’s loads of kit. Even though it’s the cheapest car on this list, the X-Trail comes with front parking sensors, a reversing camera and wireless phone charging, as well as a digital instrument display and a big touchscreen.
Volvo EX90
From £96,255
Essentially an electric version of the ever-popular XC90 that continues to be a hit with customers, the EX90 is pricey, yes, but affordable compared to another high-end rival, the Range Rover (which is soon to be available in electric form, too).
Its clean, thoroughly Scandinavian exterior design is matched by the cool and minimalist interior, dominated by a massive central touchscreen.
But while all that is lovely, the key to the EX90 is the amount of space on board. Every example comes with seven seats, and each one is individual, which means Volvo has managed to put Isofix child-seat mounting points in the third row, too, giving the car a total of four child seat mounts in the car. And there’s a built-in, fold-away booster seat in the second row. There’s lots of room for adults, too.
The whole thing is powered by two electric motors and a massive battery, giving the EX90 an official range of 375 miles. And that figure doesn’t change, regardless of whether you go for the standard version or the more powerful Performance option. Whichever you opt for, the EX90 is incredibly quiet, comfortable and refined, although the reliance on touchscreen technology won’t suit everyone.
- Read our review of the Volvo EX90 here
- Also check out how the EX90 brings the Abbey Road sound to its stereo
Peugeot 5008
From £38,360
The flagship of the Peugeot SUV range, the 5008 has always been a practical, stylish and comfortable family bus, but the latest model has even more visual appeal. While the exterior design may not be for everyone, the new interior looks absolutely sensational, with a futuristic dashboard wrapped in cool fabric and packed with modern screens.
Yet despite the spaceship interior, the 5008 hasn’t lost any of its practicality. It’s fitted with seven seats as standard, and although they might be a bit tight for tall adults, they’re fine for kids or shorter grown-ups, while boot space is very respectable, too.
Standard equipment is also impressive, with even the basic Allure model benefitting from keyless entry, wireless phone charging and three-zone climate control, but it isn’t the specification that impresses most. No, Peugeot is offering the 5008 in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric forms, giving buyers a wide choice of efficient propulsion systems, and that is sure to broaden its appeal. And whichever you pick, the French SUV will be a comfortable and relaxing mode of transport, if not an especially exciting one to drive.
Related articles
- If you were interested in the best large SUVs to buy, you might also like to read our review of the Kia EV9, which was the first electric seven-seat SUV to hit the market
- Related to the EV9 is the Hyundai Ioniq 9, another seven-seat electric SUV that gets a claimed 385 miles per charge
- As a leftfield choice, you might like to read our extended test in the 2023 Talos Defender
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