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Best large SUVs 2021
The best large SUVs are practical, luxurious and good to drive, with sensible running costs. Here we count down the top 10 – and reveal the one we'd avoid...
For many people, large SUVs have replaced big saloons as the ultimate expression of modern motoring, and they make great family cars, thanks to their spacious and practical interiors.
The best are also easy to drive, combining a calm ride with tidy handling and a lofty driving position with user-friendly controls. But with so many models to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start, so here we count down our top 10 – and name the large SUV to avoid.
If any take your fancy, simply click on the relevant link to find out more or see how much of a discount you could get by using our New Car Buying service.
Land Rover Defender
What Car? Target Price from
£44,825
RRP from £44,825 to £101,150
The new Defender may not have a separate chassis or rigid axles, but don’t think that this means it’s gone soft; it has a huge amount of suspension travel and ground clearance and is packed with technology to help off roading. As a result, it's actually more capable in the rough than the original. But it also impresses on the road, with accurate steering and forgiving suspension. Just make sure you can live with big fuel bills.
Pros
- Excellent off road
- Up to seven seats
- Slow depreciation
Cons
- Higher trim levels are very pricey
- Fuel economy and CO2 emissions are poor
- Tiny boot in 90 models
Honda CR-V
What Car? Target Price from
£28,666
RRP from £30,810 to £39,770
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The latest version of Honda's large SUV doesn't come with any diesel engines – instead, you can choose from a 1.5-litre petrol model or a 2.0-litre hybrid. It's the latter that we recommend, for its low real-world running costs and impressive refinement. The CR-V also offers a comfortable driving position and vast rear space.
Pros
- Vast passenger and boot space (five-seat models)
- Economical Hybrid model
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- CVT gearbox sends the engine racing
- Poor infotainment system
- Seven-seat versions hard to justify over rivals
Citroën C5 Aircross
What Car? Target Price from
£21,726
RRP from £24,350 to £35,850
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In many ways, the C5 Aircross is the archetypical Citroën, with distinctive looks and a super-soft ride. What's more, it keeps you very well isolated from wind and road noise and is temptingly priced.
Pros
- Mostly a super-smooth ride
- Quiet inside at speed
- Frugal engines
Cons
- Wallowy handling
- No seven-seat option
- Rear leg room tight for the class
Mazda CX-5
What Car? Target Price from
£26,030
RRP from £27,230 to £38,650
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Fitted with Mazda's 2.0-litre petrol engine, the CX-5 is strong, quiet and impressively efficient without sacrificing pace. Plus, the car is well equipped, fun to drive and extremely practical – as long as you need only five seats. Even some road noise can’t detract from its overall desirability.
Pros
- Classy interior
- Tidy handling
- Very well equipped
Cons
- Overly firm ride
- No seven-seat option
- Rivals have more space for passengers and luggage
Land Rover Discovery Sport
What Car? Target Price from
£30,192
RRP from £31,915 to £51,620
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A former Large SUV of the Year, the Discovery Sport sits below the full-size Discovery in the Land Rover range. However, it's still available with seven seats, has a smart and user-friendly interior and holds its value well. It's even well priced by class standards and was recently updated to make it a bit more efficient.
Pros
- Lots of passenger space
- Flexible seven-seat capability
- Lengthy equipment list
Cons
- Terrible reliability
- Compromised ride comfort on larger wheels
- So-so performance
- Poor fuel economy and CO2 emissions
Ford Kuga
What Car? Target Price from
£24,805
RRP from £26,440 to £38,955
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In our tests, the plug-in hybrid version of the Kuga went almost 50% farther on electric power than rivals. Plus, it trounced them when petrol power took over, returning 52mpg. The Kuga also gives you a lofty view of the road ahead, while the supple suspension makes it very comfortable, both at speed and when trundling around town.
Pros
- Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has a long electric-only range
- Competitively priced against rivals
- PHEV offers low company car tax
Cons
- Interior quality doesn't impress
- Relatively small boot
- Infotainment system isn't the slickest
BMW X3
What Car? Target Price from
£39,291
RRP from £42,115 to £61,850
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The X3 is a great choice if you're looking for a prestige SUV with five seats. Keen drivers will like its strong engine range and top-notch handling, while passengers can enjoy the luxurious and spacious interior. You also get BMW's iDrive infotainment system as standard, which is a real bonus because it's the best around.
Pros
- Sharp handling
- Class-leading infotainment
- Strong engines
Cons
- Slightly firm ride in M Sport trim
- Popular 20d engine sounds relatively gruff
- Comparatively pricey PCP finance
Audi Q5
What Car? Target Price from
£40,135
RRP from £42,950 to £74,245
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The Q5 is more comfortable and refined than direct rivals, but its biggest strength of all is its interior quality. For starters, the materials all look and feel great. But it’s the details that really set the Q5 apart, such as switches that click so satisfyingly you could be forgiven for thinking they’ve been made by Rolex.
Pros
- Smooth and punchy engines
- Good to drive
- High-quality interior
Cons
- Fiddly touchscreen infotainment system
- No seven-seat option
- Firm ride on S line and Edition 1 versions
Peugeot 5008
What Car? Target Price from
£28,369
RRP from £29,585 to £40,905
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The Peugeot 5008 combines MPV-esque versatility with SUV looks, plus it handles tidily, the ride is comfortable and the interior is seriously plush.
Pros
- Loads of interior space for the money
- Stylish and plush-feeling interior
- Competitive fuel economy and CO2 emissions
Cons
- Poor rear head room with the optional sunroof fitted
- Rivals have more diverse engine lineups
- Slow-witted infotainment system
Kia Sorento
What Car? Target Price from
£37,620
RRP from £38,845 to £53,095
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The Sorento's hybrid tech combines good real-world fuel economy with comparatively low CO2 emission, while the ride is comfortable and the steering accurate. Throw in a nicely made and well equipped interior, a driving position that’s lofty enough to make HGV drivers jealous and Kia’s unmatched seven-year warranty, and the Sorento is the best large SUV currently on sale.
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Pros
- Seven seats fit for adults
- A massive boot
- Well equipped
Cons
- Mainstream rivals are cheaper to buy
- Hybrid engine isn't as fuel efficient as a Honda CR-V's
- No lumbar adjustment in 2 trim
And the large SUV to avoid...
Nissan X-Trail
The X-Trail is okay in isolation, but there are rivals with better handling, comfort, interior space and infotainment systems for similar or less money. Read our review
