Hatchback

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Q5 Sportback

The coupé SUV class that spawned the Audi Q5 Sportback might seem like a bit of an odd concept, but it's not as daft as it may sound.

Think of it like this: you get the rakish coupé style you always promised yourself, with most of the practicality of a sports utility vehicle thrown in. Indeed, so lucrative is the coupé SUV market that this <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> variant is one of several Sportbacks in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audi</a>&nbsp;line-up.

Prices in the class vary wildly – from the keenly priced <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c4/hatchback/review/n22373">Citroën C4</a>&nbsp;to splash-the-cash options such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/coupe/review/n19924">Porsche Cayenne Coupé</a>&nbsp;– and the&nbsp;Q5 Sportback sits between the two extremes. Its main rivals are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x4/estate/review/n134">BMW X4</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc-coupe/coupe/review/n17201">Mercedes GLC Coupé</a>.&nbsp;

The Audi&nbsp;Q5 Sportback and the standard Q5 share similar trims and engines, including a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/company-cars">company car tax</a> efficient plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) and a powerful&nbsp;SQ5 version.

Read on to find out whether we think it's one of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupe-suvs/n23014">best coupé SUVs</a> you can get, as we rate it against rivals in all the important areas.

Coupé SUV is smarter inside than most rivals, but the regular Q5 is cheaper and more practical

Audi Q5 Sportback

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Eye-catching looks without sacrificing too much practicality</li> <li>Strong performance in keeping with a sportier brief</li> <li>Running costs that won’t break the bank</li> <li>Classy interior with high-quality materials</li> <li>Pricing that isn’t exorbitant next to that of conventional siblings</li></ul>

Coupe SUV

Some people want a car that doesn’t attract too much attention, and if that sounds like you, steer clear of the BMW X4.&nbsp;This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-large-suvs-2022/n17006">large SUV</a>&nbsp;really stands out from the crowd thanks to its combination of bulky go-anywhere presence and a bit of coupé curviness.

It's a formula that's proved pretty trendy. Indeed, the bigger&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x6/4x4/review/n17306">BMW X6</a> set the ball rolling, offering luxury SUV devotees a more streamlined alternative to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a>.

Likewise, under the X4's sleek body you'll find the same platform as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>&nbsp;has –&nbsp;and that's a highly accomplished large SUV in its own right.

The X4 aims to be not only be the better looking version (we’ll leave that to you to decide), but also more entertaining to drive than it's stablemate, although those swoopy lines do make it a less practical choice.

Other premium brands have gone down the same road as <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x4/estate/review/n134">BMW</a> by taking an existing SUV model and lowering sections of the roofline. For example, there's the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5-sportback/hatchback/review/n22878">Audi Q5 Sportback</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/estate/review/n17201">Mercedes&nbsp;GLC Coupé</a> with similarly slinky styling. Then there's the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a>&nbsp;– a car that had sporty looks from the start.

So, is the BMW X4 the best of these large, coupé-styled SUVs? Well, we've driven it, and over the next few pages of this review we'll tell you how it compares for performance and handling, comfort, interior quality, practicality and more.&nbsp;For those who are power hungry, there's also a performance-focused version – you can read about that in our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x4-m/estate/review/n20363">BMW X4 M Competition review</a>.

If any of these models turn your head (or, indeed, if you plan to buy any model), you can check for the lowest price by searching our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It has lots of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/large-suv">new large SUV deals</a>.

Estate

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

There are plenty of more practical SUVs, but few are as enjoyable to drive as the BMW X4

BMW X4

Finding a truly unique car is rare, but the BMW X6 used to be just that. When the original version was launched, we'd never seen a vehicle that combined a chunky SUV body with the kind of sleek, sloping roofline you’d usually see on a sporty coupé.

The X6's coupé SUV concept divided opinion from the start, and while it's now in its third generation, it continues to do so today. To some people it's a car that simply makes no sense&nbsp;because it’s more expensive and less practical than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a> it’s based on. To others, its blend of function and form makes it very desirable.

What’s clear, though, is that there are enough coupé SUV fans out there for the X6 to have become a trend-setter, with a host of manufacturers now selling rivals. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle-coupe/4x4/review/n17279">Mercedes GLE Coupé</a>&nbsp;for example&nbsp;both owe their existence to it, as do the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/coupe/review/n19924">Porsche Cayenne Coupé</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-velar/estate/review/n17374">Range Rover Velar</a>.

Just how good is the latest BMW X6&nbsp;though, and how does it compare with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupe-suvs/n23014">best coupé SUVs</a>? Read on to find out...

The X6 coupé SUV is good to drive with an interior that’s one of the best in the business

BMW X6

The Mercedes GLE Coupé is a bit like that annoying sibling who’s always trying to get one up on you. While the regular GLE is already a very posh and&nbsp;imposing SUV, here comes the GLE Coupé trying to grab all the attention.

Whether it succeeds is somewhat subjective – we’ll leave it up to you what you think of its styling. Basically, though, if you want a sportier, sleeker version of the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle/4x4/review/n145">Mercedes GLE</a> it's the model to go for.

It's not, of course, the only choice across the market, and if you're looking for a premium <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupe-suvs/n23014">coupé SUV</a> you'll at least want to consider the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x6/4x4/review/n17306">BMW X6</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/coupe/review/n19924">Porsche Cayenne Coupé</a>. Does the Mercedes GLE Coupé remain the best choice once we've tested it head to head with rivals? Read on to find out...

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

GLE COUPE

The GLE Coupé has a great interior with lots of standard kit but rival SUVs are better to drive

Mercedes GLE Coupé

When it comes to car names, it's usually safe to assume that the bigger the number, the bigger the car. There are always exceptions to any rule, though, and the Audi Q8 coupé SUV is one of them.

You see, eight might be the highest number in Audi’s model names, but the Q8 is actually a little smaller than the closely related&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>.

The Q8's sloping roofline gives it a less boxy silhouette, and that means you get less interior space. In other words,&nbsp;a slight practicality penalty applies if you pick the sleekest of the two big <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audis</a>.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WYXEPVZ1EL0?si=VQKOUcQ6F7ImM6Kn" width="560"></iframe>

It still has plenty to offer, though. For example, there's&nbsp;a choice of two very impressive engines, as well as a couple of sports version with turbocharged V8-petrol power. (If you're looking for an all-electric car, you'll need our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n18397">Audi Q8 e-tron review</a>.)

So,&nbsp;how well does&nbsp;the Audi Q8 do against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupe-suvs/n23014">best coupé SUVs</a>? Is it as luxurious as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x6/4x4/review/n17306">BMW X6</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle-coupe/4x4/review/n17279">Mercedes GLE Coupé</a>? And can it get close to the driver appeal of the&nbsp;Porsche Cayenne Coupé? Read on to find out. And when you've decided what model to get,&nbsp;remember we&nbsp;can help you buy it for the best price at a trusted dealer&nbsp;if you search our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>.

High-end coupé SUV is classy, spacious and refined

New Audi Q8

The mimic octopus is one of few animals known to morph into different shapes, either to survive or make itself more attractive. And the Peugeot 3008&nbsp;we're reviewing here has done the same – by shapeshifting&nbsp;to become more desirable.

When the 3008 made its debut nearly two decades ago&nbsp;it looked like a swollen hatchback or mini MPV, then for the second generation it morphed into a more familiar SUV shape. Now this third-generation 3008 combines elements of a family SUV with&nbsp;a sleeker <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupe-suvs/n23014">coupé SUV</a> roofline for a more eye-catching "fastback" look.

Initially, the new 3008 is available with a hybrid petrol engine and a choice of two well-equipped trim levels. There’s also an all-electric version for the first time (to read about that see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/3008/estate/review/n26800">Peugeot e-3008 review</a>).

Of course, the 3008 isn't the only fastback-style SUV on sale&nbsp;so this all-new model will face competition from quite a few well-established rivals. They range from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3-sportback/hatchback/review/n20019">Audi Q3 Sportback</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x2/hatchback/review/n121">BMW X2</a> to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/arkana/estate/review/n23158">Renault Arkana</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/rafale/estate/review/n26868">Renault Rafale</a>. There’s also the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/408/saloon/review/n25222">Peugeot 408</a> to consider.

So&nbsp;is the 2024 Peugeot 3008 worth considering against other sleek-looking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUVs</a>? Read on to find out…

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

3008

The 2024 Peugeot 3008 combines&nbsp;coupé looks with family SUV practicality and a smart interior

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