Hyundai Santa Fe review – an arresting and upmarket seven-seater
The 10 best large SUVs on sale in 2024
Large SUVs combine cavernous space, bold looks and a commanding view of the road – here are the 10 worth buying
Whether you have a large family, want something with a high driving position or you often drive in tricky conditions, a large SUV could be the right car for you. What was once a workhorse designed for tackling off-road trails has morphed into the family car of choice today, replacing the once-popular people carrier.
Take a look at the list of best-selling cars, and it’s clear that car buyers are SUV-crazy at the moment, and manufacturers have been quick to satisfy the growing demand. There’s now a lengthy list of small SUVs, mid-size SUVs and large SUVs to pick from, let alone the niche-filling performance SUVs that offer both space and speed.
This list focuses on the best large SUVs you can buy. Almost all are available with seven seats, while their raised view of the road and chunky looks add something that other large family cars often don’t deliver. There are a variety of petrol, diesel, hybrid and fully-electric models to pick from, too, so there should be a large SUV to suit every buyer’s taste.
Be warned that many of these large SUVs don’t come cheap, thanks to their well-equipped interiors, hi-tech powertrains and their sheer size. If you’re purely after space, our list of the best seven-seater cars may be of interest, along with the best used seven-seater cars.
The best large SUVs
Read on for our list of the 10 best large SUVs on sale today. For a more general look at the SUV market, read our top 10 list of the best SUVs, which includes cars of a range of sizes.
- Priced from around £47,000
At the top of our list of the best large SUVs is the Hyundai Santa Fe, the flagship of the South Korean brand’s lineup. It represents a big step up in quality over previous generations, with a premium air to rival pricier German alternatives. It looks the part too – boxy is certainly the word when it comes to the Santa Fe’s styling; love it or hate it, it certainly stands apart from today’s crop of SUVs, with some of the chunkiest styling this side of a battle tank.
Less divisive is the Santa Fe’s interior. With premium materials used throughout, and a pair of curved digital displays, it feels like a mighty step up from the previous model. Buyers can choose between five, six or seven-seater models, all of which provide plenty of room for occupants. The boot’s big too, at 725-litres with five seats in place.
The driving experience reflects the high-quality nature of the interior, with comfort taking priority over sportiness. Its 1.6-litre hybrid engine is more than capable of propelling the SUV with ease, and we were impressed by how quiet it was too. There’s a plug-in hybrid model arriving too, which will bring an increased electric range.
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- Priced from around £65,000
Bursting onto the electric-SUV scene last year, the Kia EV9 impressed us across the board, with masses of interior space, a choice of two excellent EV powertrains and eye-catching looks. It’s pricier than any previous offering from the South Korean firm, but we think the EV9 lives up to its premium price tag.
As standard, the EV9 comes with seven seats, giving each passenger plenty of space – even in the third row. The optional six-seater layout adds an extra touch of luxury, with middle seats that swivel 180-degrees to face the rearmost passengers. Everything feels well thought out, from the storage cubbies to the three infotainment screens up front. There was a noticeable lack of any noise from the tyres or electric motor, further improving interior refinement.
There’s a choice of single or dual motor configurations, offering 201bhp and 379bhp respectively. We tested the latter, and it felt impressively nippy for a car of this size. More importantly, there’s good visibility from behind the wheel which, combined with the comfortable suspension, helps to make the EV9 a great choice for large-SUV shoppers.
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- Priced from around £104,000
If you need to blend go-anywhere capability with luxury motoring, the answer is still likely to be the Range Rover. The latest model takes all the elements that have made the brand such a success, and polished each one, for a driving experience like no other. It doesn’t come cheap though; you’ll need six-figures to get behind the wheel of even the entry-level model.
Both petrol and diesel engines are offered with mild-hybrid technology, and the latest plug-in model is ideal for buyers who want to cut their carbon footprint, but also cross continents with as little fuss as possible. A seven-seat model joins the ranks for those wanting to accommodate family and friends, and there’s a performance-oriented 607bhp SV model for those wanting the pinnacle of speed and space.
An all-electric Range Rover is on the horizon too, so fans of zero-emission driving should keep an eye out.
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- Priced from around £37,000
A former Carbuyer Best Large Family Car award winner, the all-new Skoda Kodiaq builds upon the strengths of the old model without a dramatic price increase. Compared to other seven-seater SUVs on this list, it still offers some of the best value for money, offering more space than the Hyundai Santa Fe for around £10,000 less. Sure, there are compromises – the interior doesn’t feel as luxurious and it’s fairly dull to drive – but that’ll be of little importance to some buyers.
While it may not be the last word in luxury, the Kodiaq’s interior is still a pleasant place to spend time. Quality is good, while the controls are laid out intuitively and there isn’t an over-reliance on touchscreens – we’re particularly fond of the clever ‘Smart Dials’ for controlling volume, temperature and other settings. It’s offered in five and seven-seater guises, the latter sacrificing some boot space for a pair of usable seats.
Engine choices aren’t particularly thrilling – most buyers will be satisfied by the 1.5-litre petrol mild hybrid or the 2.0-litre diesel – but at least there’s a plug-in hybrid model for those who want to cut their fuel bills. It’s just a shame that this model isn’t available with seven seats.
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- Priced from around £42,000
The Kia Sorento has become a popular large SUV, with masses of capability and space for all the family. It first gained popularity due to its size and reasonable price, mixed with a long seven-year warranty and solid reputation for reliability. There’s even more reason to like the Sorento in 2024, thanks to a mid-life facelift that brought an uplift in quality and a dash of extra style.
The interior of the Kia Sorento is largely pinched from the electric EV9, and that’s no bad thing. You get cutting-edge tech and a minimalist design, although some physical buttons have been removed in favour of touchscreen controls which may not suit everyone. What you can’t complain about is space – the second row is roomy enough for three passengers, while the rearmost seats have decent head and knee room.
The plug-in hybrid model offers silent driving in the city and a 1.6-litre petrol engine for longer journeys, but its 34-mile electric-only range falls some way short of the class-leading PHEVs. The self-charging hybrid will be the engine of choice for most buyers; it achieves similar fuel economy to the diesel engine but is better suited to a wider mix of driving scenarios.
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- Priced from around £71,000
Now in its fourth generation, the BMW X5 continues to deliver on its promise as a practical and premium SUV that’s fulfilling as a driver’s car, too. It’s a genuinely great all-rounder worth your attention if you’re looking for something at the higher end of the large SUV market.
Features such as leather upholstery, an advanced digital dash and infotainment technology come as standard, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility included. The latest X5’s interior is one of its most convincing selling points, and the SUV’s range of powertrains is sure to impress, too. While many manufacturers are ditching diesel power, the X5 is still offered with a range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines.
If you’re after a diesel SUV, our pick in the X5 lineup is the 3.0-litre mild-hybrid xDrive30d model with 293bhp. The X5 also caters for those after a plug-in hybrid SUV, with the xDrive50e model capable of a whopping 482bhp from its 3.0-litre straight six and electric motors, plus an impressive range of up to 67 miles on electricity alone. The petrol-powered M60i engine in the hardcore X5 M boasts 523bhp from a thirsty V8 engine, but undoubtedly offers impressive performance if you can stomach the bills.
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- Priced from around £37,000
Peugeot’s new 5008 proves that you don’t need to pay luxury car prices for a stylish family car. The seven-seat SUV is all-new for 2024, packing a roomy interior, a choice of electrified powertrains, and striking styling inside and out. At £37,000, it’s not the cheapest seven-seater you can buy – that award goes to the Dacia Jogger – but the 5008 still punches above its weight in terms of style and quality.
Sitting up front in the 5008, you’re greeted by a stunning 21-inch screen that spans across the top of the dashboard. It looks the part and is fairly easy to use, although not as quick as Hyundai’s latest system. Moving to the second row, there’s plenty of space in the outer two seats, while the central one is a bit cramped (it also misses out in ISOFIX mounts). The rear pair of seats will be a bit tight for taller adults but are on par with other seven-seater SUVs.
The entry-level mild hybrid petrol engine is shared across other Peugeot models, all the way down to the 208 supermini. It’s undoubtedly working harder in this application, but does well to keep the 5008 chugging along. We’d recommend upgrading to the more powerful plug-in hybrid or the fully-electric E-5008 if you plan to use all seven seats regularly – the mild hybrid’s 138bhp is likely to feel insufficient in this scenario.
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- Priced from around £64,000
Volvo has always held a reputation for making sensible and practical cars, so it wasn’t a surprise when it entered the SUV market with the first Volvo XC90. The second-generation model that followed in 2015 quickly became one of our favourite premium large SUVs, thanks to its spacious interior, efficient engines and handsome looks.
Nearly a decade later, the XC90 remains at the top of its game. It delivers the comfort and tranquillity inside that the Swedish carmaker has become known for, while its interior is one of the most luxurious and its exterior one of the most stylish on the market. A facelifted model is on the way, too, bringing a sharper appearance and updated tech. The same range of plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid engines remain, offering respectable performance and economy.
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- Priced from around £68,000
The Volkswagen Touareg has been around for over two decades, establishing itself as one the best all-round large SUVs. The latest model, released in 2018 and facelifted in 2023, combines a relaxed driving experience with a practical, premium interior. Its South Korean rivals may have caught up in recent years, but there is still a case to be made for the sturdy SUV from Germany.
Since the launch of the cheaper, seven-seat Tiguan Allspace, Volkswagen has moved the Touareg further upmarket, and this shows on the inside. There’s loads of standard kit, and premium materials are used throughout. All Touaregs come with a pair of excellent digital displays that we found far more usable than the system fitted to some of Volkswagen’s other models, such as the ID.3. It's only available as a five-seater, but interior space is impressive, and the massive 810-litre boot beats many of its rivals.
There’s no electric model to speak of, but a solid range of petrol, diesel and hybrid models should cater to most buyers’ needs.
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- Priced from around £35,000
The Nissan X-Trail’s starting price of just under £33,000 makes it the cheapest SUV on this list, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on comfort and innovative tech. The interior feels leagues ahead of the old model, with most of the materials feeling high-quality and the infotainment and driver’s displays appearing crisp and responsive. Be warned though, entry-level models miss out on key equipment – even the infotainment system!
As standard, the X-Trail comes with five seats, but you can pay to have an extra pair fitted in the rear – they’re small, but useful in a pinch. The suspension deals well with bumps and potholes, helping to make the interior a comfortable and pleasant place to spend time.
Nissan offers the X-Trail with a fairly traditional 1.5-litre engine with mild-hybrid assistance, good for 161bhp. It’s fine around town but feels somewhat underpowered on the motorway. Pay £3,000 more, and you can have Nissan’s unique e-Power hybrid system. This uses the same 1.5-litre engine, but not to power the wheels – instead, it’s used as a generator to top up a battery that powers an electric motor to drive them. It’s unusual, but while it doesn’t deliver the efficiency gains we’d have hoped for – with fuel economy of just up to 48.6mpg – at least it’s more powerful than the mild hybrid.
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Ready to make the switch to electric-power? Make sure to read our list of the 10 best electric SUVs…
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