► The best SUVs you can buy
► Our favourite SUVs and 4x4s
► We’ll update this list frequently
SUVs have quickly become one of the most common types of car you’ll see on the road. It’s easy to see why, of course; the best SUVs provide the practicality and safety you’d want in a larger car, and combine it with the performance of something much smaller. More and more consumers like that formula, and that means more and more brands are making them. That’s why we’ve got Aston Martin and Ferrari on this list, as well as Mercedes and Hyundai.
We’ve tested every SUV on sale in the UK, and on this page we’ve collated our favourites – regardless of powertrai. That’s why you’ll find hybrid SUVs such as the Hyundai Santa Fe alongside ICE-powered performance SUVs such as as the Ferrari Purosangue. This is our list of the best, after all.
Keep reading for our list of the ultimate SUVs.
The best SUVs at a glance:
Aston Martin DBX
Best SUV for mixing performance with luxury
Pros: Sporty, luxurious inside, good looks
Cons: Tech can somewhat outdates
Is the Aston Martin DBX the first SUV to properly nail being sporty? Quite possibly. Arguments can be made for the Porsche Cayenne or Range Rover Sport, but the Aston Martin manages to be genuinely engaging to drive and full of typical Aston Martin character. Sitting on a bespoke all-aluminium chassis and making use of an AMG-sourced twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, it has all the right figures for a performance SUV. A top speed of 181mph and a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds.
The interior of an Aston is often gorgeous but hampered by outdated tech. Thankfully this isn’t the case in the DBX, not only is the interior absolutely stunning , but backed up with a Mercedes-sourced infotainment system that feels up to date. And in terms of off-roading, the DBX continues to impress. Not only does it feel stable on loose surfaces, it can wade through 500mm of water and tow 2.7 tonnes with ease.
Read our full Aston Martin DBX review
Or try: Bentley Bentayga if you want a little more luxury than performance
Range Rover
Best SUV for those after the iconic SUV benchmark
Pros: Stylish, better ride, range of powertrains.
Cons: Porsche and Bentley SUVs handle better
The new Range Rover is one of the most complete SUVs you can buy, and its latest generation takes a leap in refinement. This is a whole new platform stuffed full of new hardware, software and powertrains.
Bringing the magic is a body structure some 35% stiffer than that of the outgoing car’s, a new electronic anti-roll control system (rated to an eye-watering 1032lb ft of torque, applied in milliseconds, and both faster-acting and more CO2-efficent than the old hydraulic set-up), rear-wheel steering and new five-link rear suspension.
Yes, the Bentley Bentayga and Porsche Cayenne handle better, but few cars are as comfortable as the Range Rover or quite so well rounded.
To find out more, read our full Range Rover review
Mercedes G-Class
Best SUV for those who want something luxurious, and a G-Class
Pros: Unmatched road presence, handles well, a bit special
Cons: Not as roomy as you might think, can’t shake the attention
Major updates for the perennial Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV don’t come around very often, but the latest is worth the wait. At first glance it may not seem so, but quite a lot is new on the 2024 Mercedes-Benz G-Class – for a start it’s now available with an electric powertrain.
As already stated, the combustion engine 2024 G-Class is available in two different configurations: G500 and G450 d. Both use an inline six-cylinder unit and deliver power via Mercedes’ 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox, but their performance stats differ. The G500 produces 442bhp – plus an extra 20 or so from the electric motor of the hybrid system – and 413lbft of torque. It’ll do 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 130 mph.
Whatever powertrain you opt for, the G-Class is not the perfect SUV, but in a world now mired in SUV overkill, where everything from the Ford Puma to the Cadillac Escalade could be considered one – the G stands out as a little bit different.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes G-Class review
Or try: the electric G-Class if you want the same style and presence with zero emissions
Hyundai Santa Fe
Best SUV for those looking for a capable, futuristic-looking people mover
Pros: Extremely roomy and useful interior, quiet and smooth
Cons: Slightly fiddly infotainment, PHEV e-range could be better
The fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe opts for or a boxy and modern aesthetic, with distinctive details like the new H-pattern DRLs, vents aplenty and a slightly more controversial rear-end design.
For the powertrain, your options are either a Hybrid or Plug-In model, and both models feature a 1.6-litre petrol engine. Both also feature tech like adaptive regenerative braking (which increases or relaxes depending on how close you are to a car in front, or a lowering of the speed limit) and both use a six-speed automatic – not a CVT seen in Toyota hybrids, for example.
Inside, the Santa Fe’s interior feels well-built but includes lots of handy and practical touches. The driving position offers loads of adjustment and seat comfort is impressive – handy for long journeys and tall drivers. The steering wheel itself is chunky, with solid but soft-feeling materials on the buttons and Hyundai’s now conventional stalk drive shifter.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
Or try: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N if you want something smaller and electric – but just as stylish
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
Best SUV for those who want speed and handling with practicality
Pros: Better looks, more speed, more variety
Cons: You’ll need to raid the options list
Porsche has updated its Cayenne SUV, and the result is a car that is better to sit in and – we think – better to look at, with a driving experience that offers an even broader scope of appeal than ever before.
You’ll need to be free with the options spending, but little else on sale can provide such scale from a single variant as the Turbo E-Hybrid – from silent running to full-blooded 729bhp screaming – while the rest of the hybrid Cayenne range carefully balances luxury and performance in a manner that outshines the available contemporaries at their price points.
If you’re looking for speed. The third-gen Cayenne facelift features tweaks to the exterior design, a heavily revised interior with additional tech, an overhauled engine line-up – including the new hybrid systems – and changes to the passive and adaptive suspension offerings. It’s modern luxury with a high-rise twist.
To find out more, read our full Porsche Cayenne review
Or try: the somewhat ridiculous Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid if you need 670bhp
Land Rover Defender V8
Best SUV for those want the Defender with classic JLR supercharged power
Pros: Good looks, great engine
Cons: Not great around town, very inefficient
The new Defender is much more of a status symbol than the old car ever was – and none of its endless configurations convey that attitude better than the range-topping, 518bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8. It’s a detuned version of engine fitted to the old Jaguar F-Type SVR, churning out up 518bhp and 461lb ft of torque.
It’s enough shove the short-wheelbase 90 model from 0–62mph in a hot-hatchback-troubling 5.2 seconds. The larger, heavier 110 and 130 variants aren’t that far behind, either – they can complete the same sprint in 5.4 and 5.7 seconds respectively. That’s Hyundai i30 N territory, in a car that can haul you and all your mates across the Sahara in air conditioned comfort.
Of course, compared to other cars on this list, the Defender V8 is expensive to buy, inconvenient around town and swills fuel faster than a burning oil rig – but there are few cars capable of matching it.
To find out more, read our full Land Rover Defender V8 review
Or try: The new Land Rover Defender OCTA if you’re after all-out performance
Ferrari Purosangue
Best SUV for those who want most of the Ferrari experience, but with much more space
Pros: Luxurious cabin, impressive handling, V12 at the front
Cons: Boot is small for the class, rear suicide doors
It finally happened. Ferrari made an SUV, and thankfully it’s one of the most impressive examples of the genre we’ve ever driven. Maranello has shoved a V12 in at the front, with a total output of 715bhp at 7750rpm. That’s good for 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds and 120mph in 10.6 – despite a dry kerb weight in excess of two tonnes.
Inside, Maranello has opted for a bold, clean design that gives each occupant the feeling of their own individual space and tech without losing the cocooned-in feel of a proper sports car. The material choice throughout is second to none, ranging from beautifully stitched leathers to a carbon fibre weave that integrates fine copper wire. Oh and the boot measures up at 473-litres with all seats in place, meaning it’s around the same as a hybrid Range Rover Evoque.
The Purosangue has the looks, sound and pace of a proper Ferrari, while the cabin and outright luxury is second to none. It does have its flaws (what Italian supercar doesn’t) and dynamically it’s not quite a match for Ferrari’s low-slung sports cars, but in the grand scheme these are small complaints.
To find out more, read our full Ferrari Purosangue review
Or try: The Aston Martin DBX further up on this list
Renault Scenic
Best SUV for those looking for French flair in a light, electric, bubbly package
Pros: Engaging handling, efficient powertrain, good range
Cons: Ride can be jiggly at times, poor rear visibility
Is it an SUV or an MPV? Ultimately it doesn’t matter because the Renault Scenic is one of the best electric SUVs we’ve driven, and one of the best SUVs period. Just like the original Scenic – it keeps the safety and well-being of passengers front and centre.
Despite being an electric SUV with a lithium-ion battery in tow it’s relatively light for a car in this sector, and that comes with two key benefits: its official efficiency and range figures are impressive, and best of all, it has a little old-school Renault va-va-voom.
Its performance isn’t electrifying as some electric cars, but it doesn’t really need to be. There’s enough spirit in its dynamic DNA here to at least provide a semblance of fun for keen drivers. And importantly that doesn’t detract from a driving experience that’s mostly comfortable and easy around town.
To find out more, read our full Renault Scenic review
Or try the Peugeot e-5008, if you’re after a charming, electric, French SUV
Skoda Kodiaq
Best SUV for those looking for a practical, good value option
Pros: Roomy inside, lots of spec choice, inviting interior, quiet at speed
Cons: Not particularly exciting to drive, ride isn’t as good as it was
The new Skoda Kodiaq continues the good work achieved by its predecessor and sticks closely to the winning formula of the previous car too. The new Kodiaq is longer and roomier and features a range of updates: there are new lights, a new logo, a new grille with new air intakes underneath, a new spoiler sticking out the back of the lengthened roof, and some new colours.
Inside, there’s nothing radically different or innovative inside, but it’s a very successful mix of familiar and new, of traditional and advanced. It’s still very roomy – in fact slightly roomier than before, with an expanded boot and more headroom for those in the third row, while having a sleeker shape that has reduced aerodynamic drag.
As this list proves, there are plenty of choices for buyers wanting family-friendly SUVs, and this remains among the best, certainly when you factor in the cost.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Kodiaq review
Dacia Duster
Best SUV for those looking for a bargain
Pros: Neat and clever interior, Hybrid efficiency, handy off road and sweet on it
Cons: Wind and powertrain noise, boosty petrol, lumpy manual, cosy rear space
The Duster is a huge success story, and the next generation continues the charm and incredible value of the model. There’s been a complete exterior and interior rethink, with the generation now deploying the brand’s fresh new design language. There are more reused materials too, with 20 per cent of all the car’s plastics now coming from recycled sources.
On top of that, the Duster moves from Renault-Nissan’s rather creaky B platform (which has been used since the likes of the K12 Nissan Micra and third-generation Renault Clio) onto the much newer CMF-B architecture, bringing along new powertrain options (like a Hybrid) and promising much refreshed dynamics.
The interior is neat, the powertrains are modern and efficient, it handles deftly on the road and manages to be impressively good off it. The boot is bigger than before, and the base tech it offers is useful and unobtrusive.
Older Dusters have been desirable because they’ve been great value for money. But this one is desirable full stop.
To find out more, read our full Dacia Duster review
Further buying advice
What is a 4×4 vehicle?
In theory, 4x4s refer to cars that power all four wheels, but in reality the 4×4 tag has been associated with anything designed for off-road use. With that in mind, something like a new or old Defender, or an Ineos Grenadier could be classed as a 4×4. They are also all varying sizes but usually offer an increased ride-height, a necessary feature to deal with
What does SUV stand for?
SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle and it tends refer to a high, spacious vehicle usually designed with space in mind. Increasingly, though, many SUVs also cater to those wanting a focus performance and luxury – or a combination of both. Some 4x4s, such as the Mercedes G-Class are often considered as SUVs for the reasons above.
What’s the difference between and SUV and a 4×4?
In contrast, an SUV or Sports Utility Vehicle, is more of an all-rounder. They may sit high and often they’re given a robust look, but SUVs aren’t necessarily designed for off-road use.
What about hybrid or electric SUVs?
On this page we’ve collated a our favourite SUVs overall, but we’ve also ranked our favourite electric SUVs and hybrid SUVs separately too.