The best SUVs - tested, rated and ranked

Best for: Performance

The BMW X5 is one of the largest SUVs on our list and can be equipped with up to seven seats, depending on the powertrain you choose. 

The BMW X5 is now 25 years and several generations old, but it retains the key selling point with which the original forged its reputation back in 1999.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Speaking of which, the powertrain palette is one of the best around, consisting of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options.

Even the diesel is a 3.0-litre straight six with 282bhp, while the petrol straight six comes with 347bhp. Step up to the PHEV for 483bhp and a 0-62mph sprint of 4.8sec – plus 62 miles of electric-only range, which is decent for the class.

In diesel form, the only engine available with seven seats, the X5 gets 650 litres of boot space. That increases to 1870 litres with the seats folded down but drops to 500 litres in the PHEV, due to the addition of a drive battery.

Best for: Value

The Duster is now in its third generation and is one of the best SUVs on sale in the UK today.

My preferred spec would be the mild hybrid in Expression trim, because apart from heated seats it has everything I need.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Sitting on a new platform, the latest Duster features a far more modern and assertive look than the previous model. 

The Duster recently adopted the Bigster’s engine line-up: the Hybrid 140 has been replaced by the Hybrid 155 (156bhp), while the entry-level 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol 130 has been ousted by the mild-hybrid 140 (138bhp). Regardless of powertrain, though, the Duster is simple, usable and economical. 

Prices start from just under £22,000, making the Duster the value champion of the SUV class. Sure, it’s not as cheap as it once was, but it’s still considerably less than most of its rivals. 

It provides a roomy four-seat cabin, a good-sized boot, good driving and cruising manners and a pretty healthy equipment specification, even in entry-level form.

Best for: Driver appeal

If any SUV is going to earn grudging respect from a dyed-in-the-wool sports car fan, it's the Porsche Macan.

The Macan's standard seats aren't the last word in support or sporting sense-of-occasion, but the driving position is so good - and so low - that you'll hardly notice.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

This physics defying SUV set the bar in a closely fought class, with a brilliant blend of pace, space and dynamic grace.

The line-up is now formed of the standard Macan, T, S and GTS, with the latter offering up to 434bhp from its 2.9-litre turbo petrol V6. 

Lowered and uprated suspension promises an agile and involving drive, imbuing the Macan with a dynamic character of something smaller and lighter. 

This is helped by the Macan’s beautifully weighted steering, and well-tuned dampers which are cast-iron in their control and cushioned in their operation.

And yet with its air suspension and cosseting, lavishly appointed interior, the Macan is as relaxed and easygoing as an executive saloon. 

Best for: Off-road ability

The Land Rover Defender is a seriously versatile machine, as capable on the road as off it. It's a serious go-anywhere car, even if many examples will never leave the Tarmac.

The Defender has world-class capability. It's brilliant on and off road – at a price.

Matt Prior, Editor-at-large

Despite its size and its unmatched off-road capability, the Defender is easy to drive, with smooth steering, well-positioned pedals and great visibility. It feels supremely comfortable and controlled. 

The Defender is offered with a host of powertrain options in varying states of tune, including a mild-hybrid six-cylinder diesel, a hearty V8 and plug-in hybrid options.

Our pick of the range is the diesel, which is packed with pace and feels particularly refined.

It's one of the best SUVs you can buy today, and the burly Defender is a great option for drivers who crave space, usable performance and a luxury feel. 

Best for: Electric power

Big, square cars have a lot of car-park presence. That’s why people notice SUVs in the first place – and you will certainly notice the Kia EV9.

Dynamically, both the single-motor and dual-motor versions handle simply, predictably and without any trickery.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Roughly the size of a Range Rover Sport or Mercedes-Benz GLE, the EV9 takes Kia into the full-sized premium SUV segment for the first time - and with some impact.

Chunky, square-cornered, sharply drawn and sternly detailed, it has a boldness about its appearance of the kind that inspired the smaller EV6 and that makes passers-by double-take and say things like: “That’s a Kia? Really? Wow!”

Available with both six- and seven-seat cabin layouts, it’s also as spacious as any other three-row SUV on the market.

Mind you, quality isn't the best in some areas inside. 

The car’s 99.8kWh battery endows a real-world range of between 260 and 320 miles, depending on how and where you’re driving.

Performance is strong from the dual-motor version, while the ride and handling are a little soft but contained.

Best for: Everyday life

Lots of drivers just want a more practical, versatile and convenient family car for their money, and the Skoda Kodiaq is an SUV that fulfils that brief nicely. 

Even in base SE trim, it's equipped with everything it needs and is an eminently spacious, practical SUV that has never played to its key strengths quite as well as it does now.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

The Kodiaq has a lot going for it, including a vast interior. The boot measures 910 litres in the five-seater or 745 litres in plug-in hybrid versions. 

Plus, if you have a larger family, the Kodiaq can be selected in a seven-seat configuration, with decent levels of space for those in the third row. 

You can select the Kodiaq with petrol, diesel or PHEV power. Our pick of the bunch is the 1.5-litre petrol, but the PHEV also has its merits, with an excellent 71 miles of electric-only range.

Best for: Interior ambience

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a practical SUV with room for up to seven people, but its standout feature is its interior. 

The interior has all the design and material appeal you could wish for and combines it with clever practicality solutions and excellent usability.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

It's genuinely cavernous and Hyundai has retained an intuitive and accessible layout with dual touchscreens and buttons.

Two of those buttons can be customised, and we would recommend using them to quickly disable the annoying ADAS features. 

The Santa Fe gets mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options, both based around a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The PHEV gets a 13.8kWh battery with a slightly meagre 33-mile electric-only range. 

It might be a bit too big for many, but the Santa Fe is otherwise a great option if you're after an SUV with a pleasant interior and a standout design. 

Best for: Families

The Nissan Qashqai was the UK's best-selling car in the UK in 2022, outselling the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Puma, and it's the ideal SUV for many drivers. 

For a reasonably priced crossover, it's unlikely to benefit from the most sophisticated suspension. How well the Qashqai irons out road imperfections therefore depends on the wheels on which it rides.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

It's practical, spacious and comfortable, but it's also solid enough to handle everyday wear and tear at the hands of families and young children. 

Nissan's popular SUV is available with a range of electrified powertrains, including the four-wheel drive hybrid e-Power version, which is dependably petrol-powered but propelled by electric motors. 

Perhaps its biggest selling point is how easy it is to drive. It will suit most drivers and is an appealing option for families on the hunt for a reasonably priced crossover.