Best large SUVs to buy 2026
Large SUVs are big on comfort, practicality and versatility. Here’s our pick of the best on sale now
Large SUVs are among the most adaptable and capable cars you could hope to drive. The best ones offer a family-friendly cabin with up to seven seats, a big boot, superb refinement, and plenty of luxury and safety tech. Whether you’re planning a holiday, an off-road adventure, or simply ferrying the family around, large SUVs have it covered.
Our expert road testers have examined and driven every large SUV on sale in the UK, and we’ve gathered the very best here for you to consider. We looked for vehicles with the qualities mentioned above and included those that will meet the requirements of owners, based on our exclusive buyer priority research. Large SUVs are big, substantial and somewhat expensive vehicles by nature so we’ve also looked for cars that keep running costs in check and aren’t likely to blow the family budget with frequent visits to the fuel station or big car insurance premiums.
Given that the typical large SUV customer will usually have a gaggle of children or pets to transport around, we’ve also looked for and evaluated these cars’ useful, practical features beyond outright space - think about load securing features in the boot, charging points for devices and cabin storage space generally. So let’s get going and take a look at our expert opinion on the best large SUVs you can buy…
Top 10 best large SUVs in the UK
For its mix of value and flexibility the Skoda Kodiaq remains the best large SUV on sale. It took our Large SUV of the Year title at both the 2025 and 2026 New Car Awards. The Volkswagen Tayron is similarly talented - indeed, it’s pretty much the same car - but costs a little more and therefore gets bumped to second place. The Hyundai Santa Fe is another great all-rounder and has appealingly boxy styling, but is let down by high pricing relative to its rivals.
| Rank | Car | Price from |
| 1 | Skoda Kodiaq | £39,000 |
| 2 | Volkswagen Tayron | £41,600 |
| 3 | Hyundai Santa Fe | £49,100 |
| 4 | Range Rover Sport | £77,600 |
| 5 | Land Rover Defender | £58,700 |
| 6 | BMW iX | £75,400 |
| 7 | Kia EV9 | £66,600 |
| 8 | Volvo XC90 | £66,300 |
| 9 | Kia Sorento | £44,700 |
| 10 | Land Rover Discovery | £69,500 |
Scroll down for more information on each of the best large SUVs, or simply click the links in the table above..
1. Skoda Kodiaq
- Price from £39,000
- Auto Express Large SUV of the Year 2026
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The Skoda Kodiaq embodies all that the Czech firm stands for: solid value for money, quality, practicality, and a few little surprises that add to the ownership experience.
You can have the Kodiaq as a five- or a seven-seater, and we’d take it with the full seven seats to have as much flexibility as possible; transporting a full quota of passengers whenever you need, along with the option to fold the third row flat and open up a huge boot space. There’s 845 litres in five-seat mode, though even with all seven seats occupied you’ve got some luggage room to play with behind.
The Kodiaq is a little unusual in the large SUV sector nowadays for still offering a diesel engine, alongside a petrol with mild hybrid assistance. The diesels can manage around 50mpg combined, while you can also have plug-in hybrid power for an electric-only driving range of up to 62 miles.
Skoda has always had a knack for ensuring its vehicles aren’t a challenge to drive, and despite its size, the Kodiaq is another of these. The ride could stand to be a little softer, but the handling inspires confidence and makes it a great long-distance cruiser.
“Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ philosophy is perfectly suited to a car such as the Kodiaq – family-friendly features make it a useful accessory to family life.” – Dean Gibson, senior road test editor
2. Volkswagen Tayron
- Price from £41,600
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VW has no shortage of SUVs on its books, but the Volkswagen Tayron is one of the most practical.
While there’s a fair number of seven seaters to choose from on the current market, we found the Tayron’s cabin to be one of the most spacious for every passenger. Our fully-grown road testers managed to fit reasonably comfortably in the rearmost seats, with ample headroom although legroom is a little snug. If you want PHEV power, though, you’ll have to stick with the five-seater variant. However, the upside of this model (provided you don’t need the extra passenger space) is that there’s even more room to stretch out and store your luggage — 885 litres, to be precise.
Speaking of plug-in hybrids, this version of the Tayron can cover up to 75 miles on purely electric power and is available in 201bhp or 268bhp forms. If you prefer traditional combustion, you can choose between multiple petrols and a diesel. The largest petrol, a 2.0-litre TSI unit, is a bit thirsty, though, with an official economy figure of only 33mpg.
Being a large SUV, the Tayron leans more towards comfort than it does sportiness, which we think is a sensible decision. Britain’s supply of potholes are dealt with smoothly, although our test car’s composure did get a bit upset whenever we were a bit overenthusiastic while steering into corners. Go easy on it, though, and this VW is a pretty calm and collected cruiser.
“The Tayron’s longer wheelbase means its turning circle is 40cm greater than the Tiguan’s 11.7-metre radius. Meanwhile, the electric auto-hold handbrake feels jerky and can allow the Tayron to roll by an alarming amount between forward and reverse gears.” - Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter
Latest Volkswagen Tayron deals
3. Hyundai Santa Fe
- Price from £49,100
- Best for large families
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There’s more than a dash of the Land Rover Defender to the Hyundai Santa Fe’s attitude, yet it is distinctly its own design thanks to those angular lines and H-themed headlights.
Hyundai fits the Santa Fe with seven seats as standard, which is ideal for family life as the rear pair fold to create a gigantic boot space – or fold them all down for a van-like 1,949 litres. You can even have your Santa Fe as a luxury six-seater, along with a choice of three well kitted-out trim levels.
Engine-wise you can choose from hybrid or plug-in hybrid options. Both use the Korean firm’s 1.6-litre petrol engine, which may sound on the small side for this car, but it does an excellent job providing performance, economy (a little more than 40mpg for two-wheel drive versions, a little less for the AWD), and a hushed ride. The plug-in, meanwhile, claims 38 miles on a charge, which should be useful even if it’s far from class-leading.
Related to the Kia EV9, it’s no wonder the Hyundai Santa Fe is much more agile to drive than you would at first suspect for a large SUV of this scale. It’s also extremely refined and comes packed with safety tech.
“The Santa Fe’s boxy shape is very on trend right now, but more importantly, it provides a huge amount of cabin space for both passengers and luggage.” – Dean Gibson, senior road test editor
4. Range Rover Sport
- Price from £77,600
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It might be outranked by the ‘full-size’, eponymous Range Rover in the Range Rover lineup, but the Range Rover Sport (is the name ‘Range Rover’ losing all meaning yet with that many references?) is a hugely talented (and fairly substantial) car in its own right. Its lower starting price yet similar talents have seen it garner a healthy customer base since the first model debuted way back in 2005.
And it hasn’t fallen off over the years either - in fact, it won our Large Premium SUV of the Year award at the Auto Express 2026 New Car Awards, narrowly beating its stablemate, the Land Rover Defender. Constant updates have kept the Sport fresh both to drive and live with, and its powertrains have similarly kept pace with the times; there’s no full EV yet, but diesel, petrol, and plug-in hybrid options cover most customer demands.
Diesel still makes sense in cars like this but our pick is the P460e plug-in hybrid. With a battery of over 38kWh - more than some small full EVs - its 74-mile claimed range (we’ve tested 65 miles in the real world) will cover a lot of people’s commutes, while naturally it has petrol power to fall back on for longer trips.
These Rangies drive way better than you might expect of a large and heavy car too, with accurate steering and good body control, while on the motorway it morphs into a proper luxury car. And while we wouldn’t advocate a large SUV as a city vehicle, the Sport has strengths there too: a ride that can deal with potholes, great visibility, and in some models, rear-wheel steering for a tighter turning circle.
“Smarter styling, improved onboard technology, and a raft of developments in the way the Sport drives mean that it remains as sophisticated as ever, while maintaining a dynamic edge over its bigger Range Rover sibling.” – Max Adams, online reviews editor
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5. Land Rover Defender
- Price from £58,700
- Best for off-road use
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No, it’s not a rufty-tufty, fix-with-a-hammer relic like its predecessor, but in most respects the current Land Rover Defender, launched in 2019, is all the better for that. Most importantly for some, it’s lost none of the old Defender’s off-road ability. In fact, with so much technology at its disposal, it’s probably more accomplished in a wider range of scenarios than before.
That’s reassuring to know, but the fact is most Defender buyers use their cars on the roads, and it’s great there too. It’s very large - at two metres wide, two metres tall, and five-plus metres long depending on body style - and this comes with its own problems. Everything from width restrictions to height restrictions to parking spaces need care - but potholes become a non-issue and it feels like you’d need a hurricane to shift it off-course on a motorway.
The tall seating position provides an imperious view down the road and over hedges, while every engine has enough oomph for decent momentum. Some have rather more: the 626bhp Defender Octa is one of the more unlikely performance cars currently on sale, turning this rugged off-roader into a kind of 2.6-tonne hot hatch, with some amazing suspension tech controlling all that mass.
The cabin is a mixed bag, in that materials maybe don’t match the price of some models, but there’s good reason for it. The Defender has been designed to stand the test of time, and in some specs, not mind a bit of hosing-out if things get mucky.
The chunkiness is appealing and while there’s a (fairly decent) touchscreen, there are still buttons and dials for commonly-used functions. As for space, combine a large SUV with a van and you’ll get some idea. The side-hinged tailgate can sometimes be a pain, though.
“It’s capable of delivering practical, multi-seat family transport, farm-friendly off-road ability, upmarket urban luxury or even supercar-baiting performance.” – Dean Gibson, senior test editor
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6. BMW iX
- Price from £75,400
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Now that discussion of the BMW iX’s styling has died down, we can appreciate it for what it is: one of the best electric SUVs on the market.
The iX has several impressive aspects but arguably none more so than its cabin. With the need to seat just five on a space-efficient EV platform it’s very spacious whichever seat you’re in, and the 500-litre boot is decent too, though it’s clear BMW has prioritised passengers over luggage. The design of the interior and the materials used are top-notch too – it’s a hugely appealing space, backed up by the effective iDrive infotainment system.
Recent updates have seen a shakeup to the iX lineup and an increase in both performance and range. The xDrive40 now does 364 miles, a massive 100 miles more than its predecessor and really increasing its appeal, while the xDrive60 does 426 miles, and the sporty M70 (replacing the old M60) goes 366 miles.
All have got quicker too, not that the iX was ever slow. The range-topping M70 is truly mighty, with 650bhp (39bhp more than before) and a 3.8-second 0-62mph time. There’s excellent handling too, considering its size and weight. We’d stick with one of the less frantic models though, and revel even more in the class-leading refinement.
“BMW has developed a large, all-electric SUV that is supremely comfortable, great to drive and leads the way with first-rate on-board technology.” – Ellis Hyde, news reporter
7. Kia EV9
- Price from £66,600
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You can’t miss the Kia EV9. It’s big, it’s bold, and it looks a bit like it should be a concept on a motor show stand.
With a cavernous interior the EV9 fits seven plus luggage, so there have been minimal compromises in packaging all that EV technology. The first five occupants get plenty of space while the third row is better suited for kids, and the driver faces a pair of large screens for all the vital information and infotainment functions.
The EV9’s headline 349-mile range (thanks to a near-100kWh battery pack) should cover most trips for most owners, even the odd longer jaunt, though a figure in the 200s is more realistic, and the EV9’s size means it’s not especially efficient. We’d stick to the single-motor model to maximise your range, as the 378bhp dual-motor version seems like overkill for family use (and the 501bhp EV9 GT even more so).
There are rear- or four-wheel drive versions of the EV9, so you can decide which works best for your needs. It’s quick to recharge, too, and good to drive, though its size can be an issue in town or in car parks; you’ll find yourself sticking a long way out of parking spaces and the turning circle isn’t very tight either.
“Big, comfortable and relaxing are words that spring to mind when driving the EV9. Less expected is a surprising amount of ability from the chassis.” – Alex Ingram, contributor
8. Volvo XC90
- Price from £66,300
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Anyone wanting a large SUV that speaks of quality, comfort and success has plenty of options to choose from. The Volvo XC90 does this, but in its own subtle, Scandinavian style, so don’t expect any brash design or frivolous gadgets.
At its heart, the Volvo XC90 is a brilliantly practical, seven-seat large SUV that will transport the family with ease. It serves up comfort in spades, and has a cabin finely detailed right down to the very last stitch on the leather steering wheel. It’s all been thought-out to perfection, and this shows in just how effortlessly the Volvo will slip into family life or serve as an executive car.
Opt for the B5 petrol engine, and efficiency is nothing to write home about. Volvo abandoned diesel a while back now so the XC90 really has no answer to non-plugin models from other brands in this class. The T8 plug-in hybrid’s 217.3mpg is more like it, and 30g/km CO2 means relatively low BiK for business users, though for the best economy, remember that you’ll have to make as much use as possible of the 44-mile EV range.
Driving the Volvo XC90 has a calming effect. There is a satisfying way the big Volvo goes about dealing with lumpy roads, motorways, inner cities and more. There’s also four-wheel drive to look after you on slippery winter roads, along with a whole suite of reassuring safety equipment that all seems very well integrated.
“The big seven-seat SUV is showing its age in places after over a decade on sale, but the 2024 facelift freshened things up nicely.” – Steve Walker, head of digital content
9. Kia Sorento
- Price from £44,700
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It’s no surprise to us that Kia has two entries in this top 10 of large SUVs. The Kia Sorento is simply one of the best choices you can make, and it offers an alternative to those drivers not ready to switch to the Kia EV9’s all-electric powertrain.
There’s space for seven in the Sorento, and Kia packs it full of all the tech and safety gear you could want to keep the family and others outside the car as safe as possible. The cabin is attractive too, and in true Kia fashion, the tech is pretty easy to use.
The Sorento is not offered as a full EV, instead coming with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or diesel power. As a result, you can still have a Sorento capable of EV driving when the need arises (for 35 miles, give or take), or the simplicity of just filling up with diesel and driving for hundreds of miles, courtesy of claimed economy of up to 43.5mpg, and a lower price tag to boot.
It’s definitely a car optimised for sitting back, relaxing, and letting the miles pass underneath its wheels. Not a thrill-seeker in other words, though it doesn’t turn into a floaty mess in corners, since there’s just enough control to keep everything tidy. Some bumps do make their way through to the cabin, but generally it soaks up crumbly surfaces well. Performance is also well-judged; all versions break under 10 seconds from 0-62mph.
“The Kia Sorento is able to cater for a wide range of buyers with its standard-fit four-wheel drive and range of plug-in hybrid, hybrid and diesel powertrains” – Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter
10. Land Rover Discovery
- Price from £69,500
- Best for off-road use
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It’s come a long way in more than 35 years, yet the latest Land Rover Discovery continues to show the same flair as the original did with its Sir Terence Conrad-designed cabin.
Wherever you choose to drive your Land Rover Discovery, it will take you and a further six other occupants there in top drawer comfort. All Discovery versions come with a long list of standard kit that can be boosted by moving up the trim levels or ticking some choice options. Like many seven-seat SUVs the rearmost pair of chairs are less spacious than those further forward, and leave just 172 litres of boot space when they’re in place, but drop them and you’ve got 722 litres to play with.
The Discovery hasn’t quite kept up with the times like some of its siblings. No hybrid, plug-in hybrid or EV here; just a single diesel at the time of writing, the turbocharged inline-six D350, good for 34.8mpg and 213g/km of CO2. To be fair, diesel suits the Disco and owners love it for towing ability, but the car’s price and emissions will rule it out as a company car for most.
It drives like it looks, which is to say, like a big, tall car, but not in a bad way. It feels rock-solid stable on the motorway and big A-roads, another plus point for towing, and the steering responses are predictable, which helps when driving off road. It rides well, the occasional big-wheeled thump aside, and is composed in corners.
“The Discovery is impressively refined, yet it still delivers all the versatility you’d expect from an upmarket seven-seat 4x4.” – Max Adams, online reviews editor.
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How we choose the best large SUVs
Traditionally, large SUVs were thought of as ungainly, thirsty machines that were better suited to being off-road rather than on it. However, these big cars have come a very long way in a short space of time, and they’ve rapidly become a firm favourite for those seeking a spacious family car.
These cars don’t come cheap, but our exclusive Auto Express buyer survey data showed that over 50 per cent of SUV buyers prioritise value for money over anything else when choosing their new car. Our expert road testers always focus on the things that matter most to car buyers, and we’re making no exceptions here, so we carefully evaluate just how much bang for your buck every large SUV in the UK really offers.
Build quality, standard-fit features, plushness, ride quality and driving experience, these are just some of the core qualities that we score every car on during our in-depth road testing process. Remember we mentioned family cars earlier? Practicality plays a very big role here, too, with passenger and cargo space potentially making or breaking a car’s chances of appearing on this list.
How to choose the best large SUV for you
If you’re considering a large SUV, the first question you need to ask yourself is exactly what you need it for. Some models are focused towards driver engagement and performance, some towards space and comfort, and others towards off-road durability. In other words, these cars can vary quite considerably from each other, so you’ll need to do your research.
While none of these models can be described as compact, not all of them offer the choice of seven seats, so your options will be trimmed down if you need to transport a larger family. Cargo space is less of a priority in some SUVs than others, too, so it’s a good idea to get a feel for the amount of space on offer. Can you fit all of your luggage and shopping in the boot, and will your rearmost passengers be comfortable enough for a long trip?
Perhaps you might be tempted by the idea of indulging in a bit of off-roading in your new car, but while this can be a lot of fun in some large SUVs, it can be a recipe for disaster in others. You’ll need to ensure that your prospective purchase is up to the task with appropriate ground clearance, a capable four-wheel drive powertrain and sturdy build quality.
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