Best SUVs to buy 2025 - tested and rated
Best SUVs of 2025
If you’re looking for your next car, chances are you’ll be bypassing hatchbacks, MPVs and estate cars in favour of an SUV. Everyone and their mums are driving SUVs these days, mostly because regardless of your needs there’s an SUV to suit.
Want something super-practical for everyday life? SUVs make some of the best family cars around. Need to carry lots of passengers? There are dozens of seven-seater SUVs available, capable of doing double duty as family bus and part-time van. If you want to go off-road, there are plenty of SUVs that come with four-wheel drive and the ability to go miles and miles off the tarmac.
There are SUVs with regular petrol and diesel engines, but you can also grab yourself one of a huge number of hybrid or electric SUVs. And while many SUVs are sensible cars with sensible engines, the speed freaks among you can even get hold of a sporty SUV.
SUVs have grown hugely in popularity over the last couple of decades, and it’s easy to see why. In the past if you liked their rugged styling and high-up driving position, you’d also have to tolerate thirsty engines, a noisy and uncomfortable interior and driving dynamics that felt more like a truck than a car.
Nowadays, though, SUVs are closer in spirit to a family hatch - they’re quiet and refined to drive, plush inside and don’t guzzle fuel like they used to. Very few even come with four-wheel drive as standard, making it even clearer that they’re destined for use on-road.
They’re not perfect, though. SUVs are always bigger and heavier than the hatchbacks and saloon cars that they’re based on - that means higher fuel bills and associated running costs. They’re usually more expensive to buy, too, without any corresponding increase in interior space.
That means choosing the right one is really important. Luckily, our expert reviews team has driven just about everything on the market, and put together this list of the best SUVs. It covers a variety of budgets and powertrains, so you should be able to find something to suit you.
10 best SUV cars
What's good
What’s not so good
The Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t just a good SUV - it’s one of the best cars on sale today, period. That’s why we named it Carwow’s Car of the Year for 2025.
First impressions are always important and the Santa Fe doesn’t disappoint. Its big, blocky body has a real space-age feel about it - it definitely wouldn’t look out of place on the set of a Judge Dredd movie. Squared-off edges, cool H-shaped LED daytime running lights and chunky wheel designs all mean it stands out from the crowd - it’s like someone took a Land Rover Defender and pixelated it.
There’s nothing like a big box for practicality, and so the Santa Fe doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the tricky business of carrying people and things. It has seven seats as standard, with room in the third row for adults (though it’s not quite as spacious as a Land Rover Discovery) and, if you fold the rearmost seats down, a huge boot. Every occupant will be able to stay hydrated, too - there’s a grand total of 17 cupholders, plus plenty of other storage slots and charging solutions.
There are self-charging and plug-in hybrid engine options available, as well as optional four-wheel drive. All versions are surprisingly economical considering the Santa Fe’s size - and though it looks like a brick, it’s actually pretty aerodynamic, which means wind noise isn’t as prevalent as you might expect.
Trim levels range from the well-equipped Premium to the Calligraphy car, which gets luxury touches like Nappa leather upholstery, black styling details and a compartment on the dash that can disinfect your phone. No, really. You don’t need to go for the top-rung trim to get plenty of luxury kit, though, as all cars get 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, two 12.3-inch displays and a wireless phone charger.
It’s comfortable to drive, reasonably efficient for such a big SUV and manages to combine practicality with cool factor in a way nothing else does. The Hyundai Santa Fe is an absolutely cracking all-rounder, providing more utility and luxury than many SUVs that cost thousands of pounds more.
What's good
What’s not so good
BMW’s tagline is ‘the ultimate driving machine’ and nowhere is that clearer than in the BMW X5. Looking at this SUV’s sheer size, you might expect it to drive like a bus, but no matter whether you opt for one of the regular diesel or petrol engines, the plug-in hybrid or the firebreathing V8-powered X5 M, all feel like a sports saloon in the corners.
The X5’s combination of prowess on the road, surprising ability off-road and a hugely roomy and practical interior are all reasons we awarded it the ‘Adventurer’s Choice’ award in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
As standard, the X5 is powered by a smooth six-cylinder diesel engine which provides all the power you could reasonably want with pretty good efficiency - you should see 40mpg if you’re gentle with your right foot. But the really impressive engine is the plug-in hybrid, which can go more than 60 miles on electricity alone but unlike some alternatives has a proper six-cylinder petrol engine to back it up, bringing great performance as well as a nice engine note.
The plug-in hybrid X5 is a five-seater but other engines get the option of a third row, adding extra flexibility - but all have a luxurious rear seat with loads of space. The front seats are even better thanks to the panoramic infotainment and instrument screens, which give a real cinematic effect to the dashboard - and everything’s built from sumptuously luxurious materials. You can even get cut-crystal effect switchgear, which just about straddles the border between cool and tacky and you’ll probably want to see on a showroom car before you commit.
The X5 isn’t cheap but you can see where your money’s going - if you’re looking to spend this much money on a family SUV, you won’t be disappointed. The closely-related BMW X7 is also a fantastic option, which doesn’t offer the X5’s plug-in hybrid engine but in return has seven seats as standard with room for a six-foot adult to stretch out.
The Volvo EX30 was Carwow’s overall Car of the Year for 2024, so you know it’s good. On the outside, it’s hard to see how Volvo’s done it - the EX30 is a fully electric SUV with an impressive range, a posh interior and of course that premium badge appeal - but at a price that makes many ‘budget’ SUVs seem expensive. An entry-level EX30 crosses over with the Vauxhall Corsa Electric in terms of price, to put it in perspective.
There are three versions to choose from - Single Motor in standard or Extended range, and a Twin Motor flagship. The Single Motor gets just over 200 miles of range in standard form and up to 295 miles as an Extended Range version, which is competitive with all its main alternatives - though a Kia EV3 can go up to 375 miles in its longest-range form, which is difficult to beat.
The EX30’s interior won’t be to everyone’s taste. It’s nicely styled, feels roomy and is well-built, but it’s also very high-tech - to the point where the only physical controls on view are those on the steering wheel and the column stalks. Everything else, including driver instrumentation, is routed through the 11.9-inch touchscreen in the centre, which can be tiresome when it includes functions such as opening the glovebox or adjusting the rear-view mirrors.
It is great to drive, though. On a bumpy road the EX30 feels much bigger than it is, dealing well with potholes and speed bumps. On the motorway it’s relaxed, with even the entry-level car having more than enough power to keep up with traffic. Volvo’s driver assistance tech is some of the best around, too, even if it’s a little annoying to turn off.
Where you do lose out is in the EX30’s back seats and boot. They’re not very big, especially compared to roomy alternatives like the Peugeot E-2008 or Kia EV3, so you might struggle to fit adults or bulky child seats in the rear. But if you don’t often carry passengers or big luggage, the EX30 is difficult to beat as a great-value electric SUV.
Sell your car for what it's really worth
The free, easy way to get 5,500+ dealers all over the UK bidding on your car
What's good
What’s not so good
The Citroen C5 Aircross is one of those cars that knows what it wants to do well and doesn’t bother trying to do much else. So it’s not at all sporty - with modest power outputs from its engine range, and steering set up to be light and easy round town rather than satisfying on a back road. It’s not very high-tech either, featuring only a smallish touchscreen and basic driver information cluster.
Citroen’s main focus instead has been on comfort. The C5 Aircross uses Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension, which has hydraulic elements in it a bit like Citroens of old. It doesn’t quite provide the ‘magic carpet’ ride that those cars were known for, but it does absorb lumps and bumps in the road better than just about any other SUV short of a £70,000 air-sprung Mercedes. That’s improved upon further by the seats, which look flat but are amazingly comfortable and supportive especially on long journeys.
The C5 Aircross is also absolutely cracking value. The basic price is already very reasonable, being comparable with much smaller SUVs like the Volkswagen T-Cross - but with Carwow discounts, it can be compared to some small hatchbacks. Considering the C5 Aircross features a massive boot, roomy back seats and that commanding SUV driving position, it’s a very attractive offering and ideal if you have big SUV dreams but without a big SUV budget.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Citroen e-C3 isn’t quite the cheapest electric car on sale in the UK, but it’s much more of an attractive alternative to the likes of the Dacia Spring or the Citroen Ami - mainly because it’s a ‘proper’ car. Though it’s only the size of a small hatchback, it has an upright silhouette and a nice high driving position, and feels far more substantial than cheaper alternatives.
It can do a proper distance on a charge too. An official figure of 199 miles might not sound like much, but for many people that’s more than they’ll travel in a whole week - and the e-C3’s comparatively small battery doesn’t take very long to charge either.
The e-C3 gets the same ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension as the C5 Aircross (above) which means it’s amazingly comfortable over bumps. Inside, you can see where Citroen’s saved money in terms of technology and comfort features, but it doesn’t feel Spartan - you still get all the equipment you could want including digital instruments, wireless smartphone mirroring and LED lights.
Performance is pretty modest but the e-C3 still feels zippy around town, and it’s not totally outclassed on the motorway either - just don’t expect to beat a Tesla away from the traffic lights.
Of course, electric motoring isn’t for everyone, but Citroen does offer the C3 with a petrol or a hybrid engine too - and that makes it even cheaper to buy. It’s a value proposition that’s difficult to beat.
What's good
What’s not so good
Most of the other cars on this list are SUVs, but the Land Rover Defender goes one further - it’s a proper off-roader, a 4x4, capable of climbing every mountain and fording every stream. Where other SUVs tackle the school run, the Defender can tackle the Kalahari in air-conditioned comfort.
There are three kinds of Defender, starting with the short-wheelbase, three-door 90 which looks great but isn’t the most practical. There’s also the vast 130, which can seat eight adults in comfort but is a little unwieldy. The medium-sized 110 is the Goldilocks option, with up to seven seats and the option of everything from a powerful diesel engine to an efficient plug-in hybrid to a firebreathing V8.
The Defender not only looks great and can eat the Mongolian steppe for breakfast, but it’s equally at home in the city. Yes, it’s quite big, but nice square proportions, light steering and comfortable suspension make it a fantastic choice as a daily driver. The interior may be built for rough-and-tumble, but it’s still hardwearing with lots of nods to its more agricultural heritage, such as exposed bolt heads and grab handles for passengers to hang onto when off-roading.
It’s off-road where the Defender really shows off its skills. Land Rover’s clever ‘Terrain Response’ systems will keep it moving on surfaces you’d have a hard time standing up on, let alone driving a regular car across. There’s even ‘All-Terrain Progress Control’, which is basically off-road cruise control - simply point the car up the side of a mountain, and it’ll figure out how to get you up there. It’s truly remarkable in action.
What's good
What’s not so good
Electric seven-seaters aren’t exactly ten a penny - apart from some hugely expensive SUVs, your main options are basically glorified electric vans with seats. The Kia EV9 definitely isn’t some commercial vehicle, though - it’s a luxurious SUV with a long range and space-age looks.
You’ll definitely stand out on the road in an EV9 - it’s not a small car, for starters, and that translates into excellent passenger space. It’s a seven-seater as standard, though you can specify two captain’s chairs in place of the central bench to give it a real mobile office vibe.
Even though it’s huge, the EV9 is easy to drive. Plenty of cameras and sensors make short work of parking in tight spots, and it’s comfortable on the motorway, with assistance tech that helps rather than irritates.
The longest-range EV9 can go up to 349 miles between charges, which while it’s not up there with the best is still very impressive. Even the range-topping dual motor car manages over 300 miles according to official figures, and as anybody who’s ever tried to co-ordinate bathroom breaks among six people will testify, that’s more than enough for all but the longest road trip.
Though the EV9 isn’t exactly cheap, it’s notably better value than any alternative with anything close to as much space, as much range, or as much desirability. And it hasn’t forgotten Kia’s core values of being user-friendly and a great ownership experience, either.
Get past the way the BMW iX looks - after all, you can’t see it when you’re driving unless you’re paying attention to your reflection in shop windows - and you’ll find that it’s one of the best electric SUVs on sale.
The interior is a particular highlight. Feeling more like a curated art gallery than a dashboard, the iX is particularly striking in some of its lighter colour combinations, where you get swooping lines, two huge displays and even cut-crystal switchgear. The tech on offer is extensive but remains easy to use, and there’s even the option of a rotary dial instead of having to use the touchscreen for everything.
The iX drives brilliantly, too. Performance is remarkable - the basic model is pretty quick, but the xDrive60 and M70 models are blisteringly fast. Yet all can do more than 300 miles on a charge, while the xDrive60 returns an official 426 miles between top-ups - making it one of the longest-range electric cars on sale.
It’s also roomy, comfortable, and refined on a long journey. Yes, like the BMW X5 (above) it’s expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for with this SUV.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Skoda Karoq isn’t particularly high-tech or clever. You don’t get hybrid engines, or a huge touchscreen, or an app that can make the car play fart sounds on demand. What you get instead is an incredibly solid-feeling SUV that’s heroically well-suited to family life.
The boot is big and the rear seats have space for tall adults or the bulkiest of child seats, and they can fold or slide to balance boot space and passenger room as needed. Meanwhile up front you get bags of storage for small items and loads of neat design touches that actually make your life easier - clever features like notches in the cupholders so you can open bottles one-handed, and a clip on the windscreen to hold your parking tickets.
You can also get it with a surprisingly efficient 1.0-litre petrol, which sounds like it’s way too small to shift a car as big as the Karoq around, but really holds its own. There’s even a diesel engine - not always very common these days, but really appreciated by those who need to do big mileages without having to constantly stop to fill up.
Is the Karoq an exciting car? No, not at all. Is it refined, comfortable, and all the car you’ll likely ever need? We’d say so.
What's good
What’s not so good
Buying a Nissan Qashqai is as inspired a choice as ordering water at the pub or filling your wardrobe with white t-shirts and jeans, but there’s a reason it’s consistently one of the best-selling cars in the UK.
That’s because it does all the jobs that a family car has to do, really well. It’s practical, with room for lanky teens or bulky child seats in the back seat and a 505-litre boot that’ll accommodate all their kit and clobber.
It’s comfortable to cruise around in too - there’s a choice of a 1.3-litre petrol engine which is a good basic option, or an ‘e-Power’ hybrid which is very clever. It uses a petrol engine but solely as a generator to charge up a battery - the car’s driven entirely by electric motors, so it feels just like an EV to drive.
An update in 2024 brought a new Google-powered infotainment system which makes the Qashqai even easier to live with than before. You’re unlikely to fall in love with the Qashqai - but you won’t hate it, either, and it’s unlikely to annoy you. And that’s half the battle when picking a car that you’re going to be living with day in, day out.
SUVs to avoid
Have you considered getting GAP insurance for your new SUV?
Browse all SUVs
How to choose the best SUV for you
There are a baffling array of SUVs on sale - coupe-SUVs, off-roaders, small SUVs, electric SUVs, jacked-up hatchbacks that pretend to be SUVs, the list goes on. Choosing one can be intimidating, especially when almost every manufacturer offers at least two or three to pick from. So let's round up everything you shoudl take into consideration when buying a new or used SUV.
Size
Like regular cars, SUVs come in a variety of sizes. The smallest, such as the Suzuki Ignis, are true city cars with tiny footprints - while the likes of the Range Rover, Bentley Bentayga or BMW X7 fill up the road and can be a full-sized family bus or a luxury limo depending on how the mood takes them.
Think carefully about your needs, remembering that things like car seats and pushchairs can often take up more room than you'd expect. But also consider where you'll be using the cars most - a large SUV can be a pain to park, and might not even fit in your garage or on your driveway.
Fuel type
Petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric... all have their advantages disadvantages depending on the type of driving you do.
Petrol
Petrol-powered SUVs are usually either the base models, or the highest-end performance ones - not much in between. Entry-level petrols are usually the cheapest engines in the model range, and the best if you do frequent short trips or low distance driving. They're not as efficient when fully-laden or on a long run. High-performance petrols are still the most exciting way to power your vehicle, though the size and weight of an SUV means you'd have more fun in the equivalent sporty saloon.
Diesel
Diesel cars are falling out of fashion but they're still a fantastic choice if you do a lot of long-distance driving. They're the most fuel-efficient way to cruise on the motorway, and the best diesel SUVs will go 600+ miles on a tank of fuel, minimising fillups. They also have the low-down power you need for activities like towing. They're not very efficient on short journeys and without regular long runs their emission control systems will get clogged up, leading to expensive repairs. They're also more expensive to buy than petrol engines.
Hybrid
A self-charging hybrid (that is, one that you don't plug in) is typically a little more expensive than a petrol or a diesel alternative, but can offer great economy regardless of what kind of driving you do. The ability to run on electric power at low speeds really improves fuel economy around town. They're not much fun to drive, though.
Plug-in hybrid
PHEVs can be charged from the mains, and are typically capable of running between 20-70 miles on purely electricity before needing to use their engines. This can be great if you're abel to charge at home and use electricity for your commute, for example, saving petrol for longer jaunts. They're also very cost-efficient on company car tax. When the batteries run out, though, they're typically less efficient than even a regular petrol-powered car, so not ideal for regular long distances.
Electric
Owing an electric car could make your life much easier, or the total opposite. If you're able to charge at home and you get an electric SUV with enough range for your regular driving, they can fit into your life really easily - but even the best models aren't ideal if you're going to rely on public charging or regularly do mega-mileage. Electric SUVs are more expensive than combustion-engined ones, too.
Four-wheel drive
Back in the day, it wasn't an SUV if it didn't have four-wheel drive. That's not so much the case any more, though, and in fact the vast majority of SUVs on sale are front-wheel drive only. Consider if you're ever going to use your SUV to actually go off-road, and remember that for slippery conditions a set of winter tyres is usually more effective than four-wheel drive.
Advice about SUV cars
SUVs FAQs
Browse other car types
- 4x4 Cars
- 7-Seater Cars
- Automatic Cars
- Cheap Cars
- Convertible Cars
- Coupe Cars
- Crossover Cars
- Electric Cars
- Estate Cars
- Executive Cars
- Family Cars
- First Cars
- GT Cars
- Hatchbacks
- Hot Hatches
- Hybrid Cars
- Luxury Cars
- MPVs
- Medium-sized Cars
- Most Economical Cars
- Motability Cars
- SUVs
- Saloon Cars
- Small Cars
- Sports Cars
- Superminis