Best SUVs for new families
An SUV is the perfect answer for those with new families looking for more spacious transport. There are hundreds out there, so let us pick out some of the best new and used examples. If you are looking to buy used, make sure to check the car’s price by doing a car valuation to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
1. Audi Q7 (2015-2019) Best for interior quality
A quiet, comfortable cruiser with a seriously plush interior that’s also surprisingly quick and talented in the bends. We’d recommend one of the seven-seat V6 diesels for the best blend of value, performance and practicality.
New price: £54,070 - £80,915
Leasing price: from £785 per month
Used guide price: £21,920 - £74,445
Fuel economy: 37-48mpg
Insurance group: 35-50
Boot space: 235 litres with all seats up; 770 litres with third row folded; 1,955 litres with third and middle rows folded
2. BMW X5 (2013-18) - Best for steering feel
Despite its size, the X5 feels surprisingly car like despite its size and practicality. A wide range of engines are available, but we’d plump for the 30d diesel.
Used guide price: £15,675 - £59,405
Fuel economy: 25-53mpg
Insurance group: 37-50
Boot space: 500 litres with all the seats up; 650 with the third row folded; 1,870 with the third and middle rows folded
3. Dacia Duster (2018-on) - Best for value
Even new versions are seriously cheap, although don’t expect a posh interior or a fun drive. It is practical and comfy, though.
New price: £10,995 - £16,995
Leasing price: from £206 per month
Used guide price: £9,230 - £16,585
Typical used monthly cost: £178 - £409
Fuel economy: 40 - 64mpg
Road tax cost: £140
Insurance group: 8 - 15
Boot space: 445-litres with the seats up, 1,623 with the rear seats folded
4. Honda CR-V (2018-on) - Best for reliability
The best selling SUV in the world is available with a hybrid engine under the bonnet and has an well deserved reputation for being exceedingly dependable.
New price: £26,310 - £35,770
Leasing price: from £371 per month
Used guide price: £17,985 - £33,660
Typical used monthly cost: £490 - £805
Fuel economy: 39 - 53 mpg
Road tax cost: £130 - £140
Insurance group: 24 - 25
Boot space: Five-seat version, 561-litres with the rear seats in place, 1,756-litres with the rear seats folded; seven-seat version, 150-litres with the seats up, and 472-litres with the rearmost seats folded
5. Jaguar F-Pace (2016-on) - Best for keen drivers
The Jaguar F-Pace is more of a sporty drive than some of the other family SUVs on the market - it rivals the Porsche Macan’s talents in this area. Go for one of the larger engines for the most refinement, but they’re naturally more expensive and less economical.
New price: £36,820 - £75,335
Leasing price: from £533 per month
Used price: £20,845 - £66,110
Fuel economy: 31 - 57 mpg
Road tax cost: £120 - £450
Insurance group: 23 - 48
Boot space: 650 litres with the seats up; 1,740 litres with the rear seats folded
6. Kia Sportage (2016-on) - Best for warranty
Kia’s seven-year warranty is ideal if you’re planning to keep your car for a long while. The Sportage is a great family SUV with a practical, spacious interior and it’s good to drive, too.
New price: £20,670 - £35,020
Leasing price: from £251 per month
Used price: £9,420 - £26,950
Typical used monthly cost: £232 - £665
Fuel economy: 36 - 61 mpg
Road tax cost: £30 - £250
Insurance group: 11 - 25
Boot space: 491 litres with the seats up; 1,480 litres with the rear seats folded
7. Land Rover Discovery (2004-2017) - Best for off-roading
Regardless of age, the Discovery is one of the best bets if you regularly venture off-road. However, reliability is something of a concern, and they’re expensive to fix.
Used price: £4,000- £38,000
Typical used monthly cost: £99 - £1,018
Fuel economy: 18 - 36 mpg
Road tax cost: £315 - £555
Insurance group: 33 - 45
Boot space: 280 litres with the seats up; 2,500 litres with rear and middle rows folded
8. Lexus RX (2016-on) - Best for refinement
Go for the hybrid RX and it’ll run in electric mode for a surprising amount around town making it a quiet companion. There are more spacious options, though.
New price: £49,705 - £61,705
Used price: £17,655 - £56,305
Fuel economy: 34 - 48 mpg
Road tax cost: £20 - £450
Insurance group: 34 - 45
Boot space: 453 litres with the seats up; 924 litres with the rear seats folded
9. Mazda CX-5 (2012-17) - Best used car buy
The previous generation Mazda CX-5 is an affordable, spacious and good to drive family SUV with a big boot. If you need family transport on a budget, you can’t go too far wrong with one.
Used price: £6,015 - £18,245
Typical used monthly cost: £165 - £490
Fuel economy: 47 - 61 mpg
Road tax cost: £30 - £155
Insurance group: 15 - 21
Boot space: 503 litres with the seats up; 1,620 litres with the rear seats folded
10. Mercedes-Benz GLC (2015-on) - Best for ride quality
Avoid big, flashy wheels and the GLC is a comfortable companion that feels posh inside and is pretty practical. Find one with air suspension for the cushiest ride.
New price: £38,495 - £83,005
Leasing price: from £576 per month
Used price: £19,760 - £73,415
Fuel economy: 23 - 56 mpg
Road tax cost: £120 - £450
Insurance group: 27 - 49
Boot space: 550 litres with the seats up; 1,600 with the rear seats folded
11. Nissan Qashqai (2014-on) - Best for running costs
although it’s not particularly fun to drive, the Qashqai is available with efficient engines that make it cheap to run. The diesel is particularly parsimonious.
New price: £19,995 - £29,225
Leasing price: from £270 per month
Used guide price: £7,000 - £24,110
Typical used monthly cost: £173 - £595
Fuel economy: 47 - 74 mpg
Road tax cost: £0 - £140
Insurance group: 13 - 21
Boot space: 430 litres with the seats up; 1,585 litres with the rear seats folded
12. Peugeot 3008 (2016-on) - Best for interior style
You’ll probably buy a 3008 because of its looks, rather than how it drives or its performance. The interior has a real wow factor that sets it apart from more mundane options in this list.
New price: £25,395 - £37,365
Leasing price: from £289 per month
Used price: £13,897 - £28,305
Typical used monthly cost: £352 - £698
Fuel economy: 48 - 70 mpg
Road tax cost: £20 - £140
Insurance group: 11 - 24
Boot space: 520 litres with the seats up; 1,580 litres with the rear seats folded
13. Renault Kadjar (2015-on) - Best for safety
Based on the Qashqai, the Kadjar has lots of safety kit to protect you and your loved ones. It’s also practical and drives well.
New price: £20,600 - £30,320
Leasing price: from £273 per month
Used guide price: £8,000 - £24,740
Typical used monthly cost: £211 - £610
Fuel economy: 45 - 74 mpg
Road tax cost: £0 - £140
Insurance group: 14 - 23
Boot space: 472 litres with the seats up; 1,478 with the rear seats folded
14. SEAT Ateca (2016-) - Best for young families
You’ll find the Ateca is one of the most fun SUVs to drive for the money and is still a practical choice. The interior is a little drab, but it’s well put together and easy to use.
New price: £22,635 - £29,950
Leasing price: from £257 per month
Used price: £10,999 - £26,265
Typical used monthly cost: £282 - £648
Fuel economy: 40 - 64 mpg
Road tax cost: £30 - £140
Insurance group: 8 - 23
Boot space: 485 litres with all the seats up; 1,604 litres with the rear seats folded
15. Skoda Yeti (2009-17) - Best used car bargain
Look past the unusual styling and you’ll find a practical little SUV that’s cheap to buy and cheap to run. Go for the Greenline diesel if you really want to save money on fuel.
Used price: £2,790 - £16,490
Typical used monthly cost: £79 - £465
Fuel economy: 35 - 64 mpg
Road tax cost: £30 - £290
Insurance group: 9 - 24
Boot space: 416 litres with the seats up; 1,760 litres with the rear seats removed
16. Skoda Kodiaq - Best seven-seater value
As you’d expect from sensible Skoda, the Kodiaq is a well-priced seven-seater that is exceedingly practical. It also has a wide range of engines and is decent to drive.
New price: £25,775 - £42,895
Leasing price: from £321 per month
Used price: £14,710 - £39,625
Typical used monthly cost: £363 - £977
Fuel economy: 38 - 56 mpg
Road tax cost: £140 - £230
Insurance group: 12 - 24
Boot space: 270 litres with the seats up; 2,765 litres with the rear seats lowered
17. Toyota C-HR (2017-on) - Best for city dwellers
Opt for one of the hybrid models and you’ll have an SUV that’s capable of unbelievable MPG in the city. It’s distinctive and has plenty of safety kit to boot.
New price: £22,435 - £30,495
Leasing price: from £266 per month
Typical used monthly cost: £329 - £642
Fuel economy: 42 - 74 mpg
Road tax cost: £0 - £155
Insurance group: 14 - 16
Boot space: 377 litres with the seats up
18. Volkswagen Tiguan (2016-on) - Best sensible option
Think of the Tiguan as a taller, more spacious Golf and you’ll realise why it’s so easy to recommend. The interior is comfortable and practical, while it’s good to drive and packed full of safety kit.
New price: £25,350 - £33,730
Leasing price: from £282 per month
Used price: £13,470 - £33,420
Typical used monthly cost: £332 - £824
Fuel economy: 38 - 60 mpg
Road tax cost: £120 - £230
Insurance group: 11 - 28
Boot space: 520 litres with the seats up. 1,655 litres with the rear seats folded
19. Volvo XC90 (2015-on) - Best interior
Mixing seven-seat practicality and Scandi-cool, the XC90 is a fine place for you and your family. Of course, being a Volvo it’s also rammed full of safety kit.
New price: £52,235 - £71,945
Leasing price: from £637 per month
Used price: £25,270 - £61,560
Fuel economy: 34 - 49 mpg
Road tax cost: £0 - £450
Insurance group: 33 - 45
Boot space: 316 litres with the seats up; 1,868 with the rear seats folded
