Best family SUVs 2024

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Best family SUVs 2024

  • What are the best family SUVs?
  • We test and rate the contenders
  • Find a family SUV for sale

Family SUVs have, in recent years, replaced MPVs as the vehicles of choice for parents with a growing number of kids. There's a huge variety on sale today, so we've narrowed down the best family SUVs from mainstream and premium brands. 

We've included new and used models in our shortlist, while there's also a mix of petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric family SUVs. There's relatively affordable models such as the Nissan Qashqai, popular seven-seaters such as the Skoda Kodiaq and luxury large 4x4s such as the Land Rover Discovery

The one thing they've all got in common is practicality – all should be able to transport two adults and at least a pair of teenagers with ease. Most will be able to carry three child seats if required, while these SUVs will have boots big enough for a pushchair and the weekly shop. 

But, more than that, they should also be desirable, stuffed full of the latest convenience and safety tech and not feel like they're built down to a price. Ride comfort matters, too, while they need to offer enough performance to not feel underpowered when loaded up with kids and luggage. 

You should also read our pick of the best cars for three child seats or our guide to the best SUVs. If you're looking to buy a child seat, our Car Seat Chooser will show you which seats will fit your car.

If you're ready to buy we've got over 30,000 Used SUV Cars for Sale, while if you want more choice, we have over 70,000 Used Cars for Sale. If you're looking to save money, check out our guide to the Best Car Deals.

Best family SUVs 2024

  1. Audi Q7
  2. Kia EV9
  3. Hyundai Tucson
  4. Peugeot 5008
  5. Citroen C5 Aircross
  6. Nissan Qashqai
  7. Skoda Kodiaq
  8. Mercedes-Benz GLB 
  9. Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
  10. Land Rover Discovery

1. Audi Q7

Used prices from £25,000

Audi Q7 Review 2023: Driving Side
9/10

Large, luxurious and capable of carrying three Isofix child seats across the second row, the Audi Q7 is a practical and stylish SUV. It might be advancing in age, but it's still an excellent buy - and becoming more affordable on the used market. 

Few cars come close to matching the Q7 for family car usability. The interior is vast and will comfortably fit seven adults. Each of the middle-row chairs slides and reclines independently, while the outer seats tip and tumble to provide access to the third row. You can also fold the rearmost seats flat into the floor, which means you get a large boot that will swallow pushchairs, buggies and large suitcases. 

The majority of buyers choose their Q7 with 3.0-litre V6 diesel power, and that's the sweet spot between performance, price and running costs. However there are also powerful, smooth petrol engines, and the potent SQ7 was available with V8 diesel and petrol power throughout its life. At the other end of the scale, there's the Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrid which combines that diesel V6 with an electric motor for ultimate economy potential.

Any Q7 is good to drive, with responsive steering and good body control over rough road surfaces. For the best comfort, we’d recommend buying a Q7 fitted with air suspension.

2. Kia EV9

Used prices from £76,000

Kia EV9 Review 2024: dynamic driving
9/10

The Kia EV9 is the only fully electric car on this list, but it’s one that demands inclusion due to the ludicrous amount of space and practicality it delivers. Regardless of whether you compare it to electric cars or combustion-engined cars, the EV9 is hugely roomy, with each of its seven seats (you can also have it with six for more luxury) surrounded by enough headroom and legroom to accommodate a six-foot adult in reasonable comfort. Even with all the seats in use, you still get a shade more boot space than in your average supermini, and if you can live without the rearmost chairs, they fold into the boot floor to leave a gargantuan 828-litre load area.

The cabin looks smart and high in quality, too, even if it can’t quite match the plush feel of a premium-badged SUV, but you are compensated for this by a hugely generous list of standard equipment.

All versions are powered by a 100kWh battery. The entry-level car has a single motor and an official driving range of 348 miles, while higher-spec cars have an additional motor for much more power, but range only drops to 313 miles. The EV9 has a softer suspension than some of Kia’s other models, so it rides more comfortably - important in a car like this - and it also handles capably. Sure, the sheer size of the car can make it feel a bit cumbersome in tight urban areas, but lots of sensors and cameras are provided to help out.

3. Hyundai Tucson

Used prices from £18,000

Hyundai Tucson Review 2024: exterior dynamic front
8/10

The latest Hyundai Tucson is no longer the budget-focused model that its predecessors were, but it’s still a very appealing car nonetheless. This is an SUV that’s moved upmarket - much like its maker - and it now has a glamorous and glitzy look that makes it really stand out compared with the competition, even the more premium offerings.

The interior design is perhaps less visually arresting, but the quality on show inside the Tucson is in no doubt, with plush materials and thoughtful finishes. The cabin is absolutely stuffed with luxury kit, too, and the all-important infotainment system is one of the best in the business.

Where the Tucson really impresses, though, is on passenger space. There’s absolutely loads of the stuff, especially in the rear of the five-seat cabin, meaning that a tall passenger can sit comfortably behind a similarly lofty driver, and travelling three-abreast on the rear bench won’t be uncomfortable, either. Meanwhile, boot space that measures up to 620 litres is among the most generous luggage figures in the class.

There’s no diesel engine on offer, so you choose between petrol, mild hybrid, conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. There isn’t a duffer among them, but do bear in mind that the more electrification your Tuscon has, the smaller the boot space you get. The ride isn’t quite as forgiving as some cars in the class, but it’s comfortable enough and things stay impressively tidy and controlled in the corners.

4. Peugeot 5008

Used prices from £16,000

Peugeot 5008 Front View
8/10

The Peugeot 5008 started life as a van-like MPV family car that prioritised space and practicality over style and luxury. However, in 2017, the 5008 was reborn as a smart 7-seat SUV, blending all of those attributes in a more desirable package. 

Despite its more appealing look and striking, high-tech cabin design, the 5008 still majors on space and practicality. This means you get lots of head and legroom, with three separate seats in the second row that recline, fold and slide. Each middle seat has an Isofix mount and top tether points that make it easy to fasten three child seats. The third-row has top tether points but no Isofix mounts, so these can only be used with seat belt-secured child seats.

The 5008 is available with 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre diesel engines - the former is a solid all-rounder, and while the latter is pricey and auto-only it's great for towing. But it's the surprising 130PS 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine that's the star of the show: it punches well above its weight and is affordable. 

If you need more power still, there's a 180PS 1.6-litre, but it's auto-only and only available on higher trims. Oddly, though, it's not available as a plug-in hybrid: if you need one of those, you'll have to sacrifice the third row of seats and get the smaller Peugeot 3008

5. Citroen C5 Aircross

Used prices from £12,000

Citroen C5 Aircross Review 2023: Front
8/10

The Citroen C5 Aircross is a large and quirky family SUV that majors on comfort and practicality. We particularly like the interior, which has three individual rear seats and a large boot that will cope with everything your family can throw at it. It also seems designed for the rough-and-tumble of family life, with hard-wearing materials and plenty of storage. 

There are Isofix mounts for the two outer rear seats, plus two top tether points for these. The three rear seats all slide back and forwards independently, too. Although you can't use an Isofix seat in the centre rear seat, you can fit one using the seatbelt.

Unlike some of its rivals, the C5 Aircross doesn’t pretend to be a sporty car. The handling is soft and comfort-orientated, which means the suspension will soak up the lumps and bumps in the road without passing any unpleasant rattles or movements to the cabin.

The Citroen C5 Aircross has a similar engine lineup to the Peugeot 5008, meaning the excellent 1.2-litre Puretech 130 petrol is the pick of the range. It's punchy, reasonably refined, will crack 40mpg and is affordable to buy. 

6. Nissan Qashqai

Used prices from £17,000

Nissan Qashqai Review 2024: exterior three-quarter photo of the Nissan Qashqai on the road
8/10

The Nissan Qashqai has always been an immensely popular car, but the latest model has a wider range of talents than ever before. 

It's the little things that make the new Nissan Qashqai an excellent family SUV. The rear doors open much wider than usual, making fitting child seats a piece of cake. When you're not carrying the children, the rear seats drop entirely flat leaving you a massive boot for taking garden waste to the tip or collecting flat-pack furniture.

There's a clever hybrid model, which uses a petrol engine as a generator for the electric motor, rather than driving the wheels directly. This means it feels a lot like an electric car, but you don't have to faff around charging it. Importantly for the school run, it's also able to run under electric power for very short distances. Otherwise, the mild-hybrid 1.3-litre turbo petrol engines are both smooth and reasonably economical. They need some revs to get the best out of them, however. 

7. Skoda Kodiaq

Used prices from £15,000

Skoda Kodiaq Review 2023 front
8/10

The Skoda Kodiaq really is the world's most sensible family SUV. But that doesn't meant it's boring, with a classy design and good all-round driving experience. 

It's available with five or seven seats (the majority of used Kodiaqs for sale will have seven), while the engine line-up consists of frugal petrol and diesel motors. The 2.0-litre diesel the pick of the range as an all-rounder, but the 1.4 or 1.5-litre turbo petrols are decent if you don't want your car to drink from the black pump.  

You can buy a Kodiaq with two- or four-wheel drive; we'd recommend sticking to the former unless you really must venture into a muddy field (in which case a Land Rover Discovery Sport might be a better choice). Either way, the Kodiaq's composed handling and generally comfortable ride make it a pleasure to drive.

The Kodiaq has a spacious and functional interior, with Isofix points on the outer middle row of seats, and a huge boot (when the rearmost seats aren't in use, anyway). We'd recommend a mid-range Skoda Kodiaq SE L for handy features like a powered tailgate and sat-nav. Heated seats are a bonus, too, and while the overall design isn't exciting, it's solid and fantastically easy to get along with. 

If you're being forced into swapping your hot hatch for a sensible family SUV, take a look at the sporty Skoda Kodiaq vRS. Initially offered with a powerful twin-turbo diesel engine, this was swapped for the Volkswagen Golf GTI's 2.0-litre petrol motor in 2021.

8. Mercedes-Benz GLB

Used prices from £28,000

Mercedes GLB front
8/10

Premium family SUVs don't always need to be large and thirsty, as the Mercedes GLB proves. An alternative to cars like the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40 and based on the A-Class hatchback, Mercedes has somehow managed to squeeze seven seats into the GLB's compact and stylish body. 

While it's hardly the roomiest model in this list, its clever packaging might make you think twice about an Audi Q7. Not only is it significantly cheaper, being smaller and lighter it's easier to park, more agile to drive and doesn't need thirsty, powerful engines to get it along the road. 

You also get a simply wonderful tech-packed interior in the Mercedes GLB, while the middle bench slides backwards and forwards allowing you to prioritise where you need space. It has 100mm more space between the front and rear wheels than an A-Class, but the rearmost seats are only really suited to occasional use. That's fine for those times when your child wants to bring friends home for tea, though.

In terms of engines, there's the usual mix of petrol or diesel power. If you want your family SUV to be a little more exciting, Mercedes even offers an AMG version badged the GLB 35. It's not cheap, but it's pretty rapid, and sounds the part, too.

9. Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Used prices from £20,000

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Review 2023: Right Side View
8/10

Like a semi-detached house that's been given an extension, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is a slightly bigger, more versatile version of one of our favourite family SUVs. Closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq, the Tiguan Allspace competes with the likes of the Peugeot 5008, Hyundai Santa Fe and posher alternatives like the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Just like the standard car, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace has a classy yet spacious cabin. While the third row of seats are hardly the last word in useability, they're fine for those occasions when you have more passengers than you know what to do with. With them dropped, the Tiguan Allspace's boot capacity is an impressive 760 litres.

The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is a popular family SUV that's been on sale since 2018, so you can save a considerable chunk of cash by seeking one out on the used market.

10. Land Rover Discovery

Used prices from £24,000

Land Rover Discovery 2023 Review: exterior front three quarter photo of the Land Rover Discovery off-road
7/10

If you want a rugged and impressively spacious family SUV with true off-road potential then the Land Rover Discovery will be the car for you. Great to drive and backed by Land Rover’s proven 4x4 technology, the Discovery is one of the most rounded seven-seaters you can get.

All versions of the Discovery will carry three child seats across the middle row of seats with three Isofix mounting points. There is plenty of head and legroom in the rear, too. The third row will also accommodate two large adults without too much complaint: it's one of the roomiest big SUVs on sale. 

The Discovery is offered with petrol and diesel engines - most cars on the second-hand market will be powered by the latter. The petrol option isn’t bad, by any means, but the higher running costs - 25mpg is what to expect - makes it of limited appeal to car drivers who only use their cars for short distances that don’t justify diesel power.

We recommend avoiding the early four-cylinder diesel model and plumping for a six-cylinder model - in 2020 the Discovery was facelifted and the four-cylinder was removed. Either the D250 or D300 offer smooth and effortless performance. There's no plug-in hybrid, however - for that you'll need the significantly smaller Land Rover Discovery Sport.  

Best Family SUV FAQs

Ivan Aistrop

Written by

Ivan Aistrop

It depends how old the children are, but as the best all round family SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq is hard to beat with masses of space, a huge boot and lots of Skoda's 'Simply Clever' features dotted throughout. If those children are older, the Land Rover Discovery is capable of carrying adults in comfort in the third row of seats. 

The Audi Q7 is the most capable of carrying three child or baby seats across the second row. All models get three Isofix anchor points in the second bench, which means you can carry three child seats in a row - and the space to do so is plentiful. 

The 2022 Lexus NX is currently considered the safest family SUV, alongside the Skoda Enyaq. Both cars have excellent scores with Euro NCAP for occupant protection and safety assists. 

It is the responsibility of the vehicle driver to ensure all passengers aged 14 and under are using the correct child seat or seat belt. A child must use a suitable child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt. 

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