SUVs have quickly become one of the most common types of car you’ll see on the road. It’s easy to see why, of course; the best SUVs provide the practicality and safety you’d want in a larger car, and combine it with the performance of something much smaller. More and more consumers like that formula, and that means more and more brands are making them. That’s why we’ve got Aston Martin and Ferrari on this list, as well as Mercedes and Hyundai.
We’ve tested every SUV on sale in the UK, and on this page we’ve collated our favourites – regardless of powertrai. That’s why you’ll find hybrid SUVs such as the Hyundai Santa Fe alongside ICE-powered performance SUVs such as as the Ferrari Purosangue. This is our list of the best, after all.
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Keep reading for our list of the ultimate SUVs.
The best SUVs at a glance:
- Best SUV for value: Dacia Duster – Find out more
- Best retro styled SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe – Find out more
- Best SUV for off-road use: Land Rover Defender V8 – Find out more
- UV for performance: Ferrari Purosangue – Find out more
Aston Martin DBX
Best SUV for mixing performance with luxury
Pros: Sporty, luxurious inside, good looks
Cons: Tech can somewhat outdates
Is the Aston Martin DBX the first SUV to properly nail being sporty? Quite possibly. Arguments can be made for the Porsche Cayenne or Range Rover Sport, but the Aston Martin manages to be genuinely engaging to drive and full of typical Aston Martin character. Sitting on a bespoke all-aluminium chassis and making use of an AMG-sourced twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, it has all the right figures for a performance SUV. A top speed of 181mph and a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds.
The interior of an Aston is often gorgeous but hampered by outdated tech. Thankfully this isn’t the case in the DBX, not only is the interior absolutely stunning , but backed up with a Mercedes-sourced infotainment system that feels up to date. And in terms of off-roading, the DBX continues to impress. Not only does it feel stable on loose surfaces, it can wade through 500mm of water and tow 2.7 tonnes with ease.
Read our full Aston Martin DBX review
Or try: Bentley Bentayga if you want a little more luxury than performance
Range Rover
Best SUV for those after the iconic SUV benchmark
Pros: Stylish, better ride, range of powertrains.
Cons: Porsche and Bentley SUVs handle better
The new Range Rover is one of the most complete SUVs you can buy, and its latest generation takes a leap in refinement. This is a whole new platform stuffed full of new hardware, software and powertrains.
Bringing the magic is a body structure some 35% stiffer than that of the outgoing car’s, a new electronic anti-roll control system (rated to an eye-watering 1032lb ft of torque, applied in milliseconds, and both faster-acting and more CO2-efficent than the old hydraulic set-up), rear-wheel steering and new five-link rear suspension.
Yes, the Bentley Bentayga and Porsche Cayenne handle better, but few cars are as comfortable as the Range Rover or quite so well rounded.
To find out more, read our full Range Rover review
Mercedes G-Class
Best SUV for those who want something luxurious, and a G-Class
Pros: Unmatched road presence, handles well, a bit special
Cons: Not as roomy as you might think, can’t shake the attention
Major updates for the perennial Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV don’t come around very often, but the latest is worth the wait. At first glance it may not seem so, but quite a lot is new on the 2024 Mercedes-Benz G-Class – for a start it’s now available with an electric powertrain.
As already stated, the combustion engine 2024 G-Class is available in two different configurations: G500 and G450 d. Both use an inline six-cylinder unit and deliver power via Mercedes’ 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox, but their performance stats differ. The G500 produces 442bhp – plus an extra 20 or so from the electric motor of the hybrid system – and 413lbft of torque. It’ll do 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 130 mph.
Whatever powertrain you opt for, the G-Class is not the perfect SUV, but in a world now mired in SUV overkill, where everything from the Ford Puma to the Cadillac Escalade could be considered one – the G stands out as a little bit different.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes G-Class review
Or try: the electric G-Class if you want the same style and presence with zero emissions
Hyundai Santa Fe
Best SUV for those looking for a capable, futuristic-looking people mover
Pros: Extremely roomy and useful interior, quiet and smooth
Cons: Slightly fiddly infotainment, PHEV e-range could be better
The fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe opts for or a boxy and modern aesthetic, with distinctive details like the new H-pattern DRLs, vents aplenty and a slightly more controversial rear-end design.
For the powertrain, your options are either a Hybrid or Plug-In model, and both models feature a 1.6-litre petrol engine. Both also feature tech like adaptive regenerative braking (which increases or relaxes depending on how close you are to a car in front, or a lowering of the speed limit) and both use a six-speed automatic – not a CVT seen in Toyota hybrids, for example.
Inside, the Santa Fe’s interior feels well-built but includes lots of handy and practical touches. The driving position offers loads of adjustment and seat comfort is impressive – handy for long journeys and tall drivers. The steering wheel itself is chunky, with solid but soft-feeling materials on the buttons and Hyundai’s now conventional stalk drive shifter.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
Or try: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N if you want something smaller and electric – but just as stylish
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
Best SUV for those who want speed and handling with practicality
Pros: Better looks, more speed, more variety
Cons: You’ll need to raid the options list
Porsche has updated its Cayenne SUV, and the result is a car that is better to sit in and – we think – better to look at, with a driving experience that offers an even broader scope of appeal than ever before.
You’ll need to be free with the options spending, but little else on sale can provide such scale from a single variant as the Turbo E-Hybrid – from silent running to full-blooded 729bhp screaming – while the rest of the hybrid Cayenne range carefully balances luxury and performance in a manner that outshines the available contemporaries at their price points.
If you’re looking for speed. The third-gen Cayenne facelift features tweaks to the exterior design, a heavily revised interior with additional tech, an overhauled engine line-up – including the new hybrid systems – and changes to the passive and adaptive suspension offerings. It’s modern luxury with a high-rise twist.
To find out more, read our full Porsche Cayenne review
Or try: the somewhat ridiculous Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid if you need 670bhp
