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Best family SUV 2022

SUVs are the cars most families want right now. They are much more stylish than a regular hatchback, and infinitely cooler than a boxy people carrier (MPV).

They come in all shapes and sizes, seating up to seven people, and you can have them with traditional petrol and diesel engines, hybrid and plug-in hybrid tech, and even as a pure electric vehicle. The amount of variety on offer in the sector is remarkable, and it’s growing all the time.

What all the best family SUVs have in common is a combination of affordability, low running costs, spaciousness and flexibility. Not forgetting envy-inducing style, which will make you feel proud to have one sitting on your driveway.

Here, we have scoured the market to highlight 10 of the best family SUVs. These are the machines that will make you and your children feel like a million dollars, without costing a king’s ransom to buy and run.

Volvo XC40

The XC40 is Volvo’s best-seller by a clear margin, and it’s easy to see why. This family-sized SUV is arguably the smartest-looking car in its range, with simple, clear-cut lines and a distinctive silhouette. The capacious interior has a premium feel, while details such as the lined door pockets and portrait-style touchscreen are great. As for engines, pick from petrol or diesel, the Recharge plug-in hybrid and pure electric variants. If you prefer a sleeker, more coupe-like SUV, you can now buy the closely-related Volvo C40, with a more rakish rear end. It’s the firm’s first car to be sold solely in electric guise.

Nissan Qashqai

British families rate the Nissan Qashqai highly. It is designed, engineered and built here, and is laser-focused on offering families the best balance of spacious practicality and easy-driving compactness. This third-generation model is the roomiest yet, and features such as rear doors that open to almost 90 degrees are really clever. The mild hybrid petrol is punchy and quieter than previous Qashqai engines, and it drives with a grown-up maturity, particularly across rough city roads. The style-conscious will love the fact you can get alloy wheels up to 20 inches in diameter, while the eco-oriented will look forward to the upcoming e-Power hybrid version.

Volkswagen Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a family SUV that offers something for everyone. The core line-up revolves around the five-seat Tiguan, with engines ranging from fuel-sipping petrols to the ferocious 320hp Tiguan R. There’s also a plug-in hybrid version, the eHybrid, which will travel for more than 30 miles in pure EV guise. Those who need even more space, meanwhile, will enjoy the longer Tiguan Allspace. Not only does it seat up to seven, it also has a huge boot and extra rear legroom in five-seat guise. All Tiguans are good to drive, with a cut-above feel and premium-level refinement. This smart SUV also has a tidy interior, while our favoured R-Line grade brings sportier looks without higher running costs.

Ford Kuga

The third-generation Ford Kuga is a curvaceous family SUV with a notably premium appearance – despite coming from one of Britain’s best-selling car brands. Showing it has moved with the times, Ford offers a broad range of engines, including affordable Ecoboost turbocharged petrols and ‘self-charging’ hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. The latter has an impressive pure electric driving range of 35 miles. The five-seat Kuga has a robust interior and rear-seat space is generous. It’s also good to drive, with the well-engineered Ford feel backed up by a perfect driving position, excellent visibility and a comprehensive infotainment system that is easy to use.

Skoda Kodiaq

The Kodiaq is Skoda’s largest model and an excellent family-sized SUV. It seats seven across three rows of seats, with enough space in the third row for growing teens to sit comfortably. Fold them down and it has more than 700 litres of boot capacity. The Kodiaq has recently been facelifted, giving it a cleaner look to its front end. All but entry-level versions get powerful LED matrix headlights, while the 240hp vRS range-topper has returned – this time with petrol power. The Kodiaq is a secure and robust car to drive, particularly models with all-wheel drive, and it’s great for soaking up long distances with ease. Did somebody say “summer holiday”?

Volkswagen ID.4

The Volkswagen ID.4 is an all-electric family SUV, currently available with a high-power 77kWh Pro Performance battery that gives an excellent 320-mile range between charges. You and your family thus don’t need to suffer ‘range anxiety’ – and being an electric car means the interior can be more open-plan and spacious than a regular petrol or diesel family SUV. As with the exterior design, it’s more futuristic in layout, going big on electronic displays as opposed to physical buttons. You can get some interesting colour schemes as well, making the ID.4 a very entertaining car in which to travel.

Dacia Duster

The Dacia Duster is a brilliant family SUV for those on a budget. It’s a roomy five-seater with a tall and confident stance. However, the entry-level version costs less than even the most basic Ford Fiesta supermini. While you don’t get alloy wheels or a fancy infotainment system, you do get the all-important air conditioning – and spending just £1,500 more on Comfort grade gets you a good haul of extras. Even the starter 90hp TCe turbocharged petrol engine doesn’t feel underpowered, and it’s good on fuel. The Duster has recently benefited from a facelift, ensuring this value-priced choice remains a fresh-looking one. Your neighbours will never suspect how little you spent.

Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson has been transformed in this latest generation. Gone is the forgettable styling and in comes a radical new look, with distinctive creases on the sides and a fantastic LED light array built into the front grille. It feels upmarket inside, with a clean, pared-back feel, but still offers ample functionality via a crisp central touchscreen. It’s also family-friendly in terms of space, while affordable petrol and diesel engines are joined by hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions for those who want a more eco-conscious family car. The Tucson comes with Hyundai’s excellent five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty for added peace of mind.

Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is closely related to the Hyundai Tucson under the skin. This means it has a comprehensive range of turbo petrol and diesel engines, some with mild hybrid tech, plus the new additions of fuel-saving hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. Kia claims a very impressive 43-mile EV range for the plug-in model. Like the Tucson, the Sportage has really in-your-face styling, with a similarly bold front end and eye-catching profile. Inside, the emphasis feels sportier and more driver-oriented than the Hyundai, with two striking wraparound screens. Kia extends its warranty further, to seven years, although the distance is capped at 100,000 miles.

Vauxhall Grandland

The Vauxhall Grandland has been refreshed for 2022 and is suddenly an interesting new contender for ‘best family SUV’ honours. Visually, it’s been transformed, with a bold new face that sports the Vauxhall ‘vizor’ black panel. Detailing is more modern as well, while the range has been simplified to three core models, all of which cost thousands less than before. The plug-in hybrid is particularly good value compared to the previous Grandland X model. It’s still surprisingly good to drive, with a stable, Germanic feel that serves up low-effort, long-distance ability for the driver, along with a calming ride for passengers. Special mention to the brilliant scientifically-designed seats, too.

Can you get a seven-seat family SUV?

You can indeed buy seven-seat family SUVs. They’re perhaps not as commonplace as they once were, but they are still out there. The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the leaders in this segment, as is its closely related Spanish sibling: the SEAT Tarraco. Volkswagen also sells a seven-seat version of the Tiguan, called the Allspace. You can even get a leftfield and very affordable estate-SUV-crossover that seats seven people: the new Dacia Jogger.

Can you get an electric family SUV?

Previously a rarity, electric family SUVs are becoming more popular. Leading the way is the Volkswagen ID.4, which is a family-sized SUV alternative to the ID.3 family hatchback. There’s also the Skoda Enyaq iV and two related premium offerings: the Audi Q4 e-tron and sportier-looking Q4 Sportback e-tron. The Ford Mustang Mach-e is a muscular machine for those who want to go a step further than the Kuga plug-in hybrid. Expect many more electric SUVs to arrive this year.

Which family SUV is best value for money?

In terms of sheer value for money, the Dacia Duster leads the way in the family SUV sector. Its prices are incredibly low, given the space it offers and ‘all the essentials’ equipment it comes with. That’s why so many Duster sales are of the mid-grade and range-topping models; it’s so affordable, buyers find it easier to step further up the range. You can also get an all-wheel-drive version of the Duster, but even this costs less than a mid-range supermini. ‘You do the maths,’ as the Dacia ads say.

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