The best large SUVs - driven, rated and ranked

Best for: refinement

For a car that has been on sale for more than 25 years, the BMW X5 has managed to adapt to market changes with little difficulty, while retaining its luxury appeal and sweet-handling drive.

Thanks to its reassuringly weighted steering, solid body control and balance through corners, the X5 handles like a big saloon rather than a heavy SUV.

And even though its ride isn’t quite as cushioned as a Range Rover’s, it remains pliant and comfortable over potholes and harsh imperfections. 

There are more engine options beyond the tax-swerving xDrive 50e hybrid: there’s a choice of two diesels and a snarling 500bhp petrol V8,

The revisions to the X5 a year ago means it now has the technology to match its plush, and super refined cabin. 

There’s plenty of room for adults in the back, a large boot, and unlike some rivals in this list, the option of seven-seats.

Best for: off-roading

Rugged, robust and with an air of refinement, the Land Rover Defender majors on off-road ability and personifies the marques 4x4 identity like no other model in its line-up.

Indeed, the need for go-anywhere large SUV will be small, but its big proportions, versatile and yet durable cabin and a vast boot makes it the ultimate family SUV. 

But while its departure angles and endless off-road modes make it a thoroughly enjoyable car for ploughing through mud, the Defender is an equally pleasant car to drive on the road, with easy-going driving manners. 

It’s this key trait that marks it out against rivals: whether you’re using it for daily duties on a farm or simply heading up the motorway, the Defender is a true all-rounder. 

There’s a broad mix of engines, and you can have it in 90, 110 and 130 bodystyles – or even with no rear seats in commercial Hard Top form. 

Best for: driver appeal

The German marque's flagship SUV has maintained a foothold at the front of the large SUV class for decades thanks to its impressive driving dynamics. 

Much of the Cayenne’s appeal lies within its driving experience, which intelligently unifies the athleticism of a Porsche sports car with the comfort and refinement of a big 4x4.

Granted, it’s not as pliant over bumps as others here, but a minor trade off in the circumstances when you consider just how interesting the Cayenne is to pilot down a twisty road. 

While you sit high in the Cayenne, its stellar body control and overall agility tricks the mind into thinking it’s a surefooted saloon car in the corners.

With excellent ergonimcs and refinement, the Cayenne feels upmarket and comfortable inside, too. 

Its cabin might not be as flexible as rivals, nor dos it’s ride isolate bumps as well as others, but for all-out driver appeal, the Cayenne is in a league of its own. 

Best for: electric motoring

With bucket loads of kerb appeal thanks to its modern and boxy silhouette, the Kia EV9 is a radical large electric SUV that delivers on versatility and spaciousness, without compromising on range.

Kia’s premium flagship SUV has pushed the Korean brand into new territory, and landed earlier this year as its biggest, most expensive car to date. 

In its costliest form, the EV9 is almost as expensive as an entry-level Porsche Cayenne, and a poke and prod at some of the interior materials suggest it lacks a bit of quality to match some rivals.

That being said, the EV9 more than makes up for any material shortcomings with oodles of cabin flexibility, with the option of six- or seven-seats.

The chunky EV9 doesn’t cut corners when it comes to range and efficiency: under the floor there’s a huge 99.8kWh battery that offers a range of 313-349 miles depending on trim.

Best for: versatility

There aren’t many large SUVs that come close to matching the sophisticated and uber-refined cabin of the Audi Q7.

Its innards are full of polished metals, soft-touch fabrics and a fit and finish that makes it a true luxury SUV, but one that also comes with a spacious interior and a big boot. 

There’s plenty of grip and it steers accurately, but there isn’t much communication through the wheel nor does it drum up the same level of entertainment as rivals like the BMW X5. 

Like the other large SUVs here you can have the Audi with a mix of engines, and there’s also a plug-in hybrid variant that promises up to 52 miles of pure electric driving. 

There’s the option of a third row of seats and it has just received a minor facelift and a number of tech updates to help it keep pace with rivals. 

Best for: hybrid driving

Now hot on the heels of Europe’s established elite, Hyundai is a force to be reckoned with having worked its way into the upper echelons of the automotive hierarchy thanks to a successful electrification strategy.

Its EV success has trickled down to its ICE cars and no car showcases this paradigm shift better than the latest Sante Fe. 

You can have it as a full-hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, seven-seats come as standard, and without the third row up there’s 725-litres of boot space to play with.

It also feels more expensive than rivals like the Nissan X-Trial thanks to its plusher materials and curved digital displays. 

The hybrid engine lacks a bit of pep which means you have to work it harder, and the ride is often struck dumb by harsh imperfections. 

99% of the time though, the Sante Fe is a relaxing cruiser, and with bags of usability and space it's a fine large SUV. 

Best for: everyday driving

A no-nonsense SUV with pleasing on-road dynamics and a broad range of engines, the second-generation Skoda Kodiaq delivers on space, comfort and practicality to make it a solid all-rounder. 

Being at the cheaper end of the spectrum – prices start at just over £36,000 – the undemanding Kodiaq might have a super spacious interior and a vast boot, but prod and poke around the cabin and you will understand where Skoda has cut corners.

It feels robust inside, and the Smart Dials are a great addition, but there is a lack of material richness compared with some rivals. 

But for a large SUV, there is little the Skoda can’t handle, with endless cubby holes and storage compartments, a middle row that’s big enough for adults and a 910 litre boot.

The plug-in hybrid has an impressive 71-mile pure-EV range and can charge at up to 50kW.  

Best for: style

Now in its third-generation, the Peugeot 5008 brings even more practicality and versatility but in a more stylish and chic large SUV package.

It’s roomy inside, has a cavernous 916-litre boot, and is the first Peugeot seven-seater offered with either a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric powertrain. 

The neat look of the exterior has also been carried over inside, with the sharp cabin enhanced by a curved infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster.

There’s plenty of room in the rear for adults and there’s a decent level of quality to the materials used inside. 

Its drive is unassuming and easy-going, with the full-hybrid being both refined and quiet.

Five up and packed full of luggage, the turbocharged triple is likely to struggle a bit.

While its drive lacks a bit of character, but as large SUVs go, the 5008 is comfortable, practical and frugal and will do exactly what you ask of it.