Families usually have lots of practicality demands including a big boot, versatile seating for five or seven and lots of storage solutions. An SUV that makes it easy to load children into their car seats is also desirable, while connectivity features to keep the kids entertained are useful too.
But that’s not all. Parents will want a family SUV to slip into their busy lives as simply as possible by being easy to drive and affordable to run. Luxury and convenience features are desirable as a result, while a comfortable ride and easy-to-use tech are also important.
Our list of the best family SUVs on the market today brings together the most popular models with RAC Drive readers. We’ve included cars for a variety of budgets and needs, with petrol models, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars. Check out the top 10 new family SUVs on sale now.
Best family SUVs 2025: the shortlist
Skoda Kodiaq
Price: from £38,140 Seats: 5 or 7 Boot space: 910 litres
Skoda has long been a firm favourite with families looking for a car with space, comfort and quality at an affordable price. The Kodiaq is the largest SUV from the brand and offers those features in abundance.
There’s a huge amount of cabin space whether you opt for five or seven seats – although the rearmost seats are best suited to children. What’s more, the Kodiaq is packed full of clever touches, has plenty of standard technology and is decent to drive, with frugal engine options including a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of up to 75 miles.
Kia Sportage
Price: from £30,170 Seats: 5 Boot space: 540- 591 litres
The latest version of the Kia Sportage has been around since 2021 but remains high on the list of the most popular new cars in the UK. It’s easy to see why Kia’s mid-size SUV is so popular: it’s stylish, affordable, practical, has a smart cabin design and packed is full of standard kit even in entry-level trims.
The Sportage also offers a powertrain to suit your needs, with petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid offerings in the range. All offer strong performance and good efficiency, while the Sportage has a comfortable ride, composed handling and low noise levels for the price. Factor in the seven-year warranty and it’s a very complete package.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Price: from £47,890 Seats: 6 or 7 Boot space: 628 litres
The latest Hyundai Santa Fe ditches the subtle design of older versions with a bold, angular shape that gives it a premium air. That upmarket feel extends to the interior, which is loaded with features and tech and gives more expensive seven-seaters a run for their money.
The Santa Fe doesn’t compromise with the basics of family life, either. It’s extremely spacious for all passengers – even those in the third row of seats – and has lots of storage solutions along with a roomy boot. It’s comfortable and surprisingly easy to drive for its size, too, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options adding flexibility.
Renault Scenic E-Tech
Price: from £37,195 Seats: 5 Boot space: 545 litres
It’s easy to overlook the brilliant Renault Scenic E-Tech when the French brand has other EV superstars like the new Renault 5 in its lineup. But it’s well worth a look if you’re after a roomy, relatively affordable electric family SUV, offering style, tech and comfort in equal measure.
While it doesn’t offer the storming performance of some EVs, its efficient single motor and big battery gives the Long Range model impressive range of up to 379 miles. It has a very smooth ride, too, but the interior stands out with its impressive plenty of intuitive infotainment and easy-to-use physical controls, plus cool gadgets on higher trims like the opacifying glass roof – likely to be a hit with the kids.
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Nissan Qashqai
Price: from £30,615 Seats: 5 Boot space: 455-504 litres
The original mainstream SUV is still vying with the Sportage for positions in the top 10 most popular cars in the UK, and it’s easy to see why. With a smart design in the latest version, a high quality and easy-to-use interior and keen pricing, there’s plenty to like about the Nissan Qashqai.
Family-friendly buyers will appreciate the usefully wide opening rear doors – ideal for hauling kids out of car seats – while there’s plenty of space inside, even if some alternatives have bigger boots. The Qashqai is also very easy to drive, comfortable and refined, with smooth engines and a strong performing Qashqai e-Power full hybrid option that’s efficient but won’t break the bank to buy.
Hyundai Tucson
Price: from £33,080 Seats: 5 Boot space: 577-620 litres
The Hyundai Tucson shares a lot underneath the skin with the Kia Sportage but looks quite different inside and out. It’s still a great option overall, though, bringing the same levels of practicality with a softer ride at the expense of handling.
The Tucson’s interior was updated as part of a mid-life revamp, bringing higher kit levels and improved technology. It’s slightly more expensive to buy than its Kia sibling, though, but at least you get the same choice of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid power options.
Dacia Duster
Price: from £19,380 Seats: 5 Boot space: 430-517 litres
Looking for a practical family SUV but have a budget that would normally only get you something small? It’s Dacia to the rescue as usual. The value-focused Romanian brand has always been a firm favourite for those that value bang-for-buck over style, and the latest Dacia Duster further adds to that appeal.
This latest model is more sophisticated than ever, offering more standard equipment and tech features along with being more capable on or off-road than previous versions. But it remains top value, and although there are cars with much posher interiors in this list the Duster is a lot roomier than most small SUVs, with a big boot.
Kia EV9
Price: from £65,000 Seats: 7 Boot space: 828 litres
The Kia EV9 sits at the opposite end of the family car spectrum to the Dacia Duster. This large, electric SUV makes a statement with its sharp design and sheer bulk – with the advantage of the latter being masses of interior space for up to seven, and room even for adults in the third row of seats.
A huge boot and a variety of clever storage touches make the EV9 capable of swallowing everything even a large family will carry. It’s also packed with tech and comfort features, offers a comfortable and refined drive and manages a range on a charge of up to 349 miles. And although its less important to family buyers, the dual motor model offers performance to match some sports cars.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Price: from £37,230 Seats: 5 Boot space: 652 litres
The continued popularity of the Volkswagen Tiguan is a clear sign that many family car buyers are willing to pay a little bit more for the right car. Sure, there are better value options out there than the Tiguan, but few offer the same combination of desirability, quality, efficiency and practicality for the money.
The latest Tiguan is bigger and more upmarket than ever. That means a classy interior design and feel, great technology and a roomy cabin, including a huge boot for a five-seat SUV. Sliding and reclining rear seats aid versatility, while the decent driving experience and variety of engine options (including the plug-in eHybrid with a range of up to 77 miles) gives it long lasting appeal.
Peugeot 5008
Price: from £39,490 Seats: 7 Boot space: 916 litres
Take one look at the striking Peugeot 5008 and you might consider it a car that puts style ahead of substance – but you’d be wrong. This svelte seven-seater betters even the Skoda Kodiaq for cabin space, and although it can’t match the EV9 for outright room it’s considerably more affordable.
With seven usable seats on all versions, three separate seats across the middle row and a huge boot, the 5008 caters for the space needs of the vast majority of families. It’s also comfortable and quiet, with a high-quality interior and plenty of standard kit, with the option of an all-electric e-5008 too. Only the limitations of having only two ISOFIX mounting points mark the Peugeot down.
Best family SUVs FAQs
What is the best family SUV to buy?
Some of the best family SUVs on the market right now include the Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and Renault Scenic E-Tech. The Dacia Duster is a great option if you’re on a budget.
What is the most spacious five-seat SUV?
Five-seat versions of the Skoda Kodiaq offer impressive levels of interior space and a large boot, while something like a BMW iX delivers oodles of space for luxury budgets.
Which family SUV has the biggest boot space?
The Peugeot 5008 has a vast boot capacity of up to 916 litres with the third row of seats folded, extending to a massive 2,232 litres with all rear seats folded down.
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