The SUV got here, noticed, and pushed estates, MPVs and the odd hatchback off many households’ driveways. Offering estate-like area, however with the next load space and naturally the all-important excessive driving place, one of the best household SUVs have change into the do-it-all autos of alternative for many individuals.
Four-wheel drive is customary on many of those bigger SUVs, which heightens their towing talents and offers them some gentle off-road functionality. For any hardcore mud-plugging, a correct off-roader is the way in which to go, nevertheless. On the flipside, a few of them are literally a fairly first rate steer on a twisty highway.
There needs to be a powertrain to swimsuit each want right here. Many of those automobiles nonetheless provide torquey but frugal diesel engines, in addition to petrol and full-hybrid choices. Some provide tax-busting plug-in drivetrains for these seeking to run one as an organization automobile. If you’d fairly go totally electrical, take a look at our 10 best family electric cars.
The finest household SUVs
1. Nissan X-Trail
Pros: Good to drive, high-quality inside, choice of seven seats
Cons: Not as environment friendly as one of the best rivals, smallish boot, jittery low-speed experience
Unusually, the X-Trail is powered solely by three-cylinder engines. That doesn’t bode effectively for easy motoring, however for the e-Power hybrid variations at the least, the other is true.
Nissan claims that its new hybrid system – the place the engine solely ever powers a generator and the wheels are pushed by electrical motors – supplies an EV driving expertise, however with the reassurance which you can merely refill with petrol. The X-Trail will get very shut certainly, which makes it a really undemanding automobile to drive. Motorway effectivity is nice, however might be higher, whereas effectivity on the town is superb.
Away from the novel powertrain, the brand new X-Trail could be very effectively thought-about. It’s a barely smaller automobile than automobiles just like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Skoda Kodiaq, however nonetheless provides seven seats as an choice. The second row has loads of area, the rear doorways open 90deg and the boot area is aggressive. In entrance, the X-Trail feels acquainted from the smaller Nissan Qashqai, however that’s a great factor, as a result of there are massive buttons for generally used capabilities and the infotainment is usually logical, which makes the automobile very straightforward and frustration-free to make use of. The entrance seats are very snug, too.
On the highway, the X-Trail is an easy-going companion. It suffers from a barely crashy low-speed experience, however could be very supple in all places else, and even provides some dynamism within the corners.
Read our Nissan X-Trail review
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2. Land Rover Discovery Sport
