The best SUVs - tested, rated and ranked

Open gallery Close News 9 mins read 19 September 2024 The commercial rise of the Sports Utility Vehicle over the past 25 years has been so vast it has forever changed the way cars are designed. And despite their flaws, we have to admit that the very best SUVs provide comfort and convenience, space and versatility, chunky-cornered design appeal, as well as boosted occupant safety and visibility. The marketplace segments have mushroomed in popularity, and continue to grow. Now you'll find small SUVs, family SUVs, sports SUVs, luxury SUVs, hybrid SUVs, fully electric SUVs and even then, that isn't an exhaustive list. This article is a broad one, encompassing everything between a Suzuki Jimny and a Rolls-Royce Cullinan.   Related articles While it’s been hard to narrow the field down to 10 cars, our team of road testers who have collectively driven every model on sale have done so. And at the top of the list lies the Citroen C5 Aircross. Its overall value, ride comfort and space make it extremely versatile and a car that would suit a great many people. Those who are looking for more dynamism, space, or off-roading ability should keep reading this list to discover what we recommend.  1. Citroen C5 Aircross9Pros Spacious for its sizeComfortableAffordable Cons Driver assistance features are frustratingLaid-back dynamic character can be divisiveInterior cheap feeling in places Best for: ride comfortA great many of us just expect top-level ride comfort from a high-riding SUV. Given the natural advantages that these cars have, by virtue of their weight and long-travel suspension, it’s perhaps surprising how few make a real selling point of an isolated, comfortable ride. But there are a few – and not all of them are expensive, luxury-market pariahs.The Citroën C5 Aircross, for example, stands out among its rivals for supple ride comfort - just as you’d hope a Citroën family car would. Fairly gently rated suspension naturally soaks up bigger inputs from an uneven road surface without the need for more expensive technologies, although the car does use Citroën’s comfort-boosting hydraulic suspension bump-stops as guard for the extremes of wheel travel.The C5 Aircross is at its most supple and comfortable in its simpler-, lighter-engined forms; think a conventional petrol or a Hybrid 136, rather than a PHEV.However, if you have a bigger budget to splash and would prefer an electric SUV, both the BMW iX and Lexus RZ also stand out as plush-riding SUVs of different sizes.Read our Citroen C5 Aircross reviewSave money on a new Citroen C5 Aircross with WhatCar? Latest Reviews View all car reviews Read our review Car reviewCitroen C5 AircrossThe relaxed big Citroen family car turns SUV. A smart move or copycat compromise?Read our review Back to top 2. Dacia Duster9Pros Plenty of space for the moneyGood range of powertrainsBi-fuel version innovative Cons Lacks refinement of larger SUVsCheap feeling in placesNo engines particularly involving Best for: valueIt’ll surprise very few to find Dacia, the Renault Group’s Romanian budget brand, featuring here. The Duster was the car with which Dacia launched in the UK market back in 2013, and this latest iteration remains a cornerstone of its business and one of the very best reasons for customers to get to know the Dacia brand.The Duster has just entered its third model generation, and it now sits on a new platform and features a wildly more modern and assertive look than the previous model.Engine-wise, there's a 1.2-litre mild hybrid, a 1.6-litre full hybrid, plus a 1.0-litre LPG option. The 1.2-litre feels most at home here, as it's simple and no nonsense to drive, as well pretty economical still. No diesel to choose from, but you can order your Duster with four-wheel drive.Duster prices aren’t quite as low as they once were, but you can still pick one up for a little under £19,000 - which is considerably less than most brands ask for a supermini shopping car. For that you get a roomy four-seat cabin, a good-sized boot, good driving and cruising manners, and a pretty healthy equipment specification - even in entry-level form.Read our Dacia Duster reviewSave money on a Dacia Duster with WhatCar?3. Range Rover Sport8Pros Outstanding refinementBroad range of dynamic abilityDigital technology is top-class Cons 15-20% more expensive than rivalsExterior design might be too prissy for some tastesAlmost the same size as a full-fat Range Rover Best for: opulenceThe Range Rover Sport earns a place on this list by being almost as comfortable and as good off-road as a full-fat Range Rover, while also being cheaper and better on road than its big brother.Both cars sit on the same platform now, but the Sport’s ability to control its mass helps distinguish it. Its damping is taut and sophisticated, yet the s