Top Gear’s guide to: Large SUVs

Traditional ‘Sport Utility Vehicles’ cover a lot of practical ground, but also cost a pretty penny to run

What you need to know

Go anywhere

Big SUVs don’t usually have a FWD option; the big boys all have permanent 4x4 drivetrains

Town driving

Bulky, but a raised ride height means that most SUVs are surprisingly easy to guide around town

Seven seats

Most of the larger SUVs have a seven-seat option which makes them useful family wagons

Efficiency

Big and heavy SUVs aren’t the usual choice of those who are concerned about mpg and CO₂

Go diesel

Diesel is the fuel of choice. Petrol SUVs don’t gain much and cost a great deal more to run

Fashion

A big ‘Chelsea tractor’ still has negative connotations in some areas…

9/10

Volvo

XC90

£49,050 – £70,350

Superb family all-rounder will politely give rivals a bloody nose.

9/10

Land Rover

Range Rover

£75,940 – £174,975

One of the best luxury cars money can buy: this really is a bit of an all-round superstar

8/10

Bentley

Bentayga

£135,800 – £232,000

The luxury SUV bar has been raised. Bentley's bold claims are justified.

8/10

Audi

Q7

£50,855 – £88,090

A big step on from the old one. Drives well, great cabin environment.

8/10

Jaguar

F-Pace

£34,515 – £65,035

Jaguar joins the SUV party and nails it first time. Well heeled families will love it

8/10

Skoda

Kodiaq

£22,370 – £36,565

A Top Gear award winner in 2016, and rightly so – Skoda’s big crossover is all things to all families.

8/10

BMW

X3

£38,625 – £46,625

The X3 has never done BMW much credit, but the new one is a thorough enough job to take on the class best

8/10

Mercedes-Benz

G-Class

£143,305

The leaps forward in road manners, cabin design and quality take the G-Class from being an ageing anachronism to a car that can be considered alongside top end Range Rovers

8/10

Volkswagen

Touareg

£36,640 – £50,400

The VW faces an uphill struggle against brand laden rivals, but is actually just as good.

8/10

Maserati

Levante

£55,395 – £75,240

Enjoyable enough to drive, manages to be alternative without being oddball.

8/10

Porsche

Cayenne

£55,665 – £99,291

The Cayenne remains the king of driver-friendly SUVs. A very complete machine

8/10

Land Rover

Range Rover Sport

£59,460 – £97,625

A well-executed contradiction: a fine long-distance GT that's great in the rough and stunning inside

7/10

Mercedes-Benz

GLE/GLE Coupe

£54,135 – £99,830

Has moved on from its predecessor and is now one of the best luxury SUVs on sale.

7/10

BMW

X5/X6

£47,885 – £68,755

You might not like to admit it, but the BMW X5 is a damn good car.

7/10

Kia

Sorento

£28,595 – £40,595

Not quite a Discovery rival, but offers plenty of space for the cash

7/10

Lexus

RX

£41,085 – £59,440

Lexus makes a proper alternative to the default German premium SUVs, so long as you prefer efficiency and comfort to outright performance

6/10

Infiniti

QX70

£43,595 – £55,095

Infiniti is finding its stride with cars like the QX30d, shame the marketplace is so banjaxed at the moment.

6/10

Jeep

Grand Cherokee

£46,725 – £70,775

The best we have seen from Jeep for some time, the Grand Cherokee is now a proper executive SUV.

5/10

Ford

Edge

£32,040 – £41,315

Big, comfy and tech-heavy, but plain and ultimately unremarkable.

5/10

Toyota

Land Cruiser

£36,375 – £57,325

If you live in the desert, the Land Cruiser is as good as it gets. But seeing as we don't, the Discovery is a much better bet

4/10

Toyota

Land Cruiser V8

£36,375 – £57,325

Capable, dependable, and civilised. Pity about the styling: it’s brash outside and too reminiscent of a Corolla within.

3/10

Mitsubishi

Shogun

£30,890 – £41,550

The X5 or XC90 may defeat it over tarmac and the Disco's better balanced on/off road, but if you need to tow a tank, the Shogun is what you need.

Large SUV Reviews

Top Gear’s guide to: Large SUVs

What you need to know

Go anywhere

Town driving

Seven seats

Efficiency

Go diesel

Fashion