Here are the best family SUVs in 2026
Looking for a new family SUV? There are a baffling array to choose from, so here's a place to start...
Words by: Mark Nichol
Additional words by: Eleanor Greaves
Published on 10 July 2026 | 0 min read
So, in no particular order, here are a few of our favourites, spanning from the more affordable end of the spectrum to big and luxurious 4x4s.
Dacia Duster
Now in its third generation, the Dacia Duster is no longer as STAGGERINGLY cheap as it was when it burst onto the scene like a sub-£10k Micah Richards in 2010. It's sub-£20k now. Not mind-blowing, but a starting price 10 grand lower than a Mini Countryman's, for example, is still mint. The compromise you make is that, while the Duster now looks as modern and tech-laden as most of its competitors (it really did look basic back in the day), it still feels like costs have been cut in the cabin. Because they have. Still, that makes the Duster cool in its own utilitarian sort of way. And you have to say 'utilitarian' when talking about any Dacia. Them's the rules. Here's our review of the 2025 Dacia Duster. Enjoy.
Hyundai Santa Fe
We're not sure why Hyundai decided to turn the Santa Fe into a seven-seat luxury SUV with a £45K starting price, but we're glad it did. It's a remarkable car - a proper alternative to a Land Rover Discovery or a Volvo XC90 now. That's quite the transformation for a model that back in the day you'd probably shrug about and say "aye it's canny.... for the money." It's no longer cheap, but you can easily spend similar money on a Qashqai these days, and the Santa Fe feels two leagues higher than the Nissan in size, quality and general road manners. In fairness there's no particular reason to single out the Nissan here, other than it's a common reference point. If you can live with the (deliberately) brutal looks, you'll absolutely love the Santa Fe. It's reasonably priced to run, too. Check out our review of the Hyundai Santa Fe here
Kia EV3
Kia truly is a brand transformed, especially if you remember this sort of stuff it used to make. The EV3 - winner of our New car of the year award in 2025 - is fundamentally a very sensible car, reasonably priced, a battery range of more than 300 miles and backed by a seven-year warranty. Plus... has any medium-sized SUV family ever looked this striking? Inside it's a similar story, with the interior achieving a lovely balance between a high-tech aesthetic and ease of use; too many modern car interiors sacrifice intuitiveness at the altar of minimalism. Kias have always been easy to recommend, but who thought the day would come when a family SUV from Kia would be genuinely exciting? Yet here we are. Check out our review of the Kia EV3 here
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover re-wrote the script for the latest Defender, transforming it from a rough-and-ready off-roader (a decades-old and iconic one, at that) to a do-it-all luxury SUV. Some people didn't agree in principle, and it left a nice gap for the Ineos Grenadier to fill, but few can question just how all-encompassing the Defender now is. It's better than the old one at the off-road stuff by all the metrics, and it's almost as good a luxury car as a full-fat Range Rover. There's even an eight-seat version.
For more info read our Land Rover defender review here or take a look at our long term review of the Land Rover Defender 130.
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y has set a benchmark for electric SUVs and despite growing competition, it still remains a strong all-rounder for families. It was named Best Car for Families 2026 and Best Car for Dog Owners 2026 at our Drivers’ Choice Awards, with owners praising its ease of use, safety cameras and in-car technology, including Dog Mode. Tesla’s Supercharger network is another major draw, making longer journeys easier. Combined with its generous space and low running costs, these features make the Model Y a practical choice for those with families. Read our expert review of the Tesla Model Y.
MG HS
The MG HS is a big five-seat family SUV with a choice of turbo petrol or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains. It's comfy and quite good fun to drive - especially the PHEV because it’s quick - but the real bonuses of the MG HS are its remarkably comprehensive equipment list and a generous seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty. A great value SUV that gives you a lot of space for the money.
Find out everything you need to know about the MG HS.
Peugeot 3008
Peugeot is making some remarkable-looking cars at the moment, properly unique and eye-catching, inside and out. And in the latest 3008's case, that's not at the expense of it being basically a very appealing car. Plenty of space, exceptional cabin quality, and lovely to drive, the 3008 is probably the most appealing "non-premium" family car on the market. It's certainly the most interesting. And it's available with either a petrol engine or as a fully electric car, the latter boasting a 300-mile-plus real-world battery range. Nice.
Check out our review of the Peugeot E-3008 for everything you need to know
Skoda Kodiaq
We could have put any one of Skoda's SUVs in here, to be honest. From the smallest – the Kamiq – to the flagship Enyaq Coupe, they're all absolutely brilliant and do fundamentally the same job. They offer more space than most for the money, genuinely top-notch cabin quality, and an array of the Volkswagen Group’s great engines and battery-electric drivetrains. We've picked the Kodiaq because it does so much so well, and for a reasonable price. It's a seven-seat SUV with an exceptional interior and loads of space, and yet that's compact enough for the supermarket car park and fairly cheap to run.
Click here to read all about the Skoda Kodiaq
Mini Countryman
Mini owner BMW abandoned the idea of a Mini being "small" yonks ago, so if you still care about that sort of thing, look away now. 'Mini' is more of a concept now, an approach to design, than a statement of fact. The latest Countryman is the biggest Mini ever made, which also makes it the most practical. A full five-seat SUV, it maintains the essence 'Mini' while being a very capable day-to-day family runabout - something that its smaller predecessors couldn't quite manage. We recently lived with one for six months and properly enjoyed it - albeit, it was the high-performance JCW version.
Click here for our Mini Countryman review.