== Kia Sorento SUV review ==

SUVs have grown in popularity over the past couple of decades, to the point that some manufacturers are dropping low-slung family cars altogether. Brands have also moved with the times as diesel has fallen out of favour, increasingly offering petrol hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully-electric vehicles instead

Large SUVs have been around for many decades, dating back to the Jeep Wagoneer in the USA and the Range Rover here. Land Rover, Mercedes, and Toyota have offered some of the largest four-wheel drive machines in the European market, but virtually every brand now has a flagship SUV. BMW and Porsche began offering SUVs in the early 2000’s, shifting the focus to on-road performance and luxury

Top 10 best large family cars 2022
Today, car buyers are spoilt for choice when it comes to SUVs, but for many families it’s the largest models that remain the most desirable. Lots of seats, a big boot, along with the latest in-car technology and driver safetyare what buyers of the largest SUVs prioritise, and today with a large number of manufacturers vying for attention, there’s more choice, and a wider range of prices than ever before

Thanks to modern engines, including the hybrid technology mentioned above, lightweight materials and improved aerodynamics, these large SUVs are far more economical than before, making them easier for anyone to buy. Many SUVs are also beginning to be offered with fully electric powertrains, such as the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Tesla Model X, as manufacturers continue to prepare for the ban on the sale of internal combustion engine-powered cars in 2030

As more and more families choose to shop for SUVs, manufacturers have also been quick to respond with clever and practical design touches to fit every lifestyle. As well as large seven-seater SUVs, a broad range of small and medium SUVs have tempted swathes of buyers away from traditional saloon cars and hatchbacks

Here’s our top 10 list of the best large SUVs on the market today

The Kia Sorento has become a popular large SUV, with masses of capability and space for all the family. It first gained popularity due to its size and reasonable price, mixed with a long seven-year warranty and solid reputation for reliability - Kia came third in our 2022 Driver Power survey. Now that it’s only available in ‘Edition’ specification, it is no longer the bargain price that it once was, but its specification has been improved to match


If towing is important to you, then the 2.2-litre diesel will still be the one to go for, with a braked trailer capacity of 2,500kg. If it’s less of a priority, the plug-in hybrid model offers silent driving in the city and the range of the 1.6-litre petrol engine’s fuel tank for longer journeys. The ‘self-charging’ hybrid shouldn’t be overlooked either; it may not have the longer electric range of the plug-in hybrid, but at low speeds it will still save fuel, and for the majority of stop-start traffic it should be able to drive on battery power alone

The latest generation Land Rover Discovery had been a long time coming but it was worth the wait. It made a shift even further upmarket and, as a result, it’s become a very desirable family SUV. It also marked a big leap in terms of technology, and it’s much lighter than before thanks to advanced manufacturing techniques. It’s still huge, with even more room inside for seven occupants. Even when every seat is taken, there’s 258 litres of space in the boot for shopping

Buyers can choose between a 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre diesel, with the smaller engine capable of 43mpg. Families will be happy to hear that the current Discovery has not only retained its off-road capability for go-anywhere travel, but scores a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating

Fitting into the range above the smaller Skoda Karoq SUV, the Kodiaq feels like a proper family SUV rather than a crossover, with grown-up style that adds a real feeling of sophistication. This continues with the interior, where impressive materials are used alongside an ergonomic layout. Now only available as a seven-seater, the Kodiaq is even more competitive and is a pleasant environment for all occupants

That's even true for the driver, as the car is decent to drive, with plenty of power from an engine range shared with other cars across the VW Group brands. With five seats in place, the Kodiaq will take 620 litres of luggage, while optional four-wheel drive adds security and the ability to do some light off-roading. Skoda consistently scores well in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey too

Volvo always had a reputation for making sensible, practical cars and it wasn’t a surprise when it entered the SUV market with the first Volvo XC90. This quickly became one of the most popular SUVs in the UK and remained on sale for a remarkable 12 years. That meant this second-generation XC90 had big boots to fill

Fortunately, it’s little short of brilliant. It delivers the comfort and tranquillity inside that the Swedish carmaker is becoming known for, while its interior is one of the most luxurious and its exterior one of the most stylish on the market

There’s no doubt that Hyundai is currently on a hot streak and the facelifted Hyundai Santa Fe is no exception. The latest model features a much bolder design than the old one, with a vast front grille dominating the nose and slim, split-level LED headlights, a distinctive side profile and a full-width rear light bar


Underneath the bodywork, the Santa Fe has received a substantial upgrade too. There’snow a regular hybrid and a flagship plug-in hybrid. Opt for the hybrid and you’ll get occasional electric running around town from the small battery, while the plug-in variant boasts a larger 13.8kWh battery for an electric range of around 30 miles. A non-hybrid diesel option remains for those needing the long range or towing capacity of a diesel engine

Audi design is among the most distinctive on the road and there’s little denying the sheer visual presence of the Audi Q7 flagship SUV. Its 2019 angular lines were softened with a mid-life facelift but it still looks big and has a huge grille along with the obligatory LED headlight graphics that grab attention wherever it goes. Beneath the metal, it’s no less impressive. Buyers will find a range of diesel and petrol options, and a plug-in hybrid. There’s also the SQ7 for those looking for high performance

Despite its size, the Q7 is surprisingly good fun to drive, while also being a very comfortable car for long journeys. There’s plenty of luxurious practicality, with seating for seven and the whole car bristles with cutting-edge technology

The Genesis GV80 is about as far from the ‘budget Korean car’ as you could get and is an SUV that firmly announces the brand’s arrival in the luxury end of the UK car market

This is undoubtedly a large car and Genesis offers different configurations to suit your lifestyle. There are options for either five or seven-seat configurations and it’s a practical, easy car to live with

Genesis furthers its luxury credentials by incorporating noise-cancelling technology into the cabin to make sure passengers are cocooned from the outside. There’s even an optional 3D digital instrument cluster. Overkill? Perhaps. Luxurious? Definitely

The Peugeot 5008 is one of the more eye-catching seven-seat SUVs and boasts plenty of space for family life. Its rugged looks combine with a high driving position to appeal to a wide audience. Inside, there's a futuristic dashboard with ergonomic controls, Peugeot’s impressive i-Cockpit instrument display and a well built cabin. The five main seats are spacious, but the third row is more limited and naturally boot space suffers while they're in use

Every version is well equipped, with autonomous emergency braking and the latest smartphone connectivity tech, but the 5008 does get significantly more expensive as you move up the range. Four-wheel drive isn't available, so bear this in mind if you want your SUV to be capable of off-roading


If you need to blend go-anywhere capability with luxury motoring, the answer is still likely to be the Range Rover. The latest model takes all the elements that have made the brand such a success, and polished each one, for a driving experience like no other. It doesn’t come cheap though, and the latest model has moved even further up price lits, starting from just below six figures

Both petrol and diesel engines are offered with mild-hybrid technology, and the latest plug-in model is ideal for buyers who want to cut their carbon footprint, but also cross continents with as little fuss as possible. A seven-seat model joins the ranks for those wanting to accommodate family and friends

BMW has taken the luxury, comfort and technology of the 7 Series saloon and injected it into a large SUV with seating for seven. The result is the impressive X7, a boxy car with vast amounts of interior space and a range of powerful engines. Even the entry-level 30d model has a 261bhp 3.0-litre diesel engine, which provides plenty of pulling power and gets the car from 0-62mph in seven seconds - no mean feat for a car of the X7's size and weight

The interior is smart, plush and laden with tech, and there's 750 litres of boot space available with the third row of seats folded. It may not be quite as good as a Range Rover when it comes to towing and off-roading, and the styling is best described as divisive, but the X7 is good to drive and extremely comfortable

**Check out our guides to the Best estate cars and and the Best 4x4s and SUVs
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