In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of crossovers and SUVs being sold.
Cupra Formentor. For years, Cupra was the sporting division of Seat – much like 'R'. As popular with families as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie, the midsize SUV is now the official American family car. With lots of room inside, plenty of cargo space for cross-country road trips. Feb 19, 2021 With enormous proportions and three rows of seats, the bold-looking Kia is the company's biggest crossover SUV. It has all the tenets of a great family hauler, including abundant passenger space.
For plenty of manufacturers, these high-riding models now account for the bulk of their sales, and with crossovers and SUVs usually being roomier than the hatchbacks they’re based on, it’s no major surprise that the key market for such models is the family car sector.
Whether you’re looking at a compact or a mid-size crossover or SUV, here we take a look at the best ones available.
Ford Kuga – from £24,615
The Ford Kuga is now one of the most popular crossovers available in the UK, and now heads up Ford’s SUV line-up in the UK – sitting above the Ecosport and Puma.
This new third-generation Kuga arrived in showrooms earlier this year, and impresses with its stylish design, value for money and practicality – its boot measuring up to 526 litres. Alongside petrol and diesel versions, there’s also a new plug-in hybrid model, which will be an exceptionally cheap to run family car. With its 35-mile range allowing for a claimed fuel economy figure of more than 200mpg.
MG HS – from £20,995
MG is a brand that now majors on offering great value for money, and that’s exactly what you can expect from its largest HS crossover. With starting prices of just £20,995, it makes it more affordable than much smaller SUVs, while you also get the added bonus of a seven-year warranty, too.
It comes loaded with standard kit, while it also has an impressive safety rating, too, with Euro NCAP awarding the model high scores in all categories.
Skoda Karoq – from £22,765
Skoda absolutely excels at offering no-nonsense yet practical cars, and every model in its range would be up to the job of being a family vehicle. While you’ll need the largest Kodiaq if you require seven seats, the mid-size Karoq is a brilliant crossover and our choice here.
With a 521-litre boot, it’s one of the most spacious models in the mid-size SUV sector, while you can fit it with clever sliding rear seats known as ‘VarioFlex’. With this, the boot can increase to 588 litres. Plenty of rear space and loads of useful ‘Simply Clever’ touches make this a great choice.
Mini Countryman – from £23,395
Just because you choose a crossover or SUV, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on driving enjoyment or fun looks, and that’s exactly why the Mini Countryman is such a great option. There’s a whole host of options available – whether it be an affordable Cooper petrol model, an efficient plug-in hybrid or sporty Cooper S or John Cooper Works versions.
It’s also roomier than you might expect, with the Countryman having a large 450-litre boot and also plenty of rear space. If you’re happy to hold out for a few months, a facelifted version arrives in showrooms shortly with more efficient engines and a more modern interior.
Ford Puma – from £20,710
If you find the popular Ford Fiesta just a bit too small for you for family car duties, you should consider the new Puma crossover. Being based on the Fiesta, it’s fantastic to drive and is one of the most engaging small SUVs available, while also featuring efficient mild-hybrid powertrains – making it cheap to run.
There’s also a rather clever ‘MegaBox’ feature in the boot – essentially an underfloor storage box, which can be hosed out thanks to a plug at the bottom. It’s great for putting muddy or sandy clothes in, and is a really useful touch for a family car to have. It also extends the boot space to 456 litres.
Renault Captur – from £18,295
Since debuting in 2013, the Captur has gone on to become one of Renault’s most popular new cars, and it’s the biggest selling car in its segment across Europe. A new second-generation version has recently launched, and it’s an even better choice if you’re looking for a compact and inexpensive family car.
It’s one of few cars in its class that comes with sliding rear seats, and with them moved forward, its boot offers a large 536 litres of room. Add in cool styling (as well as loads of options for personalisation) and a much-improved interior, and the Captur is definitely worth considering.
Citroen C3 Aircross – from £18,905
Many firms like to make their crossovers feel as ‘sporty’ as possible, and often widely miss the mark. But Citroen takes an entirely different approach – comfort. With soft armchair-like seats and a soft suspension setup, the C3 Aircross is one of the most comfortable cars around.
It’s also got quirky looks on its side that’ll make it stand out on the school run, as well as practicality. Like the Renault Captur, it can come with sliding rear seats (fitted to top-spec models) and it increases the boot from 410 to 520 litres. Large rear windows will also give kids a great view.
Fiat 500X – from £18,895
In a similar vein the Mini Countryman, the Fiat 500X is a quirkier take on the compact crossover. As much as we love the regular 500 city car, it’s just too small to use as a family car, and that’s where this ‘X’ model steps in.
It successfully carries over the retro styling, but adds a welcome dose of spaciousness. It’s certainly not the largest car in this class – as its 350-litre boot isn’t the largest – but is still roomy and worth considering if you have a small family.
Audi Q3 – from £31,620
The Audi Q3 is more spacious than key rivals from Volvo and BMW, and it makes it a rather good family car if you fancy something a bit more upmarket.
With a 530-litre boot, which can increase to 675 litres with the rear seats slid forward, this is one of the most versatile mid-size crossovers around. Admittedly, you pay quite a lot more for it, but if you like a high-quality interior and a premium image, the Q3 is a good choice.
Dacia Duster – from £11,425
Last but not least at the opposite end of the spectrum is the Dacia Duster. With new prices starting from just £11,425, this chunky crossover is a car that offers value like no other car in this class can get close to. You might want to spend a bit more money for a few more luxuries, though, as entry-level models are rather sparse.
Despite its low price, though, the Duster is a rather spacious family crossover. Its 445-litre boot is large for such an inexpensive car – though more impressively the boot increases to 1,623 litres with the rear bench folded. Just be aware that the Duster’s low price means it misses out on some of the safety assistance technology that plenty of pricier rivals will get as standard.
Towing is no longer a job only for pickup trucks. There are plenty of SUVs up for the task of towing the boat or any of the family toys in more comfort than a truck. Even though pickup trucks keep making inroads into family vehicle territory, the SUVs listed here can tow more than 5,000 pounds and still fit in the garage.
If you envision the family toys growing alongside the family and expect to tow more than the small pop-up camper, fishing boat, or dirt bikes, then you’ll need a vehicle that can exceed that towing benchmark of 5,000 pounds.
Full-size SUVs ranging from the Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban to the Cadillac Escalade and Infiniti QX80 are the most capable because they’re based on trucks. Those beasts can tow anywhere from 8,000 pounds up to 9,300 pounds. We’ve narrowed our list to SUVs that are less obvious, ranging from fully capable mid-size SUVs to luxury beasts of burden.
Always check with the manufacturer or hitch installer for weights and capacities, which should also be listed in the owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s plate on the driver’s door sill. Don’t tempt towing the max amount; variable road conditions, inclement weather, or steep grades may demand more from your engine, which is why many people follow the 80/20 rule of towing 80 percent of the listed towing capacity. (Some people favor 85%, but we’ll err on the side of caution.)
Included below is towing capacity, which is the maximum amount your vehicle can tow with a trailer, and payload, which is the weight of the passengers, cargo—luggage, coolers, and gear— and tongue weight. You’ll learn the towing language before you haul, but the short version is towing capacity is what these vehicles can pull, and payload capacity is what they can carry.
2021 Ford Explorer ST
Redesigned for 2020, the three-row SUV is available with a Class III trailer tow package that includes an engine oil cooler, frame-mounted hitch, and trailer connectors. That gear is standard on ST and Platinum trims.
Payload: At least 1,400 lbs., depending on trim level
Towing capacity: Up to 5,600 lbs.
Tow package price: $710
Base models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow up to 6,200 pounds and have a payload of 1,180 pounds that increases to 1,410 pounds with four-wheel drive and the 5.7-liter V-8 engine. The available 5.7-liter V-8 bumps towing capacity to 7,200 pounds, but the pricey performance variants take the five-seat SUV to the top of the towing hill.
Payload: Up to 1,410 lbs.
Towing capacity: Up to 7,200 lbs.
Tow package price: $995
2021 BMW X5/X7
2020 BMW X5
The five-seat crossover SUV known more for sport than utility has both off-road and towing packages on the xDrive40i model. The 3.0-liter turbo-6 with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive makes 335 hp and 330 lb-ft.
The new 2020 BMW X7 three-row SUV has a 7,500-pound towing capacity.
Payload: Up to 882 lbs (X5), 1,190 (X7) depending on trim level; about 1,600 on X7
Towing capacity: Up to 7,200 lbs. (X5),7,500 lbs. (X7)
Tow package price: $550
2021 Audi Q7/Q8
The 2020 Audi Q7 three-row crossover can tow 4,400 pounds with the base 2.0-liter turbo-4, but the 3.0-liter turbo-6 is the engine for towing heavier loads. With an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, it produces 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The upgraded engine is an extra $6,000 and is available on the base Premium trim at $60,400. The five-seat Q8 has the same capacity, and comes standard with the uprated engine for $68,200 in base Premium trim. Both the Q7 and Q8 can be had in S form with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 producing 500 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, but the extra power will cost about $30,000 over a base model with no extra towing capability.
Payload: estimated at 1,397 lbs.
Towing capacity: Up to 7,700 lbs.
Tow package price: $750
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Believe it or not, the GLE can out-haul the G Wagen, which tops out at 7,000 pounds. The five-seater with the optional third row uses a small 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine that puts out big torque, up to 273 pound-feet. Hard to believe that the engine has the same tow rating as the 362-hp 3.0-liter turbo-6 with all-wheel drive that makes 369 lb-ft.
Payload: 1,623 lbs.
Towing capacity: Up to 7,700 lbs.
Tow package price: $575
Towing and Porsche goes together like peanut butter and pickles; it doesn’t sound good but some folks swear by it. The largest Porsche has impressive performance from its 335-hp 3.0-liter turbo V-6 and an 8-speed automatic transmission that makes 332 lb-ft of torque in all-wheel drive.
Payload: Up to 1,657 lbs.
Towing capacity: Up to 7,700 lbs.
Tow package price: $660, tow ball not included
2021 Land Rover Range Rover Fifty
The Land Rover Range Rover family benefits from torque-rich diesel engines. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 with 8-speed automatic transmission makes 254 hp and a whopping 443 lb-ft of torque. It’s only $800 more than the base D360 gas engine, but it’s still just a shade under $100,000.
Payload: 1,653 lbs.
Towing capacity: 7,716 lbs.
Tow package price: $1,085
Unlike the TD6 diesel that provides all that towing grunt in the Range Rover, the five-seat Disco uses a supercharged gas engine in its base model. The 335-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 with an 8-speed automatic transmission makes 332 lb-ft to top the towing charts for the luxury class.
Payload: Up to 1,857 lbs.
Towing capacity: Up to 8,201 lbs.
Tow hitch receiver: $665
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
The penchant for Dodge to perform crazy engineering feats under the hood applies to the three-row Durango SUV, as well. In base form with the 3.6-liter V-6, it can tow 6,200 pounds, which is pretty good. Ratchet it up all the way to the 6.4-liter V-8 or supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that make 475 hp and 470 lb-ft or 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque respectively, and the Durango SRTs with standard all-wheel drive reign as king of the towing hill.
Payload: Up to 1,590 lbs.
Towing capacity: Up to 8,700 lbs.
Tow package price: $1,195
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