Best mid-size SUVs to buy 2025
Mid-size SUVs are hugely popular in the UK, and these are the very best
Mid-size SUVs are a common sight on Britain’s roads, and the sheer number of models available is almost overwhelming. The best examples still offer plenty of interior space and practicability, along with a high driving position, but they’re often a bit better to drive than their fully sized counterparts. Perhaps most crucially of all, though, they’re often cheaper to buy and run, too.
Finding the ideal mid-size SUV will mostly boil down to your own requirements. Naturally, family car buyers will benefit most from a model that offers plenty of interior space as well as useful storage compartments and a big boot. If you’re eco-conscious or want to save the most money on day-to-day running, an electric SUV may be the way to go.
Whatever your needs may be, there should be a mid-size SUV that ticks all the right boxes. If you have a big family, though, you may wish to move up to a large SUV instead. Alternatively, if you fancy an SUV but don’t require loads of space, a small SUV may be a better match.
So which mid-size SUV should you buy? Read on to find our expert road testers’ top 10 picks below.
1. Hyundai Tucson
- Prices from £32,000
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We’ve crowned the Hyundai Tucson as our Mid-size SUV of the Year at our 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Auto Express New Car Awards. So, to put it simply, this is the very best mid-size SUV you can buy, and the competition is yet to outshine it.
The Tucson is one of the most distinctive cars on the road, too, thanks to its eye-catching lines and bold details that were only further enhanced as part of a recent midlife refresh. Hyundai’s mid-size SUV also boasts an interior that combines class-leading space and a cavernous 620-litre boot with a list of standard equipment that would shame an upmarket executive saloon. Robust build quality and cutting-edge tech only add to this car’s considerable appeal.
On the move, the Hyundai feels composed and comfortable, while the range of engines runs from a punchy turbo petrol to a refined plug-in hybrid that can manage 38 miles of electric running – making the Tucson PHEV a very wallet-friendly company car, too. Factor in an excellent five-year warranty and the availability of confidence-inspiring four-wheel drive, and the Tucson has all the family car bases covered.
2. Kia Sportage
- Prices from £29,400
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As the Kia brand continues its upmarket trajectory, the latest Sportage is a much bolder and more striking car than the rather anonymous-looking model it replaced. While this new direction was initially a bit of a gamble, it has undoubtedly paid off, because the Mk5 Sportage is one of the UK’s best-selling cars.
Even with its distinctive design, the Sportage’s roots remain intact. There’s a roomy and versatile interior, lots of standard kit and an easy-to-use infotainment system. Rivals such as the Ford Kuga are more fun to drive, but the Korean machine has a strong range of engines, including full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. If that wasn’t enough, Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty should give drivers peace of mind.
3. Tesla Model Y
- Prices from £47,000
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The Tesla Model Y is one of the world’s best-selling electric cars, and no car gains this level of popularity without getting the basics right.
The Model Y line-up returns up to 373 miles of range on a single charge (which should prove plenty for most people’s daily requirements), there’s plenty of space for five passengers and their luggage within, and the level of performance on offer is certainly far more than adequate.
So far so good, then, but things get even better when Tesla’s excellent technology is taken into account, not to mention its Supercharger Network. Overall, the Tesla Model Y is a very appealing and family-friendly electric SUV, but a seven-seater variant wouldn’t go amiss.
4. Skoda Enyaq
- Prices from £37,000
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Sometimes less can be more, and that’s exactly what the electric Skoda Enyaq delivers. The Czech brand’s first bespoke electric car is built on the same MEB platform as the Audi Q4 e-tron and Volkswagen ID.4, however, despite costing thousands of pounds less than the Q4 and ID.4, the Enyaq is arguably the best model of the lot.
As you’d probably expect from Skoda, the Enyaq offers more space and versatility than its siblings. More surprising, though, is the fact it feels more upmarket, while also being more comfortable and engaging to drive. Those with reservations about switching to electric power won’t have to worry about range anxiety, given that the Enyaq can cover up to 364 miles on a single charge.
5. BMW X3
- Prices from £48,400
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For those who like the idea of a ‘sports utility vehicle’ with a bit more emphasis on the ‘sports’, the BMW X3 offers a healthy amount of the brand’s typical driving engagement. There’s still plenty of the sensible stuff, too, because the high-quality cabin will comfortably accommodate a family of five.
The X3 M50 will cater for the biggest performance enthusiasts thanks to its 292bhp six-cylinder engine. This results in a 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.6 seconds. That being said, no variant of the X3 can be described as slow, given that even the least powerful model churns out a reasonable 205bhp.
6. Renault Scenic
- Prices from £37,500
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Traditional MPVs were once the go-to for families in need of a do-it-all car, but today these models have been overshadowed by the might of the SUV. In order to meet the demands of its modern target market, the Renault Scenic has now been reborn as an electric SUV.
It’s a very good electric SUV, too, because the Renault Scenic features plenty of top-notch tech and battery range to complement its sharp styling. Things get even better when it comes to paying for the Scenic, thanks to there being plenty of tempting finance and leasing deals floating around. To put this Renault’s appeal into perspective, it managed to defeat a previous Auto Express Car of the Year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, in our real-world twin test.
7. Lexus NX
- Prices from £44,500
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With its efficient hybrid powertrain, luxurious interior and sophisticated tech, it’s not very difficult to see why the Lexus NX is a top-seller for the Japanese luxury car brand. It’s popular with us, too, because we’ve named the NX our Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year for three years running.
This upmarket Lexus boasts rather strong credentials as a family car, too. A high standard of overall build quality should mean the interior can withstand most of what the youngest passengers can throw at it. There’s also plenty of space in the cabin, along with a 521-litre boot. A plethora of safety kit is also included as standard, which helped the NX to score a full five-star Euro NCAP rating.
8. Mercedes GLC
- Prices from £52,900
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If you have a penchant (and a suitable budget) for the more luxurious things in life, the Mercedes GLC offers all of the plush materials and fancy technology that you’d expect to see in the far pricier models that also wear the three-pointed star.
Plus the GLC offers something that very few other cars on today’s market have, and that is a diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain. This set-up carries an astonishingly high WLTP combined economy figure of over 500mpg, and while this will be very difficult to even get close to in the real world, it’s very unlikely that the Mercedes GLC 300 de will ever be described as thirsty. Of course, if you don’t fancy diesel power, there’s also a petrol PHEV along with regular combustion variants to choose from.
9. Nissan Qashqai
- Prices from £30,200
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If there’s one car that can be credited with giving rise to the sheer number of SUVs on sale now, it’s the Nissan Qashqai. The latest model offers a solid blend of style, technology and practicality, which makes it one of the most desirable family cars on sale, even if it’s not the most ground-breaking car within its segment.
The latest Qashqai looks a lot sharper than its predecessors, and its well designed interior features plenty of soft-touch materials. There’s also a decent amount of space, a 504-litre boot and a 12.3-inch touchscreen that’s a massive step up from the previous Qashqai’s.
10. Citroen C5 Aircross
- Prices from £27,500
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While most manufacturers seem intent on giving their SUVs a sporting flavour, Citroen has taken a different path and has instead made comfort one of its top priorities. As part of these efforts, the C5 Aircross is fitted with 'Progressive Hydraulic Cushion' suspension and ‘Advanced Comfort Seats’.
Both easily live up to their names and work towards making this SUV one of the most comfortable cars in its class, but this does come at the cost of driver enjoyment. If you aren’t too fussed by the fun-factor, though, then a generous level of standard equipment and an efficient range of engines go a long way towards making this spacious Citroen a genuinely tempting purchase - particularly for day-to-day family use.
The best mid-size SUVs to buy now
| Rank | Car | Overall rating | Efficiency, emissions & running costs rating | Boot space, comfort and practicality rating |
| 1 | Hyundai Tucson | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| 4 | Skoda Enyaq | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| 5 | BMW X3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 |
| 6 | Renault Scenic | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 |
| 7 | Lexus NX | 4 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| 8 | Mercedes GLC | 4 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| 9 | Nissan Qashqai | 4 | 4 | 3.8 |
| 10 | Citroen C5 Aircross | 3.5 | 4 | 4 |
How to find the best mid-size SUV for your family
If you’re buying any car that will most likely be used as family transport, such as one of these mid-size SUVs, the obvious thing is to take your family along when you have a test drive.
Check they’ll fit, and find out if you can easily install any child seats you might be using at the time. This is often made easier with SUVs because they sit higher up from the road, so you don’t have to bend down as far to install them, and the doors tend to open wide for better access. Every car in our list features ISOFIX mountings, and it’s also worth checking that any items you might need on a family day out will fit in the boot.
Whether you buy with cash or by using car finance, if you’re committing to spending a significant chunk of money on your new family SUV, then you’re well within your rights to test it out. Any dealership that wants your business should oblige by giving you some time to do exactly this. Check that you and your family like the comfort on offer, too, and that everyone feels comfortable sitting in it.
One more thing worth doing, as with any new-car purchase, is to check the spec and options fitted to the car that you test, and make a note of any features or extras that you like and feel might be a help in everyday life.
Need a car for the entire household? These are the best family cars to buy…
