The Best SUVs on the Market Today

The original Land Rover Defender 4x4 is one of the most iconic designs in British and world automotive history so, when Land Rover announced a couple of years ago that there was to be an all-new Defender released, there were some understandable concerns around how it could possibly make a worthy successor.

As it turned out, there was no need to worry. The new Land Rover Defender is a triumphant balance of old and new, boasting a standout, modernised design that still pays homage to the original. It also offers a mix of luxurious civility and outstanding rugged capability that cannot be found anywhere else on the market.

The new levels of refinement, tech and luxury will perhaps put off some no-nonsense Defender fans, but the new Land Rover Defender is brilliant contemporary tribute to its predecessor that can still do everything and more that you need it to should you dare take it off-road.

As our discussion on the upcoming BMW iX last month would suggest, there’s plenty about which to get excited in the world of BMW SUVs. But away from their colour-changing concepts and future electric superstars, the BMW X5 remains one of the German brand’s flagship models – and one of the best large SUVs available today.

The X5 is pushing the envelope in the bigger family car arena thanks to its exceptional blend of practicality, performance and tech. It’s plenty comfortable and undeniably luxurious, and there’s a seven-seater option available for those who require a few additional carry spaces. Like virtually any BMW, the X5 is also a joy to drive and certainly no slouch – the performance X5 M Competition model will get you to 62mph in a slightly frightening 3.8 seconds.

There’s also a PHEV option in the form of the X5 xDrive45e – an award-winning electric transition option that joins the traditional X5 at the top its class as one of the best hybrid SUVs out there.

In a driving world dominated by compact crossovers, it’s important to give a nod to one of the best small SUVs going in the form of the Mercedes GLA. Like BMW, Mercedes has plenty of high quality irons in the SUV fire, with the GLC and all-electric EQC both frontrunners in their respective fields, but the revamped GLA deserves plaudits for an overhaul that’s seen it go from an “elevated Mercedes A-Class“ to a legitimate compact SUV.

As with the A-Class, the GLA is packed with useful tech, but it’s the improvements that Mercedes has made in the fundamentals of practicality, comfort and spacing that make the GLA a leading contender among its peers. Boasting an impressive and efficient range of petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains, the added sensibility of the new-generation GLA couples nicely with the ever-present refinement, class and badge appeal of the wider Mercedes catalogue to make it an incredibly appealing small SUV option.

While the Audi Q6 e-tron has had tongues wagging at motor shows all around the world this year, no family buyer should ignore the original and highly impressive Audi e-tron. The Ingolstadt-based manufacturer’s first all-electric production car, the e-tron retains all of the triumphantly high standards in driving performance and quality that we’ve all come to expect from Audi, but wrapped in a highly practical SUV build that’s based on one of the brand’s other highly revered crossovers, the Audi Q5.

As with many other of Audi’s best creations, the e-tron is a great all-rounder, but electric performance means that you get a 5.7 second 0-62mph and a healthy 248-mile range – and that’s in a car that weighs around two-and-a-half tonnes.

The e-tron will undoubtedly be a huge template for success for Audi and, for those looking to build on the brilliance of the original, the speedy e-tron GT coupe and classy Q4 Sportback e-tron both represent outstanding options.

If Jaguar was looking to emerge from its rather comfy position as the quintessential British saloon and sports coupe manufacturer and break into the new generation of electrified car market, then it probably couldn’t have thought of a better concept than the i-Pace.

Jaguar’s first entry into the electric segment – and one dubbed by company bosses as the most important Jaguar since the iconic E-Type that ceased production nearly 50 years ago – the i-Pace has retained its place as one of the best electric SUVs on the market since its release in late 2018.

Unsurprisingly, the i-Pace is a slick operator, offering outstanding performance that includes a few impressive metrics – not least a sub-five-second 0-62mph time and close to 300 miles of real-world range. Perhaps more surprisingly, the i-Pace is a highly practical family car, brimming with tech and a decidedly versatile compact to mid-sized SUV.

If it’s a high-end hybrid SUV with unquestionable badge appeal that you’re looking for, Porsche’s hybridisation of its incredibly popular Cayenne should be a good place to start.

Speaking outside of powertrains for a moment, the Cayenne has long been a frontrunner in the luxury SUV market thanks to its sports-car levels of performance and handling in a premium SUV build. It is, as with many of Porsche’s creations, an engineering masterpiece – the big question for the hybrid was retaining that same performance in an electrified build. Looking at the numbers behind the Cayenne E-Hybrid, the answer would appear to be yes.

A 5.9-second 0-62mph is supported by 22 miles of electric range and economy figures of around 80mpg. For those that can take advantage of the electric range on a regular basis, then, the Cayenne E-Hybrid becomes a hugely appealing prospect. Interestingly, there are few manufacturers with as much plug-in hybrid experience as Porsche, with the Cayenne E-Hybrid joining the Panamera E-Hybrid and 918 Spyder in the brand’s growing – and unsurprisingly outstanding – transitional range.