‘We tested every large SUV on sale and there was a surprising winner’

Whilst it can be very useful to have a very small car, not everyone has the luxury of needing a car that isn’t that practical. For many, the more space one has available to them the better, especially when it comes to having a family and everything that comes with that.

This is why a large SUV can be useful with enough space for loved ones big and small, but still space for a dog and luggage.

A group of motoring experts has tested every large SUV on sale in the UK and compiled a top 10 of the best.

Models from all across the automotive spectrum were tested and the winner out of all of them was not from a premium brand, but one which has begun beating marques with cars two or three times their price.

In the end, the experts from Auto Express decided the Skoda Kodiaq was the winner. Explaining the reasons for their decision, they said: “The Skoda Kodiaq embodies all that the Czech firm stands for: solid value for money, quality, practicality, and a few little surprises that add to the ownership experience.

“The Kodiaq is a little unusual in the large SUV sector for still offering a diesel engine, alongside a petrol with mild-hybrid assistance. The diesels can manage around a combined 50mpg, while you can also have plug-in hybrid power for an electric only driving range of up to 62 miles and a six percent Benefit-in-Kind rate for company users. The Kodiaq is a great long distance cruiser.”

Coming in second was the all-electric Kia EV9. Whilst the Skoda’s prices start from £39,000, the Kia’s begin from £65,035. Despite the price gulf, the experts were impressed, they said: “The cavernous interior fits seven plus luggage, so there have been minimal compromises in packaging all that EV technology.

“The EV9’s headline 349-mile range should be more than enough for most owners, and make longer jaunts relatively comfortable, although a figure in the 200s is more realistic, and the EV9’s size means it’s not especially efficient.”

Whilst large SUVs have become almost as popular as small hatchbacks were 20-years ago, they’re not universally loved with pedestrian safety groups and other experts warning that the roads may not be big enough to accommodate cars that could rival some World War 1 tanks for their heft and parking practicality.

Speaking about the matter to the Guardian, the UK head of Clean Cities, Oliver Lord, warned that cars were outgrowing some cities. He said: “Cars are getting bigger every year – while our streets are not.

“We need carmakers to prioritise normal-sized cars that can be parked more easily and are less dangerous to people walking around. It’s only fair if you want to buy a massive SUV that you should expect to pay more for the space it takes up.”

It’s not just parking spaces that could become a problem, with pedestrians also concerned about what could happen in the event of a collision between these tank-sized vehicles and the human body.

Green Party peer Jenny Jones earlier this year launched a cross-party anti-SUV alliance in the House of Lords. She said: “SUVs pollute and are often owned and driven by wealthier citizens at the expense of those in less wealthy areas. They feel safer to drive, but are much less safe for any pedestrians and cyclists they collide with.”