Top 9 Best SUV Cars of 2020

7 minutes Published: 11/03/2022

SUVs are the latest trend in motoring, offering a high driving position so you can see more over the road and of course, lord over the smaller cars on your daily commute. 

In all seriousness, one of the main appeals of an SUV is the spacious interior and practicality. Whether you need the extra room for the kids, or you're just sick of feeling cramped in your Kia Picanto hatchback, the SUV body style is a great option. 

These days, SUVs offer fairly good fuel economy, and there’s even some electric and hybrid options. Opting for a big car doesn’t necessarily mean higher running costs. 

So, if it’s got to be an SUV, check out 10 of our best SUV cars!

If you need an SUV for some serious off-road driving, you should also have a look at our best 4x4 cars! Or if you need a strong muscular machine to tow the caravan down the coast at the weekend, look at our best cars for towing. If you fancy a smaller SUV, we’ve got you covered. Check out our best small SUV cars list! 

1. Volkswagen Tiguan Estate

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  • Body: Estate
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Pros

  • An elegant, well-designed car that is actually practical for a growing family.

  • Lots of efficient engine options, so you won’t spend a fortune running the car.

Cons

  • The best tech trims are expensive.

  • Not a good choice if you want something fun.

Fun fact: the Volkswagen Tiguan has actually outsold the Land Rover Defender in total sales in the UK, just 8 years after it was released in 2007. This is particularly impressive as the Defender has been around for 67 years!

Us Brits really like this car, and for good reason. Volkswagen takes what makes the Golf so good and plants it into a fashionable SUV body.

Tiguan is a grown-up car and oozes class. However, this means that on the whole, it isn't as fun as it could be. Nonetheless, it's roomy with plenty of boot space and has a decent MPG, so it's a sensible option, even if not the most exciting. 

If performance is important to you, you can upgrade to the twin-turbo diesel option, which gives you a staggering 237 BHP. The kids will never be late to school again!

To get your hands on this model at a low price, see our Volkswagen Tiguan lease deals. We've gathered the top Volkswagen lease deals on the UK market so you can compare prices in one place.

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2. Hyundai Tucson Estate

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Pros

  • Comfortable and super spacious.

  • Smart and well-designed interior.

Cons

  • Can be boring to drive.

  • Competitors have larger boots.

The Tucson is Hyundai’s attempt to firmly cement itself as a staple in the oversaturated SUV market. Thankfully, they’ve been successful.

A familiar sight on British roads, the Tucson is an excellent family car that doesn't compromise on styling. There's plenty of legroom, and lots of trim levels to choose from. 

Recent versions of the Hyundai Tucson focus more on evolution than revolution, and that's fair enough. The Tucson sells well in the UK and is consistently well reviewed, so Hyundai is smart to stick with what’s working!

We love the Tucson because it's a high quality sports-utility vehicle that provides great value for money without compromising on design.

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3. Skoda Kodiaq Estate

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Pros

  • The 1.4-litre engine is fantastic.

  • Classy looking car, and for those who need a 7-seater, a welcome change from the MPV body style!

Cons

  • The ultra-cheap trims are also ultra-basic.

  • If you ever have to use them, you’ll find that the third row of rear seats aren't all that comfortable.

The Kodiaq, which also makes an appearance on our round-up of the best 7-seater cars is a fantastic SUV. Even if you don't need all 7 seats, this is still an SUV worth putting on the shortlist, and would make for an excellent family SUV. 

If you took off the Skoda badge, you'd be convinced this is a Volkswagen. Packing class-leading tech on higher trims, Skoda doesn't compromise on premium car technology. The value for money on this car is unreal. It looks great inside and out, and is a steal for £24k, and is easily one of the best cars available at this price point.

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4. Toyota RAV4

  • Doors: 5
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  • Fuel: P, H, D
  • Body: SUV/Crossover
  • Drive: A, M
  • CO2: 154g/km

Pros

  • Great fun to use off road.

  • Dirt cheap to run (for an SUV).

Cons

  • Infotainment screen is still behind the times.

  • Lacking modern tech, like screen mirroring.

The RAV4 is a beast. It's common to see 20 year old RAV4s still kicking about, demonstrating the Japanese manufacturers penchant for reliability. Built like a tank, and with a rock-solid gearbox that could traverse Mars, the RAV4 is excellent. 

Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling SUV of all time, and 4th best-selling car - so they must be doing something. 

The latest versions are great. The original RAV4 was an SUV through and through, and this model is no different. Sticking with the boxiness of a true SUV over the sleekness of a crossover, the RAV4 is a huge and rugged-looking car. 

In the UK, every model is a hybrid, which means you benefit from great fuel economy and cheaper running costs.

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5. Volvo XC90

  • Doors: 5
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  • Fuel: P, D, H
  • Body: SUV/Crossover
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 322g/km

Pros

  • Great looking and luxurious car.

  • Very easy to drive.

Cons

  • Petrol engines aren't that powerful - a bit dull to drive.

  • Touch screen isn't as intuitive as cheaper rivals.

Another classic SUV, the XC90 is a great up-market option. Volvo has always prided itself on a luxurious image, and they haven’t strayed far from their roots with the XC90.

With hybrid and 7-seater options available, there's bound to be an XC90 that can do whatever you need it to. With a great driving-experience and class-leading tech, the Volvo XC90 is a great buy. 

Of course, all of that good stuff comes with a price-tag, so this Volvo is one of the pricier options on this list. 

If you've got the budget and want an SUV that doesn't skimp on luxury, the Volvo XC90 is a great choice.

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6. Land Rover Discovery

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Pros

  • The cabin feels like you’re sitting in a 5-star hotel.

  • All the tech you could ever want.

Cons

  • One of the larger SUV cars on our list, making it difficult to navigate through narrow streets.

  • The Discovery might be a bit much for most drivers. The V6 diesel engine is definitely overkill for the school run and weekly shop.

If you actually need to drive off-road in your day-to-day life, you won’t get much more practical than the Land Rover Discovery. There's a seven-seat option available, so the Discovery is ideal for those with large families.

It's a given that this car is expensive, and you're definitely paying a bit for that Land Rover prestige. Unfortunately, the reliability ratings on the Discovery are pretty poor, and the cost of repairs is astronomical.

But if you're after a luxurious and legendary SUV that isn’t afraid to go off-road, a Land Rover lease deal for the Land Rover Discovery might just be the right choice for you.

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7. Jaguar F-pace Estate

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Pros

  • Infotainment system is excellent.

  • Handles really well.

Cons

  • Has all-wheel drive, but does not have a whole load of off-road capability.

  • Expensive when you consider that some cheaper rivals drive better!

The Jaguar F-Pace is attempt to get a piece of the lucrative luxury SUV market. Thankfully Jaguar has made sure that the F-Pace isn't just a Range Rover clone. 

This SUV focuses on refined luxury and urban driving, and strays away from that rough and tumble image that the Land Rover Discovery has. 

Jaguar is an upmarket brand, and they make sure this translates into SUV form. A unique use of angles on the body makes for some sleek styling, and the interior is what you'd expect from Jaguar.

If a luxury SUV is more your thing, we've created a a list of the best luxury SUVs for you to take a look at.

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8. BMW X3 Estate

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Pros

  • Engines are as brilliant as you'd expect from a BMW.

  • Interior is well-designed.

Cons

  • Steering is a bit unresponsive and 'meh’-inducing. 

  • Even the entry level is expensive.

Now you may have heard that BMW drivers have a bit of a stigma attached to them. Reckless, aggressive drivers... So, why are we putting them in an SUV?! Run for the hills.

Jokes aside, the BMW x3 is a fantastic and super sporty SUV that will appeal to a lot of drivers who love the 3 Series but want more space and a better driving position.

Equipped with BMW's renowned high-performance engines, the fastest BMW x3 will net you 360bhp, which is incredible for such a big car.

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9. Kia XCeed

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Pros

  • Refreshingly, even the basic trims come well-equipped. 

  • The infotainment system is fantastic.

Cons

  • Not as smooth a ride as competitors.

  • Fuel economy could be better.

The Kia XCeed is just excellent Ceed on steroids, which isn’t a bad thing! This car is arguably more of a crossover/compact SUV than a big, boxy SUV. 

Compared to the Ceed, the XCeed has a higher driving position while still rocking the super economical engines that Kia's renowned for.

Kia has also continued their trend of class-leading tech that easily rivals more expensive competitors, even on the standard trims. 

With Kia's manufacturer-leading 7 year warranty, the XCeed is a reliable SUV that’s great if you’re in need of a practical family car, or if you just want to sit up a little bit higher!

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Summary

Let’s face it: SUVs are great looking cars. But they’re also incredibly practical, and nice to drive. They offer a high driving position which makes it easier to navigate through busy streets, and they’re chock-full of space - perfect for a family. 

To offset the typically expensive up-front price of an SUV, why not consider leasing one instead?

Leasing allows you to have one affordable monthly payment that lets you afford the luxurious car you absolutely do not need but absolutely do want!

For the latest pricing on any of the SUV's listed above then head over to our SUV Leasing page to see how much you can save on your next lease. At Lease Fetcher, we compare the best leasing offers from over 20 of the UK's top brokers!