Best used large SUVs 2023

If you want a car that offers huge amounts of space and practicality with a dose of rugged style, a large SUV could be the ideal choice. This type of car can feel really good to drive and to ride in because you and your passenger sit in elevated seats that give great views out. Dozens of models are available, including cost-effective family cars, sporty high-performance models, low-emission hybrids and luxurious limousine-style cars. You’ll find all of those and more in our top 10 used large SUVs.

(If you love the idea of an SUV but want something a little more compact, take a look at our guide to the best used small SUVs.)

The latest Hyundai Santa Fe (sold from 2018) is available with a diesel engine or two types of hybrid power – you have ‘conventional’ and plug-in hybrid options to choose from. The conventional hybrid can drive for a couple of miles on electric power for quieter, less polluting driving in town and stop-start traffic. The plug-in hybrid can go up to 36 miles on a fully charged battery, which could be enough to cover your daily commute. CO2 emissions are also low, so Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) and company car tax is inexpensive. Early examples were available with diesel power, but the Santa Fe went hybrid-only from 2020.

Every Santa Fe has seven seats, with a third row that’s roomy enough for adults. Fold down those seats to create a huge boot. All models come well-equipped with more features than many premium-brand rivals, though the interior doesn’t feel quite as luxurious. Still, the Santa Fe is very good value.

Want a large SUV that looks and feels more like a hatchback? Then check out the Peugeot 5008. It’s not as large as some of the other cars on this list and, as a result, it feels more responsive to drive and is easier to park. The petrol and diesel engines use less fuel than bigger cars, too.

The interior is huge, with space for seven adults, who can enjoy one of the quietest and most comfortable rides you can get in a large SUV. It’s a nice place to spend time, with an interesting design and lots of standard features. All five of the back seats slide back and forth and fold down individually, so you can configure the huge boot to suit your needs. Older models of the 5008 sold before 2017 also had seven seats but with more of a people-carrier or van-like shape.

Read our full Peugeot 5008 review

The latest Kia Sorento (sold since 2020) is very similar to the Hyundai Santa Fe – the two cars share many components. That means everything that’s great about the Hyundai equally applies here, although different styling means you can easily tell the two apart. The Sorento’s diesel engine’s better fuel economy may be the best option if you do a lot of long journeys. But there are also hybrid options, which are particularly good if you want to keep your car-tax bill as low as possible.

Older Sorento models (sold before 2020, pictured) are a great lower-cost option that give you the same dependability and practicality. The interior is really spacious, with lots of room for seven passengers and a huge boot. There are loads of standard features too, even in the least expensive version. All models have a diesel engine and four-wheel drive – add in a towing capacity of up to 2,500kg and the Sorento is ideal if you need to pull a large caravan.

The Skoda Kodiaq is full of features designed to make your life easier when you’re out and about. You’ll find umbrellas in the doors in case you get caught out in a shower, a parking ticket holder in the windscreen, an ice scraper clipped inside the fuel flap and all sorts of useful bins and cubbies for stashing your odds and ends.

You also get a high-quality interior with an infotainment system packed with useful features, including sat nav on most models. There’s generous passenger space in both five-seat and seven-seat models, plus an enormous boot when you fold the third row seats into the boot floor. The Kodiaq feels reassuring and comfortable to drive – four-wheel-drive models are particularly useful if you live in an area where road conditions are often bad, or if you tow a heavy load.

Read our full Skoda Kodiaq review

The Volkswagen Touareg gives you the full luxury SUV experience but for a lower price than you’d pay for many of its premium-brand rivals. The latest version (sold since 2018, pictured) gives you huge amounts of space to stretch out while sitting on superbly comfortable seats, and loads of high-tech features, including a 15-inch infotainment display. The huge boot means you don’t have to worry about packing light and it’s great to drive. It’s only available with five seats, so if you need space for seven then consider one of the other cars on this list.

Older Touareg models, sold before 2018, are a bit smaller but give you a similarly premium experience at a lower cost. Whichever version you go for will give you four-wheel drive, which gives you extra reassurance on slippery roads and is a bonus for towing a heavy trailer.

Open the door of a Volvo XC90 and you’ll find a different vibe to other premium SUVs – its interior is a great piece of luxurious but minimalist Scandinavian design. The dashboard has few buttons because many features, like the stereo and heating, are controlled through the touchscreen infotainment display. The system is easy to navigate and looks sharp.

All seven seats are supportive and comfortable, and there’s lots of head- and legroom wherever you sit. Even people over six feet tall will be comfortable in the third-row seats. On the road, the XC90 gives you a relaxed, quiet driving experience. You can choose between powerful petrol and diesel engines, or fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids. Every model has an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive, plus lots of standard equipment including sat nav and safety features to help keep you and your family safe.

Many SUVs give the impression that they’re tough off-roaders, but the Range Rover Sport genuinely is. If you need to drive through muddy fields, along deeply rutted tracks or up rocky slopes, few cars can handle it as well as this one can. Or any Land Rover model, for that matter.

The Range Rover Sport’s toughness doesn’t come at the expense of luxury. You get soft leather seats and stacks of high-tech features in a very spacious and practical interior. Some models have seven seats, with a third row that folds out of the boot floor and is suitable for children. You can choose between petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power and whichever model you go for, you’ll get a smooth and satisfying driving experience.

If you really enjoy driving, few large SUVs are better than the BMW X5. It feels much more agile and responsive than most rivals, yet it’s as quiet and comfortable as the best executive saloons. It doesn’t matter how long your journey is – the X5 makes it a pleasure.

There’s more to the X5 than the driving experience though. The interior has a feeling of real quality, with expensive looking materials on the dashboard and soft leather on the seats. You get lots of useful features including one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems, controlled by a dial positioned near the gear lever. There’s also generous space for five adults and their holiday luggage. The latest version of the X5 (sold since 2018) has different styling with a bigger front grille, more efficient engines and updated tech.

The Audi Q7’s interior quality is as good as it gets. All the buttons and dials are easy to find and use, the touchscreen infotainment system looks sharp, and everything feels satisfyingly well made. It’s not short on space and comfort for five adults, either. Seven seats are fitted as standard, but the third-row pair are more suitable for children. Fold away those rearmost seats and you’ll have an enormous boot.

The Q7 is focused on comfort so it’s a smooth, relaxing car to travel in. You can choose from petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, and a plug-in is a great choice if you want to minimise your fuel and car tax costs. Models sold from 2019 have sharper styling, a new dashboard with two touchscreens, and more efficient engines.

Unusually, the Mercedes-Benz GLE is available with two different bodies. You can have it with a traditional, slightly boxy SUV body or as a coupe with a steeply sloping back end. The GLE Coupe loses a bit of boot space and back-seat headroom, but it also looks sleeker and more distinctive than the regular GLE. Otherwise, the two cars are exactly the same.

The latest versions of the GLE (sold since 2019) has a really impressive interior that features a pair of wide-screen displays – one for the driver and one for the infotainment system. Between them, they show information about every aspect of the car. The GLE is also available with seven seats if you need to carry extra passengers. Whichever version you choose, you’ll get a car that’s very roomy and practical, and great to drive.

You’ll find lots of used cars for sale at Cazoo, all available to buy through our trusted dealers.

Cazoo makes selling a car just as easy – just enter a few details for an instant online valuation. If you accept the offer our partners will get in touch to arrange payment and collection of your car at a time that suits you.