Top 10 best mid-size SUVs 2024 | Carbuyer (2024)

10 Apr 2024

For many car buyers, a mid-size SUV ticks every box. Offering more space than a typical family hatchback, while being easier to park than a full-fat 4x4, they fall into that ideal middle ground that has won over so many families in recent years.

The explosion in popularity of mid-size SUVs now means that there are more to choose from than ever before, with models to suit those on a tight budget, as well as buyers willing to splash out on something more luxurious. You’re no longer limited to just diesel engines either – SUVs today come with a range of petrol, hybrid and fully-electric powertrains. The latter allows for some neat packaging solutions that can help boost practicality while offering low running costs, which is why you’ll spot many electric SUVs on this list.

Our experts review each of these mid-size SUVs considering practicality, efficiency, safety, the driving experience and cost. With all those factors in mind, we’ve listed our favourites currently on sale.

The best mid-size SUVs on sale

If you’re not set on something mid-sized, why not read our list of the top 10 best SUVs for a more general overview of our favourites?

• Priced from £31,535

We named the Hyundai Tucson our Best Family Car for 2023, so it’s fair to say we rate it highly. The South Korean brand’s latest iteration of its mid-size SUV has gone slightly more upmarket than the old car, with a striking design and a plush interior with a strong level of standard equipment. All of this comes backed up by Hyundai's five-year warranty – not that you're likely to need it.

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No matter if you make short trips around a city, commute, or fly up and down the motorway, the Tuscon is offered with a petrol or hybrid engine to suit your needs. The range-topping plug-in hybrid model provides a pure-electric range of around 30 miles, however, we think the self-charging hybrid model is the sweet spot of the range as this offers plenty of punch and can return almost 50mpg on the combined WLTP test cycle.

• Priced from £38,970

If you’ve read any of Carbuyer’s ‘Best Cars’ lists, you’re likely to have seen several Skoda models; this is because the Czech brand’s cars typically offer a fantastic blend of quality, practicality and value. The Enyaq is Skoda’s first-ever electric SUV and shares many of its underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.4. However, despite costing a chunk less than the VW, the Enyaq offers more space, a plusher interior and even a greater electric range.

There are several models to choose from, with the range being topped by the hot vRS model which boasts 295bhp. We reckon the entry-level 60 model will suit most buyers with its ample 246-mile range and lots of standard kit. If you plan to travel long distances often, the 85 can manage over 330 miles on a charge, while there’s also an Enyaq Coupe model if you’d like to trade a bit of practicality for extra style.

• Priced from £37,495

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The Renault Scenic name may be familiar to you, but the latest iteration has little in common with Scenics of old. What was once a popular MPV has been replaced by an electric mid-size SUV, but don’t be put off – we think the transition has made the Scenic a better car than ever before.

The SUV body doesn’t just look stylish from the outside – it allows for a spacious cabin, with room for five occupants to travel in comfort, along with all their gear in its huge 545-litre boot. Thanks to the EV platform, the Scenic has a completely flat floor in the rear, meaning there’s space for tall passengers to stretch their legs. Things are nice up front, too. The driver and infotainment displays are large and clear with slick graphics, while there are physical controls for important functions.

Driving the Scenic couldn’t be easier thanks to a smooth 217bhp electric motor that’s more than powerful enough for everyday driving. The real highlight is the Scenic’s 388-mile range, which beats the figures of most of its rivals.

• Priced from £52,895

The Mercedes GLC takes everything that we like about the C-Class saloon, and packages it into a more practical, high-riding SUV body. You get the same plush interior laden with tech, along with a strong range of engines. The entry-level diesel and petrol engines perform admirably and will satisfy most buyers, although the fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid is currently the most economical car on the market, with a claimed 706.3mpg possible if you keep the battery topped up.

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At 620 litres, the boot will be big enough to swallow most families' holiday luggage without an issue, and we were impressed by its rear headroom and legroom. Sure, it’s one of the pricier cars on this list, but sit behind the wheel and you’ll feel where the money’s been spent. Material quality is excellent, everything feels sturdy and there’s little in the way of road noise once you’re on the move.

• Priced from £28,380

The Skoda Karoq will appeal if you like the sound of the electric Enyaq’s spacious interior and well-made cabin, but aren’t quite ready to make the switch to an EV. The Skoda Karoq was facelifted in 2021 and boasts a smart design and an even smarter cabin, in terms of the clever features that are on offer. Skoda’s optional VarioFlex rear seats can recline, fold and slide to prioritise passenger or boot space, while hidden umbrellas in the doors are incredibly handy on a rainy day.

For such a comfortable car, the Karoq is surprisingly good to drive on a twisty road. While most family SUVs offer some kind of electric or hybrid assistance, Skoda’s offering instead utilises fuel-sipping petrol and diesel engines to keep costs down. Our pick of the range is the 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI petrol as this offers punchy performance as well as low running costs for private buyers.

• Priced from £51,965

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Audi’s first affordable EV – the Q4 e-tron – was an impressive follow-up to the original Audi e-tron and e-tron GT when it launched in 2021. Using the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq, it stands apart from those EVs with an upmarket interior and a classy, conservative exterior design.

Available as a traditional SUV or with a sleeker ‘Sportback’ roofline, the Q4 is offered with a 77kWh battery and a choice of rear or four-wheel drive. Most models can achieve over 300 miles of range, but whichever you pick, you get the same comfortable ride and smooth power delivery. The cabin is really where the Q4 e-tron outshines its competition, however. It strikes an excellent balance between style and functionality, using physical buttons for frequently-used controls alongside a crisp infotainment screen and Audi’s Virtual co*ckpit. While boot and rear passenger space is good in isolation, the cheaper Skoda Enyaq pulls ahead in this area.

• Priced from £44,440

The Lexus NX is definitely worthy of your attention if you’re looking for a luxury mid-size SUV. With plenty of space inside and a generously-sized 521-litre boot, it’s also pretty practical. This figure is identical regardless of which powertrain you go for, so whether you opt for the standard hybrid or plug-in hybrid model, you won’t have to sacrifice any luggage room.

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Standard self-charging hybrid models get a 2.5-litre petrol engine combined with two electric motors, for a 0-62mph takes around 8.7 seconds in the front-wheel drive version and 7.7 seconds in the all-wheel drive model. Go for the range-topping NX450h+ all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid and you’ll get 302bhp with a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds. The plug-in model is also capable of an electric range of up to 40 miles according to Lexus.

• Priced from £46,205

The BMW iX1 is an electric mid-size SUV adapted from the BMW X1 petrol model. While it’s not as fun to drive as the model with the combustion engine, the iX1 offers the lower running costs associated with electric power. Its subtle styling and classy image could also help it slot quite easily into an SUV buyer’s life.

The iX1’s driving experience will be more enjoyable for keen drivers than that of its rivals – it has direct steering and agile handling, and uses a dual-motor four-wheel drive setup to produce lots of grip. The iX1 has 309bhp, meaning it’s very quick from a standing start, doing 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds. Despite being based on the brand’s entry-level X1 SUV, the model is surprisingly spacious. The boot is a respectable 490-litres – bigger than that of the Mercedes EQA and even beating those of slightly bigger SUVs such as the Nissan Ariya and Toyota bZ4X. The iX1 has an electric range of up to 272 miles from a full charge of its 64.7kWh battery, which should be plenty for most EV drivers.

• Priced from £44,990

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Say what you like about Tesla, but Elon Musk’s electric car brand still produces some of the best EVs you can buy. Based on the top-selling Model 3 saloon, the Model Y features a jacked-up 4x4-esque stance and all the benefits of a proper SUV such as a bigger boot and lots of passenger space. Like the Model 3, the Model Y’s interior is incredibly minimalist – sometimes to its own detriment – with a huge and incredibly responsive 14-inch touchscreen dominating the dashboard.

While top-of-the-range Performance models often get all the headlines due to their sports car-rivalling acceleration, Tesla introduced an entry-level rear-wheel-drive version of the Model Y in 2022 which makes the most sense for the majority of buyers. This can do a reasonable 283 miles on a single charger and thanks to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, you’ll never be pressed in finding somewhere to plug in.

• Priced from £29,390

The Kia Sportage underwent a radical redesign in 2021, introducing new bold exterior styling making the old car look tame by comparison. On the inside, the Sportage is equally revolutionary, thanks to plenty of tech borrowed from the futuristic Kia EV6. The dual 12.3-inch screens found in ‘3’ trim cars and above are a particular highlight, while lower-spec cars still benefit from plenty of standard kit. The Kia Sportage’s boxy shape means it’s incredibly spacious, with a 587-litre boot that should easily swallow all your family’s luggage.

The new Sportage shares many of its parts with the latest Hyundai Tucson. Though the ride is slightly firm, there is a wide range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from which all vary in levels of electrification. Plug-in hybrid models can manage over 40 miles of range using electric power, while cars with the 1.6-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine can return respectable fuel economy of around 44mpg.

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