The best SUVs to buy in 2023

Written by Graham King Published: 15 September 2023 Updated: 15 September 2023

It’s easy to see the appeal of the best SUVs with their practicality and raised seating position, not to mention the availability of seven seats and four-wheel-drive in a lot of models. So it’s no surprise the SUV has become the default choice of vehicle for many people, replacing more traditional family cars in the process.

SUVs come in many different sizes, and with up to seven seats. Yes, there are still big, gas-guzzling luxury SUVs, but even the real whoppers can be remarkably efficient these days. At the other end of the scale, there are dozens of small SUVs that are the perfect size for most single people and couples, many even work pretty well as family cars.

In between the two poles there are a vast number of options to suit every need and budget, whether you just want something comfy to get from A to B in, or something you can load up with large quantities of people and stuff. Electric SUVs are increasingly popular, too. On this page we list the very best SUVs from every segment, so read on to discover what could be the perfect best SUV to buy for you.

Top 10 SUVs 2023

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FAQ: SUV questions answered

What does SUV stand for?

SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. They come in many different sizes but they’re all linked by their high ride height. The term SUV has been used for over 30 years. Originally coined in America, it was applied to four-wheel-drive cars with an emphasis on road-going comfort as well as off-roading ability. By contrast, many modern SUVs have no off-roading ability at all, indeed some are little more than tall hatchbacks and estates with the rugged look of a car that could go off-road. But that style is a big part of SUVs’ appeal to so many buyers.

Are all SUVs 4×4?

No. There was a time when pretty much every SUV had four-wheel-drive and could take you quite a long way into the wilderness. While there are still some SUVs that can do that – exemplified by the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser – that’s not really the point of such cars anymore. If an SUV is fitted with four-wheel-drive – and many are – it’s there to improve traction on slippery roads and grip in corners. The vast majority of SUVs available to buy new at the moment are only two-wheel-drive.

Do SUVs flip easier than cars?

Not these days. Back in the 1980s, when the popularity of SUVs boomed, they earned a reputation for flipping over in emergency manoeuvres. Back then, though, SUVs tended to be top-heavy, had basic suspension, no electronic driver aids and very low handling limits. The safety of modern SUVs has taken a quantum leap forward.

Their suspension is much more sophisticated, they carry their weight lower down and they have an alphabet soup of acronymed stability aids to keep you on the straight and narrow. They do still have a relatively high centre of gravity which causes more body roll in corners, but something has to go drastically wrong to flip a modern SUV.

Is an SUV a good first car?

Absolutely. Small SUVs in particular are just as easy to drive as a hatchback of similar size. In fact, they’re arguably easier because their higher seating position gives better visibility – a key factor in the appeal of SUVs generally. Some brand-name driving schools have recognised the growing popularity of SUVs, as well. You’ll often see their instructors teaching learners in cars like the Ford Puma.

Which is better: an SUV or MPV?

Also known as people carriers, MPVs were the car of choice for many families until the SUV took over in the late 2000s. You can read about the best MPVS on Parkers, but they’re now vastly outnumbered by SUVs. Which is better depends on your priorities.

If you need a car with maximum space for passengers and luggage, an MPV is still your best bet, van-based ones especially. There are plenty of SUVs with loads of space and big boots, but they ultimately can’t match the sheer volume and flexibility of an MPV’s interior. If, however, you need to tow or traverse rough roads, an SUV will be better for you.

What is a compact SUV/mini SUV?

Any SUV that’s less than about 4.2 metres long can be called a compact SUV, which makes them roughly the same size as a supermini hatchback. Indeed, many compact SUVs share their platforms with superminis. Popular ones include the Ford Puma and Renault Captur. There is some flexibility to that definition, though. Add in the word ‘premium’ or ‘luxury’ and the size boundary stretches up to about 4.5 metres.

What is a crossover?

It’s interesting how the language around SUVs is changing. For a brief period, the word ‘crossover’ was applied to SUVs that made no pretence of having off-road ability. We’re talking about cars such as the original Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar and Lexus RX. But ‘crossover’ has already largely fallen out of favour. Most manufacturers now just use the term SUV, so that’s what we do at Parkers.

Why are SUVs so expensive?

It’s no secret that an SUV costs more than an equivalent hatchback, saloon or estate. For instance, an entry-level Ford Kuga costs around £6,000 more than the equivalent Focus. That’s partly because more material goes into building an SUV, but there’s also a premium to pay for the desirability of SUVs.

Higher prices mean SUVs are more profitable for car manufacturers, and many of them are refreshingly up front about that fact. For instance, Ford cited the greater profitability of the Puma compact SUV as one of the reasons it has stopped production of the Fiesta supermini.