'We tested every large SUV you can buy in the UK and came to a surprise verdict'
While compact cars have their advantages, they often fall short on practicality. For many, particularly families, the more space, the better.
This is where large SUV s come into their own, providing ample room for passengers, pets, and luggage. A panel of motoring experts put the UK's large SUVs to the test, compiling a top 10 of the best models available.
The winner, surprisingly, didn't come from a premium brand but from a manufacturer that consistently punches above its weight.
In the end, the Skoda Kodiaq emerged victorious, impressing the experts from Auto Express with its exceptional value for money, quality, and practicality.
On why they had chosen the Czech model, 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."
Securing the runner-up spot was the fully electric Kia EV9. Although the Skoda is competitively priced at £39,000, the Kia's starting price weighs in at a heftier £65,035.
Despite the considerable price difference, the specialists were impressed, noting: "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."
While large SUV s have surged in popularity to rival the demand for small hatchbacks seen 20 years ago, their size does not win universal acclaim, reports the Express.
Advocates for pedestrian safety and other experts caution that roads may struggle to accommodate the sheer scale of these vehicles, some of which could rival the dimensions of World War I tanks in terms of size and parking challenges.
Addressing these concerns in The Guardian, Oliver Lord, the UK head of Clean Cities, cautioned that vehicles are outpacing the capacity of urban infrastructure.
He stated: "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."
Concerns are not limited to parking issues - there's also worry about the danger posed to pedestrians in case of an accident involving these behemoth vehicles.
Earlier this year, Green Party member of the House of Lords, Jenny Jones, spearheaded a cross-party initiative against SUVs.
She remarked: "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."
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The eight popular EVs that never reach peak charging speeds... and the two that do
Why isn't my electric car charging as fast as it should? It's a question many EV owners ask while their car is hooked up to a rapid charging point and it's taking longer than anticipated. But while many blame the charging device, in many cases it is because the vehicle's tech is incapable of reaching the peak charging speeds they claim, according to a new study. New tests by Auto Express have laid bare how many popular electric cars simply don't hit the manufacturer's promised maximum charging rates. Car makers advertise charging speeds of 150kW, 250kW or even 320kW, with estimates that EVs can top up from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as twenty minutes giving you over hundreds of miles of range to get you back on the road. But the joint test between in partnership with charging network Gridserve saw 10 well-known EVs hooked up to a dedicated 350kW-capable devices - and only a couple managed to hit the peak charging speeds advertised. Here's how different models fared... How the cars were charged – the control variables Under controlled conditions the 10 cars were charged using a Gridserve ultra-rapid charger capable of going up to 350kW. It was verified by Gridserve engineers that they were functioning at full power, meaning the results reflect the car's own software and battery management systems, not the infrastructure. Each car was charged from similar starting levels (around 10 to 15 per cent battery) in ambient temperatures of 13 to 14°C – just below the ideal range. No battery preconditioning took place (we'll expand on battery conditioning later) to simulate the kind of public charging session many drivers experience day-to-day. Auto Express then recorded how long it took to add 60 per cent charge, the average charging speed during this period and the time taken to charge from 80 to 100 per cent. Do EVs reach peak charging capacity? 10. Tesla Model Y – 58% of claim Price from: £44,990 Tesla was one one of the first manufacturers to bring in sophisticated rapid charging. In fact, the Tesla Supercharger network is the largest global, fast charging network in the world with 70,000+ Superchargers. And it's been making EVs since 2008, so hi-tech battery management is something the Elon Musk owned brand knows well. So, it might come as a surprise to see the Model Y performing the worst. Tesla says this the Y's poor performance was because the battery wasn't pre-conditioned for the test but this was the case for all cars in the test – and some of them were able to achieve maximum rates or close to. The Tesla Model Y has a claimed peak charging rate of 250kW but only managed a peak charging rate of 145kW, and that was for just one minute. Auto Express says it was 'a huge shock' to see that the Y 'wasn't able to achieve anything close to what Tesla claims during the test'. It took 30 minutes to charge the battery from 14 per cent to 60 per cent and 93 minutes to charge to 100 per cent. The Model Y's 75kW battery charged on average at 103kW. Auto Express said: 'Tesla has a pretty sophisticated battery-management system, so tends to reach peak power quickly – although this didn't get close, nor hold it for very long.' 9. Citroen e-C3 – 69% of claim Price: from £20,595 The Citroen e-C3 is a cheap EV that promises to get families from A to B without much fuss or frills, and its charging reflects this. The e-C3 only achieved 69kW speed despite claiming peak charging of 100kW. The 44kWh battery EV maintained this peak speed for three minutes, before it dropped badly. In the end it took 34 minutes for the e-C3 to go from 15 per cent to 60 per cent charge and took 91 minutes to get to 100 per cent. The average rate of charge was 43kW – significantly below the 100kW claimed rate. 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BYD Seal – 82% of claim Price from: £45,705 BYD is famous for its Blade Battery and out of this world fast charging, which its 'flash chargers' coming this year. So big things were expected from the Seal. With a claimed charging peak of 150kW, the Seal hit a 123kW actual high during the test, a difference of -27. But it maintained it for five minutes – the longest maintained maximum speed of any EV in the test. From 15 per cent initial charge to 60 per cent charge took 32 minutes with the 100 per cent charge taking 88 minutes. This is because BYD has pre-programmed the car to drop to 48kW at the 85 per cent mark. The average charge speed was 104kW, and it refused to get to the full 100% instead cutting off from the charger at 99 per cent, with no explanation available from BYD Auto Express said. Auto Express experts commented: 'After a slightly out-of-control start, it appears very contained after that, maintaining a consistent rate of charge until it throttles back down.' 6. Renault 5 – 87% Price: from £21,495 The retro Renault 5 has been a smash hit, but the EVs rapid charging isn't quite so stella. Despite its sophisticated battery management system, the R5 only hit 87kW – 13kW below the modest maximum stated by the brand. It held it only the 87kW speed for two minutes, averaging speeds of 65kW for the duration of the charge. Charging from its initial state of 11 per cent to 60 per cent took 26 minutes, while charging to 100 per cent took an hour. Auto Express said: 'The Renault may be an inexpensive EV like the Citroen, but it's doing a better job in its battery management – although, it doesn't sustain power for long.' The Porsche Taycan has one of the highest peak charging speeds on the list at 320kW speeds, and the end result wasn't too far off that with a peak of 282kW – a difference of –38kW. 5. Porsche Taycan – 88.1% The Taycan's 97kWh battery theoretically charges to 320kW speeds, and the end result wasn't too far off that. It averaged a charge rate of 243kW, but crucially a peak of 282kW – a difference of –38kW. Porsche impressed Auto Express experts with its ability to never dip below 50kW speeds, even towards the end, and to rapidly charge such a huge battery cell so quickly. Starting at an initial state of 14 per cent charge and hit the 60 per cent charge mark in 15 minutes. By total time it took to reach 100 per cent, Porsche came out the winner, managing a full charge in 26 minutes – pretty impressive. Auto Express says the Taycan 'is a good example of how to optimise a car to get as much charge in as possible in a short space of time'. 4. Kia EV3 – 94.8% The EV3 has a claimed peak charging rate of 135kW but managed to hit 128kW – for two minutes. The EV3 would be awarded A* in A-Level results – if EV peak charging results were a thing - for hitting over 94 per cent of its claimed peak charging capacity. The circa £36k EV charged from its 16 per cent initial charge state to 60 per cent in 27 minutes. Auto Express found the car averaged 117kW during the test to 60 per cent charge, which isn't too far away from its 135kW claimed speeds. The total charge time to 100 per cent took 55 minutes with Auto Express finding it added around 50 per cent charge in around 20 minutes. Auto Express said: 'Interesting example of how the manufacturer has optimised the system for getting as much in as quickly as possible at the expense of a longer experience.' 3. Toyota bZ4X – 98% Toyota's all-electric SUV would also be awarded an A* in A-Level results. The £42k-plus EV should ultra-rapid charge up to 150kW, and while it didn't quite get there in the test it was very close. It achieved a maximum charging speed of 147kW –just shy of the peak. The bZ4X's 64kWh charged at an average rate of 96kW and went from the initial 14 per cent state-of-charge to 60 per cent in 26 minutes. Although Auto Express said the bZ4X's charging got sluggish at the end, it 'doesn't staircase up and is updating its charge current every few seconds to get the best it can'. 2. Ford Capri – 100% The Ford Capri might be a contentious car, but its rapid charging is impressive. It's one of only two EVs that delivered its promise peak charging capacity. Ford claims that its 79kWh battery Capri can peak charge 187kW and it turns out that's bang on. As well as matching the maximum stated by Ford, the Capri stayed about the stated maximum charge for eight minutes. Over the duration of the 60 per cent top-up it averaged well over 150kW. It went from an initial nine per cent charge state to 60 per cent in 20 minutes and averaged a charge rate of 154kW. The peak of 187kW was achieved for two minutes. Auto Express called it 'a fairly sophisticated system that's constantly trying to optimize the charge performance against thermal limits'. 1. Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer – 100% Germany ties with America in the rapid charging head-to-head. The Volkswagen ID.7, like the Ford Capri managed to hit the promised peak charging speed. The VW ID.7 sticker that says 200kW charging is not about to be crossed out: it hit that speed for three minutes in test. The 86kWh battery went from an initial state-of-charge of 12 per cent to 60 per cent in 21 minutes. It averaged a charging rate of 156kW and took 35 minutes to get to 100 per cent charge. Auto Express said: 'There's a little knee point where it hits constant voltage near the beginning, but does a good job of staying over 100kW for a large proportion of the time.' Pre-conditioning EVs battery - why it's important for rapid charging Battery pre-conditioning is when an EV battery is brought to its optimal temperature before charging, which helps it charge and perform efficiently in both hot and cold conditions. Auto Express said that several manufacturers have told them that the real reason their cars didn't reach the stated targets is because they didn't precondition the batteries but that this was done to create a level playing field and that some models were still able to get there meant that this should be possible across the board. Editor Barker points out that the test is perhaps most useful for illustrating how the maximum charge rate of a car really is exactly that – a maximum – and is far from telling the whole story in terms of how quickly your car will restore power when plugged-in. EXPERT TIPS FOR FAST CHARGING Paul Barker, Editor at Auto Express recommends: 1. Precondition the battery 'As much as we said that whether or not you've preconditioned the battery shouldn't matter, ultimately getting your car's battery up to the right operating temperature should mean that it'll hit its peak speeds more quickly. 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Plan your journey ahead of time Barker urges EV drivers to plan their journeys well in advance, because the rates can vary so much between rapid chargers; 'you might be better off taking a short detour in order to access one with a higher power output that'll get you on the road again more quickly.' 5. Charge at home if you can 'Of course, it's not always possible to charge at home, but plugging-in before you set off could save you (a lot of) time and money. As can only public charging to put in enough to get you home, and not arrive back with a load of excess charge.'
Auto Blog
8 hours ago
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Hyundai Unveils Great 2025 Tucson Lease For August
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Hyundai is offering a great lease deal in August that makes it even more appealing. 2025 Hyundai Tucson lease deal for August Hyundai is offering a great lease deal for August on the 2025 Hyundai Tucson SE FWD for $239 per month for 36 months, with a $3,999 due at lease signing (excluding registration, tax, title, license, processing, or documentation fees, insurance, and any emission charges). There's no security deposit required. The lease offer ends September 2, 2025. Learn more here. 2025 Hyundai Tucson SE FWD feature highlights Standard features on the 2025 Hyundai Tucson SE FWD include 17-inch alloy wheels, 235/65 R17 all-season tires, Bi-LED headlights, LED DRLs, LED turn signals, automatic headlights, high beam assist, rear spoiler, proximity key with alarm and pushbutton start, room for 5 passengers, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with OTA updates, a 4.2-inch gauge cluster, dynamic voice recognition, Bluelink + Advanced package, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a dual level cargo floor. The Tucson also comes with a smart set of standard safety features, including blind spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, smart cruise control with stop & go, safe exit assist, and rear occupant alert. It also comes standard with a tire pressure monitoring system. 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Before signing the lease agreement, review the costs due at signing, including taxes and registration fees, potential dealer costs, etc. *Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle. About the Author Amos Kwon View Profile
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I drove pure electric Elroq vRS at Sweet Lamb rally complex – it corners tidily & is mega comfy but there's one downside
The Czechs will tell you it's the fastest Skoda yet - but they aren't quite right ELROQ 'N' ROLL STAR I drove pure electric Elroq vRS at Sweet Lamb rally complex – it corners tidily & is mega comfy but there's one downside Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVERYONE knows The Stig. He's the chatterbox racing driver from Top Gear. But did you know there's another Stig who makes him look a bit slow? Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Stig Blomqvist is the man who cemented Skoda's motorsport credibility Credit: Supplied 7 The cabin is nicely appointed with microsuede upholstery Credit: Supplied 7 It'll do 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, one second quicker than a petrol Octavia vRS Credit: Supplied 7 What impresses most about this car is the handling Credit: Supplied Stig Blomqvist. Absolute rally god. He won the 1984 World Rally Championship at the wheel of an Audi Quattro. He's also the man who cemented Skoda's motorsport credibility by finishing third on the 1996 Network Q Rally, in the snow, in a front-wheel drive Felicia, up against fire-spitting four-wheel drive Imprezas, Celicas and Sierra RS Cossies. Proper giant-killing performance. I remember sitting on a frozen tree stump in Kielder Forest watching the master in full flow. Some bloke called Colin McRae piloted a Fabia WRC in 2005 and, for the last 15 years or so, Fabia has been hoovering up trophies in the second-tier WRC2 and other international championships. The reason I'm telling you all this is because Skoda has properly earned the vRS — victory Rally Sport — badge it sticks on its spicy road cars. It's not a marketing gimmick. It has years of motorsport expertise behind it. So we thought we'd try the latest vRS, the pure electric Elroq vRS, at the famous Sweet Lamb rally complex in Llanidloes, mid-Wales. 5 Things you need to know about the new Skoda Elroq It was a lot of fun. We bolted on some all-terrain tyres, added underbody protection (we're not animals), and dialled down the traction control systems and, er, that was about it. Pull the pin. Elroq vRS is plenty quick enough off the line. The Czechs will tell you it's the fastest Skoda yet. But it's actually joint-fastest alongside the Enyaq vRS. Two e-motors, one on each axle for all-wheel drive, pump out a meaty 340hp. It'll do 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds, one second quicker than a petrol Octavia vRS, and top out at 111mph. But what impresses most is the handling. For a heavy vehicle (batteries weight a bit), it corners tidily. The steering is light but accurate. The body is well tied-down, neither rolling on corners or floating when the road crests and dips. We tried the very green Elroq vRS on smoother, less dusty B-roads and it was just as pleasing. Fast or slow. It should easily do 280 miles on a full tank and can recharge to 80 per cent in a 26-minute tea-and-pee break. 7 I remember sitting on a frozen tree stump in Kielder Forest watching the master in full flow Credit: Supplied 7 Skoda has properly earned the vRS — victory Rally Sport — badge Credit: Supplied The cabin is nicely appointed. Microsuede upholstery. Lime green stitching. The seats are mega comfy and will warm and rub your back. The door pockets are carpeted. So nothing rattles. That 13in touchscreen is fast and easy to use. Mind you, I'm a big fan of the regular £31,510 Elroq, so the all-singing vRS was always going to be good. My only grumble is the price. We're talking £46,560. That's Mercedes CLA money. But at least you can release your inner Stig. SKODA unveils an Octavia-sized electric estate called 'Vision O' next month. But it's exactly that, a vision. The real car's still three years away and it will co-exist alongside today's petrol and diesel Octavias for as long as they're allowed to continue. There's a dinky £22k EV called 'Epiq' coming in 2026, followed by a seven-seat EV that's previewed by the 'Vision 7S' concept. 7 Skoda's Octavia-sized electric estate called 'Vision O' Credit: Supplied
