Page 3 | What is the nicest SUV you've driven?

notthenewsagain · 2025-02-14T19:31:53+00:00

I'm looking for a new car and going to test drive a few. Definitely want an SUV but unsure of what is nicest drive. Looking at Evoque, F Pace, x5 but open to any other ideas. Probably around 1/2 years old.

ValentinesGranny · 14/02/2025 21:54

Loved my Volvo XC40. I miss it and only sold it because I rarely drive now and decided to share my car with 18YO DD after she passed her test. My insurance wouldn't add her.
When DD leaves university I'll go back to Volvo.

User19876536484 · 14/02/2025 21:56

sorepaw1 · 14/02/2025 21:28

Another vote for sportage. Have driven a LOT of different cars via work and sportage is the one i chose over much more expensive options

We had a new Sportage as a hire car for a month around Christmas. Underwhelmed is an understatement. The gearbox was awful.

MissConductUS · 14/02/2025 21:56

Subaru Forester. I’m driving my second.

MaidOfSteel · 14/02/2025 22:15

I loved my RAV4. It was a dream to drive. Still miss it now.

NavyReader · 14/02/2025 22:32

Landrover Defender.. No beating it. Does motorways like a dream, in fields and town it's awesome, easy to park as it's square, loads of room and really practical for kids& dogs etc and fair bit of luxury. Bigger engines are fast and fun. X5 great also but no way near as spacious or fun.

LePetitMaman · 14/02/2025 22:45

sometimesmovingforwards · 14/02/2025 21:27

Yes I’d agree they can be if you spec them a certain way.

We’ll always have one around the place though. Perfect car for doing practical work ie moving stuff and people around and especially useful for towing on fields and unpaved tracks. But then after a hose down it’s lovely on a long motorway journey. It’s annoying big for nipping into town though into small communal car park spaces, but it’s not the car I’d use for that trip.

Edited

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I don't think the big ones are. The Sports used to be the stereotypical chav model. Less so now. Because the customer base who had the chavved up Sports are now those who are buying the new Defender and doing the same to that.

The Evoques are to RR what Boxsters are to Porsche. The "poor man's" one. People may not like to acknowledge that's the case, but it's what both models are renowned for. I had an Evoque, briefly, and they are nothing like the real RR models, it's like driving a different brand of vehicle. It felt like the low budget option. Which to be fair, it is.

Totally agree the RR is a bugger to park in most normal spots. It's very easy to manoeuvre into the space, you just can't open the doors. And people love to deliberately twang their doors into it. Never happened once in any other SUV I had, but all 3 RR had door dings and scratches in the first few months. You learn to park miles away. But for comfort, and pleasure to drive, they are great. When they aren't in the garage...

Depends on your budget OP. If I had no care for costs, I'd have 2 RRs, because then when the first broke, I'd have the second immediately available. The sensible purchase to me is an XC90 or a Q7.

The new XM is super. But impossible for most standard parking spots. And £100k.

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/02/2025 22:49

Go Japanese every time.
Charming little workhorses

CX30 for a mid sizer.

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/02/2025 22:49

Mazda that would be 😁

willieversleep · 14/02/2025 23:11

Volvo XC90 - brilliant car!

cyclingmum67 · 14/02/2025 23:13

Had an F-Pace and now have a Merc GLE.

The F-Pace was a more exciting/fun drive - right up until the turbocharger failed and it took JLR 4 months to fix it.

The Merc is a lovely drive, but not the same on country roads as the F-Pace was

TeenLifeMum · 14/02/2025 23:13

High spec Tiguan. My friend’s Evoque spent more of its first 3 years of life in the garage than on her drive.

sankacoolrunnings · 14/02/2025 23:30

Mercedes GLC - the most perfect car in my experience of 4x4s, rest below

BMW X4 - nice to throw around but bulky for parking

ML - as above

GLB & EQB - great space savers but seats not as good

Evoque - nice but small boot

Arlanymor · 14/02/2025 23:33

Audi Q5 - when my Q3 reaches the end of its useful life I am upgrading, they’re both great, but the Q5 is a step up.

HRHPRINCESSOFFLUFF · 14/02/2025 23:34

Devianinc · 14/02/2025 21:08

If I needed extra room I would have bought that. It’s a great drive

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Velar incredible car

Constantsoul · 14/02/2025 23:47

I had an F Pace and it was fantastic. The only maintenance needed in 4 years was a new wiper blade.

I traded it in a bought another new one last year so that’s now 5 years with them without a single issue of note.

Worth adding the 360 degree camera to it as it makes parking a doddle despite its size.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 14/02/2025 23:56

LePetitMaman · 14/02/2025 22:45

I don't think the big ones are. The Sports used to be the stereotypical chav model. Less so now. Because the customer base who had the chavved up Sports are now those who are buying the new Defender and doing the same to that.

The Evoques are to RR what Boxsters are to Porsche. The "poor man's" one. People may not like to acknowledge that's the case, but it's what both models are renowned for. I had an Evoque, briefly, and they are nothing like the real RR models, it's like driving a different brand of vehicle. It felt like the low budget option. Which to be fair, it is.

Totally agree the RR is a bugger to park in most normal spots. It's very easy to manoeuvre into the space, you just can't open the doors. And people love to deliberately twang their doors into it. Never happened once in any other SUV I had, but all 3 RR had door dings and scratches in the first few months. You learn to park miles away. But for comfort, and pleasure to drive, they are great. When they aren't in the garage...

Depends on your budget OP. If I had no care for costs, I'd have 2 RRs, because then when the first broke, I'd have the second immediately available. The sensible purchase to me is an XC90 or a Q7.

The new XM is super. But impossible for most standard parking spots. And £100k.

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Far morse sensible to just buy one Bentley Bentayga than two Range Rovers, and get a more comfortable, luxurious and better built car. Probably cheaper as well…. But, like proper Range Rovers, they can also be either chav central or effortlessly stylish depending on how you specify them.

Icequeen01 · 14/02/2025 23:58

DH has a VW Tiguan which we love. It's a dream to drive and has a fabulous sized boot.

I have an Audi Q3 which is 12 years old now and I've had it from new. I love that car. No problems with it apart from wear and tear. I will keep it for another 13 years if it keeps going!

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 15/02/2025 00:04

Suzuki - absolute workhorse!

AlhambraQueen · 15/02/2025 00:16

Mazda cx5. So understated but pleasure to drive.

sheldonRockz · 15/02/2025 00:18

I loved my f-pace. Comfy and nice to drive.
We took a test drive of an Evoque. Whilst the drive was nice, the boot on it was too small for our needs.

Nottogetapenny · 15/02/2025 00:26

Absolutely love my Jaguar E Pace.

User1786 · 15/02/2025 00:32

Volvo XC60 or XC90 if you want to go bigger. Toyota RAV4 if you want to spend less, they are fantastic value!

Crikeyalmighty · 15/02/2025 00:34

I love our Volvo XC 60

Crikeyalmighty · 15/02/2025 00:38

We've had a VW Tiguan twice as courtesy car when our XC 60 in for service and DH said it wasn't a patch on the XC 60 or even the rather lovely Volvo s60 he got once ( not an SUV)

cherish123 · 15/02/2025 00:59

Ateca was super. Great to drive. Tuscan is quite good too but Ateca was better.