The SUV segment is important, with many manufacturers offering safety, space, and style aiming to be the best. Not long ago, the segment had bouncy, clunky, and poorly handling behemoths. However, modern developments have helped manufacturers offer SUVs with enjoyable driving positions and an imposing road presence.
European manufacturers are known to offer some outstanding performance and luxury vehicles. Their SUV segment features a lot of many premium offerings. These SUVs can cope with the daily school runs and tackle all weather and road conditions during family trips.
10 Mercedes-Benz GLE
The GLE is one of the most successful SUVs from Mercedes. It’s a balanced SUV that offers a comfortable and spacious cabin for a family. It’s a great rival to SUVs like the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5. The GLE features an 80 mm wheelbase stretch, creating enough room for seven seats.
Under the hood, the GLE gets the latest Mercedes family engines. They include some diesel and gasoline iterations, ranging from four-cylinder to V8 powerplants. All these transmit power to all four wheels using a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
9 Land Rover Discovery
The latest generation Discovery has been a long time coming. Even though it’s the entry-level Land Rover, it has shifted further into the luxury segment. These changes have made the Discovery a desirable family SUV.
The Discovery is much lighter than its predecessors, thanks to better manufacturing techniques. It still offers a huge interior, with seating for seven occupants. The Discovery retains its off-road capability for go-anywhere travel.
Related: 10 Reasons Why Off-Road Enthusiasts Should Buy A Land Rover Discovery
8 Volvo XC90
Volvo created their XC90 to support family life by offering a tranquil and comfortable interior. It's one of the best family SUVs on the market. Volvo made some changes to the XC90 in 2019, and since then, it has remained unchanged, except for the engine options.
Volvo offers the XC90 with three engine options; two mild hybrid engines and one plug-in hybrid option. All these engines are powerful enough, with the plug-in hybrid offering the best performance of 5.5 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. For a family, the XC90 is a sensible choice with its seven-seat configuration and 4WD as standard.
7 Range Rover
The Range Rover is a great all-round SUV that offers luxury, practicality, and go-anywhere ability. The fifth-generation Range Rover pushes the boundaries of SUV engineering, featuring unique styling and a host of changes.
Even though the Range Rover doesn’t come cheap, it offers an excellent driving experience and a plethora of gasoline and diesel engines. The brand also offers a plug-in model for enthusiasts who want to slash their carbon footprint. The interior space is large enough to fit three rows of seating for everyone in the family.
Related: This 1985 Range Rover Classic Restomod By Legacy Overland Is Truly Spectacular
6 Audi SQ7
Even though all Audi Q7s look dull from the outside, they offer some exciting tech. The SQ7 is a step up from the Q7, offering more performance from its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter gasoline V8 powerplant. In previous years, the SQ7 had a 4.0-liter turbocharged diesel V8, loved by enthusiasts for its performance and economy.
As a gearhead, the SQ7 works perfectly with its adaptive anti-roll bars. They help level the SQ7, thus offering better cornering grip. In addition, the SQ7 offers three rows of seats and a plush interior full of leather upholstery and soft-touch materials.
5 BMW X7
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BMW is synonymous with offering technology, luxury, and comfort in their 7 Series models. They’ve taken all this and injected it into an SUV with three rows of seats. The result is an impressive X7, a boxy SUV with a powerful range of engines and vast amounts of interior space.
Even if you end up with the entry-level 30d, you can enjoy a powerful 3.0-liter diesel engine with plenty of pulling power. The interior of the X7 is smart and laden with tech. Even though the X7 might not be as good as the Range Rover with towing, it's an extremely comfortable SUV that fits any family.
Related: These Are The 10 Most Reliable BMWs On The Used Car Market
4 Mercedes-Benz GLS
The GLS is the S Class of SUVs. It’s the largest Mercedes SUV, ideal for families and long trips. The GLS has been around for three generations. It offers ample interior space for three rows of seats that can comfortably fit seven fully grown adults.
Besides its practicality, the GLS is available with many engines, including the Biturbo 4.0-liter V8. All the engine offerings have enough torque to give instant power while maintaining efficiency. The GLS offers Mercedes-Benz luxury with its comfortable interior and sleek performance.
3 Mercedes-Benz G Wagon
Mercedes designed the original G Wagon in the 1970s as a go-anywhere SUV with 4WD, a ladder frame chassis, and differential locks. All these changes helped make the G Wagon the toughest member of the Mercedes-Benz fleet.
Over the years, the G Wagon has become the go-to SUV for anyone who wants a capable off-roader. The G Wagon is a safe vehicle, making it an excellent family vehicle. Besides, Mercedes offers this SUV with a decent selection of engines, allowing any gearhead to pick whatever they’re comfortable with.
Related: Here's How The Mercedes-Benz G-Class Rose To Fame
2 Bentley Bentayga
Bentley has been producing luxury vehicles since the early 20th century. The brand has built a reputation for offering luxury products to enthusiasts. The Bentayga is the brand’s representation of what a family SUV should look like. It’s an exaggerated SUV that best showcases Bentley’s craftsmanship.
Besides its large exterior proportions, the Bentayga has a plush interior design. The interior features a lot of leather, wood, and chrome elements. No matter where you look, there is something polished or shiny to look at. The Bentayga also features two engine options; a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 and a 6.0-liter W12 engine.
1 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The Cullinan is a luxury SUV that allows you to transport your family with style. It introduced a renewed functionality to Rolls-Royce’s typical magnificent cabin ambiance. The Cullinan also offers an imperious driving position with a chunkier steering wheel than the Phantom.
The Cullinan offers ample interior space, enough for five people. If you have a smaller family, you can opt for the four-seat configuration for better comfort and style. While most of its rivals use a V8 engine, the Cullinan utilizes a powerful twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 engine.
