A lot of car buyers in Britain are attracted to SUV-type models predominantly because of their practicality, which makes them usable as family runaround cars, and their large road presence too.
For those people buying SUV models for these reasons, the on-road dynamics will matter just as much, if not more, compared to their off-road capabilities. This demand for SUV-style models that are good on the road is what largely inspired the emergence of the crossover market segment to begin with.
In this guide, we pick out five of the latest SUVs, 4x4s and crossover models which are good for car buyers interested in these type of cars, and plan on doing a lot of driving in cities.
Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai is one of the finest and most successful cars to emerge from the crossover segment, boasting many plus points to attract family motorists.
If you’re after a family car with practicality levels similar to the likes of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, then the Qashqai should offer a satisfying amount of cabin and boot space.
The drive, meanwhile, is comfortable and there’s a decent amount of grip whether you pick a powertrain that utilises front or four-wheel drive. Even better, there are numerous efficient engines to pick. A real highlight is the 109bhp 1.5-litre diesel which emits just 99g/km in CO2, resulting in free Vehicle Excise Duty.
Range Rover
It’s amazing really just how many things the latest Range Rover does well. It’s one of those cars that feel like a proper all-rounder.
The classy exterior and interior styling of this SUV will look good in the poshest city roads around. You may also be surprised at how remarkable composed and refined this large 4x4 is on the road.
It’s very light for a car of its size and Land Rover has done a really good job with the balance to keep body roll at a minimum. Throwing the Range Rover through the tight corners of city roads won’t be anywhere near as daunting as you’d find with a lot of other SUVs.
Ford Kuga
Ford is renowned for offering some of the best handling family cars on the market and the Kuga SUV does a decent job of living up to that reputation.
Front-end grip is plentiful with the Kuga and there’s minimal bodyroll, giving drivers the confidence to drive with some enthusiasm whether there on a city road or countryside lane. Grip and traction (and subsequently driver confidence) is bolstered even further if you pick a Kuga model with four-wheel drive.
The high driving position and excellent visibility brings an additional boost in confidence when driving the Kuga in town.
Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 is an interesting choice for car buyers in the market for a classy crossover, but don’t quite have the budget for a model from the most premium of brands. Boasting eye-catching, modern styling, the CX-5 will look good during any trip to town.
More importantly, the CX-5 drives well on pretty much any kind of road you throw at it, including those in an urban environment.
While its setup is oriented towards the sportier end of the market, its suspension is surprisingly supple and it’s very refined too. There are four-wheel drive versions of the CX-5 available too for that extra bit of reassurance.
Skoda Yeti
The boxy shape of the Skoda Yeti is pretty uncommon nowadays, as other SUV and crossover makers lean more towards creating a sleek, coupe-esque profile. In a way though, the shape of the Yeti actually works in its favour, as it not only means plenty of headroom, but also large windows all-round which provide great visibility.
This is just one reason why the Yeti is a good car for driving through a city. It also handles through the corners well, with plenty of front-end grip too.
Other entries in this list do offer a more upmarket interior, but the Yeti is competitively priced, relaxing to drive and more than practical enough for family-related motoring duties.