Top 10 SUVs in Australia: The definitive list

There’s fuel efficient, and then there’s really fuel efficient, and the Jaguar I-Pace falls firmly in the latter camp. Jaguar’s first all-electric SUV - and among the first to arrive in Australia - uses exactly no petrol, and it’s hard to get a more fuel-efficient SUV than that. Instead, you get a big 90kWh battery pack that will delivers a claimed 470km of range. It’s yours from $119,000. It also looks and feels fantastic inside, and absolutely head-turning from outside, too.

Who should buy one: Those who value the idea of eco-friendly motoring. And who don’t often drive long distances.

Chinese-made SUVs were once a place good intentions went to die, but no longer. In fact, the MG ZS is a small but stylish SUV that definitely doesn’t look out of place parked next to far more expensive alternatives. It starts at just $20,990, and that money buys you lots of goodies, including 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-look seats, a sunroof, and that all important Apple CarPlay. Better still, there's a seven-year warranty to help with second-hand prices (and to help you sleep easier at night). Be aware, of course, that you get what you pay for, and you will hear a tinny "ting" when you shut the doors rather than a reassuring "thwack". On the plus side, it looks, from the outside at least, like it cost a lot more than $21K.

Who should buy one: Styling on a budget? Meet your new wheels.

Nobody does practical-yet-stylish transport quite like Hyundai, and the Santa Fe is among the best in the business when it comes to moving families around in comfort.

A seven-seater that doesn't look like one (and doesn’t it look lovely as a result?) the Santa Fe is backed up by strong warranty and ownership credentials, and with a starting price of $43,000, it’s not too hard on the wallet, either. 

And with a range of petrol and diesel engines on offer, and four-wheel drive as standard, it’s a Jack of all trades that slots so neatly into family life you’ll want to give it a seat at the dinner table. 

Who should buy one: Families big and small will find something to like here.

The real magic of the CX-9 - other than its insanely clever 2.5-litre petrol engine and its ability to carry seven people in something approaching comfort - is that it doesn't drive anywhere near as big as it looks. Shopping-centre carparks won’t cause you to break into a cold sweat, and tight inner-city streets won’t leave have white-knuckle-gripping the steering wheel. And in even more good news, the CX-9 is genuinely nice to look at, with Mazda somehow cramming all that practicality into a swooping design that makes it look sportier than it is. 

The CX-9 starts at $45,920 and climbs to around $70,000 for the one that comes with everything. But it’s really hard to go too far wrong anywhere in the CX-9 range. 

Who should buy one: Bigger families who don’t want to sacrifice style for space. 

The Swedish brand is in the midst of a resurgence in Australia, helped massively by the fact that, rather than making weird-looking sedans and wagons, it has poured its talents into a range of very good (and very good-looking) SUVs.

The XC40 is the smallest of this new bunch, but its size makes it no less accomplished than its bigger brothers. Where it really shines, though, is in practicality, offering much more useable space than its compact dimensions might suggest. 

Priced from $44,900 and available in three trim levels, all of which are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the XC40 is just the right blend of practical and plush. 

Who should buy one: Anyone looking for a small SUV that's not actually that small.