Reject round – it's hip to be square!
A boxy body is the secret to having a large cabin without making the car so big it doesn't fit in a parking space. That means comfy seating and easy access, great for lofty adults or kids in bulky child seats alike.
We've pulled together 10 of our favourite blocky, boxy, square cars – all with saintly straight lines and righteous right angles. Save thousands on your next car by shopping nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.
- Kia EV3
- Volkswagen Touran
- Citroen C3 Aircross
- Mercedes GLB
- Dacia Duster
- Fiat Grande Panda
- Jaecoo 7
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Honda Super N
- Land Rover Defender
Kia EV3
Pretty much every model in Kia's 'EV' range of electric cars has knocked it out of the park. But we think the EV3 might be the most important of the bunch for the average driver. Kia will tell you this is an SUV, with its chunky wheels and tough bodywork but, in reality, it actually has blocky proportions closer to a people carrier. As a result, you get a remarkable amount of passenger and cargo space within its compact 4.3-metre-long body. It's also one of the longest-range cars in its class, going up to 375 miles on a full charge.
Shop used Kia EV3 cars or read our Kia EV3 review
Volkswagen Touran
Lots of cars on this list style themselves as SUVs, but are actually shaped like people carriers. If you don't feel the need to chase trends, why not pick a car that actually embraces being an MPV, like the Volkswagen Touran. It's actually a touch shorter than VW's five-seat Tiguan SUV but the Touran squeezes three rows of seats into its modest footprint. Plus, when you're not using all three rows, you can fold them down to reveal a van-rivalling amount of cargo space.
Shop used Volkswagen Touran cars or read our Volkswagen Touran review
Citroen C3 Aircross
Older Citroen C3 Aircross cars were effectively mini-MPVs with a little SUV style. For the latest generation, Citroen's leaned harder into the SUV angle, with a bluff front end and chunky, square bodywork. It's grown a little too, but not without reason as the C3 Aircross can actually be optioned with seven-seats, making it one of the smallest cars with three rows. There's a choice of simple petrol power, or a smoother and more efficient hybrid engine, plus a fully electric version.
Shop used Citroen C3 Aircross cars or read our Citroen C3 Aircross review
Mercedes GLB
If you want a Mercedes with family-friendly practicality, you'd normally be looking at a huge, expensive off-roader. However, the GLB is something of an exception. It's based on the same compact platform as the A-Class hatchback, but stretches the body out into a bigger, squarer shape. As a consequence, it actually squeezes three rows of seats into the cabin, so you can bring sixth and seventh passengers as long as they're not too tall. As you'd hope from a Mercedes, material quality and design feels a cut above most rivals.
See used Mercedes GLB cars or read our Mercedes GLB review
Dacia Duster
The benefits of a blocky body aren't reserved for pricey cars, with budget-friendly models like the Dacia Duster also making heavy use of a set square. This latest Duster is, sadly, not quite the bargain its predecessors were, but it's also a substantially better all-round car. The materials used are still cheap and cheerful, but Dacia's deployed them in such a way that it makes the cabin feel charmingly rugged. There's even more space in the cabin for passengers and cargo, and the ride is better than ever, making it easier to drive long distances.
View used Dacia Duster cars or read our Dacia Duster review
Fiat Grande Panda
Fiat Pandas have always been somewhat square, with a focus on offering about as much practicality as can be squeezed from a sub-four-metre-long car. At 3,999mm long, the new Grande Panda just about meets that size requirement, but adds a taller, blockier body with just a hint of SUV proportions. The result is a respectable amount of cabin space for its size, and a car that much easier to live with than older Pandas. Since it's based on the Citroen C3, it has the same choice of fully electric or petrol-hybrid engines.
Search used Fiat cars or read our Fiat Grande Panda review
Jaecoo 7
Just in case the Jaecoo appeal wasn't obvious, let's summarise it. This is a family SUV with styling that's unsubtly cribbed from the likes of Land Rover, but at about half the price. Unsurprisingly, this combo has proved a hit with UK buyers and the Jaecoo 7 has shot up the best-selling cars list. There's a somewhat middling petrol engine in entry-level models, but we'd recommend the excellently named 'Super Hybrid' versions as they're much smoother and more powerful.
Shop used Jaecoo 7 cars or read our Jaecoo 7 review
Hyundai Santa Fe
Even among the blocky, boxy cars on this list, the Hyundai Santa Fe might be boxiest of them all. Somehow, Hyundai's engineers have given the Santa Fe flat-faced styling like an '80s off-roader, but with modern aerodynamics and punchy hybrid engines so it doesn't feel like driving an underpowered brick. Practicality, as you'd imagine, is fantastic. There's three rows like many cars here, but the Santa Fe is one of the few that'll happily seat tall adults in the sixth and seventh seats. Plus 16 cupholders throughout the cabin.
Search used Hyundai Santa Fe cars or read our Hyundai Santa Fe review
Honda Super N
Squaring off a car is all about unlocking the most interior space from the least footprint. The Honda Super N is one of the most extreme interpretations of this concept, with most of its tiny 3.6-metre length being devoted to its tall, square cabin. That means you can squeeze through the tiniest gaps Tokyo (or Tamworth) has to offer, and still be able to carry adults in the back seats. The 128-mile range should cover most drivers' daily needs, but might restrict the Super N mainly to second-car or commuting duties.
Check out used Honda cars or read our Honda reviews
Land Rover Defender
Original Land Rover Series models were boxy and square because their form was lead by their function. Today's Defender is still a blocky, boxy vehicle, but mostly because the modern market now considers this look desirable. Of course, you still get all the traditional Defender benefits like unstoppable off-road ability and a massively practical body, including the option of a third jump seat between the two front seats. Short-wheelbase 90 models are properly square, or you can go truly rectangular with the ultra-long 130 body and its bus-like proportions.
Browse used Land Rover Defender cars or read our Land Rover Defender review
Big savings on square cars
Save thousands on nearly new and used cars for sale at Motorpoint. For more choices, see our picks for the best large SUVs on sale.
