If you're after a family SUV, the Toyota RAV4 is a great choice.
It's well made, practical and as easy to drive as it is to use. But just because it's the obvious choice, doesn't mean its necessarily the right one for you and your family.
You'll find loads of excellent family SUVs in this segment, and here are 10 of the very best Toyota RAV4 rivals. Most are available as great-value nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.
Honda CR-V
If you're after a reliable family SUV from a Japanese brand and you don't want the RAV4, the Honda CR-V is the next most obvious choice. It's a little bigger than the RAV4 and a few thousand pounds more expensive as a brand-new car, although the difference is mostly erased by the time they hit the used market. Like the RAV4, you'll find hybrid engines under the bonnet, with a full-hybrid suiting most drivers and a plug-in-hybrid option if you have the ability to recharge at home.
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Nissan X-Trail
Unlike the RAV4 and CR-V, which lean towards the larger end of the two-row SUV class, the Nissan X-Trail squeezes an optional third row into its square cargo area. While adults won't want to sit in the cramped sixth and seventh seats for very long, they're useful in a pinch if you have more passengers than you expected. Once you fold away the third row, you're left with a very spacious cabin and a big, useful boot. Under the bonnet, there's a choice of mild-hybrid petrol power or Nissan's innovative E-Power range-extender EV.
See used Nissan X-Trail cars or read our Nissan X-Trail review
Kia Sportage
Moving away from the Japanese brands, cars like the Kia Sportage have a similarly practical cabin and upright feel as the RAV4, with a slightly more accessible price tag. That means your budget will stretch to a newer, lower-mileage or higher-spec Sportage. The infotainment system is even more modern than the RAV4 and Kia's standard equipment list is famously generous. It might not have the solid-gold reliability reputation Toyota enjoys, but the Sportage comes backed by Kia's competitive seven-year transferrable warranty.
Browse used Kia Sportage cars or read our Kia Sportage review
Volkswagen Tiguan
The new Volkswagen Tiguan sports a smoother, less brutish look, helping it seem even more subtle on the road. Its cabin has been thoroughly overhauled too, with a dramatic reduction in the number of physical controls on the dashboard, with most functions controlled through the vast central touchscreen. As you'd expect from a Volkswagen, the driving experience is less about high-speed thrills, and much more focused on being calm and composed over all road surfaces, so you can guide the Tiguan through busy streets without stress.
Search used Volkswagen Tiguan cars or read our Volkswagen Tiguan review
Dacia Bigster
Since its humble origins, the RAV4 has grown in both size and price. As a result, new models are now comfortably over £40,000, making them a little less accessible to shoppers. If you want the RAV4 experience on a budget, consider the excellently named Dacia Bigster. This takes the smaller Duster as a starting point and oversizes it in every dimension to unlock more passenger space across the two rows, plus a larger boot. Prices start far below the Toyota, so you can get a range-topping Bigster for less than an entry-level RAV4.
Ford Kuga
The Ford Kuga is now the largest SUV the brand sells in the UK after axing the Edge from its lineup. Despite this, the Kuga still occupies a similar footprint as the RAV4, with a similarly spacious interior – particularly in the second row, where there's loads of room to manoeuvre wriggling kids into their child seats. The cabin design is a little bland for our tastes but there's no criticising the way the Kuga drives, with a sense of athleticism and balance you'd normally expect to find in premium sports SUVs several times the Kuga's price.
Browse used Ford Kuga cars or read our Ford Kuga review
Peugeot 3008
While the RAV4 is rugged and utilitarian, it's not what you'd call stylish. If you want an SUV with handsome looks, check out the Peugeot 3008. It cuts a fine form with sharp bodywork and angular details from nose to tail – enhanced if you pick one of the 3008's eye-catching metallic shades. There's a choice of mild-hybrid petrol power under the bonnet, or a fully electric model with an impressive range in excess of 400 miles. Inside, the design is refreshingly avant-garde compared to some more conventional rivals, helping the 3008 feel special.
View used Peugeot 3008 cars or read our Peugeot 3008 review
Hyundai Tucson
If the Kia Sportage above doesn't quite do it for you, consider its mechanical cousin – the Hyundai Tucson. This model has an even more outlandish design than the Kia, with segmented headlights that blend into the broad front grille and neat, faceted surfacing down its sides. Like the Sportage, there's a choice of conventional petrol power, as well as full-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engines. It might be a touch smaller than the RAV4, but your family will have to work hard to totally fill the Tucson's spacious cabin.
Shop used Hyundai Tucson cars or read our Hyundai Tucson review
Land Rover Discovery Sport
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is substantially smaller and more manageable than the full-fat Discovery, but it still squeezes up to seven seats into its city-friendly frame. What's more, it retains the legendary off-road chops of the company's larger cars, with grippy four-wheel drive and lots of ground clearance. A heavy update in 2019 enhanced the fixtures and fittings in line with more premium Land Rovers, helping the Discovery Sport feel as posh as you'd hope based on its hefty price tag and running costs.
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Cupra Terramar
A fairly recent model from a fairly new company, the Cupra Terramar is what you get if you give the bones of the Volkswagen Tiguan to SEAT's sporty off-shoot brand. To distinguish it from its German cousin, the Terramar gets pointier styling with beady headlights that contain Cupra's triangular LED motifs. On the road, the Terramar feels solid and stable, while range-topping models get trick dampers to enhance both body control and ride comfort. Both turbo-petrol and plug-in-hybrid engines are available, with the latter covering 76 miles of electric driving.
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Find the perfect family SUV
Browse an enormous choice of nearly new and used SUVs from Motorpoint. To see more potential options, see the best family SUVs on sale.
