As the name suggests, these sit between small and large SUVs, but the technical definition puts most medium SUVs between 4.4m and 4.8m in length. A medium SUV typically offers a roomier cabin than a small SUV and some models have seven-seat options, albeit with limited third-row space.
Motoring
Medium vs large family SUV: What’s the difference and which is best?
SUVs are the most popular type of new vehicle in Australia, but there’s a lot of choice between medium and large family SUVs, including seating layout and powertrain. Which should you buy?
Just like your favourite fast-food restaurant, sometimes when it comes to buying a new SUV you might get the upsell. After all, what’s better than a medium chips? A large chips, of course!
But getting a few extra fries for a few more dollars is a different story when it comes to spending thousands of dollars on a medium or large SUV. Both are considered family sized, yet vehicles in both categories might be available with five or seven seats.
Increasingly, there’s also now a choice between EV, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and traditional petrol or diesel engines, while ongoing maintenance and running costs are dependent on factors such as powertrain and vehicle mass.
“There is just so much choice in the modern SUV market that everyone should be able to find exactly the right model to fit their unique circumstances,” says RACV Motoring Editor Terry Martin. “They have become the new family car of choice, but families come in all shapes and sizes and with different needs and priorities, so knowing what you’re looking for will help you make the best decision for you.”
In this guide we’ll take you through the pros and cons of each size, and explain which ones suit you best depending on your lifestyle, budget and driving needs.
Using RACV Car Match is also an easy way to compare models, pricing, running costs and other key details – and to find your current car’s estimated market value to help when budgeting.
More: Research and compare new cars, SUVs and utes on sale today in Australia
In this article
Should I buy a medium SUV over a large SUV?
Given the range of choices available across both medium and large SUVs, but especially the medium segment, the key question you need to ask yourself is how much space do you need?
For those with smaller families – or without a family – and a predominantly urban lifestyle, a medium SUV will be the sweet spot in terms of its size and practicality, as well as its driving nature and ease to park.
There is also an array of choices when it comes to powertrains, with plenty of conventional petrol models, a number of diesel-powered alternatives and a growing number of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric options.
Medium SUV pros:
- Diverse choice: There are plenty of sizes, shapes, powertrains and prices to choose from.
- Spacious boot: For family buyers who need to stow a stroller, sports equipment or school bags, a medium SUV often offers enough space.
- Family friendly: A bigger back seat and boot often mean that a mid-size SUV is ideal for growing families.
- Competitive market: With so much competition there are often plenty of deals in this segment if you look carefully or negotiate well.
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Medium SUV cons:
- Less space: It’s stating the obvious, but a medium SUV will likely have less interior room than a large SUV alternative. That said, EV packaging can allow a medium SUV to offer a very roomy cabin.
- Seating limitations: While there are seven-seater medium SUVs available, the third row is often quite cramped.
- Less off-road capable: If you’re looking for an SUV for camping or off-road trips, large SUVs offer better options.
- Lower towing capacity: Medium SUVs often have smaller engines than large SUVs, which translates to less towing capability.
Top 10 Best Medium SUVs to consider:
- Toyota RAV4 – Consistently Australia’s favourite SUV, and for good reason with its combination of dependability, space and value. Available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
- Mazda CX-5 – The arch-rival to the RAV4, Mazda’s latest CX-5 offers a more premium interior experience but a familiar drive – albeit one that doesn’t have hybrid power at this stage.
- Tesla Model Y – For many this is ‘the’ electric SUV, and that’s reflected in its strong sales performance.
- BYD Sealion 7 – A direct rival to the Model Y but for a lower price, which is why it has become a popular choice.
- Chery Tiggo 7 – One of the most affordable medium SUVs you can find today, starting at less than $30,000 drive-away – and which also offers a plug-in hybrid option for less than $40,000.
- Hyundai Tucson – A long-time medium SUV favourite but now available with hybrid options to expand its appeal. A new-generation Tucson is coming soon.
- Kia Sportage – The Tucson’s twin underneath, the Kia Sportage is another long-term family favourite for medium SUV buyers.
- Mitsubishi Outlander – One of the first plug-in hybrids offered in Australia and still one of the roomiest medium SUVs. Offers seven seats in higher grades.
- Audi Q5 – It does all the things you expect from a medium SUV but does it all with an extra layer of luxury.
- Zeekr 7X – The Chinese brand has won over many Australians with its stylish electric SUV, which impresses on many levels.
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Should I buy a large SUV over a medium SUV?
Do you have a growing family? Or enjoy off-road trips? Perhaps tow a boat or caravan? If any of these (or all of them) sound like you, then a large SUV may be the best choice for you.
Large SUVs like the Ford Everest and Toyota LandCruiser Prado are amongst the most popular SUVs in Australia these days, thanks to the combination of space and capability they offer. Both are capable of fitting a family of five, or seven, have plenty of off-road capability and can tow up to 3500kg.
Not that all large SUVs are designed for getting off-road or towing heavy loads. There are several more urban-focused and quite refined mainstream large SUVs to choose from these days. This list would include the likes of the Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-80 and Volkswagen Tayron.
While diesel engines are on the decline, there are still several notable turbo-diesel large SUVs as the extra pulling power is ideal for these types of bigger vehicles. But at the same time, there are plenty of newer powertrain options, including all-electric.
So, depending on your needs there will be a large SUV to suit, if that’s what you feel is best for your lifestyle.
Large SUV pros:
- Commanding on-road presence: One major selling point for large SUVs is the excellent visibility they offer, thanks to a higher seating position.
- Seven-seat space: Many large SUVs offer a third row of seating, which is helpful for larger families.
- More interior room: Even if it only has five seats, a large SUV typically offers plenty of space for its occupants and their luggage.
- Off-road potential: Several popular large SUVs are very capable off-road vehicles, perfect for camping trips and other adventures.
- Stronger engines: Bigger engines, especially turbo-diesels, allow for greater towing capacity than most medium SUVs.
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Large SUV cons:
- More expensive: For obvious reasons, a large SUV will typically cost more than an equivalent medium SUV.
- Increased fuel consumption: A bigger vehicle typically leads to higher fuel consumption, so you must choose carefully. If you don’t plan on going off-road or towing, a more urban-focused hybrid or EV could make more sense.
- Higher running costs: Another obvious issue is a bigger SUV with a larger engine typically means higher servicing and running costs.
- Harder to park: Bigger isn’t always better; the extra size can make for a more challenging driving experience, especially when it comes to parking in the city and suburbs.
Top 10 Best Large SUVs to consider:
- Ford Everest – The Blue Oval brand’s Australian-developed large SUV is at home in both the city and the bush.
- Toyota Prado – A long-running favourite for families who love adventure.
- Isuzu MU-X – Based on the Isuzu D-Max ute, the MU-X has excellent off-road and towing capability.
- Hyundai Santa Fe – More urban friendly and available with seven seats and hybrid power.
- Chery Tiggo 8 – A good-value option with both petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.
- BYD Sealion 8 – The Chinese brand’s seven-seat plug-in hybrid combines space and efficiency.
- Kia EV9 – The South Korean brand has the seven-seat Kia Sorento with petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, but the EV9 is the large family SUV for those looking for an EV.
- Subaru Outback – Blurs the line between a wagon and SUV, albeit less so with the latest generation, but it has been a popular choice for decades because of its practicality.
- BMW X5 – A popular choice for those looking for a large SUV with a luxury twist.
- Land Rover Defender – Land Rover combines luxury with off-road capability for those who want the best of both worlds.
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Medium SUV vs large SUV – Buyer’s checklist
To make sure you make the right choice, ask yourself the following questions and the answers should point you in the right direction.
How big is your family?
Consider how you’ll use your SUV, specifically how many passengers will regularly travel with you. If it’s just you or you and a partner, a medium SUV will suffice. But if you’ve got children, especially older children or regularly carry extended family and friends, then a large SUV is probably better suited to your lifestyle.
Where do you tend to drive?
Do you like to explore the roads less travelled or is the urban jungle as wild as you get? If most of your driving is around the city and suburbs, a medium SUV or one of the more urban-friendly large SUVs is probably best. But if you like a weekend off-road trip, a camping adventure or plan on towing, a large SUV with more rugged credentials would be better.
What are your typical running costs?
Both medium and large SUVs are available with a wide variety of powertrain choices. However, the bigger the SUV and the bigger the engine, the more it will cost to run. Take a look at the cost of running a petrol-powered SUV compared to a plug-in hybrid and EV, not just the up-front costs. The best way to compare running cost data is with RACV Car Match. You can also check out real-world fuel economy results under the Australian Automobile Association’s Real-World Testing Program (RWTP), which includes electric vehicles.
How safe is this car?
New SUVs, both medium and large, should be fitted with a high level of safety equipment, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These can vary between brands and models in how they react to Australian driving conditions, so test them out before you buy. Always look for a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on the latest testing protocols where possible, while for older cars you can check out Australia’s Used Car Safety Ratings. Automatic collision notification systems with emergency call (eCall) are also becoming increasingly common.
What does it feel like to drive?
The old adage still holds true today: try before you buy. Before you make a definitive decision on size, get out and drive both a medium SUV and a large SUV to work out which one you’re most comfortable with during your regular driving routine.
A large SUV, sometimes called ‘full-size’, is broadly defined as measuring more than 5.0m in length, but the rest of the definition is less clear. Some large SUVs are available with only four or five seats while others can have seven- or even eight-seater layouts. Another major difference is the underpinnings, with some built the same way as a passenger car while others use more rugged ute-based platforms for improved off-road and towing capability.
As mentioned above, the large SUV market is quite diverse but can be split into two primary segments – urban and off-road. An urban SUV is typically built on what’s called a ‘monocoque’ chassis, which is how most passenger cars are built. These are SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Kluger. An off-road SUV, sometimes referred to as a 4x4, is based on a ‘body-on-frame’ chassis, a stronger but simpler platform that allows for better off-road and towing capability. Often they share the chassis with a ute, as seen with the Ford Everest (Ranger) and Isuzu MU-X (D-Max), for example.
While it depends on the particular models you’re comparing, SUVs offer some notable differences over a conventional passenger car, such as a hatchback or sedan. An SUV will typically sit higher off the ground, which means better visibility and more ground clearance (although that doesn’t always translate to better off-road performance). Some SUVs can offer more interior space and boot capacity, too.
A hybrid car (HEV) uses a petrol engine with a small battery that can’t be externally charged, while a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) adds a larger battery which you can plug in for limited electric-only driving. A BEV is fully electric and runs solely on battery power.
The best place to compare running costs, servicing, insurance and other expenses involved in car ownership is by visiting the RACV Car Match website. It allows you to compare thousands of cars to get a clearer picture of what you’ll be paying.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
