From eight excellent seven-seat SUVs, we find the one that stands aloft as carsales’ Best Family SUV for 2022
- 8. Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
- 7. Mazda CX-9
- 6. Hyundai Palisade
- 5. Mazda CX-8
- 4. Toyota Kluger
- 3. Skoda Kodiaq
- 2. Hyundai Santa Fe
- 1. Kia Sorento
To find carsales’ Best Family SUV for 2022, we’ve assembled the best seven-seat all-wheel drive large SUVs that are available today, based on a road-friendly car platform. These high-riding wagons are purpose-built to tackle a wide range of family transport duties, from the daily school run to the big interstate annual holiday. The eight models we’ve chosen all do a fine job of carrying their occupants around in comfort and style. But there’s only one that stands tallest as the best all-rounder. Let’s deliver our verdict…
The car market in Australia never stands idle, and in the case of family SUVs there’s been plenty of action over the past 12 months.
We’ve seen significant updates for the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, and milder changes brought to a variety of other models including the Hyundai Santa Fe and Mazda CX-8.
After being named carsales’ Best Family SUV in 2021, the Kia Sorento has also bolstered its standing further in the marketplace with new fuel-saving hybrid models now on sale, including the HEV on test here.
These latest upgrades and range revisions come on top of all-new model launches, generational changes or other overhauls introduced over the past 18 months for several top contenders in this class, including the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9 and, of course, the acclaimed Kia Sorento.
Using our proven assessment process, we’ve put each of the eight finalists through their paces and tested them against more than 100 criteria measured across five key areas: safety, technology, comfort and convenience, driving performance and ownership costs.
The results were incredibly close, with a solitary point separating our winner from the second placegetter, and just eight points splitting first from seventh.
This is testament to the quality of the field, but there was nonetheless a standout performer that deserves its place at the top.
So let’s count them down to find carsales’ Best Family SUV for 2022…
8. Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line has a suitcase full of impressive driving rewards, with strong performance and a ride and handling balance that’s more than a match for many newer SUVs lining up in this test.
While it covers off most expected safety features, the five-star ANCAP rating that dates back to 2016 places the Tiguan Allspace well behind its new-generation rivals.
Its infotainment system provides excellent features like gesture control, however the long-wheelbase Tiguan lacks the high-end audio sound that’s generally fitted standard at this premium level of the segment.
Comfort and convenience features are a little light on, and while the Tiguan Allspace starts out with the lowest sticker price among our eight contenders, aftersales provisions such as servicing costs are very high compared to most of its major rivals.
How much does the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line cost?
Price: $60,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 162kW/350Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 197g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)
7. Mazda CX-9
The 2022 Mazda CX-9 Azami 2.5T AWD was once the segment benchmark, and still holds up well today.
It presents a compelling case with its composed performance and road manners, as well as its comprehensive technology suite and reasonable ownership costs.
Notwithstanding those positive points, and keeping in mind Mazda’s commitment to making important updates to the model during its lifecycle, the CX-9 ultimately loses points for its lack of safety and comfort and convenience features found in new-generation rivals.
How much does the 2022 Mazda CX-9 Azami 2.5T AWD cost?
Price: $70,969 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 170kW/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 211g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)
6. Hyundai Palisade
The 2022 Hyundai Palisade Highlander 2.2D is an interesting entrant in this class, offering a big, lush and mostly well-specified cabin – in spite of the absence of expected equipment such as traffic sign recognition.
A recent four-star ANCAP safety result also doesn’t sit well with a group that includes five-star achievers under the same current testing protocols.
Performance from the diesel engine in the Palisade lacks the zing of lighter and more accomplished family SUVs lining up in this test, and its driving dynamics are not all that engaging, reducing its overall score among very capable company.
How much does the 2022 Hyundai Palisade Highlander 2.2D cost?
Price: $75,700 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/ 440Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 193g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Four star (ANCAP 2022)
5. Mazda CX-8
The 2022 Mazda CX-8 Asaki 2.2D is one of the more economical SUVs here, but doesn’t deliver the overall rewarding driving experience that some of its key rivals accomplish.
That said, the CX-8 performs well when it comes to comfort and convenience features and safety.
While it has reasonable ownership costs, the CX-8’s relatively short 10,000km service intervals will see many owners returning to the dealership more often for routine maintenance.
How much does the 2022 Mazda CX-8 Asaki 2.2D cost?
Price: $67,090 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 158g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)
4. Toyota Kluger
The 2022 Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid is the latest SUV offering from the world’s biggest car-maker, and ushers in fuel-saving petrol-electric power to the model range for the first time.
Given its generational change, you might expect that the new Kluger would be a standout performer across our assessment criteria.
Yet the changes over the previous model appear to be incremental rather than revolutionary.
The new Toyota Kluger does score very well for ownership costs, and better than average for safety, but there are marks against it in other areas such as technology and comfort and convenience.
What’s more, the Kluger does not rate as highly as some of its rivals in the overall driving performance stakes, despite obvious benefits brought with its efficient new hybrid powertrain.
How much does the 2022 Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid cost?
Price: $75,700 (plus on-road costs)
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric
Output: 142kW/242Nm (184kW combined)
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 5.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 128g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)
3. Skoda Kodiaq
The 2022 Skoda Kodiaq RS is the most enticing SUV to drive among our eight finalists.
From its smooth and strong engine performance to its secure handling and absorbent ride quality, the Czech brand’s sporty family SUV delivers on all counts in the driving performance stakes.
The Kodiaq RS also has a particularly impressive suite of infotainment technology.
It loses marks with a rather sparse comfort and convenience features list and a safety package that’s not much better than average.
How much does the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq RS cost?
Price: $68,390 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 180kW/370Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 171g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
Substantial changes during its lifecycle and ongoing tweaks to a proven formula have ensured the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander 2.2D maintains its position as one of the best family SUVs available on the Australian market.
It performs well in all areas of assessment, but perhaps most notably in comfort and convenience and technology.
At this high level, the Santa Fe really only misses out from claiming victory through minor detail points in driving performance and other departments such as safety equipment inclusions.
How much does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander 2.2D cost?
Price: $66,050 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/ 440Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 160g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)
1. Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento was named carsales’ Best Family SUV 2021 based on the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel model, so the new hybrid version came into this year’s testing with strong credentials behind it.
And as it turns out, the new petrol-electric powertrain in the 2022 Kia Sorento HEV AWD is even better than the diesel, offering excellent economy and strong performance that match well with the SUV’s accomplished ride and handling traits and class-leading refinement.
The Sorento hybrid does have higher-than-average servicing costs and shorter service intervals, dulling its otherwise bright cost-of-ownership story.
But in other areas of assessment, the Sorento more than compensates for that. It’s very close to the leaders in terms of technology, and achieves top scores for its safety and comfort and convenience features.
Combine them all and the picture is clear: the Kia Sorento is carsales’ Best Family SUV for 2022.
How much does the 2022 Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV AWD cost?
Price: $69,750 (plus on-road costs)
Powertrain: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 132kW/265Nm (169kW/350Nm combined)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 133g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)
Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV AWDHyundai Santa Fe Highlander 2.2DSkoda Kodiaq RSToyota Kluger Grande HybridMazda CX-8 Asaki 2.2DHyundai Palisade Highlander 2.2DMazda CX-9 Azami 2.5T AWDVW Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-LineSafety1817.516.517161515.515.5Technology17.517.518161716.51715Comfort and convenience1818141516171514Driving performance17.516.5181515.514.51614Ownership costs16.517151816171614Total87.586.581.58180.58079.576Position12345678
Keyword: Best Family SUV 2022: The verdict