2020 carsales Best Family SUV: Cabin and cargo space

Accommodation and packaging (as it’s more technically known) are of upmost importance to family SUV buyers. A seven-seat SUV needs to be roomy but also easy to manage, with space for the family, friends, pets and all of their odds and ends. We’ve run the tape over the cabins of our nine SUV rivals to see which makes the best use of its inner space, and which is the most flexible for family buyers.

With a mix of true seven-seaters and slightly smaller ‘5+2’ models in the 2020 carsales Best Family SUV judging, it might seem that bigger should always be better.

But in considering the intelligent use of space and the availability flexible storage, there are clear differences between the smaller entrants on test and those like the full-size Holden Acadia.

Our judges felt the Acadia “lacked a little finesse” and that “everything was a little less precise” when compared to the rivals gathered here. On the plus side, the Holden Acadia does offer a genuinely spacious interior with good seating and outward vision.

The only criticism from the front seat came regarding the pedal box, which our assessors think is set too far inboard for comfort.

The Holden’s second row of seats offer a stadium-style arrangement for excellent visibility and with decent storage and ventilation is both spacious and passenger friendly. Access to the third row was judged as one of the best on test. Large rear windows should be great for staving off travel sickness.

Further back, the Acadia offers generous cargo space with remote operation for the folding of the second-row seats.

The only downside to the spacious Holden Acadia in terms of its cargo area comes from the large gaps between the seats when using the SUV in two-seat mode. The Acadia is equipped with a roller-style cargo cover and is fitted with a space-saver spare wheel beneath the cargo area floor.

The Hyundai Santa Fe delivers substantial front seat accommodation with excellent seat support and sound ergonomics. Vision is not as clear as the larger Acadia (not surprisingly), but the level of adjustability here is a step above the Holden in almost every way.

Move to the second row and the Santa Fe maintains its roomy feel. The seats are comfortable and offer sun protection from roll-up blinds, as well as excellent visibility courtesy of a low shoulder line.

Ventilation controls and seat heaters are also offered here. In fact, the Santa Fe’s second-row amenity levels are at least a match with the best on test.

Alas the Santa Fe shows it’s a ‘5+2’ seat SUV (similar to the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace) when it comes to the third row of seats. These seats are best thought of as a great fit for younger kids or a temporary solution for lanky teenagers and adults.

Visibility is improved against the outgoing model with larger rear glass in the back, but access to the rear is a little tight and the space behind the third row of seats is virtually non-existent with seven passengers on board.

The Santa Fe does offer ventilation and ventilation controls to the third row of seats. The third row stows flat when not in use and the Santa Fe offers push-button folding of the second row of seats and a touch-free tailgate.

The cargo floor is flat with very small gaps between the seats when viewed as a two-seater and there’s a full-size matching spare wheel under the car – meaning you don’t have to unload the boot if you get a flat tyre.

Much like its Santa Fe cousin, the Kia Sorento brings a premium feel to its generously spacious cabin.

Our judges found the Sorento’s front seats well sculpted and genuinely supportive. The adjustment on offer compliments very good visibility to deliver a secure feel at the wheel.

There’s plenty of oddment trays and decent-sized door pockets in the Sorento, but the glovebox feels small when compared to others on test. Pedal placement is, however, spot on. So too is the level of adjustment offered from the Kia’s steering column.

Like the Santa Fe, the Sorento offers ventilation outlets to the second and third rows of seats with a ventilation control in the latter. Space and finish in the second row is on par with the Hyundai. The inclusion of retractable window blinds and multiple cup-holders are another plus for backseat passengers.

The Sorento’s third-row seating feels slightly larger than the Hyundai Santa Fe’s and is easier to get in and out of, according to our 182cm-tall judge.

The Kia’s third row offers fold-flat capability when reverting to five-seat mode, and with all of the seats flipped flat there is little in the way of a gap between the seats. A roller-style cargo blind is included in the Sorento, as is a full-size matching alloy wheel located beneath the rear of the car.

While our judges didn’t find much to criticise in the front seats of the Mazda CX-8, storage volume is a little smaller than most vehicles on test. The cabin also feels a little narrower but is otherwise ergonomically sound and easy to see from.

Second-row seating is well-cushioned but lacks the lateral support of, for example, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Skoda Kodiaq. Window blinds, map pockets and cup-holders contribute to the amenity of the Mazda CX-8’s second-row seats, as do the inclusion of ventilation controls on the rear of the console.

The Mazda CX-8 might not be as easy for younger passengers to see out of (especially in the third row of seats), but it does offer decent space for two passengers side-by-side – even in the third row.

What’s interesting about the Mazda CX-8 is that although it might seem similar in size to the Hyundai Santa Fe, its overall length allows third-row passengers to ‘walk out’ of their seats with much greater ease. Points off, however, for the lack of face-level or ceiling-mounted ventilation outlets back here.

Cargo space was deemed good in the Mazda CX-8, though the big gaps between the seats in two-seat mode is very disappointing. The Mazda is equipped with a temporary (or space-saver) spare wheel beneath the cargo floor, which means you will need to unload the boot if you happen to get a flat tyre.

Much like the CX-8, the front seat of the Mazda CX-9 looks and feels quite luxurious. The cabin of the CX-9 is not as narrow as the CX-8’s, and so although it features similar levels of oddment storage and amenity, it is more spacious. Ergonomics and visibility are first-rate.

The second-row seats of the Mazda CX-9 are equipped with similar amenity and convenience features to those in the CX-8, too, but the CX-9 offers more shoulder- and head-room. Not so legroom – amazingly, our judges felt there was less in the second row of the CX-9 than the CX-8, despite Mazda's brochure saying the two are identical. Go figure!

Like the CX-8, the CX-9 offers walk-in, walk-out access to the third row of seats. Rearmost seat space is virtually identical to the CX-8, however, and like that model there are no face-level or ceiling-mounted ventilation outlets to the third row.

The CX-9 offers cup-holders and a couple of storage trays in the third row of seats, but the side windows are on the small side.

In seven-seat configuration, the CX-9 offers one of the best levels of cargo space in this test. There’s plenty of storage beneath the floor, too; though some of this is consumed by a temporary (or space-saver) spare wheel.

With all of the seats folded flat, the Mazda CX-9 does present a large gap between the row of seats, meaning it’s easy to lose or jam objects before reverting back to five- or seven-seat mode.

Competing in the same market segment as the CX-9, the Nissan Pathfinder is one of the more spacious seven-seat SUVs on test.

Unfortunately, the aging Pathfinder feels dated in many respects. The lack of shape in the front seats and the shallow centre console were just two points noted by our carsales Best Family SUV judges.

That aside, the Pathfinder offers decent amenity levels in the first and second rows and overall space rivalling the best on test. The second row of seats offer a fold-down armrest, ventilation controls and ventilation outlets, as well as cup and bottle-holders for both outboard passengers.

In the third row of seats there’s decent space – and the best third-row access of any car on test here. The seat itself lacks cushioning, however, and won’t be comfortable for long.

Visibility is quite good from the Pathfinder’s third row with “fabulously huge” rear windows offering an open view for even the shortest of back-seat passengers. The third row offers cup-holders and ventilation outlets but no ventilation controls (this is managed exclusively from the front seat).

Along with the Holden Acadia and Toyota Kluger, the Nissan Pathfinder offers the best cargo space of any vehicle here. There’s a deep tray beneath the cargo area floor for additional (and secure) storage, but like many of these SUVs there’s also a large gap between the folded seats in two-seat mode.

The Pathfinder is equipped with a space-saver spare wheel beneath the vehicle.

The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the smaller seven-seaters here – but not as small as you might first think. In the front row, there is plenty of space to spread out, and a well thought-out feel to the level of amenity offered.

Storage is both clever and generous – indeed, the Kodiaq’s ergonomics are a highpoint of a cabin that’s both comfortable and cossetting.

The second row of seats is likewise spacious and provides generous levels of amenity. The Kodiaq Sportline on test includes window blinds, ventilation outlets and controls, seat heating and a fold-down armrest, but interestingly no USB outlets (only a standard 12v outlet in the rear of the centre console).

The Kodiaq’s third row of seats is a better fit for younger children and access in and out is tight for adults. The seats themselves provided good support and the view out is decent. Unfortunately, the Skoda Kodiaq doesn’t offer face-level or roof-mounted ventilation outlets to the third row of seats.

For its size, the Skoda Kodiaq offers adequate cargo space and some of the best flexibility on test. The second row of seats, for example, folds 40:20:40 and the floor is mostly flat in two-seat mode.

Skoda offers plenty of incidental amenities too. The Kodiaq is equipped with a removable LED torch, a pair of blankets, cargo cover, umbrellas (which stow inside the front doors when not in use) and even removable footrest extensions for the second row of seats.

A space-saver spare wheel is housed beneath the cargo area floor.

On initial inspection, the front seats of the Toyota Kluger feel large and accommodating, but after a few hours at the wheel they lack support. That important point aside, the Kluger maintains a ‘large feeling’ front of house and the volume and number of storage options is a real boon for family buyers.

The theme of spaciousness continues in the Kluger’s second row. There’s plenty of room for three back here and the ventilation controls in the rear of the centre console and roof-mounted ventilation outlets will win friends. Outward visibility is, in general, very good, though smaller children may find the Kluger’s shoulder-line a little high.

The larger proportions of the Toyota are obvious when viewed against 5+2 models like the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace – no surprise then that our judges found the third row quite easy to access.

The Kluger has adjustment for recline in row three too and, as it sits higher than the second row (stadium-style), it offers a great view out – even for younger children.

There are no ventilation controls in the third row, but there is a pair of roof-mounted ventilation outlets controlled via the front seat.

The Kluger offers plenty of cargo space in five- and two-seat configuration, and includes a retractable cargo cover and under-floor storage area like many of the others on test. As is the case with some of the larger SUVs here, the Kluger does present a large gap between the folded seats when operated in two-seat mode.

The Toyota Kluger’s full-size spare wheel is mounted underneath its rear.

It’s interesting to note the differences between the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. Although overall cabin dimensions are not significantly different, utilisation of the space is another story entirely.

Volkswagen seems to take a different tack when fitting storage cubbies and bins to its cabin. The Tiguan Allspace doesn’t have a twin-tier glovebox, for example, and has a smaller console tray ahead of the gear lever.

And while the seats themselves don’t feel as supportive as the bucket-style seats in the Skoda, their adjustment and the visibility offered from them is likewise excellent.

The second row of seats in the Tiguan Allspace is positioned at a great height for children and adults to get in and out of, and the view out is exceptional. The stadium-style seats are equipped with deep bolstering and boast both ventilation controls and ventilation outlets.

A fold-down armrest and numerous cup-holders are included, as are fold-up aircraft-style tray tables – which also lock half-way to support iPads and the like.

The commonalities between the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace are reinforced in the third row.

Accommodation here is best suited to younger children and there are no face-level or roof-mounted ventilation outlets, let alone ventilation controls. The VW’s rear windows, like the Kodiaq’s, are well sized to alleviate claustrophobia, according to our judges.

A carpeted cover in the floor of the Tiguan Allspace’s cargo area conceals the roller-style cargo blind when not in use, and there are remote releases for the second row of seats. The Volkswagen also includes a removable LED torch, and there’s a space-saver spare wheel beneath the cargo area floor.

It was difficult scoring full-size seven-seat SUVs against 5+2 models in this part of our 2020 carsales Best Family SUV deliberations. Thus when factoring in the ‘amount of space’ versus the ‘clever use of space’ the scoring here is very close.

But in the end, our judges split the win in a three-way tie. The Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Kluger shared top place, each presenting a level of space, amenity and flexibility that we feel suits families with older or taller children down to the ground.

Top three Scoreboard:
=1st Mazda CX-9 (16.5/20)
=1st Nissan Pathfinder (16.5/20)
=1st Toyota Kluger (16.5/20)

2020 carsales Best Family SUV