Best Family SUV 2022: Driving performance

Stripping things back to basics, the eight contenders for carsales’ Best Family SUV 2022 are all built to cover the same brief – carry up to seven occupants and their luggage.

However, the design parameters as far as driving performance are concerned are quite diverse.

A big and thirsty engine is no longer the mainstay when it comes to family transport, with all car-makers now in pursuit of better fuel economy while still providing acceptable – if not strong – engine performance.

As such, petrol-electric hybrid powertrains are now popular and smaller turbo-petrol four-cylinder engines are replacing larger-displacement six- and eight-cylinder units. Modern turbo-diesel engines also remain valued for their pulling power and economy.

We have all three powertrain types represented here in carsales’ Best Family SUV 2022, and perhaps not surprisingly it’s the highest-displacement conventional petrol engine that’s the thirstiest – the all-wheel drive Mazda CX-9 Azami with its 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder that consumes 9.0L/100km.

At the other end of the scale, the new Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid, which uses a 2.5-litre petrol-electric powertrain, is the most efficient at 5.6L/100km.

It’s followed closely by the 1.6-litre hybrid Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV AWD at 5.8L/100km, while most of the diesels on test are still highly economical: the Mazda CX-8 Asaki 2.2D (6.0L/100km) and Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D (6.1L/100km).

The bigger and heavier Hyundai Palisade has close ties with the diesel-powered Santa Fe but can’t match it for economy at 7.3L/100km.

That leaves the two Volkswagen Group models with their 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines that consume more than the dedicated hybrid powertrains and the oil-burning diesels. The Skoda Kodiaq RS returns 7.5L/100km, while the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line manages only 8.6L/100km.

Notwithstanding these results, these two VW Group seven-seat family SUVs remain at the pointy end of the field when it comes to overall driving performance.

The Skoda Kodiaq RS has moved from a big-torque diesel engine to petrol power since last year’s Best Family SUV award, but the Czech brand’s entrant remains a stand-out in this class.

The 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is beautifully refined and pointed in its performance, and offers whip-like expediency through the gears as required, thanks to its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

We often premise our praise of this powertrain combination seen in many Volkswagen Group products on the fact that it does suffer from some low-speed hesitation and an elasticity in the power band under acceleration.

Just the same, the Skoda Kodiaq RS accelerates smartly off the line – at 6.6 seconds from 0-100km/h, it’s the quickest model on test – and provides a rewarding and reassuring driving experience with well-weighted steering, ample body control for such a large vehicle and sound contact with the road via its front-biased all-wheel drive system and grippy Continental tyres.

Even better, the Kodiaq contains an inherent refinement, excellent open-road behaviour and an acceptable ride quality. It will occasionally thud over sharper obstacles, but resists the temptation to crash.

Close to the Skoda for its enjoyable and refined road manners is the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line.

With its 162kW/350Nm four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and agile chassis, the European-bred long-wheelbase Tiguan – which is a smaller vehicle than the likes of the ‘built for America’ Toyota Kluger – has ample performance DNA.

Acceleration is punchy – only two-tenths behind the Kodiaq RS at 6.8sec from 0-100km/h – and when you reach twisting roads the Tiguan Allspace exhibits a tenacity and potency which isn’t too surprising when you consider its genetics are shared with the iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatch.

The smart seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends drive to all four wheels, which together with excellent throttle response conspires to provide the Tiguan Allspace with an excellent turn of speed.

The brakes are particularly good for a large SUV, while the chassis is also impressively balanced.

The new Kia Sorento HEV AWD might not have the sports intent found in the Kodiaq RS or Tiguan Allspace R-Line, but it’s a well-resolved large SUV that earns itself a deserved podium position for driving performance.

The Sorento hybrid builds on all of the strengths that made the classy Korean seven-seater our 2021 Best Family SUV. As well as bringing lower fuel consumption than the diesel engine that remains available in the model range, the HEV offers even more initial urge and overall flexibility thanks to its 169kW/350Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol powertrain.

The Sorento HEV offers more useful low-speed EV-only capability than the Toyota Kluger Hybrid. And this, combined with a locally-tuned chassis and class-leading refinement, ensures the Sorento hybrid is a pleasure to drive across a broad spectrum of road conditions and environments.

Close behind the Sorento is the related Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander, with its 148kW/440Nm turbo-diesel four-cylinder. The Hyundai shares a platform and many other components with the Sorento, but Hyundai’s interpretation has netted a different driving experience.

The Santa Fe is a package that ably juggles the opposing qualities of comfort and handling with a solid dose of performance with it.

There is a slight tardiness upon setting away from standstill as the engine builds adequate revs, but beyond that point the 2.2-litre diesel is quiet and refined.

The steering feels light enough at low speeds but takes on more weight and feedback when desired, while the body exhibits nice control during changes in direction. Ride comfort is another strength, given the fitment of 20-inch wheels and tyres.

Next up is the Mazda CX-9 Azami AWD, which has previously impressed us with its strong driver appeal but in recent times has slipped down the pecking order as more athletic arrivals have reached the market.

Notwithstanding the relatively high consumption, the 170kW/420Nm 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder suits the CX-9 well and doesn’t lack for much. Peak torque arrives at a low 2000rpm, which makes for almost diesel-like accessibility, and ensures excellent driveability.

In overall terms, the CX-9 remains an engaging and enjoyable drive, still standing up as a well-tuned family cruiser that blends comfort and control to impressive effect – despite first arriving in Australia in 2016.

The suspension copes well with hard hits over rough country roads as well as it does lumpy urban road surfaces.

Following closely behind is the second Mazda on test – the Mazda CX-8 Asaki with its 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, which to a large extent is the most appealing aspect of the SUV’s driving performance.

The diesel engine is simply stunning in terms of refinement, it delivers strong response from idle and yet it’s also capable of producing a wide power band up to 5500rpm or beyond.

While the CX-8’s handling is good, ride quality delivers mixed results.

At city speeds and when negotiating speed humps and the like, the CX-8 absorbs both the big knocks and smaller road imperfections well. But when encountering bumps at around 60km/h the ride resorts to an unsettling fidgeting.

Raise the speed to highway posted limits and the CX-8 feels more composed and the body control compensates for any underlying firmness.

The fourth-generation Toyota Kluger Hybrid Grande arrived last year with its 184kW/242Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain.

Despite offering the highest power output here – in a package that also is the heaviest – the hybrid combination is prone to making a lot of noise if you bury the right foot. This is a symptom of the continuously variable transmission causing engine revs to flare as well as peak power and torque arriving at a rather high 6000rpm and 4400rpm respectively.

The biggest improvement to Kluger has been in its road manners. The at-times heaving and pitching tendencies of its predecessor have been supplanted by a ride displaying a lot more composure, together with more precise steering and overall refinement.

Although the Hyundai Palisade Highlander finds itself at the bottom of the pack for driving performance among our eight finalists, that doesn’t equate to it being an insipid SUV to drive.

Not by a long shot.

For a seven-seat SUV weighing close to 2.1 tonnes, the Palisade impresses in terms of roadholding and balance. It’s comfortable and refined out on the highway, while also acquitting itself well in dynamic terms when presented with a fast stretch of winding road.

Around town, the Palisade glides over low-speed bumps, while still feeling comfortably suspended over broken bitumen. It also bypasses any heaving or pitching that some SUVs can exhibit.

That said, there’s no escaping the fact that this is a large and heavy SUV that feels hamstrung by its 147kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine.

As we’ve seen, this impacts on its fuel economy but is also noticed in various other driving situations, particularly when calling upon the engine to respond with alacrity in the cut and thrust of city traffic and when overtaking.

Best Family SUV 2022 contenders:
Hyundai Palisade Highlander 2.2D
Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander 2.2D
Kia Sorento GT-Line HEV AWD
Mazda CX-8 Asaki 2.2D
Mazda CX-9 Azami 2.5T AWD
Skoda Kodiaq RS
Toyota Kluger Grande Hybrid
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 162TSI R-Line