Five new family SUVs with a design twist you can buy on carsales

SUVs have become the go-to choice for Aussie families and for good reason. They’re spacious, practical and usually loaded with safety features. But let’s face it, not all SUVs are created equal, especially when it comes to design.

If you’re after something that stands out in the school drop-off queue or turns heads in the local car park, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year. From edgy electric newcomers to sharply styled crossovers, these five family-friendly SUVs bring serious visual flair without compromising on function.

Best of all? You can find them all right here on carsales.

Peugeot’s 408 Hybrid challenges SUV conventions with a sleek fastback crossover design that blends high-riding practicality with coupe-like drama.

Its elevated stance and wide track give it confident SUV presence, but it’s that rear three-quarter angle where the design really flexes. The sharply creased D-pillar flows into an integrated black roof spoiler and contrasting rear panel, creating a floating-roof illusion that screams European flair.

It’s perfect for parents who want an SUV that doesn’t look like every other SUV at the school gate.

Find your own Peugeot 408 here on carsales

Making a grand entrance into Australia’s electric SUV scene, the Cadillac LYRIQ is a showstopper with its bold, sculpted surfaces and long, flowing silhouette.

Built on GM’s Ultium EV platform, it sits low and wide for an SUV yet maintains a commanding stance that’s impossible to miss. The D-pillar treatment is pure drama.

A blacked-out C- and D-pillar combo gives the roof a floating effect, white it’s accented by full-width LED lighting and intricate detailing. It’s the kind of school-run chariot that turns heads before the bell rings.

Find your own Cadillac LYRIQ here on carsales

From Changan’s new premium EV brand Deepal, the S07 introduces a thoroughly modern SUV design that breaks from tradition.

It rides high and proud, with a tapered greenhouse and sculpted flanks that accentuate its EV underpinnings. Around the rear, the D-pillar dives steeply into a coupe-style tailgate and seamlessly blends into a gloss black wraparound panel visually stretching the roofline and lending it a sporty, tech-forward vibe.

This is the SUV for style-conscious parents looking to break the EV mould.

Find your own Deepal S07 here on carsales

The reborn Actyon keeps its adventurous SUV DNA alive with chunky proportions, squared-off wheel arches and a tough-looking stance. But it’s no longer just about ruggedness.

KGM (formally KGM SsangYong, formerly SsangYong) has given it a more refined edge. The D-pillar is thickset, yet modern, with subtle sculpting that reinforces the vehicle’s muscular shoulders while smoothing the transition to the rear hatch.

It’s a bold look that balances utilitarian SUV cues with a fresh Korean design twist, ideal for parents who want utility without blandness.

Find your own KGM Actyon here on carsales

Toyota’s first dedicated electric SUV cuts a striking silhouette, with sharp creases, aerodynamic detailing, and a slightly futuristic vibe.

The SUV ride height and black plastic cladding signal its crossover intentions, but the overall shape is smoother and more coupe-like than a traditional family hauler. Look closely at the D-pillar as it features a distinctive blacked-out triangular section that kinks dramatically into the tailgate, visually lowering the rear while enhancing its sporty posture.

This is the family SUV for early adopters who want to stand out from every angle.

Find your own Toyota bZ4X here on carsales

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