On the fifth day of Christmas…

If you’re planning a family road trip, these five SUVs deliver the space, comfort, and tech to make every kilometre a breeze.

The Kia Sportage has been king of the medium SUV hill for years now, and thanks to its mid-life update earlier this year, there’s now no weak link in its line-up.

But in the context of road trips, it’s impossible to look past the gutsy 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine – now a Sportage USP – offered on every trim level.

It pulls hard when over taking, doesn’t suffer in the hills when fully loaded, uses less fuel than any of the petrols or hybrids (on the open road) and comes with all-wheel drive by default, meaning it’s always secure on the road irrespective of the conditions.

The flagship GT Line is loaded with premium touches like leather upholstery, heated, cooled and power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic roof, ambient lighting, a head-up display, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, rear window shades and dual-zone climate control just to name a few.

An Aussie-tuned chassis, plenty of room (543L boot, heaps of rear legroom), all the required safety tech, good looks and a powertrain for all, the Sportage is near perfect for family road trips.

While it’s pitched a bit more upmarket than the CX-8 it replaces and is by no means a class-leader, the Mazda CX-80 makes for a very handy family road trip bus.

Both the turbocharged six-cylinder engines (petrol and diesel) prove effortless on the cruise with oodles of torque and great levels of refinement, using an impressively small amount of fuel in the process.

Long gearing, soft suspension and heaps of space for people and cargo alike means the CX-80 wafts along the open road comfortably and quietly, especially in GT form which is arguably the sweet spot for equipment and value.

Those with a bigger budget or in need of even more space can look at the CX-90 but be warned, the ride is a fair bit firmer and the fuel consumption higher due to more weight and different engine tunes.

Still, the flipside of that stiff ride, for those who enjoy driving, are significantly sharper dynamics, so it all depends on your definition of a road trip really.

Hyundai’s 2025 Santa Fe might look bold, but it’s one of the best vehicles in its segment as well as one of the most versatile if you opt for an XRT option pack.

With turbo-petrol and turbo-hybrid powertrains available as well as front- and all-wheel drive options, the Santa Fe caters to a wide audience and offers plenty of tech across the range – dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless device charging, 360-degree camera, wireless phone projection, connected services etc – with plenty of room for seven people.

Stash the third row and you’ve got 628 litres of boot space on offer and up to 1963-litres with the second row folded as well.

The 1.6-litre hybrid system uses less than 6L/100km on the combined cycle and while the Sonata-sourced 2.5-turbo uses a fair bit more (9.3L/100km), it counters its thirst with lusty performance – perfect for highway overtakes.

The 2025 Ford Everest combines rugged capability with comfort for those rugged getaways.

Built on a sound body-on-frame platform, it offers seating for up to seven, can tow 3500kg (braked), offers comfort and dynamics few ladder-frame models can match and will get to even the most secluded camping sports.

All Everest 4x4s come with dual-range gearing and a rear differential lock, but those wanting to go further than the average bear can opt for the Tremor which adds more ground clearance and aggressive tyres, rides on Bilstein dampers and a ‘Rock Crawl’ off-road drive for gnarly terrain.

Browse SUVs and crossovers on carsales and find your perfect family holiday companion.

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