Step into the world of luxury family SUVs, curated exclusively for you by yours truly, a fan of both function and style. With a passion for sleek rides and an eagle eye for detail, I’ve combed through the automotive landscape to present you with a selection that redefines excellence in safety, comfort, and adaptability for your clan’s every escapade. Whether navigating urban jungles or embarking on epic road odysseys, these handpicked gems can elevate your family’s journey without breaking the bank. So buckle up and join me as we discover the perfect wheels for your tribe’s adventures.
As we delve into the cream of the SUV crop, we’ve zoomed in on four key criteria:
Supreme Comfort: Ample seating and cargo space ensure plush comfort for your entourage and accommodate all their essentials, from strollers to sporting gear to the week’s groceries.
Safety Swagger: Think of top-notch safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring because peace of mind for parents and caregivers is non-negotiable.
Versatility: These SUVs aren’t just about ferrying passengers; they’re master multitaskers with flexible seating configurations that seamlessly transition between people-hauler and cargo carrier, perfect for everything from daily routines to epic road trips.
Price Point Panache: We get it—budgets vary. But fear not! Our line-up caters to all pockets.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
Arguably one of the best value-for-money luxury SUVs in the country, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro is a standout contender in the realm of family SUVs, renowned for its exceptional features tailored to enhance every family journey. Indulge in luxury as you enter the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro cabin, where soft-touch leather meets exquisite wood grain patterns and sleek silver finishes, elevating every journey into a luxurious experience. Sink into the sumptuous artificial leather seats adorned with a diamond stitching pattern reminiscent of haute couture craftsmanship while admiring the sophisticated metal speaker grilles adorning the doors, adding a touch of elegance to the interior ambience.
Experience unparalleled comfort and convenience in the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, where luxury meets functionality at every turn. Unlike its competitors, this premium SUV offers adjustable front and middle-row seats, allowing passengers to customize their backrest angle and legroom for the ultimate ergonomic comfort. Adding to its allure, each row boasts its own air conditioning controls, ensuring personalized climate preferences for all occupants. Meanwhile, first-row passengers enjoy the indulgence of a dual-zone independent climate control system, further enhancing their journey in a lavish style. Price tag: R699 900.00 – more for less without cutting corners.
BMW X1
The BMW X1 is a top-tier choice among SUVs that effortlessly marries luxury, performance, and practicality. Whether navigating bustling streets or venturing off for weekend escapades, the BMW X1 promises a journey of comfort and style. Sink into plush seating, revel in ample legroom (you would be forgiven if you mistake the X1 for the X3), and bask in upscale interior finishes that redefine opulence on the road. Safety takes centre stage in the X1, boasting cutting-edge features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and AEB (automatic emergency braking)—your ultimate allies for worry-free drives with your precious cargo. The BMW X1 flaunts its versatility with customizable seating arrangements and abundant cargo space, effortlessly accommodating everything from quick grocery hauls to epic family vacations. And the best part? Despite its lavish amenities, the X1 keeps it honest with a price tag that won’t break the bank. Meet the BMW X1 sDrive18i xLine, priced at R921 121.00, delivering unparalleled value for families who refuse to compromise on luxury and performance.
Ford Everest
The first time I got in a Ford Everest back in 2016 was when I drove to a bat mitzvah with a friend. I thought it was a decent set of wheels, but I wasn’t blown away. Then Ford handed me the keys to their Ford Everest last year, and I fell head over heels in love. And here’s why.
The interior is where sophistication meets comfort in every detail. The interior boasts sumptuous soft-touch surfaces enveloped in plush leather and accented with sleek grey faux wood panelling inserts, exuding timeless elegance. Sink into the opulent seating, adorned with the same supple leather and featuring a beautifully quilted pattern stitched into its luxurious upholstery. As dusk falls, immerse yourself in the enchanting ambience created by the subtle mood lighting that gracefully illuminates the cabin, evoking the sensation of stargazing from the comfort of your own oasis of luxury. The versatility is next level on this luxurious 7-seater designed to accommodate the demands of a modern family lifestyle. With three full rows of seating and ample storage space, this SUV effortlessly caters to the ever-expanding needs of your family’s adventures. Should the occasion arise, fold down the seats to unveil nearly 2000 litres of storage capacity, capable of effortlessly accommodating the belongings of even the most discerning household. The tech, the handling, and the extras like 360-degree cameras all come together in the ultimate family SUV.
R1 227 000.00 is what the Ford Everest Platinum edition will cost you.
Land Rover Defender 130
Supersized and supercharged, the Defender 130 is one of our ultimate family movers. And guess what? This SUV can fit 8 people. I have been lucky enough to test the smaller Defender 90, the slightly bigger 110, and now the larger-than-life 130. Things just got bigger and better. Parking this supersized unit is somewhat daunting but comes with a 360-degree camera, so reversing is much easier. As rugged as the Defender looks on the outside, it’s luxurious living on the inside.
The ride and handling are incredibly smooth. If the saying “smooth sailing” hadn’t existed already, it might as well have been coined for this experience. Whether cruising on the open road, navigating city streets, or exploring off-the-beaten path, the 130 delivers consistently comfortable rides.
In the Defender 130, the extra row of seats isn’t just an afterthought. It’s equipped with headrests, padded armrests, storage, and USB-Cs, ensuring adults back there won’t feel cramped like in standard SUVs. The extra seating does take away from cargo space, but to solve that you can always put a Thule storage box on the roof or go old school and hitch a Venter trailer on the back. The Defender 130 will put you R1 970 800.00 out of pocket but into the pound seat.