SUVs are growing to be smarter, better looking and more practical. With some of them offering seating for up to 8 while not losing out of their comfort or off-roading ability, they are turning out to be great options over both sedans and people carriers.

There are SUVs and then there are off roaders. While the big, boxy SUVs of previous years like the Chevy Suburban and Ford Expedition are still around, manufacturers from across the world decided to take a different approach to building vehicles that could not only seat 7 in comfort but also be equally capable on and off the road. The first order of business was to get rid of the archaic truck platform that older SUVs were built upon and start afresh because that was the best way to create something fresh.

What came as a result of their out of the box thinking and wanting more from less, are the new generation of big yet agile SUVs that offer the best of all worlds; combining car like handling and seating comfort with generous off road and towing abilities. Currently, there are 7 seater SUVs across all price ranges and you can even make a decision based on how much of the rough you want your SUV to deal with or if it is going to be a pure city car with the occasional highway drive out of town. These then are the next level of motoring.

Audi Q7
Back then, the Q7 was Audi’s first attempt at making an SUV and to say they hit the nail on the head would be an understatement. The Q7 was a runaway success with Audi finding customers being pulled to it rather than having to go the other way around. With a large body featuring a rather attractive design and choice of fantastic petrol and diesel engines, the Q7 has a solution for those looking for a blend of style and economy as well as outright power. The 3.0L TFSi gasoline V6 engine is available in two states of tune – 272 hp / 295 lb-ft and 333 hp / 325 lb-ft. There’s also a brilliant 3.0L V6 TDi diesel engine which makes 245 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque besides delivering fantastic economy for its size – up to 26 mpg US. There’s also an even larger 4.2L V8 TDi which makes 335 hp and a tarmac-churning 561 lb-ft of torque. The quattro intelligent four wheel drive system has evolved over the years and offers some of the best and most confidence-inspiring handling characteristics on any large passenger vehicle presently available.

Today amidst heavy competition, the Q7 still enjoys good sales figures and encouraging reviews. It is a very comfortable car and features a lot of equipment, especially on the entertainment front. The only drawback is that the third row of seats isn’t the most spacious, and is comfortable for children rather than grown adults.

BMW X5
A BMW has and always will be considered to be the ultimate driving machine,