Top six 7-seat SUVs in Australia | Auto Expert John Cadogan

Meet the Top six 7 seat SUV cars in Australia - we're talking new SUV under $50,000 here.

Full set of SUV reviews: http://www.autoexpert.com.au/buying-a-car/top-six-7-seat-suv

Seven seats in an SUV remains a fairly high-priced commodity. Remember, for $50,000 you could get 10 seats by buying two $25,000 cars. In many ways, this would be more versatile - but if you want a 7 seater SUV, after that - these are the Top six, with a recommended retail price in Australia under $50,000. Remember the full 7 seater SUV comparison is on the website.

#1 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ELITE - best 7 seater SUV
The Hyundai Santa Fe SUVis one of those rare ‘sweet spot’ vehicles. It does just about everything right. It’s very civilised to drive, and more engaging than a Kluger. Santa Fe offers the right amount of engagement for seven-seat SUV buyers. An easy contender for best diesel SUV.

#2 KIA SORENTO
The Kia Sorento SUV is in runout mode - so it’s almost time to say ‘hello’ 2015 Sorento - which promises to be every bit as good as its Hyundai counterpart, but with a seven-year warranty and a good petrol V6, not unlike the Kluger’s, if the diesel option does not appeal. Brilliant value right there - but the soon-to-be-superseded model. If you jump now, remember that resale will take a hit the nanosecond the new model goes on sale.

#3 TOYOTA KLUGER GXL
Nobody ever got fired for buying a Toyota - and the Toyota Kluger SUV is a hugely safe bet. It’s made in the USA, primarily for the US market, and they do like their loungerooms on wheels over there in North America. So the Kluger is comfortable and quiet, somewhat uninspiring - but people like that. At least, some people do. This is a quintessential de facto family station wagon - but it gets, by defaut, zero out of 10 for excitement, and the Kluger cannot match the two vehicles ahead of it here on warranty or value.

#4 HOLDEN COLORADO 7 LT
The Colorado 7 SUV is a spinoff of the Colorado ute. It’s made in Thailand, on a platform shared with the Isuzu MU-X - more on that in a sec.
Unlike all other vehicles in this report, the Holden Colorado 7 has real, serious off-road capability. It has a low-range gear set, and a huge three-tonne tow capacity. I’m thinking boat, caravan, car trailer, family onboard, big drive in the sand dunes: this is the one.

#5 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER EXCEED
The Mitsubishi Outlander SUV is on this list because, like X-TRAIL, it’s an affordable way to get into seven seats - only this time, fully loaded. You can get the works burger of Mitsubishi Outlanders - the Exceed - for well under $50,000 (recommended retail, here in Australia). It’s a pretty good deal. Mitsubishi is the only Japanese company routinely offering a five-year warranty. The Outlander is Japanese-built. Unlike X-TRAIL, you get on-demand all-wheel drive, and a heap of standard equipment.

#6 NISSAN X-TRAIL ST-L - best cheap SUV
The Nissan X-TRAIL SUV is on this list because it’s the most affordable way to go for seven seats on a budget if you don’t want to sit in a stripped-out poverty pack. That’s partly because it’s front-drive - essentially like a car with some added ground clearance. Absolutely no good for anything approaching off-road adventure. All seven-seat X-TRAILs are front-drive, perversely. And the third seating row is hardly plush or spacious - but it’s nice to have back there for those times when you’re the one carrying around your kids and some of their friends.

This report is like speed dating the seven-seat SUV market. If you need more information you can contact me online at AutoExpert.com.au, and I will personally help you save thousands buying the right vehicle at the right price. No abhorent face-to-face negotiation with a car dealer. You’ll miss that. I know.

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