COMPACT SUVs
Best in class:
Honda CR-V
The CR-V wins this class simply because it fills in the U bit of SUV better than pretty much any of its rivals. It has actual utility in that it has a cavernous boot and lots of room in the rear seats. The fact that it's also pleasant to drive and has reasonably sharp steering is merely a bonus, as is the fact that you can have it with a low-emissions and low-fuel-consumption 1.6-litre iDTEC diesel engine.
That's front-drive only, though, so you'll have to step up to the 2.2-litre diesel if you want actual four-wheel drive, although there is a new 160hp 1.6 with four-wheel drive coming next year.
Best one: CR-V 1.6 iDTEC ES 2WD for €33,995.
Also consider:
Audi Q5
The Q5 is almost stealthy, so understated does it look and so inoffensive is it to drive. There's none of the outré styling of the BMW X3 nor the posh connotations of a Range Rover Evoque. Still though, the Q5 is a good 'un, one of those cars where you only realise just how good it is to drive when you've spent some time with it, and it has clean, frugal and grunty 2.0-litre TDI powertrains.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Brash American styling up front, seats for seven (just about) in the back, the Santa Fe has done more to lift Hyundai' s image out of the bargain basement than any other vehicle, The current model has been around a while now, but it's still pleasant to drive, handsome to look at, practical inside and affordable to buy. The five-year warranty is the cherry on top.
Worth waiting for:
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Out goes the faintly disappointing Freelander and in comes something much more interesting. Sharing its chassis with the Range Rover Evoque, the Disco Sport will have seven seats as standard, has striking styling and will get Land Rover's new (and very high tech) Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel engine (shared with the new Jaguar XE). At last, it looks as if Land Rover has remembered that it makes cars other than those with Range Rover badges.
Launches Spring 2015
LARGE SUVs
Best in class:
BMW X5
Yes, people will hate you for driving one of these, but who cares once you're perched up in that sumptuous cabin, powering along with one of the greatest of all diesel engines up front? The X5 now looks sharper than at any time since the original 1999 model, and it is truly brilliant to drive: sharp steering and perfect body control. The standard 3.0-litre diesel engine is plenty sufficient making the 35d and even the M50d seem faintly redundant, although the basic 2.0-litre twin-turbo model has surprising pep in its step.
Best one: 3.0 XDrive30d M-Sport for €86,940.
Also consider:
Range Rover Sport
The only car that can come close to poaching the X5's crown is the gorgeous RR Sport. Throwing off the faintly chav-ish image of the old model, the Sport is good enough to worry even its bigger brother, the "full-fat" Range Rover. It will get a lot further than the X5 in proper off-roading conditions, but of more import are its fabulously refined on-road manners. Poor cabin ergonomics and a fiddly touchscreen hold it back but the engines are due for a major upgrade in the next few months.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Utterly unfairly overlooked, the big Jeep gets closer to matching the grandee Range Rover and X5 than any supposedly humble American car has any right to. Yes, the interior is a bit of a mess and the 6.4-litre Hemi SRT version is just faintly ridiculous, but the core 3.0-litre CRD model is actually really good – far better around corners than you'd think and more composed and refined than its rivals would care to admit.
Worth waiting for:
Volvo XC90
The first-gen XC90 was a sellout from the get-go and lasted for more than a decade. The second generation kicks things up a notch with properly premium styling and features, and will have a range-topping plug-in hybrid version with storming performance but titchy C02 figures. It will be expensive (compared to the outgoing version) but BMW, Range Rover and Audi should be worried.
Launches Spring 2015
CROSSOVERS
Best in class:
Nissan Qashqai
For all its success, the original Qashqai was actually just a touch disappointing. This second generation, though, has blown most of the competition right out of the water. I think the word is "complete". It's handsome, well made, rides and handles with terrific fluency, is economical (with a 99g/km CO2 rating for the 1.5 diesel) and, given Nissan's reputation, should be decently reliable. The only downside to watch is the price – options, tempting options, can quickly push the sticker number upwards.
Best one: 1.5 dCi SV for €27,695.
Also consider:
Skoda Yeti
We'd have actually had a Yeti above the old Qashqai. Even though the positions are reversed now, the square Skoda is still worth considering. It's got a gorgeous cabin (worthy of VW cousin Audi in there), is practical (the back seats split, fold, slide and even lift out) and is generally excellent to drive. The 1.6 TDI Greenline the one to have but if you want something with serious off-road ability then the 2.0 TDI 4x4 is a good shout.
Citroën C4
Cactus Quirky? Yes. Odd? Most certainly. Worthy of consideration? Definitely. The C4 Cactus is the best blending of old-school and new-century Citroën values that we've yet seen. Underneath, it is resolutely conventional, with simple diesel engines and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. It is very light, though, which makes it very economical. Up top, the Citroën quirks come to the fore with space-helmet styling, those clever "airbumps" that protect against door dings, and sofa-like seats in a minimalist cabin. Different, but brilliantly different, and terrific value.
Worth waiting for:
Jeep Renegade
Its looks will divide like few others (some think it chunky and appealing, other think it looks like a supporting cast member from Finding Nemo) but the new and smallest Jeep product is really very well thought out. The basic 1.6 diesel front-drive version has plenty of poke, plenty of space and well-sorted on-road manners. The more expensive Trailhawk version is the full-on mud-plugging, rock-climbing Jeep, though. Few will buy one but it's nice to know it's there to keep the 4x4 faith.
Launches Spring 2015
