Top six 7 Seat SUV | Auto Expert John Cadogan | Australia

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 Brilliant value right there - but the soon-to-be-superseded model.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.

Comments

1. does this apply to Nth America as well
2. Good evening Sir
   Have to ask what your opinion is of the 2017 Toyota Fortuner , i am not looking poshest vehicle in the world just a good value vehicle that is off road capable .Also here in Oman i am getting a good price ....So what would you sugest .?
   Thanks
   Bob W
3. Please do a potential wife review of sorts .It would be the thing to see!
4. I'll still buy a Pathfinder
5. awesome info John - we are in the market for a 7-seater and this has certainly helped.  Much appreciated.
6. wondering why mitsubishi pajero sport not in the list :/
7. he is very funny
8. Hi There,
   Any videos on Porsche Cayenne?
9. I've got the Hyundai sante (fully loaded) fe for the next month. My fully loaded Xtrail was in a hit and run as is being repaired. The Sante fe is a load of shit, the front seating is never quite right with the height and distance to the steering wheel, when putting your foot down going through a bendy road the seat doesn't hold you in and your body slides from side to side. Whereas the xtrail holds the ground extremely well and tucks you right in nice and comfortably together with a luxury feel of the leather.
   
   The sound quality is rubbish for the price you are paying. whereas the X-trail is surprising quite good. The sat nav is far from user friendly, with accessories all in the wrong place. The buttons has a cheap feel, the side mirrors are out of proportion as are the doors, the spare wheel is under the car where as the xtrail is tucked inside with easy access.
   
   It sucks fuel as if one has just run a marathon through the desert. Seriously I can go on and on... the first thing I'm going to do when I get my x-trail is give it a huge hug, yes my kids think I'm crazy but that's how much I hate the Sante fe and miss my X trail.
   
   The xtrail also has line warning, blind spot awareness, self parking, the largest panoramic sunroof in the SUV range.
   
   I haven't driven all the SUVs but I've driven a lot and for me the xtrail is the best 7 seater you can get for the price range.
10. I have heard criticisms of Holden cars from friends in Australia...are they really that bad?
11. How about QX60? would you recommend this model?
12. hi john , few weeks ago i was at an open farmers xmas market held in a field , and herd a car getting its ass revved off , saw a VOLVO XC90 on wet grass and a woman getting realy heated with it as it was spinning its wheels on the wet grass , when a youth in a beat up Land Rover offered to pull her out she flipped and told him to GET LOST she has 4 wheel drive AND WILL GET OUT , she did on a TOW TRUCK ,she got stuck in a groove she dug then the AUTO BOX BLEW UP with the ABUSE she gave it , every boidy laughing did NOT HELP her ATTITUDE THOU
13. Odd that the Land Rover Discovery 4 isn't on the list - it's been nominated in the top 7 seater ranks in multiple publications...
14. with one is better betwen sorento and santa fee in malaysia??
15. Brilliant channel !
16. Dealing with trolls is tiring isn't it.....
17. How come there's no any Mazdas? CX7 ? CX9?
18. I have a v6 outlander no 7 seats just 5 seats :(
19. isnt sorento better than santafe?
20. John, my experience with the Outlander is that it's gutless beyond belief, tired looking and technically challenged interior, and I couldn't get comfortable with the ergo provided (when I compare with Nissan X-trail, Hyundai ix35)