15 Best Midsize SUVs for Australian Families in 2022

While this is a great thing when you consider how fierce competition often results in better prices and generous features lists to win over buyers, it can also be difficult to know your best options in such a crowded lineup. 

To help you out, let’s take a look at 15 of the best midsize SUVs for Australian families in 2022, in no particular order. 

1. Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a great option for Australian families that are looking for an adventurous and well-priced midsize SUV. 

With a lineup kicking off from $35,990, Subaru’s entry-level Forester 2.5i comes with all the features you really need in a family-friendly SUV, including active LED headlights, 17-inch alloys, a reversing camera and leather-wrapped steering wheel, as well as an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The Forester’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder kicks up more than enough power for everyday driving, while its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and rugged underpinnings give added confidence when heading off-road, adding to its adventurous personality. 

2. Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is constantly fighting for a podium finish in terms of overall sales here in Australia, with buyers celebrating its well-crafted interior, smooth driving dynamic and family-friendly platform. 

With prices kicking off from $32,190 for the entry-level CX-5 Maxx, it’s not hard to see why it’s become so popular. The base model comes packaged with a heap of entertainment and safety technology, while the clever interior packaging offers a family-friendly cabin and a spacious 506L boot for school runs and weekends away. 

3. Peugeot 3008

For those looking for a midsize SUV with a heap of flair and personality, we’d like to introduce you to the Peugeot 3008, which has continued to impress buyers with its entertaining driving dynamics and genuine practicality. 

The 3008 lineup kicks off from $47,240, which receives a heap of entertainment and safety technology, including a 10-inch infotainment system, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, surround-view camera, 18-inch alloys and premium interior upholstery. 

It’s fun to drive and features a spacious second row of seats, combined with boot space of 591L, which is close to segment-leading for midsize SUVs. 

4. Hyundai Tucson

Hot off the heels of a serious update, the latest Hyundai Tucson is a fabulous midsize SUV from pretty much every angle you look at it. 

It ticks the boxes of value, driving comfort, practicality, entertainment and safety features, and best of all, the lineup kicks off from just $34,500. Featuring a choice of two engines, the Tucson lineup gives buyers a range of options across the three variant lineup, meaning there’s a Tucson for pretty much every budget.

5. Volkswagen Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan has, for a number of years now, been one of the leading options when it comes to a premium European SUV without breaking the budget in the process. 

The Tiguan’s platform is perfectly suited to the needs of a growing family, with a sleek, sophisticated cabin up front that benefits from a heap of legroom in the rear of the cabin to keep your kids happy. 

Priced from $41,490, the entry-level Tiguan 110TSI Life strikes a healthy blend of must-have features for budget-conscious buyers looking to get a slice of German motoring without a six-digit price tag. 

6. Skoda Kodiaq

On a similar note, the Skoda Kodiaq is a fabulous mid-to-large SUV that offers buyers all the things they love about premium European motoring without the lofty price tag. 

The Kodiaq range kicks off from $48,540, and is feature-packed for the money. The entry-level variant gains 19-inch alloys, a 9.2-inch infotainment system, 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and leather upholstery, giving buyers a huge number of premium features for the money. 

Perhaps best of all, the large dimensions lend themselves perfectly to family duties, with a huge second row and even third row for seating up to eight people. 

7. Ford Escape

The Ford Escape is a great option within the midsize SUV segment, offering buyers a quality package that is fabulous to drive and more than capable of swallowing up a family and their luggage. 

Priced at $36,490, the entry-level Escape features a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 183kW of power and 387Nm of torque, paired with a silky-smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, making it one of the best performers on our list. 

Inside, there’s a smart interior filled with entertainment and safety features, while the Escape’s family-friendly nature is backed by its large 556L of boot space. 

8. Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage recently received a major overhaul, and the end result is a family-friendly SUV that is far more exciting than your typical people mover. 

Kicking off from $34,690, the Sportage receives a brand new platform that translates to a sleek set of looks on the outside, and a world of difference when it comes to interior space, comfort and practicality compared to the car it replaces. 

Entry-level models receive 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, as well as a huge amount of safety equipment included as standard, making the Sportage a seriously attractive value proposition within the midsize SUV segment. 

9. Isuzu MU-X

For families looking to get out and about on weekends and school holidays, the Isuzu MU-X is a great option for towing caravans and boats while remaining comfortable on an everyday school run. 

Prices have risen in recent years, however, with prices starting at $48,900, the MU-X remains well-positioned in the midsize SUV segment when you consider its generous features list and its hardcore underpinnings sourced from the D-MAX ute. 

For the money, the entry-level variant comes packaged with 17-inch alloys, Bi-LED headlights, a reversing camera with parking sensors, and an upgraded 3,500kg worth of braked towing capacity, making it a great adventure-ready midsize SUV. 

10. Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander has also received a major overhaul recently, with Mitsubishi adding some serious interior space and practicality to the mix, atop an already generous list of entertainment and safety features. 

The Outlander lineup kicks off from $34,490, with the entry-level ES variant receiving adaptive cruise control, 18-inch alloys and a 9.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity. 

The Outlander can be optioned with a five and seven-seat layout, with up to 478L of storage on offer in the boot, rounding out the impressive practical package. 

11. Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 remains one of the best all-around options in the midsize SUV segment, and recently, Toyota has added hybrid powertrains all across the range. 

The RAV4’s platform is perfectly suited for families, offering a well-crafted interior even in the base model that is filled with practical elements up front, with a heap of leg and headroom for those seated in the second row of the cabin. 

There’s a heap of entertainment and safety features as standard in the base model, including 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

12. MG HS

The MG HS makes our list here because of the undeniably attractive asking price, with the entry-level HS Core variant priced at an almost unbelievable $29,990. 

For the money, you’ll receive 17-inch alloys, LED tail lights, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera with parking sensors and a 10.1-inch infotainment system fitted with Apple CarPlay & Android auto; and that’s just the base model. 

Stepping up the range adds LED headlights, a powered boot lift, a surround-view camera and even a panoramic sunroof, making it one of the best value midsize SUVs you’ll find on the market. 

Better still, the HS’ interior is up to the task of handling your family and its cargo thanks to the spacious cabin filled with practical elements, as well as the 463L of boot space. 

13. Lexus NX

For those looking for one of the leading Japanese offerings, look no further than the Lexus NX, which received a major overhaul recently that added some bold styling, as well as more entertainment and safety features as standard. 

Priced from $60,800, the Lexus NX offers buyers a premium midsize SUV that is exceptionally comfortable to drive, while remaining large enough to comfortably transport your family around town. 

Aside from one of the most attractive cabins you’ll find on the market, the entry-level NX receives 18-inch alloys, heated seats, a powered boot lift, 8.0-inch driver’s display and 9.8-inch infotainment system, while higher-spec variants receive a heap more luxury for their money. 

14. Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V has been one of Australia’s favourite midsize SUVs for years now, and in its latest generation, the package is only more attractive. 

Featuring a large and practical interior cabin, the CR-V is a comfortable and spacious midsize SUV that asks the buyer to make zero sacrifices. With a lineup kicking off from $35,300, there’s a CR-V for almost everyone’s budget, all of which come packed with a handsome list of entertainment and safety features. 

15. Suzuki Vitara

The Suzuki Vitara is a great midsize SUV for buyers on a budget, with the range kicking off from just $26,490. 

While it might not be the biggest car on our list, the Vitara makes the most of its proportions with a clever interior design that offers a heap of headroom, and more than enough space for a set of legs to get comfortable on a long-distance journey. 

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