2026 CarExpert Choice Awards: Best Affordable Large SUV

Large SUVs are the default choice for New Zealand households that need serious space. They excel at transporting bigger families, towing caravans and boats, and handling everything from the daily school run to long road trips across the country.

What separates the best affordable large SUVs from the rest is how much they deliver for the money. They need three rows of usable seating rather than token third-row space, meaningful towing capacity for Kiwi adventures, and comprehensive safety systems — without the pricing that has traditionally come attached to vehicles of this size.

Our Best Affordable Large SUV category recognises the models that best balance space, practicality, safety, refinement and overall value. Judged by CarExpert's automotive journalists and grounded in real-world testing, this award reflects CarExpert's role as a trusted source of practical, independent car advice, giving Kiwi buyers a clear guide to the vehicles most worth considering.

Winner: Hyundai Santa Fe

Taking out the 2026 CarExpert Choice Award for Best Affordable Large SUV is the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Santa Fe makes an immediate impression with its bold, distinctive styling, but it's the substance underneath that earns it top spot in a competitive category.

We chose the Santa Fe because of how comprehensively it covers the large SUV brief. It offers spacious seven-seat comfort with a third row adults can actually use, backed by impressive safety technology, first-class refinement and composed on-road dynamics that make it as easy to live with day to day as it is on longer trips.

Build quality and interior design are particular strengths. The cabin feels a clear step above what its pricing would suggest, with quality materials and a well-resolved layout that give it a more premium feel than many rivals in this segment.

For families wanting space, quality and peace of mind without stretching into premium pricing, the Santa Fe leads the way.

Finalist: Skoda Kodiaq

Joining the shortlist as a finalist is the Skoda Kodiaq.

The Kodiaq boasts a spacious cabin filled with the clever, thoughtful touches Skoda has built its reputation on, alongside refined road manners and a choice of efficient powertrains. It's one of the most versatile options in the class, offering strong practicality without feeling unwieldy on the road, and the interior quality holds up well against considerably more expensive rivals. For buyers who value everyday usability and sensible design over showiness, it's a compelling choice.

Finalist: Kia Sorento

Rounding out the finalists is the Kia Sorento.

The Sorento offers a premium feel at an affordable price, pairing excellent seven-seat practicality with modern technology and the latest safety equipment. A generous warranty makes large SUV ownership that much more accessible, and the breadth of the range — spanning petrol, diesel and electrified options — means there's a version to suit most family needs. It's a well-rounded package that continues to make a strong case in this segment.

See the full list of winners here.