COOLEST SUVs COMING SOON

THE CRUCIAL NEW MODELS VYING FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN 2026... AND BEYOND

- Ellis Hyde [e-mail]

We can't wait for these fresh models to arrive, from Skoda's butch baby electric SUV to McLaren's loftiest creation ever

WE Brits just can't get enough of SUVs these days.

Eight out of the 10 most popular cars in the UK last year were SUVs, while the faithful Toyota RAV4 and futuristic Tesla Model Y have been fighting over the title of the world's bestselling car for the past few years. It's not hard to see their broad appeal. SUVs can offer families vast amounts of space and some of those with four-wheel drive are designed to conquer the toughest terrain out there. Many drivers also want a lofty driving position for better visibility, while SUVs are perceived to fare better than smaller vehicles in the event of a crash. No wonder almost every major car brand has at least one SUV in its lineup, and even the most unlikely of marques, such as Ferrari, Lotus and Lamborghini, have got in on the action.

But with a new SUV being launched what feels like every other day, it's hard to know which models to focus on, so we've picked out the coolest ones coming our way. There's going to be something for everyone, from the Land Rover Defender's long-overdue baby brother to a brand-new cutting-edge crossover that could even make us forget about Tesla's international bestseller.

BENTLEY URBAN SUV

CONSIDERING that the Bentayga SUV has been Bentley’s most popular model from the moment the wood and leather-lined behemoth was introduced a decade ago, it’s hard to believe the British marque has taken so long to launch a sequel. But it’s finally happening this year, and not only will it be the brand's first-ever EV, it’s going to be the world’s first “luxury urban SUV”. Whatever that means.