The Family-Friendly SUV Test
Which One Works Best for Everyday Life in the UAE?
The UAE has a love affair for SUVs. We want reliability, safety, plus all the bells and whistles that come with a modern daily runaround.
So when I test-drove three very different SUVs, I judged them as a parent, not a petrol head. But I did enlist two experts who understand cars far better than I do: automotive journalist and Motor Mania host Damien Reid, and Parklane Motors founder Naz Chaudhry.
There was no single winner. Instead, each car was best at something different.
Best for space and comfort: Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid
The Tiggo 9 made the biggest entrance. When I opened the door, it welcomed me with music and switched on the air-conditioning. As an owner of a 2018 SUV - considered ancient by Dubai standards, getting into the Tiggo made me feel like royalty, nevermind the fact that I was carrying several school bags and water bottles.
It’s a seven-seater plug-in hybrid, rather than a fully electric car, so it offers the flexibility of electric driving alongside a petrol engine. Chery says it can travel up to 170 kilometres in pure-electric mode and up to 1,200 kilometres using a full charge and tank of fuel, although real-world range will vary according to driving conditions.
Its real strength for parents is space. There is room for children, grandparents, prams, groceries and the strange collection of objects that permanently lives in the family boot. The cabin also feels expensive, with large screens, ventilated seats and massage functions.
The trade-off is that there is a lot happening. Screens, alerts and electronic controls can feel overwhelming at first.
Chaudhry is not convinced that more technology always makes a better family car. “The more electronic and digital these cars are getting, in my opinion as a parent, the more distracted you can be as a driver,” he said.
The price: Chery UAE does not currently publish an official starting price for the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid online, so buyers should request a current quote directly from the UAE distributor rather than relying on third-party listings.
Best all-rounder: Škoda Kodiaq
The Kodiaq was the easiest car to understand immediately. Everything was where I expected it to be, including actual physical controls.
That matters when you are trying to adjust the air-conditioning while watching traffic and listening to two children speak to you at once.
Reid described Škoda as an intelligent choice because it sits within the Volkswagen Group and shares much of its engineering heritage.
Chaudhry agreed. “You are getting arguably Volkswagen-Audi quality at a more cost-effective price,” he said, calling the Kodiaq “a sensible choice” that is often overlooked in the UAE.
For me, this was the most balanced option. It has three rows, plenty of practical space and modern technology, but it still feels like a car rather than a large electronic device you need to study before leaving the driveway.
The price: The seven-seat Kodiaq starts from AED 125,500 in the UAE. Škoda lists front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive options, along with a five-star safety rating. The current UAE package also includes five years of servicing, manufacturer warranty and roadside assistance.
Best for the daily commute: Chevrolet Equinox EV
The five-seat Equinox EV was the smoothest and simplest to drive. There is no drama: you get in, select a gear and go.
Reid described it as a “set and forget” car and one of the easiest vehicles he had driven in a long time.
For parents with home or workplace charging, an EV can remove petrol-station stops from the weekly routine. However, whether it saves money overall depends on charging access, electricity costs, mileage and the purchase price, so I would not automatically label it the cheapest option.
One annoyance is the absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It uses Google’s built-in system instead, which Reid said required some adjustment.
Still, for a smaller family looking for a quiet, comfortable school run and work commute, the Equinox is refreshingly easy.
The price: It starts from AED 169,900 in the UAE and offers up to 1,620 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded.
The experts’ runners-up
Chaudhry’s family recommendation is Volvo, particularly for its reputation and safety technology. His overlooked must-have is multi-zone climate control, especially in a seven-seater, so children in the third row are not left sitting in what he called a “hot box.”
Reid would also consider an MPV - or multi-purpose vehicle - such as the Kia Carnival or Honda Odyssey. Sliding doors are useful in tight school car parks, while captain’s chairs and wide cabin access make it easier to reach young children.
His SUV essentials are simpler: ISOFIX points, remote air-conditioning and a hands-free boot.
And finally, here’s my two-cents as a mother of two who does school runs and meetings in between: the best family car is not the one that looks most impressive in the showroom. It is the one that makes an ordinary Tuesday morning slightly easier.
