While the large car segment has been slower than the rest of the new car market in the shift to electrification in recent years, there are now quite a few large battery-powered saloons and SUVs to choose from, particularly after this year.
Five new large cars launched in the UK in the last 12 months, and all of them are electric.
Our large car category includes both large saloons and SUVs. Last year, The Car Expert came to the conclusion that the line between ‘car’ and ‘SUV’ has become so blurred in many cases that it’s effectively pointless. So we’ve grouped them together.
Instead, we’ve separated large cars into mainstream and premium categories, as this better reflects how real-world car buyers look for their next vehicle. The badge, price tag (or monthly payments) and feature list tend to be more important than the body style, although customers are overwhelmingly choosing SUV-style cars instead of conventional hatchback/saloon/estate models – even if they’re no more practical and no more spacious (and have limited off-roading capabilities).
The eligible cars this year were:
Our awards recognise both the best new models launched over the last 12 months and the best overall cars in each category – because newest doesn’t always mean best.
Best new large car: Hyundai Ioniq 9
Over the last few years, Hyundai has launched car after car that all do the boring family stuff brilliantly without looking like boring family cars. Like the Ioniq 5 and Santa Fe before it, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 SUV is no exception.
The Ioniq 9 is the company’s largest EV yet, and it upscales the clever thinking that went into the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. There’s the familiar Hyundai design flair, which won’t necessarily please everyone but elevates the Ioniq 9 beyond more conventionally styled rivals.
It’s highly practical and flexible, features a spacious cabin for both driver and passengers, comes loaded with top-notch tech, and offers more than enough driving range to suit almost any household needs.
In many ways, it’s more car than most people will ever need. But it ticks pretty much every box a growing family could ever want.
Class champions
Although the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is the top-rated large car launched in the last 12 months, that doesn’t mean it immediately moves to the top of the pile. As of December 2025, another model still carries a higher Expert Rating score.
Class champion, electric: Kia EV9
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 may be cheaper to buy as standard, but the Kia EV9 – winner of our Best Premium Large Car award in 2025 – is still the very best electric large car choice on the market, according to the aggregated media reviews in our Expert Rating Index.
The EV9 has a clever design, strong build quality, loads of standard kit, acres of cabin and boot space, and a warranty that makes so-called ‘premium’ brands look stingy. Plus, it’s fully electric at a price that matches diesel and petrol models from other brands. Kia could charge another £10,000 for the EV9 and it would still be good value.
Class champion, petrol/diesel/hybrid: Skoda Superb
The fourth-generation Skoda Superb carries on the tradition of living up to its name – it really is superb. Nothing else in the market can match the big Skoda’s blend of practicality, comfort and value, plus a five-star safety rating as well.
With a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrain options, there’s a model in the range for every need.
The Car Expert Awards 2026 – all the category winners
