THE HEIGHT OF FASHION

High-riding and hybrid powered, these family SUVs couldn't be trendier. But which is the hottest outfit?

The Temu online shopping app has been downloaded by millions of T users attracted by the premise of its 'shop like a billionaire' tagline. Its success was a shoo-in; people love to show off with the latest fashion and tech, and if it can be bought cheaply, so much the better.

The allure of affordable prestige is just one reason why family SUVS have become so popular. They look impressive, their elevated driving positions both feel good and aid visibility, and they're practical to boot - all while costing little more to buy and run than a family hatchback. Buyers are clamouring for them, so it's no wonder that car manufacturers are pushing them in such a big way.

Take Honda, for instance. It already offers the sizeable CR-V and more compact HR-V, and now it's plugged the gap between the two with the ZR-V we see here. The fact that it shares underpinnings with the brand's Civic hatchback (as well as its dashboard layout, infotainment set-up and engines) bodes well for the ZR-V's competence; the Civic was one of only a handful of cars to be awarded a full five stars by our road testers in 2022.

Then there's the Renault Austral. This new replacement for the familiar Kadjar places a real emphasis on technology, tempting buyers to the showroom with four-wheel steering (a technology typically reserved for much more expensive models), a complicated but supposedly highly efficient hybrid system and an Androidbased infotainment system that integrates the likes of Google Maps and Google Assistant (don't worry, it co-operates nicely with Apple CarPlay, too).

Our third contender - the ever-popular Kia Sportage - is the car both newcomers must beat. It was named Best Family SUV at our 2022 Car of the Year Awards, thanks to its impressive efficiency, competitive list price and fine driving manners.