Best Cars with a High Driving Position: SUVs and MPVs
Humans seem to have a natural affinity for height. Whether it’s mountain climbing or paying extra for a penthouse apartment, being elevated offers a unique perspective. This inclination is clearly reflected on the road, where SUVs and MPVs have dramatically increased in popularity over the last quarter-century, in part because people love a high driving position.
While the appealing, rugged styling of these vehicles, without the hefty fuel costs of old-school 4x4s, has boosted their popularity, many drivers simply enjoy sitting up higher. A raised seating position typically gives drivers better visibility (though this effect has lessened as more drivers opt for taller vehicles), offering a sense of security and making entry and exit easier – a significant benefit for older drivers or those with young children who need to be loaded into car seats. If the idea of a commanding view appeals to you, we’ve selected several vehicles across four categories—large SUVs, mid-size SUVs, small SUVs, and MPVs—that provide an elevated driving experience.
Large SUVs with a High Driving Position
If you’re after the ultimate in a commanding driving position, large SUVs are the top choice, though they come with a higher price tag.
Range Rover
The full-size Range Rover is the undisputed king of commanding driving positions. The lofty ride height is a Range Rover hallmark – even in the Evoque – but the largest model truly conveys a sense of occasion, and remains one of the few large SUVs that lets you see over other traffic in a world of crossovers. Beyond the elevated view, the cabin is a luxurious place to be. With such luxury at a premium height, it feels more like a private jet than a car. Naturally, the pricing reflects this: expect to pay from £104,000.
Land Rover Defender
Sitting high up has been a Land Rover benefit since the historic Series I models of the post-war era, and when the new model was launched in 2020, Land Rover made sure to retain that characteristic, despite the more luxurious environment. If there’s a drawback, it’s that the Defender’s height and width can present challenges in some multi-storey car parks, but on the open road, you’ll have an excellent view over hedges and other vehicles. It offers a similar commanding position as the Range Rover, but for a lower price, with the Defender 90 starting under £60,000.
Toyota Land Cruiser
The high seating position in “proper” off-roaders often resulted from their design: substantial ground clearance, a robust ladder chassis, and a body mounted on top. The Toyota Land Cruiser is still constructed this way and still gives you high seating, while large windows provide a great view of the wilderness (or the supermarket car park!). However, as of early 2025, order books are closed, illustrating that demand for this legendary off-roader is exceptionally high, and continues to increase.
Mid-size SUVs
This segment is home to the best-known family-friendly SUVs. They may not give you the same height as the larger models, but they provide a good view and are easy to manoeuvre in town.
BMW X3
BMW offers SUVs in almost every market division, but the X3 has been a mainstay for some time, and like other models in recent decades, has expanded in size over each iteration. Compared to the similarly-sized 3 Series Touring estate, the X3’s raised driving position is immediately noticeable. And though the Touring drives well, the X3 makes light work of loading kids, dogs, and all the other paraphernalia associated with family life. Today, there’s no trade-off in quality or performance – the X3 still delivers a true BMW driving experience.
Nissan Qashqai
Nissan arguably started the trend for elevated family cars with the original Qashqai in 2006, and the latest model retains all those characteristics. This is a pragmatic family car: practical, refined, and with decent driving dynamics. Importantly, the Qashqai retains that much-desired raised seating position. While not offering the commanding view of the Range Rover, it offers a notably higher view than cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra, providing that sense of security that made the original so popular. Rear passengers also have a decent view.
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is another mid-size SUV that entered the market early. While the first Sportage was more of a traditional 4×4 (albeit a compact one), the latest version is aimed squarely at the Qashqai. Prices begin at under £30,000, placing it centrally in the Kia lineup – taller than the Stonic and Niro, but not as large as the Sorento or the electric EV9. Kia still offers an all-wheel drive variant, providing all-weather on-road capability to complement the elevated seating.
Small SUVs
Even in the small SUV category there is still a high seating position and these vehicles are brilliant for urban driving and parking. The roomiest options have good space in the back as well.
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is among the larger cars in the small SUV sector, so it’s not surprising that it offers one of the better driving positions. Despite the Duster’s relatively compact road footprint, it delivers a sense of driving an actual off-roader, made all the more appropriate in a car that, in recent years, has embraced a chunky, industrial design. However, a high seating position doesn’t mean a high price: the Duster still starts at under £19,000, or around £23,500 if you need four-wheel drive.
Ford Puma
Before the Ford Fiesta was discontinued, the Puma surpassed it in sales, and it remains one of the UK’s best-selling cars. Customers’ desire to sit a little higher than the Fiesta could offer may have contributed to this. The Puma doesn’t drive much differently from its now-defunct supermini sibling, but all occupants enjoy a slightly elevated view, and the cabin feels a bit more spacious than conventional small cars, despite its sub-4.2-metre length. Prices begin around £26,000, but a £30k electric version of the Puma is also now available.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris Cross seems a fitting addition to the Yaris range. The standard Yaris was one of the first small cars to feature a raised seating position, which is one reason it has always been popular with older buyers. The Yaris Cross takes this to the next level, with 95mm of additional overall height. Toyota has leveraged some of that extra space to further elevate the seating position. Hybrid power helps it achieve 64mpg economy (only approximately 5 mpg less than the standard Yaris Hybrid). Although it’s not strictly an SUV, an all-wheel drive model is also available.
MPVs
MPV sales have dipped as families moved towards SUVs. However, that means that most current models are now van-based vehicles, with vast interior space and driving positions that are higher than older purpose-designed or car-based MPV models.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz
If the elevated driving position is all about the view, then few modern cars offer a view that beats the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Entry is similar to Volkswagen’s long-running Transporter (and Multivan) vans, but with its bright interior trim, split A-pillars for enhanced visibility, and a notably upright and comfortable driving position, it feels more special than the typical MPV. With a starting price of nearly £60,000, that view comes at a considerable price. The Buzz has only five seats, but what price can you put on one of the best vantage points on the market?
Citroen Berlingo
Being van-based has its benefits. The maximum interior space, a relatively low price (a supermini-sized £23,000 in the case of the Citroen Berlingo), and, last but not least, a raised seating position. In a van, this helps when getting in and out all day while making deliveries, and it reduces the chances of accidental damage while driving around the city.
In a van-based MPV, this simply creates a pleasant view, and as the rear seats (accessed through sliding doors) are also a little higher, the kids will also like it. The Peugeot Rifter, Toyota Proace City, and Vauxhall Combo Life share similar benefits as rebadged versions of the same van.
Ford Tourneo Custom
The Tourneo Custom is essentially a Ford Transit Custom with some extra windows. If you’ve ever hired a Transit to move belongings or haul items, you’ll know the pleasure of sitting at the same height as large SUVs like the Range Rover. That helps the Tourneo Custom feel more manageable compared to something that’s almost two metres wide (without mirrors) and five metres long. The upright driving position makes it comfortable for long periods behind the wheel, and storage won’t be a problem. However, the £56k entry price isn’t cheap.
