Best Value Large SUVs

11 August, 2026

Written by

The VW group isn’t exactly renowned for affordability, yet the Skoda Kodiaq Select hybrid flipped that script as it nudged out a couple of Chinese contenders to set the affordability gold standard in the large SUV category.

Despite a mid-range drive-away purchase price of $49,990, the Kodiaq clawed background with a miserly fuel bill (over $2800 less than the second placegetter) and the lowest depreciation figure of the top 10.

The GWM Tank 300 Lux diesel and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban filled out the podium, with a punishing depreciation figure costing the Chery second place despite its alluring $38,990 pricing. Conversely, the Subaru Outback 2.5’s healthy value retention after five years helped it secure fourth spot, even with the fattest drive-away price ($54,333) among the top 10.

Diesel engines still figure prominently in this category and, while the GWM Tank, Isuzu MU-X and KGM Rexton all made the top 10, the high price of diesel and the

Rexton’s dismal projected residuals saw them struggle against petrol rivals. Meanwhile, an exceptionally high comprehensive insurance bill ($12,492) cruelled the ninth-placed Jaecoo J8 Track, which was otherwise competitive on most measures.

Winners and finalists

Best Value Cars 2026

Skoda Kodiaq Select 5-seat (hybrid)

Category: Large SUV

Drive-away price: $49,990
Depreciation: $20,990
Fuel/electricity: $6,874
Insurance: $9,407
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,690
Tyres: $1,628
Total: $46,489*

Drive-away price: $49,990
Depreciation: $20,990
Fuel/electricity: $6,874
Insurance: $9,407
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,690
Tyres: $1,628
Total: $46,489*

Best Value Cars 2026

Skoda Kodiaq Select 5-seat (hybrid)

Category: Large SUV

Drive-away price: $49,990
Depreciation: $20,990
Fuel/electricity: $6,874
Insurance: $9,407
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,690
Tyres: $1,628
Total: $46,489*

Drive-away price: $49,990
Depreciation: $20,990
Fuel/electricity: $6,874
Insurance: $9,407
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,690
Tyres: $1,628
Total: $46,489*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

GWM Tank 300 Lux diesel

Category: Large SUV

Drive-away price: $47,990
Depreciation: $21,490
Fuel/electricity: $9,710
Insurance: $7,547
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,320
Tyres: $1,036
Total: $47,003*

Drive-away price: $47,990
Depreciation: $21,490
Fuel/electricity: $9,710
Insurance: $7,547
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,320
Tyres: $1,036
Total: $47,003*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

GWM Tank 300 Lux diesel

Category: Large SUV

Drive-away price: $47,990
Depreciation: $21,490
Fuel/electricity: $9,710
Insurance: $7,547
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,320
Tyres: $1,036
Total: $47,003*

Drive-away price: $47,990
Depreciation: $21,490
Fuel/electricity: $9,710
Insurance: $7,547
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $2,320
Tyres: $1,036
Total: $47,003*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban

Category: Large SUV

Drive-away price: $38,990
Depreciation: $21,590
Fuel/electricity: $9,281
Insurance: $8,890
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,495
Tyres: $1,484
Total: $47,640*

Drive-away price: $38,990
Depreciation: $21,590
Fuel/electricity: $9,281
Insurance: $8,890
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,495
Tyres: $1,484
Total: $47,640*

Highly Commended

Best Value Cars 2026

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban

Category: Large SUV

Drive-away price: $38,990
Depreciation: $21,590
Fuel/electricity: $9,281
Insurance: $8,890
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,495
Tyres: $1,484
Total: $47,640*

Drive-away price: $38,990
Depreciation: $21,590
Fuel/electricity: $9,281
Insurance: $8,890
Rego + CTP (Years 2–5): $4,900
Servicing: $1,495
Tyres: $1,484
Total: $47,640*

*Costs over five years

Full results

Select a criterion to filter the chart:

Loading...

Rank	Vehicle	New price	On-road costs	Drive-away price	Depreciation	Fuel/electricity	Comprehensive insurance	Registration (Years 2–5)	CTP (Years 2–5)	Servicing	Tyre replacement set (same as EOM tyre fitted)	Total five-year ownership cost
1	Skoda Kodiaq Select 5 seat (hybrid)	$49,990	$0	$49,990	$20,990	$6,874	$9,407	$2,644	$2,256	$2,690	$1,628	$46,489
2	GWM Tank 300 Lux diesel	$46,190	$1,800	$47,990	$21,490	$9,710	$7,547	$2,644	$2,256	$2,320	$1,036	$47,003
3	Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban	$36,990	$2,000	$38,990	$21,590	$9,281	$8,890	$2,644	$2,256	$1,495	$1,484	$47,640
4	Subaru Outback 2.5	$48,990	$5,343	$54,333	$25,833	$8,510	$6,929	$2,644	$2,256	$2,716	$972	$49,860
5	MG QS Excite	$46,990	$0	$46,990	$22,790	$9,740	$9,655	$2,644	$2,256	$1,992	$1,036	$50,113
6	Isuzu MU-X 2.2 LS-M diesel 4x2	$49,900	$4,863	$54,763	$25,763	$7,592	$7,812	$2,644	$2,256	$2,445	$1,700	$50,212
7	VW Tayron 110TSI Life	$48,950	$5,338	$54,288	$25,888	$8,593	$8,857	$2,644	$2,256	$3,007	$1,216	$52,461
8	KGM Rexton ELX diesel	$49,218	$2,782	$52,000	$26,700	$10,832	$9,211	$2,644	$2,256	$2,411	$968	$55,022
9	LDV D90 Mode 2WD	$43,674	$0	$43,674	$25,474	$10,429	$9,590	$2,644	$2,256	$3,350	$1,408	$55,151
10	Jaecoo J8 Track	$49,990	$0	$49,990	$25,790	$9,511	$12,492	$2,644	$2,256	$1,725	$1,560	$55,978

How we crunch the numbers

Purchase price
The NSW drive-away price, not the manufacturer suggested retail price, reflects the actual cost for consumers. Redbook’s ‘drive-away’ calculator is used for consistency and promotional drive-away deals are included where relevant. Prices are correct as of June 30, 2026.

Depreciation
Data is sourced from AutoEdge and based on the vehicle’s estimated trade-in value after five years/60,000km.

Fuel costs
For combustion vehicles, the five year figure is calculated using the official combined fuel economy, NSW average fuel price (minimum RON for each car) and average annual driving distance. ABS data was used for annual distance figures, while pricing is based on NSW average fuel costs over the first six months of 2026.

Electricity costs
For electric vehicles, a blended model is used – 70 per cent home charging, 20 per cent public charging and 10 per cent solar. This creates a realistic national average of 32.5c/kW. The formula is calculated using combined energy consumption (kWh/100km) and weighted electricity cost over 55,500km.

Insurance
The comprehensive insurance premium from NRMA Insurance is based on a 30-year-old male living in Chatswood and using the car for personal use, with a clean driving history and $1000 excess.

Servicing and maintenance
Our servicing costs are the total spend for the first five services. These figures don’t include consumables like fi ters, which can change the price depending on your individual vehicle. LDV is the only brand without capped price servicing, with those figures based on dealer estimates.

Registration and CTP
The figures are based on NSW ownership over years 2-5, as these costs are already included in on-roads for the first year.

Total cost
The ownership cost is effectively everything you spend over five years, minus what the car is still worth if you were to sell it.

Tyres
One replacement set is included over five years. Tyroola provided pricing as of June 30, 2026, with replacement tyres being the same spec and brand as fitted from the factory.