2016 Family 4x4 SUV Comparison - Everest v MU-X v Pajero Sport v Patrol v Fortuner

Buying a new family SUV is a big investment, and choosing the right one is important - especially when you're spending about $55,000.

We recently assembled five family-friendly SUVs with off-road ability to figure out which rugged truck managed to double as a practical hauler for mums and dads.

The vehicles on test were the Ford Everest Ambiente, Toyota Fortuner GXL, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed, Isuzu MU-X LS-T and the stalwart Nissan Patrol Y61 ST.

The Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi are all relatively new to the market, while the Isuzu has proved a popular choice for value-conscious buyers. The Nissan - well, it's been around for years, and we included it in this test as something of a wildcard, given it's off-road pedigree.

That said, all of these vehicles has form in the rough stuff, so that was part of the testing criteria - but we also included a range of regular driving activities, because there's a good chance you won't spend all of your quality time in the car off the beaten track.

So, which big SUV is worth your hard-earned cash? Watch the video to find out.