Every medium SUV that comes with a spare wheel – and those that don’t

A spare wheel is no longer a given when it comes to SUVs sold in Australia.

Especially for the type of car that’s meant to tackle country touring, ferry families to and from work and school, and even perform some light off-road duties, medium SUVs are arguably in the most need of a proper spare wheel.

Unfortunately, the reality is that specification lists for several medium SUVs – the country’s most popular buying category – omit this important feature.

Particularly when it comes to hybrid SUVs, fitting in a space-saver spare wheel – let alone a full-size – is a tall order given the packaging restraints of having to fit in a high-voltage battery.

In their place, hybrid SUV manufacturers typically provide a tyre repair kit, which is about as useful in a blown-tyre emergency as a slap in the face. There are other ways to go about it, including run-flat tyres or an inflatable spare, but the gold standard remains a full-size spare wheel.

Full marks to the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, alongside the non-hybrid versions of the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, and Subaru Forester – as these mid-size SUVs all manage to fit in a full-size spare wheel. Some other mid-size SUV models include full-size spare wheels, though this is dependent on specification level and seating layout.

The idea of fitting one in the event of a blowout remains a daunting prospect, but we’d hazard a guess that every car owner in Australia would rather do that than be stuck on the side of the road fiddling with glue or a patch kit.

These kits usually involve a portable air compressor (often powered by the car’s 12-volt outlet) that reinflates the tyre once a gel or paste plugs the hole.

It’s a more compact solution than a space-saver or full-size spare wheel. But, they’re usually more trouble than they’re worth. Some punctures are too big to patch up, while oftentimes the gel simply doesn’t take.

Inflatable spare tyres are a better solution that remains more compact than an outright full-size spare, but these still require inflation on the side of the road, which means you’re stuck – a potentially dangerous situation – for longer.

The Tesla Model Y doesn't sit in the same category as the cars mentioned below due to its higher price point, but it's one mid-size SUV option that leaves you high and dry with no solution whatsoever for a punctured tyre. The brand expects you to phone up a roadside assistance network to get you going again.

According to the Cars Australia Reddit thread, some Aussie motorists consider a spare wheel a must-have feature.

“I would personally never buy a car that didn’t have a full-size spare… but that’s just me,” commented one Reddit user.

“I just never really realised that cars these days didn’t have proper spares,” commented another.

It’s clear that Australians still expect some kind of spare tyre solution included with a medium SUV. While hybrid SUVs are the biggest issue, there is a subset of non-hybrid SUVs that equally miss out on this feature too.

These are the mainstream medium SUVs on sale in Australia, and the solutions their manufacturers have devised for when you get a blowout.

Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.

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