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Best used large SUVs for less than £20,000

Not all large SUVs cost a fortune. There are some excellent examples out there for very reasonable money on the used market. Here are 10 of our favourites...

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by
Oliver Young
Published21 December 2023

Practicality, refinement, ruggedness: there are many reasons why large SUVs have taken off in popularity in recent years. It's one of the most desirable classes around, as well as tending to be a pricey one. 

Used large SUVs

But don't panic. You see you can save a hefty sum of money by buying a large SUV used instead of new. There are plenty of fantastic candidates for your consideration, so we've put together 10 of our favourites that are available for less than £20,000. 

And, if you're wondering which one is our favourite used buy, it's the wonderful, seven-seat Peugeot 5008. Our testers have always loved this car for its ease of use and practicality, and it was the winner of the Best Used Seven-Seater Car award in the 2023 What Car? Used Car of the Year Awards

Our pick: 1.2 Hybrid 136 Allure 5dr e-DSC6

0-62mph: 11.3 sec
MPG/range: 48.7mpg
CO2 emissions: 130g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 348 litres
Insurance group: 23E

Strengths

  • Plush and practical inside
  • Decent ride and handling
  • Flexible seating
  • Encouraging reliability

Weaknesses

  • Not as well equipped as some rivals
  • Head room limited by panoramic roof
  • Slow-witted infotainment

Our number one recommendation here is the Peugeot 5008. It has the most plus points out of any car on this list; it's extremely practical, spacious and comfortable, and its engines are excellent. It's refined, too, and good to drive. Not to mention it's still really stylish inside and out, with a surprisingly plush interior finish. This seven-seater won't disappoint, and with prices starting at around £16,000 it offers almost unrivalled value for money in the segment. 

We found: 2021 Peugeot 5008 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure, 43,000 miles, £20,000

Read our full used Peugeot 5008 review

Search for a used Peugeot 5008 for sale

Strengths

  • Smooth and punchy engines
  • High-quality interior
  • Relatively modest running costs

Weaknesses

  • Steering could be more involving
  • No seven-seat option
  • You need air suspension or non-sport suspension for the best ride

This latest generation Audi Q5 can now be had for our budget. It's a fantastic large SUV, with sharp handling, good performance and a classy interior. There's also a variety of punchy, yet economical engines to choose from. If you want a really premium-feeling SUV it's the one to go for, though, thanks to that plush interior and its refinement on the road. Only its relatively high price and lack of a seven-seat option prevents it from stealing the show here. 

We found: 2019 Audi Q5 2.0 Quattro S Line, 77,000 miles, £20,000

Read our full used Audi Q5 review

Search for a used Audi Q5 for sale

 

Our pick: 2.5 FHEV ST-Line 5dr CVT

0-62mph: 9.1 sec
MPG/range: 52.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 123g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 628 litres
Insurance group: 22E

Strengths

  • Spacious interior
  • Efficient plug-in hybrid version
  • Great value bought used

Weaknesses

  • Interior quality not as good as some
  • Infotainment not the best
  • Boot not as big as some rivals

Previous generations of the Ford Kuga had been good-looking and popular cars but not models that particularly set the market on fire or moved the game on in any great way. However, this latest third-generation car has grown in size and gained a new look and adopted some more modern technology including mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. It's a very likeable, practical and efficient large SUV that's also great value used. Our money buys a year-old car. 

We found: 2022 Ford Kuga 1.5 Ecoblue Zetec, 18,000 miles, £19,995

Read our full used Ford Kuga review

Search for a used Ford Kuga for sale

Strengths

  • Classy and spacious interior
  • Smooth 2.0 diesel engine
  • Good value for money

Weaknesses

  • Unsettled low-speed ride
  • Kia Sorento is more practical

Classy, spacious and economical: that's the Skoda Kodiaq. It's extremely well-rounded and very easy to live with. It's available with a great range of petrol and diesel engines, two particular highlights being the smooth and efficient 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel unit and the punchy, economical 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol. And if you need seven seats, you'll find examples with just that quota. 

We found: 2020 Skoda Kodiaq 1.4 TSI SE, 31,000 miles, £20,000 

Read our full used Skoda Kodiaq review

Search for a used Skoda Kodiaq for sale

Strengths

  • High-quality interior
  • Superb driving position
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Not as quiet as its rivals
  • Shallow boot
  • Uninspiring handling

The Volvo XC60 is a great used buy. It's classy inside, roomy and well-equipped. Its well-proportioned design oozes class inside and out. There's a Scandinavian-style feel to its lovely interior that’s flooded with light and loaded with leather, which gives the car a terrific upmarket feel. The driving position is superb, thanks to plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and the comfortable and supportive driver’s seat. There’s a good choice of engines and, on the optional air suspension, the ride is excellent. Reliability's good, too. 

We found: 2019 Volvo XC60 D5 Momentum, 30,000 miles, £19,500

Read our full used Volvo XC60 review

Search for a used Volvo XC60 for sale

Strengths

  • Mostly smooth ride
  • Quiet interior even at motorway speeds
  • Efficient engines
  • Good value used

Weaknesses

  • Wallows in corners
  • No seven-seat version
  • Some question marks over long-term reliability

The Citroen C5 Aircross is one funky large SUV; however, it's not all form and no function. It's impressively comfortable, quiet and efficient on the road. Plus, there are plenty of examples that are under a year old with low mileage going for under £20,000 on the used market. It doesn't have seven seats, but if you don't mind that, there's little to leave you wanting. 

We found: 2023 Citroen C5 Aircross 1.2 Puretech 130 Flair, 25,000 miles, £19,495

Read our full used Citroen C5 Aircross review

Search for a used Citroen C5 Aircross for sale

Strengths

  • Big and practical interior
  • Well equipped
  • Good towing ability

Weaknesses

  • Vague steering
  • High CO2 emissions
  • Cumbersome handling

The Kia Sorento is mechanically very similar to the 2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, and that's no bad thing; it shares a lot of that car's plus points. The model's diesel engine is rather good. It really shines when it comes to practicality though; it's hugely spacious, with seven seats on offer and a large boot. It ranks slightly higher than the Santa Fe because it's that bit more refined and has a nicer interior.

We found: 2019 Kia Sorento 2.2 KX-2, 44,000 miles, £18,700

Read our full used Kia Sorento review

Search for a used Kia Sorento for sale

Our pick: 1.6 TGDi Hybrid Premium 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 9.6 sec
MPG/range: 41.5mpg
CO2 emissions: 155g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 628 litres
Insurance group: 33P

Strengths

  • Practical interior
  • Well equipped
  • Comfortable ride

Weaknesses

  • Below-par refinement
  • Can be thirsty
  • Limited head room in third row

The previous-gen Hyundai Santa Fe is an immensely practical large SUV. It's roomy, with seven seats, and has a spacious boot. Its diesel engine may be somewhat gruff, but it's reasonably punchy and endows it with acceptable running costs. It's fantastic at towing as well, with manual models having a maximum capacity of 2.5 tonnes. 

We found: 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 Premium SE, 40,000 miles, £17,995

Read our full used Hyundai Santa Fe review

Search for a used Hyundai Santa Fe for sale

Strengths

  • Spacious and classy interior
  • Fun to drive
  • Plenty of equipment
  • Great infotainment system

Weaknesses

  • BMW reliability can be a little mixed
  • No seven-seat option
  • Hard ride on M Sport versions

There's no doubt the latest third-generation, 2018-onwards version of the premium X3 is a terrific car, but you won't get one for our budget. Don't fear, though, because this older second-gen car is still well worth considering. It performs admirably and is supremely classy, comfortable and good to drive. It's practical, too, and comes with a great infotainment system. It would have finished even higher if it weren't for the fact it's quite a pricey used proposition. 

We found: 2018 BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport, 50,000 miles, £19,000

Read our full used BMW X3 review

Search for a used BMW X3 for sale

Strengths

  • Good ride and handling balance
  • Smart interior
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Third-row seats cramped
  • Not as versatile as some
  • The clutch on manuals can be sharp
  • Reliability mixed

The Seat Tarraco is a very practical and oft-overlooked large SUV closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. There’s a lot to like about it because it’s one of the sportier seven-seaters to drive, is generously equipped and has a very good safety rating. We recommend sticking with the cheapest 1.5 EcoTSI 150 petrol engine and the entry-level SE trim because it's great value. 

We found: 2020 Seat Tarraco 1.5 EcoTSI 150 SE, 26,000 miles, £18,995

Read our full used Seat Tarraco review

Search for a used Seat Tarraco for sale

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