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Audi RS6 Avant

best-used-family-suvs-for-less-than-pound20000

Buying a used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>&nbsp;needn’t cost you the earth. In fact, you can buy examples often only a year or two old for less than&nbsp;£20,000, and these highly practical cars now make a huge amount of financial sense as a second-hand purchase.&nbsp;

Most of these SUVs have the raised-up driving position and chunky looks that buyers love, as well as large boots and flexible interiors. However, there are so many to choose from that finding the right car for you can be bewildering. Here, to help out, we're counting down our top 10 favourites.&nbsp;

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Best used family SUVs for less than £20,000

Hatchback

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

QASHQAI

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a>&nbsp;was a trendsetter when it arrived and it continues to be a very popular choice. This recently updated third-generation car is quiet, comfortable and economical. The driving experience leaves room for improvement, as does its questionable reliability in its previous versions (see our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-family-suvs/n23403">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>), but it remains a sensible, compelling and great value choice.&nbsp;

"The ever-popular Qashqai may not be a class leader in my eyes, but it's a safe choice that's easy to get on board with." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T Acenta Premium, 9456 miles, £19,299

10: Nissan Qashqai

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Lots of safety kit</li>
	<li>Good quality interior</li>
	<li>Great driving position</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>So-so performance</li>
	<li>Some rivals are more fun to drive</li>
	<li>Lacks the seating flexibility of many rivals</li>
</ul>

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

TUCSON

If interior space is high on your list of priorities, take a look at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a>. Four tall adults will have plenty of room and the boot is cavernous. Interior quality impresses, too.&nbsp;This&nbsp;dramatic-looking new version&nbsp;of the Tucson can now be had easily within our budget, too. It's also comfortable, spacious and practical, and its reliability record is particularly strong. It's also much better to drive than its predecessors.&nbsp;

"The Tucson feels a bit plain inside – the recent facelift has made the interior noticeably more modern and classy&nbsp;– but you can't argue with the space on offer." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Hyundai Tucson 1.6 GDi SE Connect, 22,506 miles, £18,950

9: Hyundai Tucson

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Frugal hybrid</li>
	<li>Well-made interior</li>
	<li>Practical and spacious</li>
	<li>Confidence-inspiring reliability</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Ride can be fidgety</li>
	<li>No sliding rear seats</li>
	<li>Not as much fun to drive as one or two rivals</li>
</ul>

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

CX-5

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Mazda CX-5</a>, is a terrific all-rounder. If you’re after a used SUV to transport your family around in it’s almost unbeatable, being good to drive, decently practical and, above all, superb value for money. Enthusiastic drivers will love it for its surprisingly agile handling, and families will love it for its practical, spacious and exceptionally high-quality interior. The CX-5 is also handsomely equipped and exceptionally well screwed together, with a good reliability record.&nbsp;

"The CX-5 is great to drive, especially if you don't mind an old-school driving experience like I do – for instance, the petrol engines need plenty of revs to really get&nbsp;going." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Mazda CX-5 2.0 SE-L, 25,402&nbsp;miles,&nbsp;£19,450

8: Mazda CX-5

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Premium inside</li>
	<li>Good handling</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
	<li>Steering could be better</li>
	<li>Lacklustre engines</li>
</ul>

Estate

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

3008

The stylish&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/3008/estate/review/n17363">Peugeot 3008</a>&nbsp;is great to drive and comfortable to ride in and very nice to look at. The interior is a little different from most, too, with that small steering wheel and a relatively high seating position. It's practical, smart and good value. Only a distinctly average showing in our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-family-suvs/n23403">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;relegates it down our list.&nbsp;

"For a car devoid of a premium badge, I found the 3008's interior pretty stylish and plush." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Peugeot 3008 1.2 PureTech 130 Active, 22,756 miles, £19,400

7: Peugeot 3008

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Upmarket interior</li>
	<li>Standard safety kit</li>
	<li>Practicality</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Vague controls</li>
	<li>Popular, so can be pricier than other used rivals</li>
	<li>Slow infotainment system</li>
	<li>Reliability a bit mixed</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

TIGUAN

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">Volkswagen Tiguan</a>&nbsp;has regularly been one of the most popular family SUVs around. This second-generation version is beautifully made and finished, and is also a solid performer, with punchy engines that&nbsp;have no trouble carrying a car-load of people around (or towing a caravan). It's also refined, practical and spacious.&nbsp;

"I find the Tiguan an easy recommendation, because it's comfy,&nbsp;well built and well executed in general." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5 TSI 150 Life, 35,801 miles, £19,350

6: Volkswagen Tiguan

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Refinement</li>
	<li>Smart interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rearmost seats in the Allspace model are very tight</li>
	<li>Handsome, but not very exciting to look at</li>
	<li>Reliability average</li>
</ul>

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Car buyers do like a premium brand, and they don’t come much more blue-chip than BMW. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a>&nbsp;is great to drive, comes with bags of room inside and has a quality interior that features the excellent iDrive infotainment system (that's aided by a handy rotary controller). It's well equipped, too, and our 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-family-suvs/n23403">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;found the petrol-engined versions to be one of the most reliable family SUVs available.&nbsp;

"Like anyone I speak to who's&nbsp;experienced it, I found the X1's infotainment so easy to use, you wonder why more systems aren't as intuitive." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found&nbsp;2021&nbsp;BMW X1 1.5 18i xLine sDrive, 27,100 miles, £19,799

5: BMW X1

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>High-quality interior</li>
	<li>Spacious and practical</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Lots of road noise</li>
	<li>Fairly pricey</li>
</ul>

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

ATECA

Another great family SUV, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/review/n111">Seat Ateca</a>&nbsp;is one of the very best of its kind to drive – feeling sure-footed on a challenging B-road, nimble on city streets and refined on a motorway. It’s also backed up by a cracking range of engines. Practicality is still a top priority: the doors open wide to make putting a child car seat in easier, the boot is big and the interior is spacious.&nbsp;

"Seat has crafted some stellar driving experiences before, so, when the Ateca made its debut,&nbsp;perhaps I should've seen its&nbsp;handling prowess coming." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Seat Ateca 1.0&nbsp;TSI SE Technology, 1234&nbsp;miles, £19,456

4: Seat Ateca

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
	<li>Class-leading handling</li>
	<li>Boot space pips rivals</li>
	<li>Good value used</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Some rivals offer more flexible seating</li>
	<li>Interior isn’t that plush</li>
	<li>One or two are more economical</li>
</ul>

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

KAROQ

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118">Skoda Karoq</a>&nbsp;just edges out its broadly similar sibling the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/review/n111">Seat Ateca</a>. It's extremely practical (even more so than the Ateca), plus it drives well and is excellent value for money. The ride is cosseting, and it's decently refined in town and on a motorway. The Karoq’s greatest asset, though, is its interior, which is flexible, smart and beautifully built, with loads of space for all your passengers.

"Skoda doesn't scrimp on space and the Karoq is no exception. When testing one out, my family and I very much appreciated the vast passenger space and big boot." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Skoda Karoq 1.0&nbsp;TSI SE Drive, 18,849 miles, £19,290

3: Skoda Karoq

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious and practical interior</li>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Punchy engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>A little bland to drive</li>
	<li>Not as efficient as some</li>
	<li>VarioFlex seats optional on some models</li>
</ul>

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

SPORTAGE

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a>&nbsp;delivers&nbsp;on what families demand from a mid-sized&nbsp;SUV and then some. Passengers of all sizes can fit comfortably in the front and back seats, plus the boot is vast and&nbsp;you can fold the back seats in a useful 40/20/40 split. The Sportage also&nbsp;has&nbsp;a&nbsp;lofty driving position for a grand view ahead.

There are fuel-sipping hybrid and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a>&nbsp;versions available, but the entry-level (but still excellent) 1.6-litre petrol model is what you'll be looking at for this kind of money.&nbsp;

"The Sportage managed to cater for my family of four and, what's more, I was left with space and practicality to spare." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2022 Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2, 23,000 miles, £19,047&nbsp;

2: Kia Sportage

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Smart interior</li>
	<li>Large boot</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Hybrid and plug-in hybrid are a tad expensive</li>
	<li>Auto gearboxes not the slickest</li>
	<li>Rear head room with panoramic roof not the best</li>
</ul>

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

XC40

Our top pick, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>&nbsp;mixes style, space and comfort with cutting-edge safety. It's a highly desirable used choice, a car that oozes style both inside and out. It's&nbsp;a smooth and hushed performer, too, with a low level of wind and road noise, helping to make the interior a noticeably refined place in which to spend time. When it comes to interior quality, the XC40 is exceptionally classy. All the surfaces feel suitably upmarket, thanks to plush, soft-faced materials, and everything feels robust, too.

"For a family SUV, I thought the XC40 felt like it had quite a low centre of gravity,&nbsp;helping it corner well but without the need for super stiff, ride-damaging&nbsp;suspension to control its body movements." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Volvo XC40 T3 Momentum, 31,100 miles, £18,897

1: Volvo XC40

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Stylish interior</li>
	<li>Comprehensive safety kit</li>
	<li>Supple ride on most versions</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Fiddly infotainment</li>
	<li>Lacks flexible rear-seat arrangement</li>
	<li>Some reliability reports were a little mixed</li>
</ul>

Jeep only makes SUVs, but it has plenty of them for you to choose from. So, whether you want something rugged enough to ford streams and climb mountains, or a more luxurious and family-friendly car, it has something to suit you.

Despite its all-American image, Jeep is actually owned by Fiat, meaning Jeeps often share parts with cars from the Italian giant; the entry-level Renegade, for example, has plenty in common with Fiat’s 500X.

However, perhaps the most widely recognised Jeep is the Wrangler, a model that has a dedicated fan base and which closely resembles the original Jeep which saw service in World War 2.

The brand’s future plans include new small and large SUVs, plus the introduction of fully electric models.

JEEP

COMPASS

The Jeep Compass suffers from a fair few problems, such as unrefined engines, an unsettled ride and a cheap-feeling interior.

And the one to avoid: Jeep Compass

Some of the most spacious and desirable family SUVs around can now be had used for less than £20,000. Here we count down our top 10 used favourites

NEW REVIEWS:

Best used family SUVs for less than £20,000

Some of the most spacious and desirable family SUVs around can now be had used for less than £20,000. Here we count down our top 10 used favourites...

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