Best used large SUVs for less than £25,000

The seven-seat Peugeot 5008 steals victory here over its premium-badged rivals. Why? Well, it's stylish, practical and good to drive for starters. Its sharp interior is impressively practical and will seat seven in reasonable comfort. Plus, there's a range of strong engines to choose from, it's well-equipped in all trims and it rides and handles surprisingly well. All in, it's a great car and really good value too.

"Here is a car so suave that I liked it before I'd even driven it. It lives up to its looks, too. And the good news is its interior is even more eye-catching than its exterior styling, and it's great for family use.' - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2023 Peugeot 5008 1.2 PureTech GT, 21,900 miles, £23,995

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As a new car, the Audi Q5 a bit pricey, but it's relatively good value used – you should easily be able to pick up a four-year-old car for our budget. It's similar in prestige to the BMW X3, yet it has more up-to-date technology and an even swankier interior. It can be had with Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel – a configurable 12.3in display that provides the driver with lots of information. It’s also extremely nice to drive and ride in. 

"Solid and sensible next to the 5008's whimsical flair, but the Q5 is a terrific thing, and so refined. If you could buy a slightly newer one for this money it'd be top of the tree." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI 45 Sport, 39,000 miles, £24,000

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A consummate all-rounder like this seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq may not stand out from the crowd, especially when compared with the sharp-styled Peugeot 5008, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put one on your driveway. It's a classy and highly capable car, and you can make big savings on nearly new examples, which only adds to the appeal of this likeable and practical Skoda. 

"Here's another wonderfully capable and very likeable seven-seater for not much money. Maybe not as stylish as the 5008 but buy a Kodiaq for the family and you'll grow immensely fond of it." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2023 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI SE DSG (7 Seat), 23,412 miles, £23,000

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This latest Ford Kuga is an impressive large SUV, being good to drive and practical in everyday use. We love the 1.5-litre Ecoboost version for its simplicity and affordability and the more expensive PHEV model for its decent range and pleasing performance – we say expensive, but even that version is available well within our budget. 

"The newest car on our list and yet it's spacious and practical and even pleasant to drive. I love its driving position too." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2024 Ford Kuga 2.5 EcoBoost Duratec 14.4kWh ST-Line Edition, 10,287 miles, £23,499

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The Kia EV6 is a brilliant and bang-on-trend electric car with a long range and the ability to charge up very quickly. It’s also plush inside and huge in the back and very good to drive. The cheaper rear-wheel-drive versions make more financial sense than the faster four-wheel-drive models, especially used. You'll also pick up the residue of Kia's excellent seven-year-from-new warranty.

"A previous What Car? Car of the Year, the Kia EV6 feels suitably futuristic. It makes a great family car, too, provided it fits into your lifestyle. I also like that the EV6 has a well-built, logically laid-out interior." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Kia EV6 77.4kWh GT-Line, 12,000 miles, £23,995

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The BMW X3 premium SUV is a great buy – it's classy, comfortable and good to drive. You'll find a slick, class-leading infotainment here, too, as well as other desirable tech, to go along with its more practical elements. Few cars in this top 10 are as good to drive, as classy inside and as good an all-round proposition as this X3. It's a practical family car and shows its rivals how to build a large SUV that's fun to punt down a country lane. 

"This is probably the one I'd buy here for its sheer class. Reliability looks good and its residual values are strong, thanks to its upmarket badge." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 BMW X3 2.0 30e SE, 45,000 miles, £25,000

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Safety is one of the main concerns of large SUV buyers, and few cars have a better reputation for it than the Volvo XC60. Not only does it score highly for the crash protection it offers, but also for its safety technology, which helps prevent accidents from happening in the first place. All models are comfortable and well-equipped, but R-Design models are the best to drive – they have a decent ride and handling balance.

"What is so nice about the XC60 is that it embodies all the good things about Volvos and yet has a distinct character. I've had two long-term XC60s and loved them both." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Volvo XC60 2.0 D4 Momentum, 25,378 miles, £24,750

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Economical and practical, the Honda CR-V, especially in hybrid form, is a very tempting proposition. It's well-equipped, good to drive and has a huge amount of space inside. The hybrid uses a 181bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine and offers decent performance and pleasing economy. Our money buys a 2020 example and, on top of that, you've also got Honda's impressive reliability record. 

"Very quietly, the CR-V has established itself as a really useful, upmarket tool. The hybrid is well worth having. Oh, and it's one of the best-selling cars in the USA, you know." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Honda CR-V 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid SE, 15,141 miles, £23,990

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If you only need five seats, you'll find the Toyota RAV4 is a highly practical large SUV and could potentially cost buttons to run. Added to that, its reliability record is exemplary. It's good value to buy used, too, and you get a lot of equipment and safety tech for your money. There's the option of a regular self-charging or plug-in hybrid, and some come with four-wheel drive. There's also its low fuel consumption and long warranty to help seal the RAV4 deal. 

"At least as reliable, if not more so, than the CR-V, the RAV4 is likewise one of the big sellers in America, and it's not hard to see why it's so popular." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Toyota RAV4 2.5 VVT-h Design CVT 4WD, 34,335 miles, £23,690

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The Hyundai Santa Fe offers a spacious, versatile interior and a robust build quality. As well as hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions, you can get the Santa Fe with a 194bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine and that provides the car with enough oomph to make light work of sharp inclines and motorways. But its huge, seven-seat interior and immense practicality are its main selling points, as well as its handsome kit list. Few cars here can match its user-friendly interior, too. 

"I love the Santa Fe and the only reason it finishes down our list here a little is because it holds on to its value so well, so used ones are still a bit pricey. Great car, though." - George Hill, used cars writer

We Found: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Premium 4WD, 35,000 miles, £23,995

Read our full used Hyundai Santa Fe review

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