best-used-large-suvs-for-less-than-pound25000

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-large-suvs-2023/n17006">Large SUVs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;large price tags tend to go hand in hand.&nbsp;These cars are spacious&nbsp;and practical and they&nbsp;allow you&nbsp;to sit high above the ground.

However, that's not to say&nbsp;there aren't some great deals out there, especially&nbsp;on the used market. If you have £25,000 or less&nbsp;to spend, there are&nbsp;plenty of great options for you to choose from.&nbsp;Here are our top 10 favourites.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Best used large SUVs for less than £25,000

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

RAV4

If you only need five seats, you'll find the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/rav4/4x4/review/n130">Toyota RAV4</a>&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2021 Toyota RAV4&nbsp;2.5 VVT-h Design CVT 4WD,&nbsp;34,335&nbsp;miles, £23,690

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/rav4/4x4/used-review/n22427">used Toyota RAV4 review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/toyota/rav4?sort=priceAsc">used Toyota RAV4 for sale</a>

10: Toyota RAV4

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Strong reliability record</li>
	<li>Excellent fuel economy for a large SUV</li>
	<li>Plenty of equipment</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Early examples do without full smartphone connectivity</li>
	<li>Some rivals more engaging to drive</li>
	<li>No seven seat option unlike some rivals</li>
</ul>

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

CR-V

Economical and practical, the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/cr-v/estate/review/n44">&nbsp;Honda CR-V</a>, 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">reliability</a>&nbsp;record.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2022 Honda CR-V 2.0 i-MMD Hybrid SE, 15,141 miles, £23,990

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/cr-v/estate/used-review/n19839">used Honda CR-V review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/honda/cr-v?">used Honda CR-V for sale</a>

9: Honda CR-V

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very well equipped</li>
	<li>Huge amount of space inside</li>
	<li>Hybrid option</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>No diesel option</li>
	<li>Bland interior</li>
	<li>Awkward infotainment system</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

XC60

Safety is one of the main concerns of large SUV buyers, and few cars have a better reputation for it than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/estate/review/n17339">Volvo XC60</a>. Not only does it&nbsp;score&nbsp;highly&nbsp;for the&nbsp;crash protection it offers, but also for its safety technology, which helps&nbsp;prevent&nbsp;accidents from happening in the first place. All models are comfortable and well-equipped, but R-Design models are&nbsp;the best to drive – they have&nbsp;a decent ride and&nbsp;handling balance.

We found:&nbsp;2020 Volvo XC60&nbsp;2.0 D4 Momentum, 25,378&nbsp;miles, £24,750

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/4x4/used-review/n978">used Volvo XC60 review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volvo/xc60?sort=priceAsc">used Volvo XC60&nbsp;for sale</a>

8: Volvo XC60

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>High-quality interior</li>
	<li>Superb driving position</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Not as quiet as its rivals</li>
	<li>Shallow boot</li>
	<li>Uninspiring handling</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.

SORENTO

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>&nbsp;is a fully fledged seven-seater and one with a handsome warranty: Kia offers a seven-year, 100,000-mile transferable warranty from new, so you may have several years of it left when you buy your used one. Combine that with its imposing looks and it’s no wonder that this 2015-2020 model proved such a popular car in the UK. There's a punchy 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel – the same engine found in the mechanically related Hyundai Santa Fe – and even the cheapest versions are well equipped.&nbsp;

We Found:&nbsp;2020 Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi GT-Line S Auto AWD, 47,714 miles, £23,558

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/used-review/n811">used Kia Sorento review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/kia/sorento?">used Kia Sorento&nbsp;for sale</a>

7: Kia Sorento

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Big and practical interior</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Good towing ability</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Vague steering</li>
	<li>High CO2 emissions</li>
	<li>Cumbersome handling</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.

You won't find endless amounts of<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">&nbsp;BMW X3s</a>&nbsp;(from this latest generation) within our budget, but there's still a good batch to choose from. This 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. If there were more to choose from (and at lower prices, ideally), it would have finished even higher.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2021 BMW X3 2.0 30e SE, 52,874 miles, £25,000

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/used-review/n18008">used BMW X3 review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/x3?sort=priceAsc">used BMW X3 for sale</a>&nbsp;

6: BMW X3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Sharp handling</li>
	<li>Class-leading infotainment</li>
	<li>Strong engines</li>
	<li>Good value used</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride in M Sport trim</li>
	<li>Popular 20d engine sounds gruff</li>
</ul>

Estate

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

KODIAQ

A consummate all-rounder&nbsp;like this&nbsp;seven-seat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a>&nbsp;may not stand out from the crowd, especially when compared with the sharp-styled&nbsp;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&nbsp;nearly new examples, which only adds to the appeal of this likeable and practical Skoda.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI SE&nbsp;DSG (7 Seat), 23,412 miles, £23,000

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/used-review/n954">used Skoda Kodiaq review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/kodiaq?">used Skoda Kodiaq&nbsp;for sale</a>&nbsp;

5: Skoda Kodiaq

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Classy and spacious interior</li>
	<li>Smooth 2.0 diesel engine</li>
	<li>Good value for money</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Unsettled low-speed ride</li>
	<li>Kia Sorento is more practical</li>
</ul>

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

KUGA

This&nbsp;latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/review/n57">Ford Kuga</a>&nbsp;is an impressive large SUV, being good to drive and practical in everyday use. We love the 1.5-litre&nbsp;Ecoboost version for its simplicity and affordability and the more expensive PHEV model for its decent range and pleasing performance –&nbsp;we say expensive, but even that version is available well within our budget.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Ford Kuga&nbsp;2.5 EcoBoost Duratec 14.4kWh ST-Line Edition,&nbsp;10,287 miles, £23,499

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/used-review/n22953">used Ford Kuga review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ford/kuga?">used Ford Kuga for sale</a>

4: Ford Kuga

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
	<li>Efficient plug-in hybrid version</li>
	<li>Great value bought used</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Interior quality not as good as some</li>
	<li>Infotainment not the best</li>
	<li>Boot not as big as some 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

SANTA FE

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe</a>&nbsp;offers a spacious, versatile interior and a robust build quality. As well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid (HEV)</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid (PHEV)</a>&nbsp;versions, you can get the Santa Fe with a 194bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine and that&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

We Found:&nbsp;2019&nbsp;Hyundai Santa Fe&nbsp;2.2 CRDi Premium 4WD, 35,661 miles, £24,995

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/used-review/n19303">used Hyundai Santa Fe&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/hyundai/santa-fe?">used Hyundai Santa Fe for sale</a>

3: Hyundai Santa Fe

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Huge boot</li>
	<li>Seven-seat practicality</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Jiggly ride</li>
	<li>Heavy-ish steering</li>
	<li>Interior quality iffy in places</li>
</ul>

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

As a new car, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a>&nbsp;a bit pricey, but&nbsp;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&nbsp;swankier interior. It can be had with Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel&nbsp;– a configurable 12.3in display that provides the driver with lots of information. It’s also extremely&nbsp;nice to drive and ride in.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Audi Q5&nbsp;2.0 TFSI 45 Sport, 39,269 miles, £24,049

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/used-review/n889">used Audi Q5&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/audi/q5?">used Audi Q5 for sale</a>

2: Audi Q5

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Smooth and punchy engines</li>
	<li>High-quality interior</li>
	<li>Relatively modest running costs</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Steering could be more involving</li>
	<li>No seven-seat option</li>
	<li>You need air suspension or non-sport suspension for the best ride</li>
</ul>

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

5008

The seven-seat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot&nbsp;5008</a>&nbsp;steals victory here over its premium-badged rivals. Why? Well, it's stylish, practical and good to drive&nbsp;for starters. Its sharp&nbsp;interior is impressively practical and will&nbsp;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&nbsp;too.

We found:&nbsp;2022 Peugeot 5008 1.2 PureTech GT, 31,900 miles, £23,995

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/used-review/n962">used Peugeot 5008 review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/peugeot/5008?">used Peugeot 5008&nbsp;for sale</a>

1: Peugeot 5008

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Stylish and practical inside</li>
	<li>Decent ride and handling</li>
	<li>Flexible seating</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Not as well equipped as some rivals</li>
	<li>Head room limited by panoramic roof</li>
	<li>Slow-witted infotainment</li>
</ul>

<hr />
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement.

A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

Large SUV

Large SUVs are wonderfully practical and immensely popular, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to buy a good used one. Take a look at our top 10 favourites

NEW REVIEWS:

Best used large SUVs for less than £25,000

Large SUVs are wonderfully practical and immensely popular, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to buy a good used one. Take a look at our top 10 favourites...

The cars with the biggest boots

Used Car of the Year Awards: 7-seaters

Best used SUVs for less than £25,000 (and ones to avoid)

Tow Car Awards 2024: 1700-1999kg

Best used large SUVs for less than £25,000

What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable large SUVs

Also consider

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information