18 great tough-but-cheap used cars

The winter months can wreak havoc on your pride and joy. Road salt eating away at your car’s precious metal, potholes hidden by puddles the size of ponds, and the possibility of doing an automotive version of dancing on ice. It’s enough to make you want to leave your car in a heated garage.

You might be considering a cheap winter hack to get you through until the spring. Something affordable, robust, reliable and possibly four-wheel-drive. Here are some interesting winter cars you can buy for less than £5000.

If in doubt, buy a Subaru. We’ve chosen the third generation (SH) Forester, as it’s new enough to feel relatively modern, but old enough to be available for a temptingly low price. Its permanent all-wheel-drive system provides reassurance in all weathers, but the penalty is poor fuel economy, especially in a petrol version. The Forester offers the practicality of an estate with the ruggedness of an SUV, which means it’s the ideal winter hack.

Once upon a time, the Honda CR-V was the darling of the school run, with many parents warming to its blend of practicality, standard equipment, high driving position and hatchback-like driving experience. Today, the mums and dads have moved on to more modern crossovers, but the Mk2 CR-V remains a terrific buy. All models come with part-time four-wheel-drive, which maximises fuel economy but will kick in when required. The petrol versions are incredibly robust and run with the right maintenance.

A car built for the Swedish winter is going to cope well with a few British amber weather warnings and a light dusting of snow. The Volvo XC70 (formerly the V70 XC) was one of the first off-road estate cars to hit the market and it’s one of the best. Amazingly, a budget of £5k is enough to secure a 2010 model, which will still feel modern today. 

As practical as the standard V70, with the added benefit of a raised ride height, four-wheel-drive and a wonderfully sumptuous interior. Watch out though: some XC70s were in fact two-wheel drive, so if 4x4 is what you need, make sure you get it.

If you tend to spend more time driving off-road than on it, the Suzuki Jimny makes a lot of sense. A lightweight body, short entry and departure angles, high and low four-wheel-drive and a separate chassis combine to make this a formidable off-road companion. While larger SUVs devour the landscape, the Jimny tackles it like a mountain goat. Avoid the Spanish-built soft-top version as it was built to a lower standard. Buy the hard-roof version for rugged dependability, low running costs and strong residual values.

The Freelander is the cheapest Land Rover you can buy, but we’d recommend upping the budget to £3000 for a Freelander 2. Unlike most of its rivals, the Freelander was a car with genuine off-road ability, thanks to its Haldex four-wheel-drive system. From 2009, all but the base S model got Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, complete with a range of driving modes. 

There are a few issues to look out for, but the Freelander 2 is far more reliable than the original model, based on Ford’s solid EUCD platform that underpinned a large number of Ford, Land Rover and Volvo vehicles.

If it’s good enough for Tuscan hill farmers and residents of Alpine villages, it’s good enough for you. The Fiat Panda 4x4 is surprisingly good at dealing with the rough stuff, with its four-wheel-drive system making light work of hard graft. Because it’s so small and light, it will keep going long after heavy, expensive and technologically superior SUVs have been left by the roadside. Low running costs, a deceptively large cabin and classless styling are added benefits.

It might not look it, but the Suzuki Swift 4x4 is credible rival to the Fiat Panda 4x4. A viscous coupling provides full-time four-wheel-drive, although ground clearance is unaltered due to a low-slung rear differential. Still, it does gain 25mm in ride height. We’d opt for the SZ4, which gets more kit, subtle front and rear side plates, plus added protection for the sills and arches. Running costs are kept in check by an economical 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

This could be a fun way to get you through the winter months, especially if you invest in a set of winter tyres. The Mk4 VW Golf might not be the most exciting car to drive, but a 208bhp 2.8-litre V6 engine and a Haldex-based four-wheel-drive system combine to give it added bite. You might even be tempted to fit some different springs and dampers to improve the driving experience. It’s like a Golf R32 on a budget.

Its looks are an acquired taste and the driving experience of the non-WRX versions is a little underwhelming. Even the interior quality falls short of that of its contemporary European and Japanese rivals. So why are we recommending the third-generation Subaru Impreza? It’s because we’re confident that it’s reliable enough to see you through until the spring, delivering reassurance on slippery roads and in wet weather. Buy a diesel (introduced in 2009) and you’ll even see respectable fuel economy.

Unlike most compact SUVs, the Ford Kuga is great to drive. Body roll is well controlled, the steering is direct; it feels like a lofty Ford Focus. Only the ride quality lets it down, but you can minimise the annoyance by opting for smaller wheels. Most Kugas are driven through the front wheels, but there’s a healthy supply of four-wheel-drive models. Low running costs and a large dealer network are two attractions.

This might be the most sensible car on our list of cheap winter hacks. There’s a reason why the Skoda Octavia Scout is a popular car within veterinary circles; it’s all thanks to the cavernous boot, low running costs, four-wheel-drive system, body protection and good equipment levels. It’s like a budget Audi A4 Allroad. An Aldi Allroad, if you like…

The BMW X5 was one of the first SUVs to be as good to drive as a saloon car, which led to BMW labelling it a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). It also inherited some tech gleaned by BMW during its ownership of Land Rover, and while it won’t rival a Discovery or Range Rover when the going gets tough, it’s perfect for Britain’s notoriously slippery winter roads. Opt for the V8 for the fewest problems - but you will get financially crippling fuel economy.

Toyota popularised the concept of the soft-roader when it launched the RAV4 in 1994. The third generation RAV4, introduced in 2006, lacks the quirky styling and fun-to-drive buzz of the original, but the improved build quality and high levels of standard equipment combine to make it a more sensible winter hack. There are few common faults, but check the underside of car for damage.

It was a bargain when new, but the Dacia Duster represents even better value on the used car market. Launched in 2012, the Duster Mk1 grabbed the automotive headlines thanks to its sector-busting prices; £8995 was enough for the basic version. Not everyone opted for the four-wheel-drive versions, but ask yourself if you really need it. If not, the Duster could be a cheap and surprisingly robust winter hack.

Used Saab 9-5s have never been cheaper. Like the 9000 before it, the 9-5 is becoming an increasingly rare sight on Britain’s roads, but we can think of few saloons and estates that are more perfect for the winter. The most comfortable seats you’ll find on any car at this end of the market, lots of standard equipment and a level of safety you’d expect from Saab. You know, just in case the worst does happen.

The Volvo S80 is often overlooked in favour of its German rivals, which means prices tend to be lower for the big Swede. This was Volvo’s large executive car, so you can expect a high level of comfort, lots of kit and a fine interior. Only a lacklustre driving experience and anonymous looks let it down, but these are less of an issue when you’re looking for a cheap winter car. The five-cylinder versions make all the right noises.

The original Audi Allroad (officially the Audi allroad quattro) was a direct rival to the Volvo V70 XC. Increased ground clearance, air suspension, all-terrain tyres and extra body protection were just some of the highlights of the go-anywhere A6 Avant. Amazingly, a budget of £5000 could be enough to secure a later Audi A6 Allroad.

When the Queen reappeared in public recently after a short illness, she did so in some style. The 95-year-old was pictured driving herself around the Windsor Castle grounds in her lovely British Racing Green Jaguar X-Type Estate. A royal endorsement for a much maligned but underrated car, especially in AWD Estate guise. The X-Type wagon didn’t arrive until 2004, three years after the saloon, and we quite fancy one with the power of the 2.5-litre V6 engine and the backup of four-wheel-drive.