Top used SUVs for under £10,000 & the ones to avoid

You don't need a big budget to get a desirable, family-friendly SUV. Here we count down the top 10 you can buy used for less than £10,000 – and reveal the ones to avoid...

SUVs have been de rigueur for some time now and, such has been the huge demand for cars in this sector, there are many good used examples to choose from. Here, we’ve picked out ten that we think will fit a variety of different bills, all for an upper price limit of £10,000. We also choose a couple of cars to avoid.

You can choose from SUVs both big and small, depending on your needs, but whatever the dimensions there are many qualities that all these cars share, including a spacious and versatile interior and a relaxing drive:

10. BMW X5

The first BMW X5 paved the way for the upmarket SUV, but it was soon joined by a number of similar contenders, which meant this second-generation model had to up its game. It did, luckily, being more spacious and better to drive than the original, with a plusher interior – you even had the option of seven seats.

10. BMW X5

Our price bracket bags us a good clean example of this later version, with an average mileage and a full service history. It may not be the cheapest to run, but it brandishes its quality like a rapier.

We found: 2007 30d SE, 83,000 miles, £9795

9. Kia Sportage

Even if you’re not a fan of SUVs in general, you can see why they appeal, with their chunky Tonka toy looks and feeling of solidity. And few look more appealing than this third-generation Sportage. In truth, the Sportage is not as engaging to drive as some of its rivals, but it betters many of them on space and practicality. 

9. Kia Sportage

You can pick up a clean 2011 or 2012 example now for our budget and that should give you many years of practical and reliable motoring. You should even get the residue of Kia’s impressive seven-year warranty.

We found: 2013 1.7 CRDi 2, 29,000 miles, £9995

8. Land Rover Discovery

Like so many Land Rover products, it could be that there is no effective substitute for the seven-seat Discovery. True, it has many rivals, but not many can match its blend of supreme on-road practicality with its class-leading go-anywhere off-road capabilities. 

8. Land Rover Discovery

It’s relaxing on long motorway journeys, even when fully loaded with families and luggage, and yet can just as easily hare across a rutted field, with its permanent four-wheel drive ensuring good traction whatever the conditions. Shop carefully, though, as they don’t have the best of reliability records, but find a good one and you’ll be happy.

We found: 2007 2.7 TD V6 SE, 90,000 miles, £9450

7. Suzuki Ignis

It's one of the smallest SUV offerings on the market, but as a result of that, the Suzuki Ignis also offers tremendous value. £10,000 buys you an example that's only a year or so old, with low mileage and a big chunk of the five-year warranty left over. What's more, its diminutive dimensions make it ideal in a city, yet inside, there's space for four adults and a very reasonable-sized boot. 

7. Suzuki Ignis

Engines aren't the most potent, the ride can be flummoxed by bigger bumps and there's quite a bit of road noise at speed, but if you want a funky little SUV that works in town, the Ignis should be high on your list.

We found: 2017 1.2 Dualjet SZ-T, 7000 miles, £9995

6. Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan was Volkswagen’s first small SUV and, by and large, VW got it right first time. True, it doesn’t look that exciting, but it was practical, efficient and refined, and came with VW’s usual high standards of build quality. It wasn’t that exciting to drive, but it was safe and efficient, and also spacious, solid and dependable. 

6. Volkswagen Tiguan

It offered people what they wanted and went on to sell incredibly well. Now, you’re looking at a clean 2012 example for our £10,000 budget, which should give you several years of durable and family-friendly motoring.

We found: 2012 2.0 TSI Sport 63,000 miles, £9995

5. Volvo XC90

The doyen of the school run, the first-generation XC90 has established itself as a bit of an SUV legend and now makes a great used buy. For starters, the opulence of its spacious seven-seat interior, the comfort of its supple suspension and the ease with which it tackles any task from shopping trip to trans-continental cruising are now all available for less than the price of a new Fiat Panda. 

5. Volvo XC90

There’s even a decent petrol model, too, although most would understandably go for the much more economical diesel.

We found: 2010 D5 Active, 77,000 miles, £9888

4. Volvo XC60

The XC90’s younger and smaller sibling sneaks into the top ten just ahead of it due to the XC60 being the newer model and the better car to drive. You’ll have to sacrifice those two rear seats, mind you, as the XC60 is strictly for five (but if that is a concern, we’d happily point you back in the direction of the XC90). 

4. Volvo XC60

Both cars share the same premium-feel quality to the spacious and tasteful interior, with an upmarket air that most of its rivals can’t match. On the road, the XC60 has a good breadth of abilities and there’s a wide range of engine and trims to choose from.

We found: 2012 D5 Active, 66,000 miles, £9999

3. Audi Q5

Spacious, comfortable and decent to drive, the Audi Q5 is best-served in its entry-level form. And, happily enough, that model can now be had with below-average mileages for within our budget. We've always appreciated the high-quality interior of the Q5, as well as its efficient engines. 

3. Audi Q5

And while you don't get the option of seven seats, if you never need to transport more than five people, there are few classier SUVs in which to do so.

We found: 2009 2.0 TDI Quattro SE, 77,000 miles, £9975

2. Nissan Qashqai

The very apogee of the small SUV, the Qashqai has pointed the way for all others since it started the trend way back in 2007. To be honest, the only reason this particular car doesn’t sit at number one in our list is because its reliability record isn't quite as good as it should be. 

2. Nissan Qashqai

Nevertheless, facelifted first-generation versions, such as you'll get for our budget, are well-built, good to drive and well equipped, and together with the raised seating position and chunky looks, will be more than enough to tempt most people.

We found: 2013 1.6 dCi 360, 25,000 miles, £9495

1. Skoda Yeti

And the winner is... the Skoda Yeti. There’s nothing abominable about the Yeti – far from it. It’s a versatile and immensely likeable SUV that also happens to be great value for money on the used car market. It’s wide and tall, and it positively bristles with practicality, with a spacious and adaptable interior with acres of room for five and a good-sized boot. The Yeti is also surprisingly enjoyable to drive, with sharp steering, good traction and excellent visibility. 

1. Skoda Yeti

A 2013 facelift (previous picture) brought a smarter look and the Yeti Outdoor, a beefed-up version that gave the car a little off-road potential. Our budget should buy a post-facelift model in any number of engine or trim options.

We found: 2013 2.0 TDI SE, 34,000 miles, £9989

And the SUVs to avoid…

Ssangyong Rexton

It’s not that the seven-seat Rexton is a truly bad car, it’s just that, in a class that boasts several worthy alternatives, it falls short in nearly every area. It’s cheap, but it’s not very nice to drive and its interior leaves a lot to be desired.

And the SUVs to avoid…

Vauxhall Mokka X

The Mokka X is super cheap, which makes it look like good value. Sadly, it's no more than a very light facelift of its predecessor, the Mokka, and one which failed to sort that car's myriad problems; the cramped interior, unsettled ride, cheap plastics and lacklustre handling remain. It is, therefore, best avoided.