Best used family SUVs for less than £15,000

Family SUVs are the automotive equivalent of the Swiss Army knife in that they have to be spacious, comfortable, good to drive and classy inside, all at a reasonable cost.

Well, we think none of them do it as well as the Hyundai Tucson. Four tall adults will have plenty of room, five at a pinch, and the boot is absolutely cavernous, easily able to cope with a small family and all its clutter.

Its interior quality impresses, too. Few cars in this price range feel so plush inside. It's smart-looking, handles well, and it should come with the residue of its generous five-year-from-new warranty. Not that you should need it, hopefully, because its reliability record is very good. In the family SUV section of the What Car? Reliability Survey, it finished in 33rd place out of 76 cars, with a strong overall score of 94.3%.

You can buy a used Tucson for around £13,000. A budget of around £14,000 will get you a low-mileage example. Newer 2023 cars start from £17,000, while £20,000 will get you a 2024 model. If you want a hybrid or PHEV, prices for these are a bit more expensive than petrol versions; prices start from around £14,000. If you want a low-mileage hybrid, expect to pay upwards of £15,000.

For the money, the Tucson is very well equipped. Entry-level SE Connect trim comes with 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and cruise control, plus electrically adjustable lumbar support for the driver. But, for not a while lot more, you can pick up Premium trim car, which gives you larger 18in wheels (19in on hybrid and PHEV Premium models), a black two-tone roof, adaptive cruise control, an eight-speaker Krell premium sound system and additional safety features.

"The Tucson feels quite classy inside – the recent facelift has made the interior noticeably more modern – and you can't argue with the space on offer. I like the looks and I like driving it. " – Oliver Young, reviewer

We found 2022 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 GDi SE Connect, 16,000 miles, £14,950

Read our used Hyundai Tucson review

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The Volvo XC40 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 a smooth, hushed performer, too, with a low level of wind and road noise, making the interior a noticeably refined place to spend time. It's more comfortable than an Audi Q3, too.

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. 

In the What Car? Reliability Survey, the PHEV came 39th out of 76 family SUVs, while the petrol ranked 54th. Both achieved scores of 92.5% and 90.4% respectably.

Around £12,000 is enough to net you a used Volvo XC40 from 2018, 2019 or even 2020 with high mileage. It'll likely be an entry-level petrol or diesel car, mind you. Spend upwards of £15,000 to get a good 2021 or 2022 car. Meanwhile, a budget of £16,000 will grab you a 2023 car and £22,000 a 2024 one.

"For a family SUV, I thought the XC40 felt like it had quite a low centre of gravity, helping it corner well but without the need for super stiff, ride-damaging suspension to control its body movements." – George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Volvo XC40 T3 Momentum, 31,100 miles, £14,950

Read our used Volvo XC40 review

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The Kia Sportage delivers on what families demand from a mid-sized SUV and then some. It's an amazing all-round used family SUV that offers a generous amount of space front and rear, plus a large boot and one of the best interiors in its class.

Passengers of all sizes can fit comfortably in the front and back seats, plus the boot is vast, and you can fold the back seats in a useful 40/20/40 split. The Sportage also has a lofty driving position for a grand view ahead.

There are fuel-sipping hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions available, but the entry-level (but still excellent) 1.6-litre petrol model is an excellent car too. 

The Kia Sportage is generally a reliable car. In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, it ranked 13th out of 76 cars in the family SUV class. Its reliability score of 96.5% makes it more reliable than the Nissan Qashqai but less reliable than the Toyota RAV4.

Used prices for the Sportage start from a touch under £15,000 for a 2022 model with high mileage. This will probably be the base 1.6 T-GDi petrol. Expect to spend upwards of £16,000 on a HEV or 2023 model, with 2024 cars rising to around £20,000.

"The Sportage managed to cater for my family of four and, what's more, I was left with space and practicality to spare." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2, 33,000 miles, £15,000 

Read our full used Kia Sportage review

Search for a used Kia Sportage for sale

The Skoda Karoq just edges out its broadly similar sibling, the Seat Ateca, to the second spot. 

It's extremely practical (even more so than the Ateca), plus it's good to drive and excellent value for money. The ride is cosseting too, 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.

In our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, the Skoda Karoq performed well. It finished in 15th place out of 38 cars in the small SUV class with an overall score of 95.5%.

Prices for a used Skoda Karoq start at around £8000, this for a 2018 car with an above average mileage for the year. Up the budget to between £9000 and £12,000, and you'll find plenty of 2019 cars and some 2020 versions too. Spend around £14,000 to £18,000 on 2020 and 2021 Karoqs, £20,000 to £22,000 on 2023 cars and a little more on 2024 and 2025 models.b

"You really are spoilt for choice when it comes to engine options in the Skoda Karoq. I particularly like the 1.5-litre petrol engine, which produces 148bhp and provides flexible performance for everyday driving. It's even quite cheap to run." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2020 Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI SE Technology, 38,000 miles, £14,995

Read our full used Skoda Karoq review

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Another great family SUV, the Seat Ateca 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.

While it didn't feature in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Ateca ranked 17th out of 34 cars in the family SUV class in the previous year, with a good overall score of 93.1%. That ranked it above the Kia Sportage and the Volvo XC40, but below the BMW X1 and the Skoda Karoq.

Prices for the earliest Seat Atecas start at around £10,000 for a late 2016 or 2017 model. If you up the budget a bit more to between £11,000 and £14,000 you'll find a good selection of better-equipped SE and SE Technology Atecas, mostly 2017 and 2018 models. Spend between £11,000 and £15,000 on 2020 and 2021 cars, and more than £15,000 on 2023 and later cars. 

"One thing I really like about the Ateca's interior is the fact the dashboard is angled towards the driver, which means the controls are within easy reach." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2022 Seat Ateca 1.5 TSI SE Technology, 51,000 miles, £14,995

Read our full used Seat Ateca review

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Car buyers do like a premium brand, and they don’t come much more blue-chip than BMW.

The BMW X1 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.

Go for the later, post-facelift cars for subtle improvements and a really good reliability record. True, you'll pay a little more for that badge, but many will think it's worth it. 

There should be few things to worry about with the BMW X1. In our annual What Car? Reliability Survey, it placed 14th out of 76 cars in the family SUV class, achieving a great score of 96.8%. That was below the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4, but above the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40.

Early versions of the BMW X1 begin at around £10,000. Invest between £12,000 and £13,000 to find cars from 2017 while £14,500 to £16,000 should secure a good 2019 model. Look to spend £15,000 on a 2020 car, and around £20,000 on a 2021 or slightly more on an early 2022 model.

"Like anyone I speak to who's experienced it, I found the X1's infotainment so easy to use, you wonder why more systems aren't as intuitive." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2021 BMW X1 1.5 18i xLine sDrive, 37,100 miles, £14,799

Read our used BMW X1 review

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The stylish Peugeot 3008 has always stood out in the family SUV class. It has a flair that few of its rivals can match. 

The interior is a little different from most, too, with that small steering wheel and a relatively high seating position. It works for most people, but worth checking out before you buy. 

On the road, the 3008 is good to drive, with a range of eager engines, it handles well, rides comfortably and is decently refined. It's not as practical or spaciou

In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the 3008 diesel finished in 12th place out of 76 family SUVs, with an overall score of 96.8%. The petrol version wasn't far behind, finishing in 18th place with a score of 95.8%. While those are good positions, it's worth noting the 3008 has done poorly in previous years.

Prices for the 3008 can start from as low as £10,000, this for a 2017 car. Spend from £11,000 to £15,000 for cars from 2019 and 2020. Up the folding to £15,000 or more and this should net you a 2021 or 2022 model, and not much more for a post-facelift 2022 or 2023 car. 

"For a car devoid of a premium badge, I found the 3008's interior pretty stylish and plush. I ran one long-term and really liked it." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2022 Peugeot 3008 1.2 PureTech 130 Active, 30,000 miles, £14,900

Read our used Peugeot 3008 review

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The Volkswagen Tiguan has regularly been one of the most popular family SUVs around.

This second-generation version is beautifully made and finished, and it's a solid performer, especially if you go for the torquey 2.0-litre diesel engine that has no trouble carrying a car-load of people around (or towing a caravan).

It's also refined, practical and spacious, with only a mediocre family SUV reliability rating limiting its position on this list. Our data suggests the VW Tiguan is reliable, but only on average.

In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the petrol Tiguan placed 42nd with a decent reliability score of 91.9%, but the diesel finished in 57th, with a disappointing score of 88.1%. That's out of a pool of 76 cars in the family SUV class.

Based on that, the Tiguan is more reliable than the Cupra Formentor and Range Rover Evoque but less reliable than the BMW X1 and the top-spot holder, the 2014-2021 Lexus NX.

Shop around and you can find this generation of Tiguan for as little as £10,000 now. Up the budget to around £12,000 and you’ll find 2018 cars. Increase your budget to £15,000 if you want to buy a 2019 car or a little more for a 2020 car. 

"The Tiguan's interior isn't very exciting to look at, but I really like its solid build quality, soft-touch plastics and plush materials. The driving position is excellent and visibility is good, too." – George Hill, Used Car Writer

We found: 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI SE Navigation, 44,000 miles, £14,990

Read our full used VW Tiguan review

Search for a used VW Tiguan for sale

The only fully electric car on this list, the Kia Niro EV is good to drive, plush inside, spacious for passengers and luggage and has a range of an official 285 miles.

Other strengths include an impressive reliability record, a spacious interior and generous equipment levels.

Its predecessor was the Kia e-Niro (2018-2022), and we liked that car so much that we made it our What Car? Car of the Year. This latest version isn't quite the class leader that the original car was, but it's still a great used buy.

It's also a reliable car. In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, it ranked 11th out of 27 cars in the electric SUV class. Its reliability score of 92.2% makes it more reliable than the larger Kia EV6, as well as the Audi Q4 e-tron, MG ZS EV and Nissan Ariya. The Tesla Model Y and Renault Scenic are even more reliable buys, though.

And, of course, if your budget is even tighter, you could always look for an older e-Niro. You can buy a used Kia Niro EV for around £12,000, but that will get you a high-mileage 2022 car in entry-level 2 trim. For 3 or 4 trim, or a low-mileage 2 trim example, expect to pay upwards of £14,000.

"Being electric only, I find the Kia Niro EV a very pleasant car to travel around town in. It's quiet, smooth and quite comfortable too. I'd go for the bigger battery version for the best range." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2022 Kia Niro EV 3, 60,000 miles, £14,950

Read our full used Kia Niro EV review

Search for a used Kia Niro EV for sale

The Mazda CX-5 is good to drive, decently practical and, above all, superb value for money.

Just £10,000 is your starting point and, for that, expect a 2017-2018 SE-L Nav or Sport Nav with the 148bhp diesel engine. We recommend a budget of at least £11,000 if you'd like a 2019 car (you probably will, seeing as it gets more safety kit than in previous years, as well as smartphone mirroring). A 2020 or 2021 car should be available within our budget here, though, and if you shop around maybe even a 2022 model.

Enthusiastic drivers will love it for its surprisingly agile handling, but it's worth noting this does come at the cost of ride comfort. Meanwhile, 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. 

Indeed, the CX-5 petrol finished in sixth place out of 76 family SUV in the What Car? Reliability Survey, with a score of 96.8%. That places it above the Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008, but below the Toyota RAV4 and Porsche Macan. The diesel version finished in 24th place, which is still a respectable position, with a score of 94.9%.

Unfortunately, a range of lacklustre engines and average fuel economy leave it trailing behind rivals. This, ultimately, leaves it in a low position on this list. 

"The CX-5 is great to drive, especially if you don't mind an old-school driving experience as I do. For instance, the petrol engines need plenty of revs to really get going." – George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Mazda CX-5 2.0 SE-L, 4.5,402 miles, £14,450

Read our used Mazda CX-5 review

Search for a used Mazda CX-5 for sale

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