Best used family SUVs for less than £20,000

Buying a used family SUV needn’t cost you the earth. In fact, you can buy examples often only a year or two old for less than £20,000, and these highly practical cars now make a huge amount of financial sense as a second-hand purchase.

Most of these SUVs have the raised-up driving position and chunky looks that buyers love, as well as large boots and flexible interiors.

However, there are so many to choose from that finding the right car for you can be bewildering. Here, to help out, we're counting down our top 10 favourites. Click on the links below each review and you can even buy one of the cars via our used classifieds site.

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The Mazda CX-5, is a terrific all-rounder. If you’re after a used SUV to transport your family around in it’s almost unbeatable, being good to drive, decently practical and, above all, superb value for money.

Enthusiastic drivers will love it for its surprisingly agile handling, and 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.

It's larger than most of the cars on our list here, and also unfortunately a fraction more expensive; otherwise, it might have finished even higher.

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

We found: 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.0 SE-L, 4.5,402 miles, £18,450

Strengths

• Premium inside
• Good handling
• Well equipped

Weaknesses

• Firm ride
• Steering could be better
• Lacklustre engines

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 practical, smart and good value.

Only an average showing in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey puts it down on our list here. Our £20k budget will buy you one of the newer models of this recently replaced version.

"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 2024 Peugeot 3008 1.2 PureTech 130 Active, 10,000 miles, £19,400

Strengths

• Upmarket interior
• Standard safety kit
• Practicality

Weaknesses

• Vague controls
• Reliability results have occasionally been a bit mixed
• Slow infotainment system

The Volkswagen Tiguan has regularly been one of the most popular family SUVs around. In fact, for years, it was one of Volkswagen's top-selling models.

This second-generation version is beautifully made and finished, and is also a solid performer, with punchy engines that have no trouble carrying a car-load of people around (or towing a caravan).

There's a good choice of efficient engines, handsomely equipped trims, and all in the Tiguan is one of the most family-friendly and refined SUVs of them all.

Prices on the whole are slightly higher than many of its rivals, but there are plenty of well-kept examples on the second-hand forecourts. Reliability is good, too.

"I find the Tiguan an easy recommendation, because it's comfy, well built and well executed in general. Driving it is always a pleasure." – Oliver Young, reviewer

We found: 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5 TSI 150 Life, 35,801 miles, £19,350

Strengths

• Spacious interior with plenty of leg room available
• Smooth ride quality over rough road surfaces
• Strong reliability with few issues reported

Weaknesses

• Higher price when new than other rivals
• Infotainment system may have the occasional faults
• Some engine options feel a little underpowered

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, and our latest What Car? Reliability Survey found the petrol-engined versions to be one of the most reliable family SUVs available. 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.

"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 2023 BMW X1 1.5 18i xLine sDrive, 37,100 miles, £19,799

Strengths

• Smooth handling and responsive steering
• High-quality interior with solid materials
• Spacious boot with plenty of practical loading options
• Reliability looks good

Weaknesses

• Noticeable wind and road noise at speed
• Higher servicing costs than some of its rivals
• Some electrical issues have been reported by owners

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.

The Ateca's been around for many a year now, so if money is tight and you can't stretch to £20,000, you could look at an old one from 2016 for less than £10,000. We'd spend a bit more and put a facelifted, post-2021 model on your driveway, though, ideally a 2023 or 2024 car for our budget here.

"Seat has crafted some stellar driving experiences before, so, when the Ateca made its debut, perhaps I should've seen its handling prowess coming." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2023 Seat Ateca 1.0 TSI SE Technology, 9000 miles, £19,000

Strengths

• Spacious interior
• Class-leading handling
• Boot space pips rivals
• Good value used

Weaknesses

• Some rivals offer more flexible seating
• Interior isn’t that plush
• One or two are more economical

The Range Rover Evoque was a trendsetter when it arrived in 2012, and it continues to be a very popular choice in this second-generation version.

You can opt for plug-in hybrid power in the Evoque, or a traditional petrol or diesel engine – the latter being especially useful if you plan on towing a caravan. But whichever you choose, ride comfort impresses, and the Evoque can take you farther off the beaten track than the rival Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

The Evoque is quiet, comfortable and economical. The driving experience is terrific on-road and even pretty good for some light off-road paddling. It's a stylish, compelling and great value choice with a terrific interior that oozes class.

Only its questionable reliability in our previous reliability surveys, and Land Rover's poor performance as a brand, have pushed it out of contention, but in recent years, its reliability record has improved considerably, making it something we can once again recommend (see our latest What Car? Reliability Survey).

"Leather might be associated with Range Rovers these days, but the original 1970 car actually had fabric upholstery, and the Evoque harks back to those days by giving you the option of plush wool seats." – Steve Huntingford, Editor

We found 2021 Range Rover Evoque D165 R-Dynamic S, 49,000 miles, £18,995

Strengths

• Comfortable driving condition
• Well equipped
• Excellent traction in slippery conditions

Weaknesses

• Still a question mark over long-term reliability
• Some rivals have better fuel economy
• Not particularly swift

The Skoda Karoq just edges out its broadly similar sibling, the Seat Ateca. It's extremely practical (even more so than the Ateca), it drives well, and it's excellent value for money.

There's a good range of engines to choose from, and it's handsomely equipped. Skoda's mid-range petrol engine, badged as the 1.5 TSI 150, is our pick of the range, because with 148bhp it never feels out of puff, yet it should still keep your running costs in check. As a bonus, the Karoq's ride is much more comfortable than that of the closely related Seat Ateca.

The Karoq’s greatest asset, though, is its interior, which is flexible, smart and beautifully built, with loads of space for all your passengers. Even today, few can match it. The Karoq's been out for many years now, so early ones from around £10,000 look especially good value.

"Skoda doesn't scrimp on space and the Karoq is no exception. When testing one out, my family and I very much appreciated the vast passenger space and big boot." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2023 Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI SE Drive, 20,000 miles, £18,290

Strengths

• Spacious and practical interior with excellent driving position
• Comfortable ride, smooth on all roads
• A good choice of punchy engines

Weaknesses

• A little bland to drive
• Not as efficient as some of its rivals
• VarioFlex seats are only optional on some models

The Kia Sportage delivers on what families demand from a mid-sized SUV and then some. 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 Sportage only misses out on its equally talented sibling, the Hyundai Tucson, here by virtue of being more expensive age-for-age.

"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: 2023 Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2, 33,000 miles, £19,500

Strengths

• Smart interior
• Large boot
• Well equipped

Weaknesses

• Hybrid and plug-in hybrid are a tad expensive
• Auto gearboxes not the slickest
• Rear head room with panoramic roof not the best

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 and hushed performer, too, with a low level of wind and road noise, helping to make the interior a noticeably refined place in which to spend time.

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. Not as good value now as the Hyundai Tucson, but still a great car.

"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, £18,950

Strengths

• Stylish interior
• Comprehensive safety kit
• Supple ride on most versions

Weaknesses

• Fiddly infotainment
• Lacks flexible rear-seat arrangement
• Some reliability reports were a little mixed

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.

The Tucson can now be had easily within our budget, too, such that you should pick up a 2024 nearly new car for £20,000. That's cheaper age-for-age than nearly every car here, and especially its closely related sibling, the Kia Sportage.

"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 2024 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 GDi SE Connect, 16,000 miles, £19,950

Strengths

• Used prices are tempting
• Well-made interior
• Practical and spacious
• Good reliability record

Weaknesses

• Ride can be fidgety
• No sliding rear seats
• Not as good to drive as one or two rivals

The Jeep Compass suffers from a fair few problems, such as unrefined engines, an unsettled ride and a cheap-feeling interior.