Best used luxury SUVs

The Audi Q7 has won multiple What Car? awards for the very reason that it is an impeccable family car, an excellent long-distance tourer and an outstanding luxury vehicle. Few cars this side of £100,000 have a plusher and quieter interior. It's reliable, too. Plus, you’ll get a much easier-to-operate infotainment system than the one found in later models and you'll be saving nearly half its original value, making a used Q7 an absolute bargain.

"I find a day in a Q7 as relaxing as a trip to a spa town. That you can have such a practical after for such modest amounts makes it a real star car." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI S line, 58,000 miles, £28,500

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The original BMW X5 rewrote the rule book on how big, tall and heavy SUVs should handle, and subsequent generations only added to its overall appeal. Now, this latest fourth-generation BMW X5 is a real class leader with a terrific ride and excellent refinement. Go for one of the excellent 3.0-litre diesels to get the best value used, or the plug-in hybrid model for its potential economy. 

"It might look big and butch but the Beemer is a delight to drive. Add in the plug-in hybrid's refinement and I think it's remarkably civilised." - George Hill, used cars writer 

We found: 2020 BMW X5 xDrive40d M Sport, 48,000 miles, £33,999

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It might seem odd that the smaller sibling is so far ahead of the full-fat Porsche Cayenne in our top 10, but the Porsche Macan is an agile blast. It matches the Cayenne for luxury, and adds a whole extra dollop of driver enjoyment, thanks to it being smaller and lighter. It's not as spacious as some but it is more fun than most of them, and it's relatively good value used, too. It's also known to be rather reliable.  

"If this top 10 were based on driving pleasure alone you'd choose this one above all others. Even though it's getting on a bit it's still great to drive." -Mark Pearson, used cars writer

We found: 2019 Porsche Macan S, 60,000 miles, £29,000

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Here's another luxury SUV that’s practical, comes with loads of safety technology, has an interior that looks and feels wonderfully opulent, and can be found for very reasonable money. It doesn’t matter all that much which version you go for because all of the trim levels are very well equipped. You can pick up an early 2015 or 2016 car for as little as £22,000, but we'd spend a bit more and put a three or four-year-old low-mileage example on our driveway. 

"In some ways, this XC90 is almost as good in my book as the Q7. It might not be quite as refined but I prefer the way it looks." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Volvo XC90 D5 Momentum Pro, 63,000 miles, £27,000

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The only thing bigger than the BMW X7’s gigantic front grille is the car itself, so if you’ve got a big budget for a used car and a big family, it should definitely be on your shortlist. As a bonus, the interior is as flashy as it is sturdy, and refinement is so impressive that someone in the third row can have a conversation with those up front without raising their voice.

"Now if you've never seen an X7 before in the flesh don't be surprised when you do - it's huge. A great statement and a great car." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40d MHT, 55,000 miles, £51,950

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Whether you choose the regular Audi E-tron or its coupé SUV sister the E-tron Sportback, or the later Audi Q8 e-tron, which effectively replaced this model, you'll be getting one of the quietest cruisers on the used car forecourts. What's more, the ride is comfortable and the interior lavish. It's excellent value, too, but just bear in mind that this is an electric car and the range between charges on the earlier cars is nothing special by modern standards.

"The original Audi electric SUV so not as long in the range but not by any means long in the tooth." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Audi E-tron 55 quattro Sport, 45,000 miles, £22,000

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If the BMW X5 was the car to show the world how to make big SUVs handle like a well-sorted estate car, then the Porsche Cayenne was the one to make them feel like a sports car. Admittedly, its ride can be a bit firm, but the upside is that it can negotiate a country road far faster than any other off-roader. And it isn’t just quick in the corners; there’s a Turbo S version with 562bhp. We’d stick with the very impressive 3.0-litre diesel, mind. 

"So much has been said about the Cayenne over the years but I've always rather liked them. Practicality and poshness? Tick." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Porsche Cayenne S 3.0 diesel Platinum, 51,500 miles, £39,995

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These luxury SUVs aren't all about practicality; the plush Audi Q8 gives buyers in this class a more rakish shape at the expense of some interior space. It's also well equipped and rides well. It even shares components with the high-performance Lamborghini Urus, so the handling is pretty decent, plus the 3.0-litre diesel engine in the 50 TDI is very swift indeed. 

"Oh the Q8's a real honey, being part-Q7 and part-Lamborghini in feel. Wealthy family men queue here." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Audi Q8 50 TDI Vorsprung, 45,000 miles, £35,000

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The Bentayga is about as subtle as a Kardashian shopping in a Co-op. The short-lived 4.0-litre diesel V8 is the most economical engine, and we've highlighted one we found in our classifieds below, but the more numerous version is the 6.0 W12. Being a Bentley, the Bentayga is the priciest entrant on this list, but most were ordered with a considerable list of expensive options, making them better value than they first appear. 

"What can I say, so posh! The V8's great and it drives surprisingly well. One for the wealthy." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2018 Bentley Bentayga V8, 59,000 miles, £69,995

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The Jaguar I-Pace was one of the first all-electric luxury cars. It was fun to drive and had a long range, travelling for more than 250 miles on a charge in real-world conditions. What's more, it's still a fast car and has the brand's classiest interior to date. There are electric car rivals that can be charged at a faster rate, and there are more reliable choices, but the I-Pace is still a very appealing used choice.

"One of the first electric SUVs and a car that's still achingly pretty. Only the reliability issues would put me off signing on the dotted." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Jaguar I-Pace EV400 S, 40,000 miles, £18,995

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