Top 10 used SUVs for less than £10,000

Don't worry, there are still many used examples to choose from at surprisingly modest prices, and that's despite the recent hike in the value of used cars. Here, we’ve picked out ten SUVs of varying sizes that we think will fit a variety of different bills, all for an upper price limit of around £10,000.

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.

The very apogee of the family SUV, the Qashqai has pointed the way for all others since it started the trend way back in 2008. This second-generation version really upped the game when it was introduced in 2014. It's immensely practical and spacious inside, and comfortable. Only a poor showing in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey blots the Qashqai's copybook.

We found: 2017 Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T Acenta, 55,000 miles, £9700

Pros
Quiet and comfortable
Sips fuel
Lots of equipment

Cons
Poor reliability
Ride suffers on 19in wheels
Limited rear visibility

Handsome, spacious and cheap to run, the Renault Kadjar is a fine family SUV that built on the success of its smaller sibling, the Captur. It shares a lot of its underpinnings with our number 10 car here, the highly successful second-generation Nissan Qashqai. Its interior quality is a little mixed and its reliability record is not as good as some, alas.

We found: 2017 Renault Kadjar 1.5 dCi Dynamique Nav, 52,000 miles, £9990

Pros
Spacious interior
Bigger boot than sibling Nissan Qashqai
Quiet petrol engines

Cons
So-so quality
Grabby brakes
Choppy ride on big alloys

The Renault Captur was consistently Europe’s best-selling small SUV – and as the first-generation model had a good, long life, surviving up until the launch of the latest version in 2019, there are plenty of used examples around. There's a good choice in the engine range from nippy petrols to frugal diesels. Our money buys one of the last 2019 models.

We found: 2019 Renault Captur 0.9 TCe 90 Dynamique Nav, 30,000 miles, £9995

Pros
Practical interior
Impressive refinement
Well equipped

Cons
Pre-facelift Captur has poor interior quality
Some engines have weak performance
Rear leg room can be tight

It's one of the smallest SUV offerings on the market, but it is also one of the best value. £10,000 buys you an example with a low mileage and maybe even some of the three-year warranty left over. What's more, its diminutive dimensions make it ideal in the city, yet inside, there's space for four adults and a very reasonable-sized boot. If you want a funky little SUV that works in town, the Ignis should be high on your list.

We found: 2019 Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dualjet SZ-T, 4000 miles, £9990

Pros
Spacious for a city car
Most models well equipped
Agile in corners

Cons
Jiggly ride quality
Vague steering
Fiddly touchscreen system

Chunky, Tonka-toy looks, blistered wheel arches, oversized roof rails and lower-body cladding give the Yeti real presence. Fortunately, there is nothing abominable about this practical and economical SUV behind those looks. You can choose from a good range of engines and, whichever you choose, all Yetis have excellent driving manners and plenty of interior space. Our budget buys you one of the last Yetis.

We found: 2016 Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI S, 53,000 miles, £9995

Pros
Fun to drive for an SUV
Spacious interior
Some efficient versions

Cons
Too much wind and road noise
Ride is jittery on poor surfaces
Removable rear seats are fiddly

The first-gen CX-5 was a corker when it arrived, being far nicer to drive than the Nissan Qashqai of the time, and a lot roomier, too, with a boot that can easily hold enough luggage for a family holiday. The rear seats of this large SUV are just about wide enough for three people to sit abreast, which not a lot of family SUVs will let you do. Oh, and it's reliable and well-equipped, too. It would finish even higher if you could buy a newer one for this money.

We found: 2016 Mazda CX-5 2.2d SE-L, 61,000 miles, £9995

Pros
Spacious interior
Sharp handling
Good economy from petrol engine

Cons
Lots of road noise
Ride firm on Sport models
Drab interior

Our money buys the latest Duster, and that's not a bad thing: it's good to drive, comfortable and cheap to run. Space is very good, too; four adults should have few complaints about longer journeys and you can even take five – at a pinch. Boot capacity is excellent, too. It might not be of the highest quality inside, but it'll stand up to abuse from even the most ardent DIYer, or the most abusive toddler.

We found: 2019 Dacia Duster 1.5 DCi Laureate, 36,000 miles, £9999

Pros
A lot of car for the money
Big boot
4x4 version very capable

Cons
Sparse equipment on lower trims
Interior feels very cheap
Disappointing Euro NCAP safety rating

Rugged, rocky and arid, that's what the name Tucson suggests, and it lives up to it, too, to a certain degree. In fact, space and practicality are the Tucson's real forte, and it's the perfect size and shape for families. It's nice to drive, too, if not outstandingly sharp or quick, and it looks great. Our budget should get you a good, average mileage version of the previous-generation car from 2017, and it'll come with a top-notch reliability record, too.

We found: 2017 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi 136 SE Nav, 30,000 miles, £9490

Pros
Five-year warranty
Lots of equipment
Cheap to buy

Cons
Plasticky interior
Firm ride
Some thirsty engines

The previous-generation Sportage has a spacious and practical interior, perfect for families, and is now great value bought used. True, the Sportage is not quite as engaging to drive as some of its rivals, but it betters many of them in so many other areas that it's a worthy runner-up here. It's a seriously good SUV and its looks will impress the neighbours, too. You can pick up a clean 2017 example now for our budget and that should give you many years of practical and reliable motoring.

We found: 2017 Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 1, 52,000 miles, £9990

Pros
Spacious and practical interior
Good value for money used
Neat steering

Cons
Diesel engine can be noisy
So-so ride and handling
No automatic emergency braking on some models

The Vitara is good to drive, has a comfortable ride, loads of interior space, and a good touchscreen infotainment system in SZ-T trim or higher. On top of that, its reliability record is very strong and it's also surprisingly economical. It's been on sale since 2015 so there's plenty of choice on the used forecourts, but our £10k budget buys you a good 2018 car with a low mileage.

We found: 2018 Suzuki Vitara 1.6 SZ4, 18,000 miles, £9500

Pros
Good driving manners
Spacious and practical interior
Well equipped

Cons
High emissions on some petrol models
Diesel engines can be noisy
Some of the trim feels flimsy

So that's the best SUVs - what about one to avoid? Read on:

The Vauxhall Mokka X looks 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. It is, therefore, best avoided.