Used test β dependable SUVs: Honda CR-V vs Kia Sportage vs Mazda CX-5 vs Volkswagen Tiguan
All four of these used SUVs have a rock-solid reputation, and should beat anything winter can throw at them. But which one should you choose?
Need a valuation?
Obtain a FREE used car valuation for any vehicle.

The Contenders
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC SE auto
List price when new Β£27,745
Price today Β£15,500
Available from 2012-present
The fourth-generation CR-V is the most family-friendly of them all, with loads of space
Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi 134 KX-3 4WD auto
List price when new Β£25,935
Price today Β£15,000
Available from 2010-2016
The Sportage started life as the cheapest car here, but itβs held its value well
Mazda CX-5 2.2D Skyactiv-D 175 Sport AWD auto
List price when new Β£28,395
Price today Β£16,000
Available from 2012-2017
Clever Skyactiv technology gives the CX-5 superb performance and economy
Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 140 Bluemotion Tech 4Motion SE DSG
List price when new Β£27,510
Price today Β£15,000
Available from 2007-2016
Good handling and versatile cabin make the Tiguan hugely desirable
price today is based on a 2013 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing
Buying an SUV to help you cope better with icy roads is all well and good, but it amounts to naught if it breaks down before youβve even had a chance to put it to the test.
Thatβs why reliability is such an essential part of the decision-making process for many SUV buyers β and itβs why a strong reputation counts for so much in this area.
Itβs one reason why Japanese manufacturers have had so much success. Their dependable reputation has seen their SUV sales soar, with cars like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 becoming immensely popular in recent years.
Volkswagen, too, has always had a great reputation in the UK for building high-quality cars. The recent diesel emissions scandal doesnβt seem to have had a huge effect on that β meaning the Tiguan is still widely thought of as a dependable choice.
But are these modelsβ reputations justified β and if so, are they also good enough in other areas to make them worth your while? If not, you might want to turn to Kia. It isnβt well-known as a builder of reliable cars, but it has offered a seven-year warranty on all its models since 2010.
As a used proposition, that makes the Sportage very tempting β after all, of all of our 2013 models on test here today, itβs the only one that still has a chunk of its manufacturerβs warranty left. Might that be enough to tip the balance in its favour? Itβs time to find out.
What are they like to drive?
The CX-5 is the lightest and most powerful car here, so itβs no surprise that itβs the quickest by some margin. But even more impressive than the CX-5βs outright pace is its flexibility. Its engine pulls hard from 1500rpm, yet keeps on delivering smooth power right up to the 5200rpm redline. Only the six-speed automatic gearbox fitted to our test car disappoints; itβs rather sluggish to change down.
The CR-Vβs engine is nowhere near as strong as the CX-5βs running out of puff at about 4000rpm, but it still offers plenty of mid-rev muscle. Sadly, the CR-Vβs automatic gearbox feels antiquated. Changes are far from snappy, and there are only five gears, so the gaps between them are relatively big and the engine can drop out of its sweet spot. On the upside, smooth initial pick-up means the CR-V is the easiest car to drive in stop-start traffic.
The Tiguanβs 138bhp diesel engine is powerful enough in two-wheel-drive versions, but this 4Motion model weighs an extra 115kg. That takes a toll on performance. The car still feels nippy in town, but overtakes on faster roads require planning.
The Tiguanβs coasting function disconnects the engine from the gearbox when you back off the power at motorway speeds, allowing fuel-saving freewheeling. The downside is that thereβs a lengthy delay when you get back on the accelerator while the seven-speed gearbox re-engages.
The Sportage is slower still. Even with only two people on board its 134bhp diesel engine its feel short of breath, and fully loaded it really struggles. The unresponsive six-speed automatic gearbox doesnβt help.
The CX-5 is not only the fastest here, but itβs also the most invigorating to drive. Body roll is well controlled, even through tight twists and turns, and thereβs also an impressive amount of front-end grip. The steering is accurate, but less impressive at low speeds when it feels curiously heavy, making parking manoeuvres are a bit of a chore. Urban bumps and potholes send jolts through to your spine, too, but both the steering and the ride improve dramatically with speed.
But while the CX-5 impresses in lots of areas, refinement isnβt one of them. Thereβs a loud roar from under the bonnet whenever you put your foot down, and a steady drone at motorway cruising speeds. As if that werenβt bad enough, the CX-5βs tyres generate quite a bit of noise at the national limit, and wind can be heard whistling around the base of its windscreen.
The CR-Vβs diesel engine is gruff, too, but in other respects itβs quieter than the CX-5. Occupants are well isolated from tyre roar and suspension noise, and the wind noise that builds up around the chunky door mirrors never becomes loud enough to get on your nerves.
Because itβs the biggest and heaviest car here, though, itβs not surprising that the CR-V feels most like an old-school 4x4 to drive. It leans quite dramatically on winding country lanes, the steering is slow and the whole car shimmies around on patched-up road surfaces. It can thump over potholes, too, although ride comfort is generally decent; it soaks up big bumps well.
The car that really disappoints, however, is the Sportage. While thereβs plenty of give in its suspension, that vertical travel isnβt well controlled, causing body bounce on uneven roads. The steering is lifeless too, making the Sportage unnerving to drive β though it does have the tightest turning circle.
Youβll also find the Sportage isnβt very relaxing when youβre on the move, thanks to its boomy engine. You notice this less on the motorway β but thatβs only because itβs partly drowned out by the excessive wind and road noise.
That leaves the Tiguan, which is limo-like in this company. Itβs far quieter than the other three cars at a 70mph cruise, with very little engine, road or wind noise reaching the cabin. Even when the engine is cold or youβre revving it up to the redline, it remains impressively refined and emits little vibration.
Tiguans usually strike a fine balance between comfort and control, but when fitted with the sports suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels that were both optional when new β as per our test car β the ride becomes decidedly choppy. Weβd strongly recommend sticking with the standard set-up, because the Tiguan still handles sweetly on this. If anything, the Volkswagen feels even lighter on its feet than the Mazda, although its steering is also unnecessarily meaty at low speeds.
Next >
Page 1 of 4