Best used SUVs for less than £10,000
So you fancy the on-trend practicality of an SUV but can't commit to a huge spend? Don't worry, there are still many used examples to choose from at surprisingly modest prices. Here, we’ve picked out 10 SUVs of varying sizes that we think will fit a variety of different bills, all for an upper price limit of £10,000.
You can choose from SUVs both big and small, depending on your needs, but whatever the dimensions, there are many qualities these cars share, including a spacious, versatile interior and a relaxing drive.
Our top team of used car testers have been on the case, and if you want to know which car they rate above all others, read on. Click the links below each review, and you can even put one of the cars in your driveway via our What Car? used cars classifieds site.
Strengths
- Remarkably roomy interior and large boot
- Better-finished inside than many of its rivals
- Comfortable ride
Weaknesses
- No sliding or reclining rear seats
- Not especially well equipped
- Other small SUVs have a higher driving position
Be warned, if you prefer a high-riding SUV, the Skoda Kamiq places you quite low to the ground, with a driving position that is barely more elevated than that of the Skoda Scala family hatchback, which it's closely related to.
However, in every other respect, it's a brilliant used choice, with a supple, well-controlled ride and a remarkably spacious and classy interior. It's very practical, too, for a small SUV.
The entry-level 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine is more than peppy enough and economical, making it a cheap car to run, and it's the cheapest Kamiq on the used car forecourt. On top of that, all models are good to drive, with surprisingly high levels of refinement.
Reliability is strong, too, with the Kamiq scoring an impressive 94.1% in the small SUV category in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey.
"All who drive or even live with the Kamiq come away impressed. It's easy to drive and it's got more space than you'd think, too, which makes it a really nice car for day-to-day use." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2022 Skoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 95 SE, 35,000 miles, £9995
Read our used Skoda Kamiq review
Search for a used Skoda Kamiq for sale
Strengths
- Comfortable ride
- Impressive safety
- Good boot by class standards
Weaknesses
- Low-rent interior on earlier cars
- Only top spec gets sat-nav
- Lumbar support is an option
The Volkswagen T-Roc isn't the cheapest small SUV used, but it's a great buy if you stick to the cheaper engines and trims.
On that basis, it's almost competitive on value with the Skoda Kamiq and the Volkswagen T-Cross. The T-Roc’s cosseting ride, superb refinement and practical boot will appeal to families, and it has one of the best driving positions of any car in the class.
Later models have a much-improved interior, with soft materials and bright plastic finishes where you’d want them. It's reliable, too, with a great score of 99% in our most recent reliability survey.
Only the fact that you can buy a newer Kamiq for this budget than you can a T-Roc pushes it down a place or two. If you can stretch to it, we'd go for the post-facelift, 2022 onwards models to get that plusher interior, but you'll probably need a little more than our budget here.
"It's a little more expensive to buy than some, but I think this T-Roc combines all that's best of modern VW in a small and entertaining package. Top marks." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
We found: 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc 1.0 TSI 115 SE, 55,150 miles, £9990
Read our used Volkswagen T-Roc review
Search for a used Volkswagen T-Roc for sale
Our pick: 1.5 TSI e-TEC MHEV SE DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr (7 Seat)
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 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 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. It's a size up from the Kamiq and T-Roc, for example.
The Karoq's been out for many years now, so ones from around 2020 for £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 2020 Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI SE Drive, 40,000 miles, £10,000
Read our used Skoda Karoq review
Search for a used Skoda Karoq for sale
Strengths
- Plenty of space
- Lots of equipment
- Relatively cheap to buy used
Weaknesses
- Plasticky interior
- Firm ride
- Some thirsty engines
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, the Hyundai Tucson does a pretty good job of satisfying all of those criteria. 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. It's smart-looking and handles well. 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 of this generation for around £7000. Newer cars from 2017 and 2018 start from £9000, while £10,000 will get you a 2020 model.
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.
"Separating the Tucson from the likes of the similar Sportage is like choosing your favourite child but whichever you go for you'll get a highly competent and practical SUV. Tucson reliability looks better at the mo. I like the fact the Tucson looks rather butch, as its name suggests." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
We found: 2020 Hyundai Tucson 1.7 CRDi SE Nav, 69,000 miles, £9950
Read our full used Hyundai Tucson review
Search for a used Hyundai Tucson for sale
Strengths
- A lot of car for the money
- Big boot
- 4x4 version very capable
Weaknesses
- Sparse equipment on lower trims
- Interior feels very cheap
- Disappointing Euro NCAP safety rating
The latest Dacia Duster not only looks rugged and handsome in a chisel-jawed sort of way, it's also 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. The boot capacity is also excellent. 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.
Its reliability record is strong, scoring an impressive 95% in our most recent survey, and existing owners love them. Our budget buys a good 2022 or even a 2023 model, making it one of the newest cars here.
"You gotta love the Duster. I do. This version is much better to drive than the original Duster. It'll do all the practical stuff that all the other cars here do and even more than that but at a lower cost, age-for-age." - George Hill, used cars writer
We found 2023 Dacia Duster 1.5 DCi Laureate, 36,000 miles, £9999
Read our full used Dacia Duster review
Search for a used Dacia Duster for sale
Strengths
- Spacious and practical interior ideal for families
- Good value for money as a used buy
- Petrol-engined Sportages have a good reliability record
Weaknesses
- Diesel-engined cars have a poor reliability record
- Handling is not particularly engaging or fun
- Ride can be badly unsettled by larger wheel options
Compared with the Hyundai Tuscon it is closely related to, the Kia Sportage is a slightly better drive.
The 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.
Petrol versions are more reliable than diesels (according to our Reliability Survey), so we'd advise choosing one of those.
Used prices for the Sportage start from a touch under £8000 for a 2016 model with high mileage. Expect to spend upwards of £10,000 on a 2020 model.
"The Sportage is a car that has improved immeasurably over the years. This model was the first that was good to drive and really practical. I love the looks of it and at this price it's very desirable." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
We found: 2020 Kia Sportage 1.6 GDi 2, 69,000 miles, £9995
Read our full used Kia Sportage review
Search for a used Kia Sportage for sale
Strengths
- Spacious interior
- Class-leading handling
- Boot space pips rivals
Weaknesses
- Some rivals offer more flexible seating
- Interior isn’t that plush
- One or two are more economical
You'll have to shop around, but 2021 examples of the award-winning Seat Ateca are into the sub-£10k category, giving buyers yet another reason to go for this great family SUV.
Even the base 1.0-litre petrol is remarkably capable, and the Ateca drives far better than everything on this list. What's more, it is incredibly practical with a huge boot that's perfect for family life.
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 £10,000 and £13,000 on 2020 and 2021 cars, and more than £15,000 on 2023 and later cars.
"I love the Ateca. It was the first family SUV that was good enough to please keen drivers. It was a deserved winner of our What Car? Used Car of the Year Award in 2019." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
We found: 2021 Seat Ateca 1.4 EcoTSI SE, 58,000 miles, £9995
Read our full used Seat Ateca review
Search for a used Seat Ateca for sale
Strengths
- Mostly smooth ride
- Quiet interior even at motorway speeds
- Efficient engines
Weaknesses
- Wallows in corners
- No seven-seat version
- Some question marks over long-term reliability
Citroën historically specialised in designing cars with a comfortable ride above all else. This is perhaps why the Citroën C5 Aircross has such supple suspension: to tie in with that tradition. Plus, those quirky looks could only really come from a company that arguably knows more than any other carmaker about avant-garde design.
Under its skin, you’ll find engines and mechanicals that are less radical, but that's not such a bad thing. It shares its underpinnings with the Peugeot 3008, Peugeot 5008 and Vauxhall Grandland of the same era.
It drives well, rides comfortably and has a good amount of interior space. Reliability is much improved, according to our most recent reliability survey, with the C5 Aircross scoring a healthy 93.4%.
Prices for a used Citroën C5 Aircross start at around £8000 for a high mileage 2019 1.5-litre diesel models in mid-spec Flair trim. Expect to spend around £9000 for a similar 1.2-litre petrol, a little more for a 2020 model.
"For years, we've had our doubts about Citroen's reliability, but we ran a C5 Aircross as a long-term car, and it was fine. On that basis, few SUVs can match it for all-round practicality and, in my eyes, style. " - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found 2021 Citroen C5 Aircross 1.2 Puretech Flair, 30,000 miles, £9490
Read our full used Citroen C5 Aircross review
Search for a used Citroen C5 Aircross for sale
Strengths
- Premium inside
- Good handling
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Firm ride
- Steering could be better
- Lacklustre engines
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: 2020 Mazda CX-5 2.0 SE-L, 45,402 miles, £10,000
Read our used Mazda CX-5 review
Search for a used Mazda CX-5 for sale
Strengths
- Great value when buying used
- Spacious interior with plenty of storage options
- Strong fuel economy, especially with diesels
Weaknesses
- Some reliability issues reported by owners in the past
- Restricted rear visibility without parking aids
- Higher trims can compromise ride comfort
The very apogee of the family SUV, the Nissan 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. It's better to drive than previous Qashqais, too, with a good interior quality.
However, reliability has always let the Qashqai down a bit. It's had a few average showings in our What Car? Reliability Survey, but our recent results have given it an above-average rating, in which case we're more than happy to include it here.
"The one that started the trend for family SUVs and still a good car today. This model I ran as a long-termer and found it spacious and comfortable for my family needs." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found 2022 Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T Acenta, 55,000 miles, £9700
Read our full used Nissan Qashqai review
Search for a used Nissan Qashqai for sale
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
