Second hand SUV for under 6k?

[Lala458]

Automatic, big boot and not ridiculously fugly. There are lots on autotrader but am not a car person and could use some recommendations! Thanks.

Anything that cheap is going to be really quite old with a lot of work needing done. I couldn’t even find DD a decent little car after passing her driving test for that price so good luck with an SUV!

What is the tax/insurance/MPG like?

There are tonnes on there. I'm happy with an old car. Just needs to have a big boot for kids bikes/dogs/tents etc.

Get an estate. You will get more for your money and they usually have a bigger boot.

Mondeo or Mazda 6 are good options.

Buy a MPV or estate instead.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405310276403?advertising-location=at_cars&atmobcid=soc5&body-type=MPV&body-type=Estate&fromsra&make=&price-to=6000&sort=relevance&transmission=Automatic

6k is a decent budget for a car!

Why ?

You are paying for beefed up suspension. 4 wheel drive. Massive fuel costs.

Of that age it will be unreliable and expensive to run.

You need a big boot - surely get a car with a big boot.

VW Tiguans are my new favourite.

Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

Range/Land Rovers are expensive and are shit and unreliable.

Buy anything else at your peril.

I just worry an estate won't deal with fields very well! I'll have a look though.

Older Tiguans absolutely win! I’d have our 2013 model back in a heartbeat.. the 2020 version though, not so much.

I've heard good things about Rav4s!

@stressedespresso why’s that? We have a 2021 model and I love it.

The 2020 model was really low quality and plasticky in comparison to the 2013 version. Definitely used to be better value for money and came with more extras/tech as standard. Not to mention the 6 months after we got it where mid Covid I was having to take it back to the Volkswagen garage every other week (no exaggeration) due to constant faults! It ended up having to be sent right back to VW in Germany for diagnostics..

I bought an immaculate 09 Kia Sorento 2 years ago for under £5k. It's my second one and I use it for towing the horse trailer/ going across the fields. They are great cars,and the older automatics like mine have a 3.5t towing capacity. They've always been reliable cars, although the tax on them is hideous at £600 odd.

Suzuki Grand Vitara. Proper 4wd, really good on fuel (petrol), fabulous workhorse!

Ah, we have a high spec model and feels very luxurious to me.

Honda crv. We have a 2011 and 2015. Older one is the one we use for towing and when snow and mud is bad, both pass mot each year so far and are a dream. Haven’t had any breakdowns. Massive boot and fab if you live rurally. We are very rural and the high seating position makes driving the single track roads all around us, much safer. 2011 is worth around 5k as it’s 4x4 and has the top trim and the 2015 about 7k and lower trim.

We have a Ford Focus estate that’s used for hauling big canvas tents etc, it’s been driven through muddy fields several times and handled it every time.

Don’t get an SUV if you need boot space. We can fit loads in ours, SUV boot space is a joke in comparison.

You can get estates with higher ground clearance, Volvo XC70 or Subaru Outback.

Do you spend a lot of time driving in fields?

I agree with the suggestions to get an estate, eg a Passat or Octavia.

A £6k 4x4 has a high risk of turning into a money pit and to answer your question about what the tax, insurance and MPG are like, probably at least 50% more than a Passat or an Octavia.

@SpindleyDindley completely agree: estates have much bigger boots.

If you need a 4x4/AWD that’s another thing but these days most SUVs aren’t.

Would be worth knowing what you actually need. If you just need a big boot then get an estate. If you need something good on rough terrain then 4x4. Many SUVs are a slightly weird con where they offer less boot space than an estate without the functionality of a 4x4.

Good luck!

Dacia Duster

Agree with precious comments, you won't be getting something reliable for 6k. Do you have the budget to pay for the repairs on a cheap SUV?

Toyota rav 4 ,brilliant car

How far off road do you need to go? Subaru might do estates with four wheel drive.