Shopping for a great used car and need something inexpensive and practical? Then one of the best used SUVs for under £5,000 could fit the bill perfectly. SUVs, after all, are one of the most popular styles of car for UK motorists; with a high driving position, plenty of space and, of course, those rugged looks, it’s easy to understand why these sports utility vehicles are a popular choice for those looking at the best used cars around.
Most good SUVs lend themselves perfectly to carrying lots of passengers, luggage, and hobby equipment. They’re so commodious that most of this stuff goes in without having to drop the back seats. What’s more, they’ve also often got great towing capabilities, making them a go-to choice if you’re a trailer or caravan owner.
They’re sometimes misunderstood as gas-guzzlers, but that’s far from the case with the family-focused models we’re looking at here. Many of them use efficient diesel and petrol engines which can be as economical as regular family hatchbacks.
The choice of SUVs on the market is vast and has been growing non-stop for years, so there are lots of options out there, including those featured in our lists covering the best used SUVs for under £15,000, and the best used SUVs for under £10,000.
If your budget is tighter still, you might think the options comparatively few and far between – but, even with £5,000 to spend, there’s still lots of choice in the second-hand SUV marketplace. To help you with your search, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best used SUVs under £5,000 in the UK.
Top 10 SUVs for under £5,000 2024
A fine family SUV that still looks good
As it benefitted from Kia’s amazing seven-year warranty when new, it means plentiful in-built reliability. The diesel engines pull well, but go for the 1.7-litre CRDi diesel if you want the best fuel economy, and it’s a generously-equipped machine – we’d look for ‘3’ or ‘4’ grades in the used car classifieds.
Read our full Kia Sportage review
Pros
- Lots of interior space
- Great equipment levels
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Ride is a bit bouncy
- Diesel engines are a bit coarse
All the SUV you could possibly need
It won’t have the same poise as some of the sporty crossovers on this list. It's set up for comfort more than spirited driving, but that means it soaked up rough roads with ease and makes for a surprisingly good road trip car. Dressed up or down with off-road cladding, it’s a rugged charmer of a car and one that’s readily available for less than £5,000.
Pros
- Punchy and frugal diesel engines
- Reliable and well-built
- Roomy interior
Cons
- Some well-documented engine issues
- Residual resistance to the Skoda badge
Popular family SUV is a great used buy
For our £5,000 budget, you’ll be looking at the first-generation car, but in facelift guise, which arrived in 2010. Petrol engines are a bit weedy; we’d go for 1.5-litre dCi or 1.6-litre dCi. Popular n-tec grade has the best kit and the smartest alloys, and you might even stumble across the odd seven-seat Qashqai+2.
Read our full Nissan Qashqai review
Pros
- Smart styling
- Comfortable, spacious cabin
- Good to drive
Cons
- Interior feels quite cheap
- Rear seats don’t fold flat
A refined and comfortable family SUV with lots of equipment
It’s very reliable as well, and was backed up by a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty when new. Because diesel was the dominant fuel back then, most used examples will be the 1.7-litre CRDi, and you’ll easily be able to find a 2012 example for our £5k budget. Look out for Premium spec, which has plenty of extras as standard.
Read our full Hyundai ix35 review
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Comfortable and quiet
- Lots of standard equipment
Cons
- Ride is a bit rough
- Steering lacks feel
A good-looking SUV that’s great to drive
Most used examples will feature Ford’s 2.0-litre TDCi diesel, a solid all-rounder that won’t cause any headaches. If you fancy a bit of spice though, look out for the rare 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo petrol – the same engine as used in the Focus ST hot hatch. Yes, it’s thirsty and expensive to run, but it’s also hilariously good fun: perfect if you’re an enthusiast and your annual mileage is low.
Read our full Ford Kuga review
Pros
- Smart styling, inside and out
- Car-like handling
- Good diesel engines
Cons
- Limited engine line-up
- No clever folding seats
Practical Duster is an inexpensive option
The interior is not the most stylish, but it’s solid enough and pretty practical. It is worth noting there isn’t air-con on the basic trim level, though. We’d therefore err towards Ambience or Laureate, rather than entry-level Access.
Read our full Dacia Duster review
Pros
- Cheap to buy
- Available with all-wheel drive
- Plenty of space inside
Cons
- Base versions are poorly equipped
- Interior is pretty cheap and noisy
A practical and luxurious seven-seat SUV
A premium-looking, timeless machine, the XC90 is a feel-good car that still drives nicely. Most will use the 2.4-litre D5 diesel engine, which is characterful and OK on fuel, even if high CO2 emissions leads to expensive VED. You won’t mind too much though, because the XC90 is a cut-above, well-equipped machine that you’ll easily be able to pick up in post-facelift, 2007-on guise for less than £5,000.
Read our full Volvo XC90 review
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Seven seats as standard
- Stout D5 diesel engine
Cons
- Not as agile as a BMW X5
- Petrols are thirsty
Premium family SUV packs serious off-road prowess
With a premium feel, this Landie is as happy munching motorways as it is tyre-deep in muddy bogs. Its chunky styling lends itself well to countryside appeal, but servicing costs might be off-putting to some. Then there’s the reliability niggles many Land Rovers suffer – although to be fair, the Freelander is less afflicted than other models. If reliability is a concern, though, and you’re less fussed about off-roading but still want some premium appeal, take a look at the Lexus RX.
Read our full Land Rover Freelander review
Pros
- Upmarket feel
- Great on the road, and off it
- Appealing styling
Cons
- Some reliability question marks
- Boot isn’t that big
The RAV4 is a sensible purchase if reliability is essential
Choose from either 2.0-litre petrol or more efficient 2.2-litre D-4D diesel, or look out for the rare, low-emission D-CAT version. We like high-spec XT-4 or XT-R trim, but there’s plenty of choice out there and all are well-equipped. Shop carefully, as older Toyotas hold onto their value well – and some vendors’ over-optimistic pricing reflects this.
Read our full Toyota RAV4 review
Pros
- High standard of reliability
- Refined and comfortable cabin
- Good to drive
Cons
- Not as stylish as some alternatives
- Limited engine range
A reliable family SUV that’s effortless to live with
It was available with a brilliant 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine too, which is uncannily smooth and good on fuel. Much as we like the revvy 2.0-litre petrol, we’d probably go for the diesel. Look for post-facelift cars if you can – they have a bold chrome two- or three-bar grille – as these have the best standard spec.
Read our full Honda CR-V review
Pros
- Great build quality and reliability
- Spacious and practical
- Excellent diesel engine
Cons
- No seven-seat option
- Limited off-road ability
A straightforward SUV, but a bit agricultural
It’s a sound option for bigger families, too, since there’s a seven-seater version on offer. Sure, the rearmost seats are a bit cramped, but it’s hard to find too many faults with the Outlander considering how cheap it now is. And even though the Mitsubishi brand is no longer sold new in the UK, official channels remain open for support, so you won’t face issues when it comes to servicing or repairs.
Read our full Mitsubishi Outlander review
Pros
- Has seven seats
- Good diesel engine
- Drives well for its class
Cons
- Rearmost row is very tight
- Boot isn’t as big as you’d hope
Used SUV UK buying advice
Consider your budget
There’s more to buying a used car than just its purchase price. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of insurance, or the cost to change your insurance policy to cover the new car, and the cost of VED. In some cases, VED alone could be several hundred pounds, so check first.
Then, there’s also the cost of any potential repairs or updates that might need to be carried out; a used SUV might need new tyres or a timing belt change, or perhaps you’d like a media system with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support fitting, all of which can quickly bust your budget.
Consequently, it’s worth taking the time to account for any potential costs, to make sure that your £5,000 purchase doesn’t suddenly become a £7,000 one. In some cases, spending a bit more upfront on a cleaner, better-maintained car, or one in a more ideal specification, can actually save you a chunk of change, so tread carefully.
What are you using the used SUV for?
A lot of people buy SUVS because they perceive them to be safer and more practical which often may not be the case. You need to check the Euro NCAP ratings to see whether the car you’re interested in is safer than any of the alternatives and, usually, a good estate car can easily be more spacious than a regular SUV – and a whole heap better to drive, to boot.
That’s not to say that SUVs are devoid of advantages, though; they’re often easier to get in and out of, while facets such as their increased ground clearance and taller-profile tyres means they have less difficulty tackling rougher roads and terrain. And, of course, they’re typically far better at towing than some alternatives.
In some cases, though, you might be buying an SUV simply because you like it – and there’s nothing wrong with that. But, if you’re thinking it might be more practical or sensible for your usage, bear the above in mind and take some time to reflect if an SUV is really what you need. A conventional spacious hatchback or estate, after all, will often be far less expensive to run, easier to handle, and more rewarding to drive.
Is the SUV you’re looking at the one to buy?
Buying a used car can be a bit of a minefield, but we’ve plenty of advice on how to buy a used car. In short, though, you’ll need to look carefully at aspects such as its service and MOT history, as well as making a complete visual and mechanical check of any prospective purchase.
In particular, do keep an eye out for timing belt changes in the history, if required, as a new timing belt and supporting work can cost a small fortune. Bear in mind the additional complexity of many SUVs, too; you’ll need to ensure that the all- or four-wheel drive system is working properly, and you’ll need to check that it has been serviced as and when required. Any repairs here could be costly, and quickly spoil your budget.
Be mindful about where you are buying the car from, too; if you buy from a dealer, you’ll have some protection should anything go sideways. If you buy privately, and end up with a complete lemon, you might struggle for any kind of reimbursement. To keep fuss to a minimum, unless you’re happy to accept the risks, it’s probably best to aim to buy from a good independent dealer who also offers a warranty.
Buying a used SUV on finance or outright purchase
Used car finance is an option if you can’t afford to buy the car outright. There are some pitfalls, though, and you’ll end up spending more than the purchase price of the car if you choose to finance it. If you’re interested in financing a used car, though, or need to finance one, check out our guide to used car finance.
What should I avoid when looking at secondhand SUVs?
You’ll see lots of inexpensive premium SUVs available on the used market, such as Porsche Cayennes and BMW X5s, but they’re cheap for a reason: they are, more often than not, unpleasantly expensive to run and repair. Many have also lived a hard life by this point, and been neglected, so they won’t be nice to own, drive, or live with.
You might also encounter petrol-engined variants of some more sensible SUVs but, again, you need to consider the costs. Petrol SUVs, especially older ones, typically burn through fuel at a vast rate of knots, and the running costs could very quickly start to grate. There are exceptions to the rule, mind, but you need to check carefully to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Keith Adams is the Editor of Parkers. During his career he has been the editor of Classic Car Weekly, Modern Classics and Honest John Classics, as well as writing for CAR magazine, Practical Classics, Octane, Autocar and The Independent among others. Keith lives in rural Lancashire and enjoys buying and selling cars as well as reading and writing about them.
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