News / Reviews
The £5,000 SUVs
Whether you’re looking for a reliable workhorse or a spacious family car, there’s an SUV to fit everybody’s taste and budget.
From the good looking Toyota RAV4 to the ever-popular Land Rover Freelander, you don’t need to be a landowner to afford your own off-roader.
Gallery: £5,000 SUVs
Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 was the first sporty 4×4, with its chunky good looks, high driving position and car-like driving characteristics. The RAV4 is as popular as ever, with more than 380,000 used car searches every month on Auto Trader.
The second generation model offers plenty of flexibility and decent refinement. There’s a wide choice of engines, including a 2-litre petrol and 2.2-diesel – both have a reputation for reliability. One drawback is the high road tax costs due to its poor CO2 emissions.
There’s a wide choice available and, as you’d expect, reliability and build-quality is excellent. The three-door RAV4 may look better but it lacks somewhat in practicality. There are some reports of transmission problems and electrical failure, so check these areas carefully.
Our pick: 2002 2.0 5dr
Land Rover Freelander
The Land Rover Freelander is the second most searched for SUV on Auto Trader, with more than 500,000 searches last month alone. Its distinctive styling, decent off-road capability, value for money and plenty of room for five with luggage means it’s still one of the best all-rounders.
There’s a wide choice of engines, from the best-selling 1.8-litre petrol engine to the BMW-built 2-litre Td4 diesel. If you don’t want to be chained to the petrol station, it’s best to opt for the latter, which returns around 37mpg. Full-time four-wheel drive gives all versions secure handling.
The Freelander’s reliability record is disappointing. Look out for rear differential and suspension issues – if you hear a grumbling noise coming from the back of a potential buy, then keep looking. There’s plenty of choice so you need never settle for anything but your ideal car.
Our pick: 2003 2.0 Td4 5dr
Find a used Land Rover Freelander
Nissan X-Trail
If you’re looking for a car that can deliver the weekly shop before making light work of an off-road track, the Nissan X-Trail should be a serious consideration. It’s well-built, practical and has plenty of space for the family, but the X-Trail’s true strength is that it offers one of the best on and off-road driving experiences.
There’s plenty of engine choice, each model is generally well-equipped and most versions have four-wheel drive. Diesel models offer the best value for money, and should return almost 40mpg.
Used values are fairly high but good running costs should soften this blow. Check any potential diesel buy’s service record to make sure the timing chains were fixed by a recall – it will rattle if not fixed.
Our pick: 2003 2.2 Di
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V was one of the first SUVs on the market. It caught the public’s attention with its mix of 4×4 looks, powerful engines, great levels of equipment, spaciousness, practicality and an impressive on-road drive. It’s still popular, with more than 280,000 used CR-V searches on Auto Trader every month.
The engine range is quite narrow and up until the 2.2-litre diesel was introduced in 2005, all you could get was a 2-litre petrol. Basic trim will give you air-conditioning, all-round electric windows and plenty of safety kit.
There have some recalls and reports of cars losing power, with the exhaust gas recirculation valve to blame –check the service records to make sure this has been replaced. Otherwise, mechanical reliability and build quality is generally good.
Our pick: 2003 2.0 VTEC SE
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a clever mix of 4×4 and estate. It sits lower than regular SUVs but its permanent four-wheel-drive system gives the car good on-road handling and the ability to cope with conditions that would leave other cars floundering.
None of the engines are short of performance, and the suspension does a fine job, providing an excellent blend of a smooth ride with enjoyable handling. There are no diesel options so running costs will be high. Legroom is a bit tight in the back but the boot is big enough for most families’ needs, and the split/fold rear seats are a big help.
Subarus consistently do well in customer satisfaction surveys, and the Forester has the marque’s mix of longevity and quality build. There have been reports of gearbox problems but no recalls were ever issued against the Forester.
Our pick: 2004 2.0
Jeep Cherokee
The all-American Jeep Cherokee has been around for donkey’s years, but only came to these shores officially in the early 1990s. A new model arrived in 2001 and was pitched as a rival for the high-spec Freelander, offering better build quality, refinement and equipment than before.
With plenty of space for four, a high driving position, comfortable seats, a mammoth boot and good visability, it’s an extremely capable workhorse. But it can feel a little crude on tarmac, with significant road noise and an unsettled ride.
The thirsty petrol engines are best avoided, but the 2.5- and 2.8-litre diesels offer plenty of pulling power, for towing and day-to-day driving. Check the suspension and axles for damage, as any problem can be expensive to fix.
Our pick: 2003 2.8 CRD Sport
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe makes for a good, budget-friendly Discovery alternative. You get plenty of room for five adults and their luggage, a long list of standard equipment, a good driving position and rugged looks.
You also get clockwork reliability and four-wheel drive, so you can go off-road if you want to. Build quality is good, and the various engines fitted to the Santa Fe over the years (think 2- and 2.2-litre diesels and 2.7-litre V6 petrols) have proved trustworthy.
Ownership costs are high but the 2-litre turbodiesel should be good for almost 40mpg. Check any potential buy for signs of off-road abuse, especially underneath.
Our pick: 2004 2.0 CRTD
Mitsubishi Shogun
The Mitsubishi Shogun is the polar opposite to the Chelsea tractor. The original big 4×4, it offers a mix of kit, toughness and brute force which has won it many friends and more than 180,000 used car searches every month on Auto Trader.
A great workhorse, the Shogun is very capable when it comes to off-roading or towing, but may fall short when it comes to crunching motorway miles. It has a tardis-like interior, choice of three- or five-door models and a great base level of equipment.
Most will have Mitsubishi’s well-liked 3.2 diesel engines, but a few have been sold with the thirsty 3.5-litre V6 petrols. The main thing to look out for when buying is ‘grey imports’ – which means it’s been imported by an individual rather than the manufactuer, causing insurance premiums to rise.
Our pick: 2000 3.2 DI-D Classic
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is probably the cheapest car in our list today but there’s plenty to recommend.
It’s not the largest or most sophisticated car and it may not be a class-leader, but it does offer lively enough performance and honest off-road ability at rock-bottom prices.
There’s only one engine option, which is a 2-litre petrol. Opt for post-2000 models, which are better looking and come with more equipment. Check for evidence of off-road use and the interior for sign of wear-and-tear.
Our pick: 2003 2.0 SX
Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is one of the cheapest SUVs on the market but it’s also a useful and hard-wearing off-roader. There’s also a wide choice, from the short-wheelbase version (with either a fixed hard-top or a soft-top) to the more family-friendly longer-wheelbase model and a seven-seater, badged XL-7.
Engine choice ranges from a noisy 2-litre diesel to respectable 1.6- and 2-litre petrols and more powerful 2.5- and 2.7-litre V6 engines.
Ensure recall work to the suspension was completed as it should and look out for off-road damage, particularly on the underside of the car. Reliability and build quality is generally good.
Our pick: 2004 2.7 V6