Used mid-sized SUVs – ranked by practicality

By Martin Pretorius

Used mid-sized SUVs – ranked by practicality

With their blend of practicality, a raised seating position, and car-like driving dynamics, mid-sized SUVs were a runaway success from the moment the first one arrived. But with a new top-level Sportage or Tiguan now hovering around the R600 000 mark, they’ve become unaffordable to many families.

 

This means that many buyers will look at pre-owned examples, and even consider buying a previous-generation or discontinued model. We had a close look at the used-car market and compiled this list of mid-sized SUVs, ranked from the most practical to the least. We set a budget cap of R300 000 in our search, and came up with a surprising number of late-model cars going for relative bargain prices.

None of these vehicles are cramped inside, but some are more spacious than the others. We’ll consider this criterion alongside the bigger indicator of practicality (the luggage space) to determine which ones will suit you best. Bear in mind that the quoted load volume is measured with all the seats in use.

1. Kia Sportage (Third Generation)

You would be forgiven for imagining that the Sportage would be rather cramped behind its sleek wedge-shaped design, but you’d be quite wrong in that assumption. Its cabin space is competitive for this class, but its luggage compartment blows the others out of the water with its capacity of 740 litres. That single statistic is enough to move the Sportage right to the front of this pack – if you want ultimate practicality in a mid-sized SUV, this is the car for you! Find one here from R155 000 on AutoTrader SA

2. Chevrolet Captiva

Do not be deceived by the Captiva’s apparently sparse 103 litres of luggage space, as there’s a twist in this tale: the Captiva is the only 7-seater in this group, and that small volume is what’s left when all the seats are in use.  Sure, that last row’s seats are only for very occasional use, but they’re still nice to have. And then you can fold them flat as well, liberating a large compartment while still keeping five seats available to use. There’s another nice surprise in the purchase price: because Chevy is no longer being imported to South Africa, the resale value of their products have taken a big knock. Terrible if you bought one new, but great news if you’re looking for a pre-owned bargain! Find one here from R150 000 on AutoTrader SA

 3. Nissan X-Trail (Second Generation)

The X-Trail has always felt about half a class larger than its opponents, and this also shows in their rated luggage capacity of 603 litres. The passenger compartment is that little bit more spacious as well, and large, upright doors make them easy to load. Now that this generation of X-Trail has been off the market for a few years, their values have dropped enough to qualify them for true bargain status, bringing great SUV attributes within reach of a wider audience. Find one here from R 152 000 on AutoTrader SA

 4. Hyundai ix35

Sister car to the cavernous Sportage, the ix35 isn’t exactly shy when it comes to space, either. However, its curvy styling does rob some luggage- and cabin space, though the 591 litres on offer with all the seats in use is still on the larger side for this class. That swoopy roofline and tapering side windows also impact on rear-seat shoulder room, and makes it feel more cramped inside than it actually is. Not bad, but not quite as good as the front-runners here. Find one here from R 155 000 on AutoTrader SA

5. Honda CR-V (Fourth Generation)

We’re well into “average” territory here, as the Honda’s boot volume of 556 litres is nothing remarkable for this class. On top of that, its bulbous roofline impacts on the size of the door openings and loading hatch, and steals a little bit of shoulder room as well. That said, there’s nothing wrong with being average, especially as the CR-V will compensate for any ordinary traits with extraordinary quality and longevity. Find one here from R 155 000 on AutoTrader SA

6. Toyota RAV4 (Fourth Generation)

The car which created this segment, the RAV4 has stumbled a bit in its third generation. Toyota got it right again with the next (current) generation, though, and its practicality and usability is right back where it should be. The boot isn’t huge at 547 litres, but the rear-seat space is very impressive and there are plenty of hidey-holes scattered throughout the car. They’re also good value now, and with a new model coming soon, the fourth-generation car will soon attain bargain status. Find one here from R 217 000 on AutoTrader SA

 7. Subaru Forester (Fourth Generation)

This generation of Forester is about to be replaced, but it’s still a compelling choice in its old age - except for the fact that it’s starting to lag behind its competitors in the practicality stakes, that is. In spite of the car’s sizeable dimensions, the luggage compartment only offers 505 litres to work with, though its cabin is comparatively huge for this class. There’s plenty of head- and legroom inside, so at least the passengers will be happy. Their luggage? Slightly less so... Find one here from R 200 000 on AutoTrader SA

8. Volkswagen Tiguan (First Generation)

Representing a rare misstep for Volkswagen’s product developers, the first-generation Tiguan was slightly too small for its class when it arrived, and then stayed on until all of its opponents had grown up even more. This is reflected in its 471 litres of cargo room and rather limited cabin space. That said, there are some great bargains to be had if you can overlook the old Tiguan’s compromised practicality. Find one here from R 160 000 on AutoTrader SA.

9. Mazda CX-5

Once again proving that curvaceous styling and ultimate practicality shouldn’t mix, the Mazda CX-5 is lovely to both drive and behold, but it’s definitely not the most spacious vehicle out there. There’s only slightly more rear-seat room than in the cramped Tiguan, and at 442 litres, its luggage space is by far the smallest in this class. Not ideal for growing families, then, but perfect for lifestyle types who want their car to make a fashion statement. Find one here from R 168 000 on AutoTrader SA