[Closed] Any second hand SUV recommendations?

Sister in law has a Mokka, (1.6 petrol iirc) she thinks it’s an underpowered heap and it is much smaller inside than you’d anticipate. She is really disappointed with it and is going back to a very old and battered diesel Passat and getting shot of the Vauxhall. Like you she had a reasonably long commute.

Is the petrol only choice an ethical thing?

In a recommend what you own thing I've liked our yeti. But a diesel and 4X4 variant you would not choose/need.

I guess you would call the diesel thing ethical yes. I have had them in the past but would rather not now.

I had a mokka for a few months some years ago in between lease cars, it was the 1.6 petrol. It was top of the range and had heated steering wheel and seats, and really good seat adjustment. It was too thirsty on the petrol, though I didn't mind any other aspect of it.

Ford Kuga seems to be well liked by my in-laws, and friends think thier RAV4 is great.

Would you consider marginally lower - Ford do a jacked up Focus in hatch and estate called the Active. Aimed at outdoors folk.

We love our Kuga, more than any review would have suggested we should. Comfy, ok on fuel and does everything we need it to. Tried an XC-40 last year and stuck with the Kuga, it did not feel like a change 'up'.

Being fairly tall it is a ball-ache to put stuff on top of compared to a hatchback, and the boot isn't as big as it seemed when we first bought it. My wife is same with higher up seating hence sticking with it, personally I prefer an estate car as it will do everything the Kuga would be MPG and space are typically better.

What about a Freelander? Proper SUV, loads of room, seem pretty reliable and actually pretty capable offroad.

Even just thinking about owning an SUV makes you a planet destroying, Hitler-esque monster.

You must lease an artisan knitted, hessian, ethically traded recumbent bicycle.

...or a 5.4 litre V8 because, obviously, you need to make progress.

It’s the STW way.

I am disappointed perchy didn't suggest a Unimog.

Nissan qashqai?

ethically traded recumbent bicycle.

Cargo bike surely???

Even just thinking about owning an SUV makes you a planet destroying, Hitler-esque monster.

You must lease an artisan knitted, hessian, ethically traded recumbent bicycle

perchypanther, did you have a previous STW username? just curious.

thanks for suggestions all. It doesn't need to be an off roader really, will look at the kuga. I have thought of just estate as I could carry a kayak on that too I think, but I just like being higher up in a car.

Cargo bike surely???

Cargo is *things* so not ethical.

I have thought of just estate as I could carry a kayak on that too I think, but I just like being higher up in a car.

Having lugged kayaks and canoes onto the roof of a higher vehicle for 12 years, I loved the move back to a 'normal' estate for loading and unloading.

Would you consider marginally lower – Ford do a jacked up Focus in hatch and estate called the Active. Aimed at outdoors folk.

I wonder if it would it carry a double kayak?

mattoutandabout that's a very good point. The kayak is an absolute pain in the ar$e to get onto the roof of the kona.

Wouldn't bother with a Mokka, heavy, big on the outside but tiny inside and insanely dull to drive. I tried one before I bought my Arona and really didn't like it. Looked at the Kia Stonic and loved how it looked, but it's ride was harsh, it felt underpowered compared to the Arona (both 1.0 Turbo) and the boot was smaller too. It will be over budget, but I love my Arona in the 4 months we've had it, its comfortable, feels far pokier than the 115bhp suggests and plenty of room (I can comfortably sit behind the drivers seat in my position at 6ft 1 with knee and head room to spare). Boot easily swallows my bike too with kit to spare. £10k gets you a low-mileage SE Tech (the sensible choice, though 95hp and 5-speed box) or for a bit more you can go FR for the higher power 115hp and 6-speed box and a few more toys, the dual zone climate and LED headlights are very nice to have. Or you do as we did and just say f*** it to the budget and get an FR Sport for all the toys!

Just to add to above - one of the downsides of the SUV (yeti) I thought when we got it was the kayak carrying. That bit extra height to lift on to. Also shorter vehicle means more overhang and less distance between bars so not so good for the boat. If I was buying specifically for lugging a double kayak (you mean kayak, not canoe?) I'd be looking at a long estate instead.

I wonder if it would it carry a double kayak?

Easy.
Our estate and 17' & 16' open canoes.

Random internet picture.

perchypanther, did you have a previous STW username? just curious.

Nope. I've always just been little ol' me.

Who did you think I might have been? Just curious.

You should get a Unimog. You know it makes sense.

Skoda yeti 1.2 or 1.4 petrol.

First gen Cayennes are ridiculously cheap at the moment. Like 2k cheap. Not pretty, obviously, and everyone here will hate you, but lovely to do long distances in. And with them being jointly developed with the VAG group they're essentially a posh Touareg/Q7 underneath. So maintenance is nowhere near as expensive as you'd think, either.

*awaits pelters*

Ford Kuga seems to be well liked by my in-laws, and friends think thier RAV4 is great.

so far this is the only recommendation that is second hand

well done, moab

Nissan qashqai?

this, it is a tall car with a decent boot

First gen Cayennes are ridiculously cheap at the moment. Like 2k cheap

Maybe I'm out of date using autotrader here, but the cheapest is 3.5k, with an engine light fault?

Huh, £4K for a 2005 Cayenne with 120K on the clock. All of a sudden I want a Porsche.

I had a Qashqai as a company car for 4 years. It was fine. For that sort of budget you should get a fairly decent one with low ish miles.

Previously had a Hyundai Santa Fe.
I loved that car, went everywhere with zero fuss.
Very comfortable as well, put 100,000 miles on it before trading it in.
Not sure if they do a petrol version now though, I was actually mulling this over this morning!

Isn't the not buying Diesel for ethical reasons a bit, well, unrealistic? Until they offer a diesel scrappage scheme, they're still going to be ont he road and driven about, churing out Nox. SO surely its better that a more conscientious person drives it than someone who'll drive it the 100 yds to the shops? and any other journeys? This was one of the thoughts I had when we bought a diesel. Until they're taken off the road / stop being manufactured then the problem is still there.

What about a Freelander? Proper SUV, loads of room, seem pretty reliable and actually pretty capable offroad.

Sub £8k Freelander 🙂

Left field, Kia Sportage.

But, with any sub £8k car you need luck on your side - it'll be 10 years old so you're totally reliant on how previous owners have looked after it (see not putting oil in a Belingo post).

Left field, Kia Sportage

Had a week working away with a petrol (auto) 'SportRage' (that's what I settled on) back in September I think it was the sportier flavoured one, had a bit of GRRRR! to it...

It was OK, seemed like another jacked up mid platform Estate, it wasn't bad as such, plenty of toys, comfy to drive but I did sort of wonder why I'd choose it over a Cee'd estate, the answer is basically a love of Tonka trucks and nothing more...

Ref diesel pieface, yes your rationale is logical, I just don't like them. They smell stinky and poisonous and I don't want one. I know petrol is also a pollutant, but they don't smell as bad. I know that me not having one won't change much.

Hyundai santa fe, just a bigger version of the kona which I have already and love? I can recommend the petrol Kona 😉 Will look at Qashqai also.

So.... what estate? 😀

So…. what estate? 😀

subaru, obviously...

Anyone got a Subaru Legacy? | Singletrack Magazine Forum (singletrackworld.com)

You'd get a decent Leon estate for £8k.

Mondeo? Big, functional and plenty to choose from, albeit not so many petrols..?

Do not, I repeat do not consider a Skoda Karoq 1.5TSI petrol manual, or infact any VAG car with that engine in a manual. Just Google Kangerooing Skoda.

Wants a petrol for ethical reasons.

Also wants an SUV. 🤔

You'd definitely be better off with something lower if you're always putting stuff on the roof. We used a Peugeot 208 for canoes and it was dead easy.

So…. what estate?

For reliability - Avensis.
The one I would downsize my current beast of an estate for is a Focus Estate in Active trim. It is normal Focus with 5cm more ground clearance and a special traction control for snow & mud, roof rails etc. Perfect for outdoorsy stuff. The bigger 1.5 engine was great in the one I hired last year too.

They used to have a Kuga in the work car pool. Everyone used to avoid it and take the Mondeo Estates by preference as they were comfier, quieter, used less fuel (work trips so we weren't paying but you still see extra as a waste), you couldn't get much gear in the boot and it wasn't even any better on dirt track access roads on site.
Mondeo or Focus Estate, cheaper, faster, less fuel, more gear, as above easier to load stuff on the roof. Not wedded to Ford's but principle holds with Tiguan / Passat, Mokka vs Astra Estate etc.
In fact most estates or van conversions (Berlingo type) generally win on all fronts over SUVs save for personal style wants.

Skoda Yeti, they are ace.
petrol 4x4 only comes as the top speck L&K model I think.
They dont make them anymore (its a golf underneath so parts are not an issue) so suspect there are some bargains to be had.

Might be selling out come the new year...it'll be around th 10k mark

I have not driven a Mokka but they were universally panned when first released. The Ford Eco-Sport was not regarded much better.

We had a 14 reg Kuga and thought it was a nice car. Not especially good at anything specific but competent in every area. Had roof bars on mine and was able to carry 2 bikes and a roof box. Sold ours around 15 months ago for about your budget so you should have plenty of choice. It was a 2.0 diesel, 4x4, manual Titanium.

Loved my Santa Fe. Could get a kayak inside it. The high seating was great for seeing ahead but that's become a bit of a weapons race. Was thinking of going back to an estate or similar because they drive better. Drove a Mazda5 that was really nice. Highish seating, very good road manners, not sluggish.
Was kicking about the idea of a Kia Cee'd. Not pretty but drives nicely. Should be pretty reliable. Subarus are nice but if you don't need AWD it's just extra weight and expense.

I had an suv for 3 years. Ford kuga) decent car all round. Now in a Gtd estate and can’t for the life of me understand why I had an suv !!

Another vote for Seat Leon ST here (1.8 Turbo petrol in our case). Our 3 year old one with 25K miles is £10850.

Getting a 1.5 Turbo petrol next month as they don't make the 1.8 any more!

Who did you think I might have been? Just curious.

MrsFry

Kia and Hyundai are the same underneath, Hyundai are just better specced and more spendy.

I have a Kia, diesel tho, never missed a beat and 6 years old now. Trim is a bit cheap and scratches easily, bits of trim are starting to come loose.

It's a carens 7 seater, for loading kayaks I wouldn't want to go any higher. I don't think the glass panoramic roof you can fit roof bars, I may be wrong tho.

Also, rear 2 rows of seats fold flat so 2 can sleep in the back on a flat platform.

Kia and Hyundai are the same underneath, Hyundai are just better specced and more spendy.

Sort of but not necessarily. They use different chassis for different models. The hyundai and kia hatches are built off different bases. The Kiss tend towards a firmer ride which occasionally crosse into harsh and are sharper handling with not great steering feel.

MrsFry

Now I have the fear.

I have not driven a Mokka but they were universally panned when first released. The Ford Eco-Sport was not regarded much better.

I emphasised that for good reason, like many new style cars, initial versions lack quite a lot of facilities and features, getting better as time goes on. I drove a lot of Mokkas when they were first introduced and as time went on, and by the time the ‘X’ model came out they were much improved, the 1.4 Turbo is pretty quick and fun to drive, but like a lot of modern cars interior space is compromised, just look at Minis!
Same with the EcoSport, it was introduced as a cheap crossover for emerging markets, built in Brazil, a sort of SUV equivalent to the Ka, and definitely basic!
The latest iteration is no different internally to the Fiesta and Focus, the Titanium and ST-Line models have reversing cameras, satnav, CarPlay and Android Drive, the semi-auto has paddles if you fancy manual shifting, and the little 1.0 EcoBoost motor is lovely, pulls well with 125bhp, but not as frugal as a diesel.
Having the luxury of getting to drive hundreds of different cars and vans, I get to discover the various little ‘foibles’ and irritations, and chose an EcoSport to replace my old Octavia, and I really love it.
I did consider the Kuga, excellent car, has 4x4, the 2.0 motor is great, but it’s just too big for my needs.
Definitely consider the Qashqai, very well equipped, they can be found with a heated screen, which is really worth having.
Kia Sportage is a possible, but not a small car, same with its sibling the Hyundai Tucson, they are both comfy mile-munchers, which is what you want when facing a drive from the far end of Cornwall back home to Wiltshire, then another long drive to drop it off next morning.
I keep coming back to the Qashqai as a suggestion, they’re well built, well equipped, there are loads about, (they’re very popular Motability cars), and I came very close to getting one, but it’s still a bit bigger than I need, and I settled for the Ford; every time I look at it and drive it I just love it.

Thanks for that count zero, I like the look of the Ford. I only really want a small engine, current Kona is 1L and surprisingly poky. I also don’t want or need a large vehicle and need something that will be economical on my commute. The ecosport is old enough that a 4/5 year old one costs more like what I want to spend.

Quick qu, how do you get on with the boot door that swings open like a gate? I can imagine that could be a bit restrictive as you’d need more room to open it?

@andy8442

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andy8442
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Do not, I repeat do not consider a Skoda Karoq 1.5TSI petrol manual, or infact any VAG car with that engine in a manual. Just Google Kangerooing Skoda.

Care to elaborate?
I’m driving a manual kodiaq with that engine, had it from new. It’s 3 years and 3 days old. Should I be worried? It’s been faultless for 43000 miles so far...

On the subject of getting things on the roof- yeah- it’s tall. Makes lifting my 17kg enduro sled up there a bit of an effort.

Edit- I googled as suggested. Seems it’s all vag cars with that engine and not even just manuals. From 2018 maybe? Fixed with a software patch?
Our other car is a seat Leon manual also with that engine. Also no problems. 13 months/9000 miles old.

Having read the replies any consideration to stretching your budget to the £12k that would get you the Kona SE? Money is cheap these days and if you have a good credit history you should be able to get an interest rate of less than 4%. Plus you get a car you know you already like.

We have a Sportage. It's nice to drive, reliable, lots of gadgets etc but I find getting anything onto the roof a bit of a pain. I'm pretty tall but trying to get a bike up there, or loading a roof box is not that easy. Got a tow bar fitted now so we have 4 bikes hanging off the back instead.

It's not a big car - similar footprint to our Focus hatchback, just a bit taller. It's a 2 litre, 4x4 something or other (I'm not really into cars).

C-class Petrol estate. Get a post-facelift with a 7g auto box. C200 or 250 with 70k should be possible. Find your local independent merc garage and servicing isn't more expensive than anything else either.

Roof rails, good load space roof isn't high. Comfy place to sit and even my very diminutive wife thinks the driving position is high enough. 40mpg on a run, 30mpg around town.

Yep, I have a 63 reg c-250 AMG estate that Parkers tells me is now worth barely 5k! Bought for 13k in 2017. Fantastic car to drive and has been incredibly reliable so far. Going to see how far I can push the mileage before big things go wrong.

Love the idea of a Merc estate! drove one when I was a nanny, a reasonable number of moons ago... great to drive.

Having read the replies any consideration to stretching your budget to the £12k that would get you the Kona SE? Money is cheap these days and if you have a good credit history you should be able to get an interest rate of less than 4%. Plus you get a car you know you already like.

It does make sense, and this is what I may do. There is indeed value in getting a car I know I like. I have looked at several of the options suggested, Qashqai and the Ford eco sport particularly. I've also had a quick look at the estate options. thank you for your thoughts everyone 🙂