SUV - £18k - Recommendations?

Original Poster

552 posts

153 months

Saturday 5th July

Now that the palava with the Hyundai Tucson is over (see post in speed plod & law)
We're back on the hunt for a decent SUV

Budget : up to £18k

Requirements:
6-7000 miles pa
2 dogs (occasionally 3) to fit comfortably
Don't mind fuel (petrol or diesel)
Up to 5/6 years old
Full service history
Sub 50k miles

Background:
We used to have a Hyundai IX35 for nearly 8 years and it was great. Reliable and useful vehicle. A few bits and bobs started to show their age so we traded it in for a 2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Space wise that was OK, however we just couldn't get on with the car. It felt dated inside and bodged together, alongside the most annoying beep for literally everything! (Seatbelt warning, handbrake, keys, parking sensors) after 1 year It was just time to go.
So we thought go back to Hyundai and get a Tucson, basically a new version of the IX35.
Nice car inside, decent tech etc... but if you read my other post it was a bad choice. Probably my fault and I just picked a bad'un but it's tarnished our view, especially on the 1.6 T-GDI petrol engines.

It feels like basically all modern cars are thrown together to get 5 years out of them and through the lease period and then that's it, throw it away and start a new lease deal.
Engine wise, everything is underpowered with turbos bolted on to boost performance at the expense of over stressing the tiny engines as they only need to last 5 years and then the finance wheel turns and you swap it out for a newer one.

Where does that leave the old gits like me that don't want a car on finance, I've got cash I just want to buy a decent SUV that will be reliable for another 5/6/7/8 years before I change it.

My list so far is quite small and wondering if anyone out there has any experience or recommendations?

Volvo XC40
A little on the smaller side and in budget cars are the 2.0 D3 engines, which I'm not sure on reliability and performance?

Volvo XC60
Struggling to find anything without higher mileage in budget

Toyota RAV4
I don't know anything about these or what engine options are best?

Jaguar E-Pace
Again, never owned a Jag and know very little about these

BMW X2?

Volkswagen Tiguan
These appeal somewhat with the 2.0 TDI engines, decent size and OK reliability?

Any other suggestions out there from Pistonheaders?

I just can't bring myself to get something with a tiny engine, boosted up with turbos etc...
Also the sheer amount of crap listed up by the likes of car supermarkets and Cinch, when you check properly (unlike my mistake with the Tucson) they are all ex fleet and have very sketchy service history, if any!

Mammasaid

4,777 posts

112 months

Saturday 5th July

If you can fit a charger at home, then you're prime candidate for electric.

If you're not put off Hyundai then the Ioniq 5 is in budget

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503290...

Otherwise there's loads of EVs to choose from

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...

Original Poster

552 posts

153 months

Saturday 5th July

Mammasaid said:

Sorry should have said we already have an EV and don't want another one. Only 1 charger at home and it'd just be awkward.
Also the new SUV will be the holiday car, so potentially longer trips to visit parents, and overseas etc. so don't want the faff of stopping to charge.

Jamescrs

5,306 posts

80 months

Saturday 5th July

My sister just bought a Ford Kuga Vignale which would fit the requirements quite nicely, she paid a little over the 18k budget but not much and it seems a very nice spec. worth a consideration

ZX10R NIN

29,195 posts

140 months

Saturday 5th July

Sheepshanks

37,147 posts

134 months

Saturday 5th July

Haddock82 said:

Volkswagen Tiguan
These appeal somewhat with the 2.0 TDI engines, decent size and OK reliability?

Wife had one of the last of the mk1 Tiguans, 2.0TDi 150PS, 4Motion, DSG. Although it was a mk1 it had the later EA288 diesel with Adblue.

She kept it 8yrs and did 45K miles in it. Got rid of it as the emissions stuff terrified me - it has triple cooling circuits, Ad Blue system etc.

She thought the mk2 Tiguan was too big so replaced it with Skoda Karoq - this time 1.5TSi, 150PS, 2WD, DSG. It drives pretty well the same as the diesel, even its around-town MPG is exactly the same.

I know you said you didn't like the little turbo petrols, but they're designed for the turbo to spin up fast and it makes them quite diesel like in their low-down torque. I'm driving daughter's old 1 litre 3cyl 110PS manual SEAT Ateca at the moment and that drives remarkably well considering the size of the engine and the car - I did a run the other day it and it did fast A road overtakes without any drama.

On any VW Group car you can buy their All In package from 3 to 8yrs old (you buy it in 2yr chunks) and that covers basic servicng, MOT, Roadside and warranty. I think it's around £35/mth now, but it's usually on offer a couple of times a year.

Audimercorbm

140 posts

65 months

Saturday 5th July

Had the xc40 loved everything about it apart from the 1.5 engine. Was underpowered crap. Def get the 2.0

Epace was very small inside wen we looked and chose the xc40

Looked at the xc60 when replacing the xc40 but a really good audi q5 came up so got that. Xc60 was a very nice drive though

ITP

2,222 posts

212 months

Tuesday

Lexus NX just in budget at 6 years and 50k miles. Very nice to float about in with total reliability and unmatched quality. Not sporty though, but it’ is an suv…
More sporty suv being an Alfa stelvio, might even get a 2020 facelift one. In budget.

3,509 posts

119 months

Tuesday

Someones definitely going to mention a Suzuki Across if you are interested in a RAV4. They don’t keep their value as well, and second hand look like a better buy.

Marshall878

60 posts

9 months

Wednesday

We were in a similar position when the baby came along and very quickly realised an Evoque wasn't as big as we thought...push chair and shopping...no chance!

Tested similar cars you've suggested too!

Volvo XC40 - Too small
Volvo XC60 - I liked this but price was high
Toyota RAV4 - Wife didn't rate the way it looked
Jaguar E-Pace - not sure I could touch a JLR product again after the mare we had with the Evoque, love the way they look and drive though
BMW X2 - Awesome in the 35 guise, but again too small
Volkswagen Tiguan - Wife wasnt blown away

We ended up with a Ford Edge ST. Way bigger than you'd imagine. Comfortable (for the sporty model). Looks good. All the tech you could need. Engine...THIRSTY! But she moves!

Original Poster

552 posts

153 months

Wednesday

Thanks for the replies!

We ended up test driving:

Volvo XC40
Skoda Karoq
VW Tiguan

But in the end SWMBO decided she just likes the Hyundai Tucson rolleyes

So we went to Hyundai main dealer and found a low mileage one with approved warranty remaining, extended for an additional 3 years thrown in (so 5 years in total), and full service history.

3,509 posts

119 months

Wednesday

Be honest.

Did your Mrs just want another Tucson, but you took it on yourself to expand the options, just incase?

Original Poster

552 posts

153 months

Wednesday

wyson said:

Be honest.

Did your Mrs just want another Tucson, but you took it on yourself to expand the options, just incase?

I wanted an XC60, but couldn't find a decent one in budget.

So the XC40 was a compromise but she sat in it and just went "nope, don't like this at all"!

The Karoq was deemed too small

The Tiguan was "OK" and could potentially live with it, but didn't like the dash layout and it was a bit big. rotate

, would be harder to park....

So back round in circles, to be just met with "the only one I actually like is the Tucson"...

I don't mind, it's a higher spec one than the previous one we had for all of 28 days.
Premium model so it has a few more toys and kit etc...
And!, it makes my life easier as 'er indoors is happy biglaugh

3,509 posts

119 months

Wednesday

TBF, the Tucson and Kia Sportage are always in the top 10 best sellers list, so can’t be a bad choice by your Mrs at all.

biggrin

Edited by wyson on Wednesday 9th July 12:34

WhiskyDisco

996 posts

89 months

Wednesday

Is the Edge the new Mondeo? Not a bad thing at all in my view.

Lefty

18,156 posts

217 months

Wednesday

Would an estate or cross-country type estate with a little more ground clearance do the job? Bit lower for your dogs to jump in and out of as they get older.

Volvo and Audi both make such things, there’s also the Subaru Outback which is excellent.

Simon_GH

721 posts

95 months

Wednesday

WhiskyDisco said:

Is the Edge the new Mondeo? Not a bad thing at all in my view.

I think the newer 2018 onwards Focus was meant to replace both the former Focus and the Mondeo. The Edge is a discontinued SUV (in the UK) which is the next size up from a Kuga.

TheInternet

5,013 posts

178 months

Wednesday

Haddock82 said:

The Tiguan was "OK" and could potentially live with it, but didn't like the dash layout and it was a bit big. rotate

, would be harder to park....

A moot point by the sounds of it, but they're the same size as a Tucson.