SUV - £18k - Recommendations?
Discussion
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!
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!
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...
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...
Mammasaid said:
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...
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. 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...
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.
The DS7 is a very good option at this price point they're a very good car, imo worth at least a test drive:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506283...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506283...
2.0d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163...
Ford Edge, yes these have the wet belt (so budget/haggle around £700 off the price to have it done) but they're a cracking car:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505212...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504291...
Vignale:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507024...
2.5h Kuga:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...
GLA45:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506073...
GLC 250:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...
Older than you may like GLC350d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507044...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506283...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506283...
2.0d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163...
Ford Edge, yes these have the wet belt (so budget/haggle around £700 off the price to have it done) but they're a cracking car:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505212...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504291...
Vignale:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507024...
2.5h Kuga:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...
GLA45:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506073...
GLC 250:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...
Older than you may like GLC350d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507044...
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.These appeal somewhat with the 2.0 TDI engines, decent size and OK reliability?
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.
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
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
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!
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!
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
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.
We ended up test driving:
Volvo XC40
Skoda Karoq
VW Tiguan
But in the end SWMBO decided she just likes the Hyundai Tucson

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

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

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