SUVs are super popular, which means prices can be a bit steeper than equivalent hatchback and saloon models.
Picking a used SUV saves thousands off the list price, while avoiding the faster depreciation rate that the first owner faced.
We've chosen 10 of our favourite SUV models available for less than £20,000. In all cases, this budget buys a car that's just a few years old with a low-five-figure mileage reading, so it still feels fresh inside and out.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Perhaps the perfect all-rounder, the Volkswagen Tiguan has quietly replaced the Golf and the Passat as the brand's most popular car. It's comfortable, spacious and extremely easy to use, with used examples avoiding the fiddly touch controls fitted to more recent VW models. Plus, the solid build quality, secure handling and hushed, neatly trimmed cabin make long journeys a breeze. Your £20,000 budget affords a three-year-old example in popular Match trim, or you could consider the similar but slightly smaller Volkswagen T-Roc.
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Mini Countryman
The Mini Countryman makes no pretence of being 'mini' but, in this case, that's a good thing. This, finally, is a Mini with proper space for adults or bulky child seats, and trades away very little of the fun, rebellious character you find in the brand's smaller cars. The Countryman has the same sharp, quick steering and fantastic body control, but with a dash more compliance that makes long drives easier. £20,000 buys a three-year-old Countryman, including cars with the punchy 178hp Cooper S engine.
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Ford Kuga
Your £20,000 budget buys the latest Ford Kuga, which launched in 2020. If you're not fussed about having lots of extra equipment, you can stretch to a two-year-old model in entry-level Zetec trim. Inside, you don't feel like you're in the bargain basement – the simple cabin is well made and more than spacious enough for a family of four, and you get a handy infotainment system and parking sensors as standard to make driving less of a chore. The smaller Ford Puma is also available, with newer and higher-spec versions coming in under budget.
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Kia Sportage
A new Kia Sportage arrived in late 2022 but our £20,000 budget won't stretch to one of those models yet. Nevertheless, its predecessor, built from 2016 onwards, still has a laundry list of talents and represents great value for money as a used buy. For the money, you can afford a Sportage that's just one or two years old with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, along with automatic and four-wheel-drive versions, too. Sharp-looking GT-Line cars are within budget, but even entry-level 2 models get heated front seats and rear parking sensors.
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BMW X1
Under the skin, the BMW X1 shares lots of parts and engines with the Mini Countryman. That means it has a lot of the same qualities – secure, agile handling, stout performance and a sporty-but-well-judged ride. Inside and out, it's a little larger than the Countryman and really makes the most of the extra space, with the rear seats and boot large enough to compete with some cars from the class above. With such a desirable badge on the bonnet, your £20,000 will buy a four-year-old example – slightly older than some other options on this list.
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MG HS
The MG HS isn't the most stylish car on this list, nor is it the most premium-feeling. It is, however, fantastically affordable considering its spacious five-seat cabin and long standard equipment list. Your £20,000 will cover HS models that are less than a year old, or less than two years old if you want the upgraded Exclusive trim with LED headlights and leather upholstery. What's more, that budget will also cover one of the plug-in-hybrid models – these can cover around 30 miles on electric power alone and, with 258hp, are surprisingly quick.
See a choice of used MG HS cars
Hyundai Tucson
Like the Sportage, your £20,000 budget doesn't quite cover the most recent Hyundai Tucson launched in late 2021, but gives you plenty of options when searching for a used example of its predecessor. Once again, this is a smart move because the older car is still well-made and well-equipped and, with most options being just two or three years old, hasn't begun to feel its age. Easy usability, an easy driving experience and easy access for passengers and cargo make the Tucson an effortless family companion.
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Peugeot 2008
Lots of one and two-year-old examples of the Peugeot 2008 are available on the used market for a £20,000 budget. From the driver's seat, it doesn't feel like a cheap car thanks to its elegant, modern styling and its funky, minimalist dashboard. You'll also find the fully electric e-2008 comes within budget – one of the only battery-powered SUVs available for less than £20,000, with zippy acceleration and more than 200 miles of range. If you don't mind shopping a slightly older selection of cars, your budget will also cover the larger Peugeot 3008.
Nissan Qashqai
Late 2021 saw the arrival of the latest Nissan Qashqai with heavily updated looks and an even more heavily overhauled interior – now featuring the kind of build quality that'd make a German car blush. A budget of £20,000 buys a one- or two-year-old Qashqai with low mileage and the 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine – you'll have to wait a little longer for the e-Power full-hybrid model to fall below that threshold, however. Like all Qashqais before it, there's little to excite you about this family SUV, but its comfy, well-made, practical cabin makes it simple to live with.
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Audi Q2
The Audi Q2 is the smallest and most affordable SUV in the brand's lineup, with many examples falling within your £20,000 budget. Ignore the high-end trims and more powerful engines and you can get a Q2 that's only around 12 months old. Alternatively, choose a two or three-year-old model to add desirable options like the stronger 35 TFSI engine, the slick S Tronic automatic gearbox or the sharp-looking S Line trim level. Build quality, as well as the plush materials that trim the cabin, is top-notch as you'd expect from an Audi.
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Find an affordable family SUV
Find thousands of great-value used cars for sale at Motorpoint. This includes an enormous choice of used SUVs across a broad range of makes and models.
