Great secondhand 4×4 cars for under £20,000
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British Summer Time is upon us, generally the change of the seasons is not something that needs stating but save for us shifting forward an hour, few people would have noticed much of a difference in the actual weather.
The freezing temperatures mean that road conditions continue to be treacherous in many parts of the UK and where owning a 4×4 was usually a luxury, it is fast becoming a necessity just to get out of the Waitrose carpark.
Perhaps those generations of housewives trundling around town in their pricey Range Rovers were visionaries after all. No, we don’t really think so either, but the fact remains that having some sort of 4×4 can make traversing our patchwork roads that much safer.
We don’t need to stretch to the latest Chelsea Tractor either, there are plenty of fine used 4x4s out there to pick from and we have some of the best right here, they all fall below £20,000 (some well below) and are still modern enough to be reliable and day to day useable. So, get clicking.
Dacia Duster
The Duster is the cheapest new 4×4 on the market and that also makes it one of the cheapest used ones too.
You don’t get much for your money other than two rows of seats and the 4×4 drivetrain but with prices starting at £5,000 for a 4-year old 109-bhp 1.5-litre turbo diesel, you simply cannot go wrong.
Fiat Panda 4x4
We aren’t done with the cute 4×4 thing yet, the Fiat Panda is a similarly tiddly offering and while it may not be quite as high-riding as the Jimny it does counter with a better equipped and more modern interior as well as prices that start at £6,000 for 3-year old examples.
Twin-Air 85-bhp models are nippy but don’t expect to be doing much overtaking once you are on the motorway.
Suzuki Jimny
The Jimny is a tiny little off-roader that comes packed with an 84-bhp 1.3-litre motor and, well, not much else.
Despite its looks though it is thoroughly capable in getting out of sticky situations and if you do not need to carry many people (or luggage) then this is your guy. 3-year old examples hover around the £10,000 thanks to their popularity.
Mini Countryman
If you would like the luxury of a larger 4×4 but don’t want the additional size and running costs then the Countryman is a great option.
There are a range of Minis that come with the ALL4 4×4 system but the most cost-effective entry into the brand is via a 7-year-old 112-bhp 1.6-turbo diesel Countryman. For £7,000 you get a fuel-efficient little 4×4 with four doors, four seats and a useable boot.
Suzuki Vitara
The Vitara is a mid-sized crossover that deserves more recognition than it gets, it is well built and has a lot more room inside than the rest of our contenders so far.
It is not quite the all-capable off-roader that its predecessors were as it now embraces the fashionable car-like crossover mould, yet the 4×4 variants are more than capable and with a 2016 1.6 SZ5 ALLGRIP model costing not much more than £15,000, you are getting a lot of car for your money.
Skoda Yeti
The Yeti is the perfect mix of Volkswagen Group technology and the value focused Skoda nameplate, sadly it has been replaced by the more conventionally styled Karoq.
There are still plenty of used examples about though and £15,000 will get you a very nicely specced 2015 2.0-litre turbo diesel model, the 4×4 drivetrain is more than up to anything the crazy UK weather can throw at it too.
Vauxhall Mokka X
The Mokka has been a hot seller for a while now and with a recent refresh and the addition of an X to its name, it is currently the 4th best-selling car of 2018.
The 138-bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol motor is no fireball but is fine for most needs and you can find 2016 models (including the 1.6-litre diesels) for under £15,000.
With the range-topping 136-hp 1.6 CDTi 4×4 model costing double that figure, buying used here really does make sense.
Nissan Qashqai
The Qashqai is also a common sight on our roads, thanks to its great pricing and comprehensive specifications list it is the 6th best-selling car of 2018.
New models start at £20,000 but if you look at a 2016 car then you can lop £5,000 off that figure and still get a Qashqai with some decent options. The 128-bhp diesel in particular is frugal and torquey enough to get you out of a boggy marsh if required.
Honda CR-V
The CR-V is a spacious and capable family SUV with a good reliability record and it also offers a bit more driving enjoyment than the majority of its competitors.
There are plenty to choose from and while the diesel models are frugal the 153-bhp 2.0-litre petrol variant is smooth and performs well too. For under £19,000 you can find yourself a very low-mileage and very well-specced 2016 model.
VW Tiguan
The new Tiguan is an impressive piece of kit and the model it replaces is still a fine SUV too. Factor in the massively cheaper purchase price and the older car is a no-brainer for the family on a budget.
The sporty R Line trim can be had paired with either diesel (up to 181-bhp) or petrol (up to 207-bhp) power and prices are below £20,000 for most 2015 models.
Subaru Forester
If you prefer something a bit more capable off-road and not quite so SUV-ish then the Forester is a very accomplished AWD estate and should be high on your list.
The imminent replacement seems to be going the SUV route so grab one of the current models before it’s too late. A 2015 Forester with the turbocharged 237-bhp engine will get you to 60mph in 7.5-seconds and at £20,000 for a great example is a perfect performance off-roader on a budget.
Audi A4 Allroad
The Allroad is a more refined estate than the Forester and is only slightly less accomplished off-road.
The slightly lower ride-height does aid the on-road handling and the 222-bhp turbocharged engine makes it even quicker thanks to the sharp S-Tronic transmission. 2014 models start at £16,000 but you do get a lot of equipment for the money.
Volvo XC60
The Volvo range has been experiencing something of a resurgence recently and while the latest XC models are jaw-droppingly stylish, the older models still have a lot to offer.
The mid-range XC60 in particular is a good choice, it offers safe and (relatively) spacious family motoring with a range of engine choices on offer. The 2.4-litre D5 turbodiesel is our pick and for £16,000 a low-mileage 2016 model can be had. Look for the R-Design trim if you prefer a sportier look.
BMW X3
The original X3 was a capable if not exactly pretty SUV, the second-generation models sorted out the looks and introduced a whole lot more luxury and safety to the package as well.
Now that the new model has just been launched, these older cars are great value second-hand. Stick to the facelifted models and either the 190-bhp 2.0-litre diesel or stonking 258-bhp 3.0-litre variant is a great option. Prices start at under £19,000 for a 2015 2.0-litre model, surely a better bet than a brand-new budget 4×4.
Land Rover Discovery 4
If you have a big family and want to traverse some big mountains too then you may be considering one of Land Rover’s new range of SUVs. While there are some great new options, the previous-generation Discovery is arguably a more desirable car than the one that has just replaced it.
It’s Lego brick looks have aged well and while it may be heavier than the moon, it offers a supremely comfortable ride and plenty of space for up to seven occupants. It isn’t cheap to maintain though and you will have to look for a 2011 3.0 TD model for it to dip under our £20,000 budget.