Scanning the classified adverts for a family SUV can easily bamboozle even the most tenacious buyer. With so many models now entering the used market, you’re spoiled for choice, so it’s tricky to work out which one best suits your needs.
With recent rises in used car prices, your money doesn’t go as far as it used to. So what does £10,000 buy in terms of a family-friendly SUV? Space, practicality and reliability are big factors in this sector – but there are also options with a bit of style. And believe it or not, you don’t have to live with a car that’s as bland as boiled cabbage to drive.
To prove it, here are six of our favourite family SUVs, all available for £10,000 along with an example of what not to buy – a car to swerve for its dubious reliability record.
6. Kia Sorento (2010-2015)
If you seek driving thrills, look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a large, sensible SUV with space for the whole family, the Sorento is a pretty good bet for this sum.
At its heart sits a noisy, but reliable, chain-driven 2.2-litre diesel engine, powering a fairly unburstable four-wheel drive system. Inside, the Sorento is plasticky but the interior is well laid out and built to last.
There’s space for adults in the rearmost seats – just about – and even low-spec versions are well equipped (although for this budget, you can afford to splash out on the top-of-the-range KX-4, which comes laden with equipment).
And while the Sorento is somewhat ponderous to drive, it rides pretty smoothly, making it a comfortable cruiser.
Price to pay: from £3,000
We found: 2014 Sorento KX-4, 94,000 miles, full service history, £9,499
Watch out for: Rattling timing chains, glitchy electronics, slipping clutches, abused tow cars.
5. Toyota C-HR (2017-2023)
It might not be quite as practical as its Honda CR-V rival (see below), but the C-HR has an even better reliability record – not to mention Toyota’s service-activated warranty offer for cars up to 10 years old.
And while it might be most associated with the hybrid versions that came later, early C-HRs were available with the option of a sweet 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine that kept the weight down and made them surprisingly good fun to drive. It’s these that are available for our £10,000 budget.
The usual C-HR caveats apply: due to the swoopy styling, rear head room is a bit tight, while boot space isn’t as good as more pragmatic rivals. But this is a car that’s as much about style as it is about dependability – and if you can live without huge amounts of space in the back, that makes the C-HR a very tempting choice.
Price to pay: from £9,000
We found: 2017 C-HR 1.2 VVT-i Icon, 63,000 miles, one owner from new, £9,950
Watch out for: Electrical glitches, cracking windscreens, moist carpets caused by water ingress.
4. Dacia Duster (2017-2024)
Dacia’s cars are well known for their affordability and this is no exception. Just look at how new a car you get for your money; our budget gets you into a second-generation Duster, which was a considerable leap forward compared with its predecessor, especially when powered by one of the punchy petrol turbo engines.
Granted, there are some downsides; the Duster isn’t chock-full of equipment and the interior plastics are rather dour. But at the end of the day this is a useful, practical small SUV with enough room for a family, a decent reputation for reliability and enough comfort to keep all but the most discerning of buyers happy. At this price, it’s a great deal.
Price to pay: from £6,000
We found: 2020 1.3 TCe Comfort, 44,000 miles, one owner from new, £10,000
Watch out for: Creaks and rattles from interior trim, glitchy dashboard electrics, engine hesitation under acceleration.
3. Honda CR-V (2012-2018)
What’s great about the CR-V is that it combines lots of space – the boot is voluminous – with comfort, excellent build quality and reliability. You get a choice of two diesel engines; the super-frugal 1.6 and a 2.2 that’s almost as efficient, but provides more punch. There’s a petrol alternative, too, although it needs working hard to make decent progress.
The interior is robust enough to endure the worst a family can throw at it – in fact, it’s rare that bits will fall off no matter how extreme the abuse. The handling, meanwhile, is safe and secure, if not exhilarating, while the CR-V’s leaning toward comfort ensures it’s easy-going and fuss-free on family days out.
What’s more, the CR-V has one of the best reliability records of any SUV of this age. If you value practicality and dependability, there’s little better.
Price to pay: from £4,000
We found: 2016 CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC EX, 83,000 miles, full service history, £9,750
Watch out for: Low-mileage diesels with potential particulate filter (DPF) issues, poorly maintained examples with patchy history.
2. Seat Ateca (2016-present)
The Spanish firm’s first SUV was a relatively compact offering built to take on family favourites such as the Nissan Qashqai. And as a first attempt, it was pretty impressive, combining the snappy handling and engaging driving experience for which Seat has become known with sharp styling, inside and out.
But the Ateca didn’t just appeal to the heart; its interior was roomy and practical, too, with a well-sized boot, spacious rear seats and wide-opening doors to make it easy to belt children into the back.
These days, the Ateca is great value on the used market, but there is a caveat, which is that it’s quite specification-sensitive; larger-engined models with four-wheel drive and big wheels can feel a touch on the firm side. Opt instead for a smaller-engined, two-wheel drive car, which offers a great balance between ride quality and driver enjoyment.
Price to pay: from £7,000
We found: 2018 1.0 TSI SE Technology, 55,000 miles, full service history, £10,000
Watch out for: Faulty electronic handbrakes, failing electronic boot lids, rusty rear doors, clogged diesel particulate filters.
1. Skoda Yeti (2009-2017)
Its looks probably won’t be to everyone’s tastes but if you like them – or can see past them – the Yeti remains the most practical, family-friendly SUV available at this price, earning it the top spot.
What makes the Yeti so special is its flexibility. Each of the three individual rear seats can be slid forward and backward, folded down, tumbled forward or even removed completely, allowing a wide range of configurations to suit passengers and cargo.
What’s more, the Yeti is good to drive, with surprisingly good body control, meaning it doesn’t flop over at the first sight of a bend, while its petrol and diesel engines are gutsy yet efficient. All in all, it’s a brilliant all-rounder.
Price to pay: from £2,500
We found: 2016 1.2 TSI SE Outdoor, 58,000 miles, full service history, £9,995
Watch out for: Smokey turbochargers, defunct air-conditioning, blocked diesel particulate filters, oil consumption on early 1.8-litre engines.
And the one to avoid…
Range Rover Evoque (2011-2018)
The Evoque might be tempting at this price, with serious off-road ability, a smooth driving experience and the sort of badge kudos that’ll make you feel like a superstar on the school run. Yet the first-generation model doesn’t boast the finest level of fit and finish inside while its rear seats and boot are on the cramped side.
But the largest question mark concerns the Evoque’s patchy reputation for reliability – it regularly finishes at or toward the bottom of its class in dependability studies. So avoid it if you can – and if you simply must have the smallest Range Rover, caveat emptor.
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