Best used family SUVs for less than £15,000

Written by Richard Kilpatrick Published: 2 November 2023 Updated: 3 November 2023

SUVs are immensely popular. For the past two years running, seven of the UK’s top 10 best-selling new cars have been SUVs – and this popularity in the new market means there’s a healthy stock of used cars in the classifieds. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best second-hand family SUVs under £15,000, all of which are less than five years old with reasonably low mileages figures.

For families, SUVs make a lot of sense. They’re a little taller than a conventional hatchback, which makes them easier to load children and luggage into. They’re also far more stylish than a boxy old MPV. Some SUVs even capitalise on their extra ground clearance with four-wheel drive, which makes them both more planted on the tarmac and capable of tackling a spot of light off-roading.

Choose your SUV wisely and it won’t be that much more expensive to run than a regular hatchback, either. Most share their underpinnings with hatchbacks and feature the same front-wheel drive powertrains, so you only pay a minor aerodynamic penalty by opting for the bigger body style. Drive carefully and you should be able to extract 40mpg from every car in this list.

Scroll down for our list of the best used SUVs for £15,000. Then, if you find something that takes your fancy, head over to the Parkers cars for sale page to start shopping.

The best used family SUVs for less than £15,000

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Top buying tips for used SUVs

Which used SUV is the most economical?

The Toyota C-HR is a great choice if you’re looking for a fuel-efficient used SUV. It’s available with a choice of two self-charging hybrid powertrains that can return upwards of 50mpg if driven carefully. You also have the added benefit of not needing to plug it into the mains to get the best from it.

Are there any electric or hybrid SUVs for under £15,000?

Hybrid yes. But you’ll struggle to find a good electric SUV at this budget. The technology is still too new and expensive to have filtered down to the lower echelons of the used car market on a large scale. However, we’ve scoured the classified and found a couple. You can pick up and original Kia Soul EV for around £8,000 and an early Vauxhall Mokka Electric for £15,000.

Has it got signs of off-road use?

Look for signs of wear and tear on the exterior. With less ground clearance compared to a typical SUV, scuff marks could indicate signs of use in tougher environments. Look for kerbing on the wheels, too, as urban crossover drivers may have chosen them to clear awkward driveways or particularly bad potholed roads.

Do you need to tow?

Thanks to the smaller dimensions, engine capacity and typically two-wheel drive configuration, there will be a compromise in towing capacity. A Mazda CX-3 has a tow limit of 1,200kg, while the slightly larger Range Rover Evoque can tow between 1,500kg and 1,800kg. A diesel engine would provide a more relaxed drive too if this is the case.

Avoid sportier trim levels for maximum comfort

Demand for large, sporty-looking SUVs has grown over the past decade and this has resulted in manufacturers offering models with bodykits, larger wheels and stiffer suspension. While some can make marginal improvements in high-speed handling, they can have a negative effect on ride quality. Sporty coupe-SUVs designed with a sloping roof can also impede on rear passenger headroom.

Have 4×4 models been maintained correctly?

Many crossovers with all-wheel drive have less-sophisticated systems than their larger SUV brethren. Quite often, the 4×4 drive only works when the front wheels are slipping, and relies on the proper maintenance of couplings, driveshafts and tyres to work correctly. On higher-mileage examples look for tyres being rotated/changed in sets of four, and check the service schedule for terms like propshaft and viscous coupling inspection, lubrication/fluid changes in addition to the normal maintenance expected.

Check spares costs if you plan on long-term ownership

If you’re going to keep your crossover for a while, make sure there are no nasty surprises waiting compared to a hatchback equivalent. All-wheel drive models in particular may have different brakes, suspension and exhaust systems with higher costs, so it’s worth asking beforehand and planning your maintenance accordingly.