As the wet and chilly October weather takes hold and the long nights draw in, sales of 4x4s begin to boom.
Many motorists will want to beat any potential harsh and snowy weather that may roll round in the coming months and will turn to a 4x4 – or a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Choice is expanding year by year – and it is possible to spend anything from a few hundred pounds up to £75,000 on a used example.
It is also true to say that during the winter months 4X4s will suffer little or no depreciation and this is the time of year when all other cars are experiencing a more accelerated rate of price fall.
Three-year old cars can often be a good bet in the value-stakes as they will usually have already suffered the ‘big drop’ in values from their original list price that can amount from anything between 40 per cent and 65 per cent.
At three years of age there is a wide choice available because many customers who buy new tend to change after three years.
This is Money, alongside two car experts, Glass’s and Auto Trader, round-up ten second-hand bargain 4x4s that are three years old and cost under £15,000.
The Jeep Wrangler sits at the top of our list with rock-solid residual values. The Jeep marque has a lot of credibility when it comes to off-roading and it is the one through-and-through off-road brand in our list. In fact its lineage can be traced right back to the Second World War, and the ‘Wrangler’ model has been with us for a quarter of a century now. Although available with much larger engines, with UK fuel prices being what they are, a smaller-engine, diesel version will hold its value better and cost you far less to run.
The Toyota RAV4
has become an increasingly popular sight on our roads over the last
decade. The RAV4 helped spearhead a trend for ‘soft-roaders’ – vehicles
which combine the comforts of a normal car with the higher sitting
position, extra space and 4X4 capabilities of proper off-roaders. The
RAV4 is a great all-rounder and the 2.2D is Glass’s pick of the range.
When bought new, motorists had to pay quite a premium for the extra two seats the +2 has over the standard Nissan Qashqai.
However when buying second hand, the difference becomes less marked and
this makes it one of the best value seven-seat 4X4s around. The perfect
choice if you have a large family to ferry around, the Qashqai+2 offers
a great ride and strong levels of refinement. The +2 was only released
three years ago, so this is the first time it’s been available
second-hand at such a reasonable entry-price. However with just 104bhp,
acceleration with this engine size is likely to be a bit ponderous for
some.
The Honda CR-V
is another old stager in the soft roader (or compact crossover) market.
A three-year-old example will be the third generation of the vehicle
which was released in 2007 and enjoyed strong sales. Like the RAV4, the
2.2 diesel is the best engine in the range and will hold onto its value
well.
The Ford Kuga
is based on the same platform as the Ford Focus, which is a good
indication that this drives nicely on the road as well as off – perhaps
better so. It’s a good looking car and at three years old, still looks
very ‘fresh’. Modern engine technology means it’s easy on the fuel for a
4X4 and you get all the quality and reliability that we’ve come to
expect from Ford.
'This list should also be of interest to those looking to buy a new 4X4 as there are clear patterns in terms of what options you should go for if you want your vehicle to hold on to its value. When looking at 4X4s there are three things primarily to bear in mind.
'The first is to opt for a smaller engine size as buyers are looking for good fuel economy. The second is to go for a diesel – you’ll notice that all the 4X4s in our list are diesel because they tend to hold onto their value better – again due to lower fuel costs. Diesels also offer more torque in comparison to an equivalent sized petrol model which is important when going off road or for towing.
'Finally, when picking trim and options, pick ones which future buyer is most likely to be interested in – so think popular colours, five doors and a sat nav system. Avoid expensive or niche extras such as complex stereo or safety systems as they don’t add much value in the long run.'
Land Rover Freelander
Auto Trader found: 2010 2.2 TD4 ES 5 DR, 12,252 miles
Price: £14,475
The Land Rover Freelander is a classic 4x4. The five-door 2.2 TD4 is the pick of the bunch, offering space, more miles to the gallon, decent on-road dynamics and all the off-road ability you would expect from a Land Rover. And compared to other SUVs, it is also reasonably environmentally friendly, emitting just 158g/km of C02 in two-wheel drive form and 165g/km in four-wheel drive trim.
Kia Sportage
Auto Trader found: 2011 1.7 CRDi ‘1’ 41,000 miles
Price: £13,995
The Kia Sportage has a wide, imposing presence whilst still managing to be sleek and stylish. It might not have the off-road capability of a Freelander but it is economical and spacious, and compact enough to excel in the urban environment. Autotrader.co.uk would recommend the 1.7 CRDi engine as it combines good running costs with sufficient performance. It can return 54 mpg alongside just 135g/km of C02, yet still cruise comfortably at motorway speeds.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Auto Trader found: 2009 2.0 SE TDI 4Motion 32,900 miles
Price: £14,999
The Volkswagen Tiguan offers style, refinement and economy in a package that has all the benefits of a high-riding 4x4 but without as many of the drawbacks. It is great to drive too, controlling its weight well. Besides limited rear visibility it is a very easy car to live with. The Volkswagen Tiguan has a large, well-shaped boot and the rear seats can fold flat to form a useful load bay. The 138bhp 2.0 TDI is the engine to go for, offering the best balance between economy, emissions and performance.
Land Rover Defender
Auto Trader found: 2012 2.2 90 SWB hard top 5,500 miles
Price: £14,995
The Defender is one for all the hardcore mud-pluggers. While it does not have the best road manners, this is the one to go for if you want genuine 'go anywhere' ability. There is only one engine available, a 120bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel which produces a thoroughly decent 266lb/ft of torque. It might not be particularly economical, but it is one of the best off-roaders out there.
Auto Trader had the RAV4 in the list - which was also in the Glass's run-down.
The Sante Fe is great value, providing lots of space, practicality, power and kit for the money and it’s a good drive. As well as a five seater model, there is a seven seat version – so it is perfect for families. What Car? suggests a dealer price of £11,500 for a three-year old 2.2 litre diesel CRDT CDX seven-seater model. It is not the cheapest 4x4 to run and diesel models are slightly more expensive than petrol, although likely to be more popular when you sell in and hold their value better. The car was revised in late 2009, so models after this get a facelift and more mod cons. Hyundai also gives a five-year warranty, so a three-year old used car should still be within this. Last year, What Car? magazine had the Santa Fe as second in its best buy 4x4 car of the year awards, just pipped to the post by the Land Rover Discovery.
Many motorists will want to beat any potential harsh and snowy weather that may roll round in the coming months and will turn to a 4x4 – or a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Choice is expanding year by year – and it is possible to spend anything from a few hundred pounds up to £75,000 on a used example.
It is also true to say that during the winter months 4X4s will suffer little or no depreciation and this is the time of year when all other cars are experiencing a more accelerated rate of price fall.
Three-year old cars can often be a good bet in the value-stakes as they will usually have already suffered the ‘big drop’ in values from their original list price that can amount from anything between 40 per cent and 65 per cent.
At three years of age there is a wide choice available because many customers who buy new tend to change after three years.
This is Money, alongside two car experts, Glass’s and Auto Trader, round-up ten second-hand bargain 4x4s that are three years old and cost under £15,000.
The Glass’s top five: Used 4x4s that hold value under £15k
Glass’s, the car valuation specialist, have looked at some of the 4x4s that hold their value best. These cars are three years old and have 37,000 miles on the clock.TOP FIVE 4x4s FOR UNDER £15K
| 4x4 | % Residual value (3 years, 37k miles) | Cost when new (list price) | Current trade value (3 years, 37k miles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Wrangler (2.8 CRD - 174bhp - 5 door) | 61% | £21,640 | £13,125 |
| Toyota RAV4 (2.2D-4D - 150bhp - XT-R 5 door | 55% | £22,610 | £12,400 |
| Nissan Qashqai+2 (1.5dCi - 104bhp - N-TEC 5 door) | 62% | £20,020 | £12,325 |
| Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC - 148bhp - SE 5 door | 55% | £21,905 | £11,975 |
| Ford Kuga 1.0 TDCi - 136ps - Titanium 5 door | 53% | £22,240 | £11,850 |
The Jeep Wrangler sits at the top of our list with rock-solid residual values. The Jeep marque has a lot of credibility when it comes to off-roading and it is the one through-and-through off-road brand in our list. In fact its lineage can be traced right back to the Second World War, and the ‘Wrangler’ model has been with us for a quarter of a century now. Although available with much larger engines, with UK fuel prices being what they are, a smaller-engine, diesel version will hold its value better and cost you far less to run.
Top tips to bag that bargain 4x4
Adrian Rushmore, Glass’s managing editor, says: ‘When you start to look at three-year-old models, you really can get a lot of 4X4 for your money – and with the five we have selected, they’ll keep a lot of that value too.'This list should also be of interest to those looking to buy a new 4X4 as there are clear patterns in terms of what options you should go for if you want your vehicle to hold on to its value. When looking at 4X4s there are three things primarily to bear in mind.
'The first is to opt for a smaller engine size as buyers are looking for good fuel economy. The second is to go for a diesel – you’ll notice that all the 4X4s in our list are diesel because they tend to hold onto their value better – again due to lower fuel costs. Diesels also offer more torque in comparison to an equivalent sized petrol model which is important when going off road or for towing.
'Finally, when picking trim and options, pick ones which future buyer is most likely to be interested in – so think popular colours, five doors and a sat nav system. Avoid expensive or niche extras such as complex stereo or safety systems as they don’t add much value in the long run.'
Land Rover Freelander is Auto Trader's top choice
Car selling website Autotrader.co.uk has identified the top five second-hand SUVs that are less than three-years old and cost under £15,000.Land Rover Freelander
Auto Trader found: 2010 2.2 TD4 ES 5 DR, 12,252 miles
Price: £14,475
The Land Rover Freelander is a classic 4x4. The five-door 2.2 TD4 is the pick of the bunch, offering space, more miles to the gallon, decent on-road dynamics and all the off-road ability you would expect from a Land Rover. And compared to other SUVs, it is also reasonably environmentally friendly, emitting just 158g/km of C02 in two-wheel drive form and 165g/km in four-wheel drive trim.
Auto Trader found: 2011 1.7 CRDi ‘1’ 41,000 miles
Price: £13,995
The Kia Sportage has a wide, imposing presence whilst still managing to be sleek and stylish. It might not have the off-road capability of a Freelander but it is economical and spacious, and compact enough to excel in the urban environment. Autotrader.co.uk would recommend the 1.7 CRDi engine as it combines good running costs with sufficient performance. It can return 54 mpg alongside just 135g/km of C02, yet still cruise comfortably at motorway speeds.
Auto Trader found: 2009 2.0 SE TDI 4Motion 32,900 miles
Price: £14,999
The Volkswagen Tiguan offers style, refinement and economy in a package that has all the benefits of a high-riding 4x4 but without as many of the drawbacks. It is great to drive too, controlling its weight well. Besides limited rear visibility it is a very easy car to live with. The Volkswagen Tiguan has a large, well-shaped boot and the rear seats can fold flat to form a useful load bay. The 138bhp 2.0 TDI is the engine to go for, offering the best balance between economy, emissions and performance.
Auto Trader found: 2012 2.2 90 SWB hard top 5,500 miles
Price: £14,995
The Defender is one for all the hardcore mud-pluggers. While it does not have the best road manners, this is the one to go for if you want genuine 'go anywhere' ability. There is only one engine available, a 120bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel which produces a thoroughly decent 266lb/ft of torque. It might not be particularly economical, but it is one of the best off-roaders out there.
This is Money's value-for-money used 4x4 under £15k
This is Money resident 4x4 expert Simon Lambert and author of the ever popular This is Money 4x4 list, has selected the Hyundai Santa Fe as the best 4x4 to buy under £15,000.The Sante Fe is great value, providing lots of space, practicality, power and kit for the money and it’s a good drive. As well as a five seater model, there is a seven seat version – so it is perfect for families. What Car? suggests a dealer price of £11,500 for a three-year old 2.2 litre diesel CRDT CDX seven-seater model. It is not the cheapest 4x4 to run and diesel models are slightly more expensive than petrol, although likely to be more popular when you sell in and hold their value better. The car was revised in late 2009, so models after this get a facelift and more mod cons. Hyundai also gives a five-year warranty, so a three-year old used car should still be within this. Last year, What Car? magazine had the Santa Fe as second in its best buy 4x4 car of the year awards, just pipped to the post by the Land Rover Discovery.
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