Hyundai Kona SUV review (2017-2023)
Best used SUVs to buy in 2025
SUVs make for great family cars, and you can save a packet by choosing one of these used options
For many car buyers, a used SUV is the sensible choice for a practical, affordable family car. You’ll benefit from the high driving position and large boot space of the latest SUVs while avoiding the worst of the depreciation that nearly every new car experiences over the first couple of years of ownership.
Best used cars: our 2025 Best Used Car Award winners
SUVs come in all shapes and sizes these days, from supermini-based urban runarounds to capable all-terrain 4x4s. There are different engine options to suit every buyer, as well, including fully electric SUVs for those ready to switch to zero-emissions driving. We’ve selected a variety of models on our list below, so there should be a used SUV for everyone.
If you plan to buy a used car, make sure you know how to get the best deal from a car dealership and how to test drive a car.
While there’s a new Hyundai Kona on the scene today, the first-generation model makes for an excellent used choice. It ticks essentially every box that small SUV buyers are looking for, as it’s reliable, cheap to run, well-equipped and good to drive. But don’t take our word for it – just listen to the owners who voted it to top spot in the 2021 Driver Power survey.
You have plenty of choice when it comes to finding the right Kona for you on the used market. It was available with a traditional petrol engine, a hybrid system or even as a fully-electric model, meaning there’s a Kona for you no matter your fuel preference. Petrol models are a bit cheaper than hybrids on the used market, but the latter will return around 10mpg more. It’s also the better of the two to drive around town thanks to its smooth electric motor aiding progress.
The Hyundai Kona Electric will make a great choice for any SUV buyer looking to dip their toe in the world of zero emissions driving for the first time. It was offered with two battery sizes, although we’d recommend the bigger 64kWh pack. It’s rated for up to 300 miles of range, which is still an impressive figure today. That said, you can pick up a used Kona Electric with the smaller 39kWh battery for even less than a petrol model – you can thank EV depreciation for that. It could make a great, affordable urban runaround if you have somewhere to charge it.
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Find the latest used Hyundai Kona deals on our sister site Auto Express
The second-generation Dacia Duster offered great value for money when it was new, and its arrival on the used market only makes it more affordable. An all-new Duster arrived in 2024, but that means there are now great deals to be found on the used car market for the older model. What’s more, the outgoing Duster was voted the best car to own in the 2024 Driver Power survey, showing that owners have very few regrets about their purchase.
Although Dacia tends to prioritise function over form, the second-generation Duster introduced welcome features that made it more comfortable and appealing. It’s based on the same underpinnings as the Sandero hatchback and Renault Clio, so while it’s budget-focused, it still makes use of relatively modern parts compared to its predecessor.
The Access trim that was offered was very sparsely equipped, but Comfort brings features such as a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, sat nav and a reversing camera. Buying used means you can upgrade to a higher trim level for the same, or less than the cost of a more basic model, so we recommend doing so to get the best bang for your buck.
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Find the latest used Dacia Duster deals on our sister site Auto Express
The Mazda CX-5 is a great used SUV choice if you want something that’s a little less common on UK roads. The Nissan Qashqai may be the obvious pick for many mid-size SUV buyers, but we think the CX-5 is well worth investigating, thanks to its lengthy standard kit list and fun driving experience. The CX-5 has also performed well in our annual Driver Power survey, coming 7th overall in the most recent edition and ranking highly for reliability, interior usability and design.
On the inside, we think the CX-5 feels well-built thanks to the extensive use of high-quality materials, especially in post-2021 facelifted cars. Its layout is fairly straightforward, featuring a 10.25-inch infotainment screen atop the centre of the dash that gets simple, but effective software that makes it easy-to-use. Admittedly, some SUV rivals offer more boot space and rear passenger headroom, but the Mazda CX-5 is markedly more spacious than the Mazda3 hatchback despite having a similar footprint to that car – we think the CX-5 is a worthwhile upgrade.
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Find the latest used Mazda CX-5 deals on our sister site Auto Express
A sister car to the first-generation Skoda Kodiaq, it’s easy to overlook the SEAT Tarraco in favour of its Czech sibling. But we think the Tarraco is absolutely worth investigating if you’re after a big, seven-seater SUV on the used market. When we tested it, there were several things that stood out – importantly, its prodigious practicality. Sure, the third row of seats is a bit tight, but it will be fine for children in a pinch. Fold those seats flat and you have an enormous boot to play with, while the rest of the cabin provides plenty of space for tall adults to sit comfortably.
There were various engines offered throughout the Tarraco’s production life, but the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel is a good fit and will return good fuel economy for drivers who cover a mixture of urban and motorway miles. A four-wheel drive version was available for a period, but these are hard to come by on the used market and often require a hefty premium – we’d stick to the standard front-wheel drive model unless you really need the added traction.
Other positives for the Tarraco include its five-star safety rating and surprisingly enjoyable driving experience. It really does handle well for a car of its size, but we’d avoid models with the larger 19- or 20-inch wheels as these can unsettle the ride.
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Find the latest used SEAT Tarraco deals on our sister site Auto Express
The Jaguar I-Pace was one of the first electric SUVs to break into the mainstream market and it still makes for an excellent buy in 2025. We like the Jaguar I-Pace so much that we awarded it top spot for 2024’s Best Used Large Electric Car – it still feels fresh today despite having been on sale for several years. It may be a fairly large and heavy electric SUV, but it feels nimble and engaging to drive, and disguises its size with a sleek coupe-esque design.
You can expect up to 286 miles to a charge on models with the 90kWh battery and 19-inch wheels, though in real-world conditions we found around 220 miles was more realistic. Still, that will be more than enough for buyers after a stylish, premium SUV for shorter trips around town. Its interior is fairly conventional, but feels well-built and high-end – a 2020 update also brought a renewed version of Jaguar’s Pivi Pro infotainment software, so it’s worth seeking out a used example with this version.
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Find the latest used Jaguar I-Pace deals on our sister site Auto Express
It may not be the most stylish or exciting SUV to drive on this list, but the Toyota RAV4 gets the basics right. It’s practical, thanks to a 580-litre boot and a spacious rear row of seats, and delivers an impressive level of refinement around town and at motorway speeds. The interior is well-built with chunky physical controls for the heating and ventilation system – a refreshing change from many of the touchscreen controls found in new cars. Sure, it lacks the flair and infotainment tech of the latest and greatest SUVs, but the RAV4’s interior is still comfortable and well-equipped.
What’s more, the RAV4 is backed up by Toyota’s class-leading warranty of up to 10 years and 100,000 miles (if serviced at an authorised service centre), meaning most used examples will have plenty of cover remaining. Not that you’ll need it – the RAV4’s 2.5-litre engine and self-charging hybrid system have proven to be hugely dependable, topping the 2024 Driver Power survey for reliability.
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Find the latest used Toyota RAV4 deals on our sister site Auto Express
The Kia Sportage not only took the crown as our Best Used Family Car, but also bagged the title of Used Car of the Year overall in last year’s Carbuyer Best Used Car awards. Kias usually make great sense when buying used thanks to the brand’s generous, industry-leading seven-year, or 100,000-mile warranty, meaning that buyers still get peace of mind for years to come – but it’s not only that that makes a used Kia Sportage a compelling choice.
It boasts excellent practicality for a car of its size, good driving dynamics and was well equipped from new, so you’re likely to find an example that fits the bill on the second-hand market. We’d go for a model from 2020 onwards, as you can ensure you have plenty of years left of that warranty, as well as the fuel-economy benefits of the 134bhp 1.6-litre mild-hybrid diesel engine option that was introduced in 2018. If diesel isn’t your bag, then the 174bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol version is a good alternative.
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Find the latest used Kia Sportage deals on our sister site Auto Express
Although Ford’s choice to use the Puma name – previously used for a small, sporty model in the late 90s – on a new small SUV stirred up controversy, it proved a big hit, topping the overall UK car sales charts in 2023 and again in 2024. The benefit of its popularity means there are already many on the used market to choose from, so you’ll have no trouble finding an engine and paint colour combination that you like.
The Puma’s compact dimensions make it a doddle to drive around town but the car is also engaging on a twisty B-road, making it one of the most fun small SUVs to drive. The Puma also comes with lots of kit as standard. Entry-level Titanium models have all of the equipment you may need such as sat-nav, air conditioning and rear parking sensors. Step up to the ST-Line for sportier styling and supportive Recaro sports seats. While the Puma is not the largest SUV out there, it should be enough for small families, with its 456-litre boot one of the best in its class.
The Puma went through a mid-life update in 2024, bringing tweaked styling and new interior tech, including a whacking-great touchscreen. While the latter looks impressive at first glance, Ford had to remove some of the physical controls to make space for it, which we found had a negative impact on usability during our testing. We reckon that’s another good reason to shop for an older, used model.
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Find the latest used Ford Puma deals on our sister site Auto Express
The Lexus RX was replaced by an all-new model in 2023, but the older version makes a great used premium SUV buy. It offers a high-quality interior, is quiet and smooth to drive, and still looks as sharp as the day it first hit the market. You can find turbocharged petrol-powered versions of this generation of RX, but this model was discontinued quite early on, so most will be hybrids using a 3.5-litre V6 engine mated to an electric motor for a total of 308bhp.
Inside the cabin feels very well built, and even lower-spec models got a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Since you’re buying used, though, your budget may be able to stretch to a racier-looking F Sport model or top-spec Takumi. F Sport got sports heated and ventilated seats and adjustable suspension, while Takumi brought niceties such as blind-spot monitoring, a premium Mark Levinson surround-sound system, 360-degree parking camera and panoramic sunroof – all features you’d expect of a brand new luxury SUV.
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Find the latest used Lexus RX deals on our sister site Auto Express
We might sound like a broken record, but Kia’s seven-year warranty is hard to ignore, hence why another of its models makes this list. The Kia Sorento won our award for the Best Large Used Family Car in last year’s Carbuyer Used Car Awards because it’s immensely practical with seven seats, feels fairly upmarket on the inside, and comes with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or diesel engines.
A mid-life refresh in 2024 brought updated styling and a more modern interior to the Sorento, but that doesn’t mean the older model feels outdated. You get the same range of engines as before and it’s just as practical, so you won’t be missing out on much if you shop used. In fact, you may be able to find some tempting deals for nearly-new examples of the outgoing Sorento as dealers make way for the new model, so make sure to shop around.
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Find the latest used Kia Sorento deals on our sister site Auto Express
Best used SUVs score list
Below you’ll find our complete rankings for the top 10 best used SUVs, as well as their Carbuyer score.
| Best used SUV ranking | Make and model | Carbuyer rating (out of 5) |
| 1 | Hyundai Kona Mk1 | 3.5 |
| 2 | Dacia Duster Mk2 | 3.2 |
| 3 | Mazda CX-5 | 4 |
| 4 | SEAT Tarraco | 4.1 |
| 5 | Jaguar I-Pace | 3.6 |
| 6 | Toyota RAV4 | 4 |
| 7 | Kia Sportage | 3.6 |
| 8 | Ford Puma | 4.2 |
| 9 | Lexus RX | 3.5 |
| 10 | Kia Sorento | 4.3 |
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