Best secondhand 4x4 under £5,000
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Some SUV buyers need more than standout styling. They rely on the ability that every SUV promises, but not all deliver: that of all-wheel-drive prowess.
A 4x4 will take you to places no other car can go. They will easily drive up a muddy hillside, traverse a snow-covered country road, or ford a stream – even as you grimace behind the wheel. As for muddy-field ability, 4x4s lead the way. The only holdup you’ll have is the time spent towing others with two-wheel-drive machines.
New 4x4s can be expensive, of course. Such technology doesn't come cheap. Even secondhand ones can cost a pretty penny. But not all 4x4s are out of reach. Indeed, there are plenty of solid machines available for under £5,000.
Here are the best affordable secondhand 4x4s to keep you going where other vehicles will not.
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Land Rover Freelander 2
All Land Rovers are desirable machines, and secondhand prices reflect this. You won’t get a Discovery Sport for £5,000, but you will be able to pick up its predecessor: the Freelander 2. As Land Rovers seem to age gracefully, the styling still looks fresh, particularly later cars with their modern-looking LED running lights. The Freelander 2 has a super-roomy interior and a huge boot, while its interior feels robust and easy to use. You get a cut-above feel from behind the wheel, along with exceptional off-road ability thanks to Land Rover’s ridiculously high 4x4 standards. You’ll be amazed at where you can take a Freelander 2 without getting stuck. Just make sure you buy one with a good service record and, ideally, a warranty.
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Kia Sorento
The original Sorento put Kia on the map. It was a large SUV that had more than a trace of Mercedes-Benz about its styling. The second-generation model, sold between 2010 and 2015, is even better, with more refined detailing and a better quality interior. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel was a big improvement on its 2.5 predecessor – just watch for standard models that don’t actually have all-wheel drive (all other Sorentos have it). Inside, the Kia has a well-built interior that still looks and feels modern, and it’s spacious – with the added bonus of seven seats. A seven-year warranty from new means reliability and robustness should be impressive, too.
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Honda CR-V
Naturally, we have to feature a Honda CR-V on this list. It has a well-deserved reputation for reliability, even if service and repair costs can be a little above average. The CR-V you’ll get for under £5,000 will be the 2007-2012 generation car, which was available with a decent 2.0-litre VTEC petrol engine or a superb 2.2 i-DTEC turbodiesel. The latter is uncommonly smooth-running and delivers ample pulling power, while also being good on fuel. Honda’s effortless automatic 4x4 system is effective and hands-off, while the CR-V itself is a fluid and easy five-seat SUV to drive. It’s also practical, with clever touches such as a two-level boot floor.
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Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester might not be the first car you think of when seeking a secondhand 4x4 for under £5,000. However, it fully deserves a place in our rundown. The 2008-2013 range falls within our budget, with these third-generation models boasting styling that’s a cross between an estate car and an SUV. With ample ground clearance, the Forester is far better off-road than you’d ever imagine, aided by Subaru’s excellent symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. The boxer petrol engines are fun, particularly the 2.0-litre turbo XT, allowing you to channel your inner Colin McRae (at the expense of eye-watering fuel bills). The boxer diesel is good as well, and it drinks considerably less fuel.
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Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 was a bit of an SUV pioneer back in the 1990s. It was arguably the first 4x4 to put the ‘sport’ into ‘SUV’. It matured over the years, with this 2006-2013 version boasting a decidedly premium interior and a classy appearance. You can be assured the RAV4 will prove reliable, and its fuel-efficient engines are pretty cheap to run. To drive, it’s very easy and car-like, but plenty of ground clearance means it can imitate a Toyota Land Cruiser until the conditions get really tough. Perhaps the biggest bugbear for owners will be the odd side-hinged tailgate, which is awkward to use in car parks.
- Read our full Toyota RAV4 review
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Hyundai Santa Fe
The original Hyundai Santa Fe had a cheery design and helped draw many people to the Korean brand. This second-generation car, sold between 2006 and 2012, is even better. Refinement is improved, the styling has added status and the seven-seat interior is super-spacious. Hyundai offered a 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine, but the fuel bills will be horrendous. We’d choose the 2.2 turbodiesel instead, particularly the facelifted version from 2010. Being a Hyundai, the Santa Fe is very reliable and robust, has a decent towing weight and certainly shouldn’t throw up any surprise big bills. It’s good off-road as well, particularly the 2.2 diesel automatic version.
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BMW X1
Early first-generation BMW X1s – the car was introduced in 2009 – are beginning to drop into our £5,000 budget. They are a tempting buy, and not just because of the premium BMW badge. The X1 handles really well, with a dynamic feel and great responsiveness. The engines are all powerful, and the diesels are uncannily fuel-efficient. Also, while the interior looks a bit austere, it’s certainly well-built. If you want to go off-road, you’ll need to look for xDrive versions. These had an all-wheel-drive system, whereas the sDrive was actually rear-driven – great for corners but less capable when off-roading.
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MINI Countryman
MINI surprised everyone when it launched the first Countryman in 2010. It was easily the firm’s largest car ever, and the first one genuinely able to seat five people (plus all their luggage). As a result, it sold well, so there are plenty to choose from on the secondhand market. It came in two versions: the regular front-wheel-drive model and the All4 with all-wheel drive. The latter is the one you want if you plan to go off-roading. The fully-electronic 4x4 system uses expertise from parent company BMW and combines with good ground clearance to make the Countryman a handy machine in tricky conditions. While it’s bigger than the average MINI, it’s still smaller than most other SUVs, which helps deliver a wieldy feel.
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Vauxhall Antara
The Vauxhall Antara was never a class-leader when new. But it was well-priced and sold pretty well. Today, the fact it was developed and engineered in South Korea means it is proving to be a reliable and surprisingly robust machine. The intelligent 4x4 system includes standard hill-descent control and stability control, while the 2.0-litre diesel engine offered both manual and automatic gearbox options. There’s also a rare 2.4 petrol. Inside, the Antara looks smart, and all models offer a good level of standard equipment. It only came with five seats as standard, though. If you want seven seats, you need to choose its closely-related sister car: the Chevrolet Captiva.
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Mercedes-Benz ML-Class
We’re including the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class here for those who want an upscale SUV for a good price (and can swallow the higher-than-average running costs). High-mileage versions of the 2005-2012 model are now dropping below the £5,000 mark – and what a lot of car you get for the money, with classy styling and a premium-feel interior. The V6 diesel engines sound nice and aren’t too bad on fuel, given their performance, while the advanced all-wheel-drive system, combined with the ML’s sheer size, makes it feel very confident off-road. Just bear in mind that it won’t be cheap to fix if anything goes wrong.
Are secondhand 4x4s expensive to maintain?
Some secondhand 4x4s can indeed be expensive to maintain. You won’t be able to service or repair a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class for the same budget as a Toyota RAV4, for example. How machines are driven can also be a factor in how expensive they are to run. If an SUV has been used a lot off-road, expensive parts may wear out quicker than those that have mainly been driven on tarmac. Tyres, brakes and other consumables generally cost more for an SUV than for a regular car as well.
Which is the cheapest 4x4?
You might think an old Land Rover Defender is the cheapest 4x4, but that's certainly not the case. Prices are skyrocketing – indeed, anything desirable is currently getting more expensive. You have to look elsewhere for the cheapest 4x4 – to models such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. High-mileage examples can be found for a competitive price, and the built-in integrity and reliability of both cars means they shouldn’t cost too much to run. Just make sure there aren’t any obvious problems when you buy them, and err towards vehicles with a comprehensive service history.
Which is the most reliable 4x4?
Unfortunately, 4x4s can be more troublesome than regular cars. There’s simply more to go wrong; the all-wheel-drive systems alone contain multiple differentials, driveshafts and other complications – sometimes even a low-range gearbox. Higher-spec versions will have more electronic gadgets as well, which also have the potential to go wrong. Given all this, if you want to be assured you’re buying one of the most reliable 4x4s, err towards Japanese cars such as the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, or the South Korean Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
