The secondhand SUVs our motoring experts think you should buy

03 December 2016 - 02:00 By Mark Smyth/TMG Motoring Staff
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In the market for a pre-owned SUV? To help you make an informed buy, our motoring experts have put together a handy guide to purchasing large, luxury or small/crossover SUVs

HOW WE PUT THIS BUYER'S GUIDE TOGETHER

• The best motoring journalists in the Times Media Group carefully assessed all the vehicles in each segment before selecting an outright winner, a runner up and left field choice.

• Their combined knowledge ensured their decisions are based on superb market experience, backed up with information from essential almanacs such as TransUnion dealer books and parts pricing reports.

• They only looked at vehicles less than five years old, which means many will have some form of warranty still in place. Within that five-year period, each winner is based on a 2013 model.

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THE BEST VALUE PRE-OWNED LARGE SUVs

Winner: Toyota Fortuner 3.0 D-4D (pictured above)

One of the best-selling SUVs in the market, the Fortuner remains a default and safe choice in the segment.

The D-4D engines are economical if a little agricultural. Care is to be taken when going off-road, though, as some models have been known to topple over.

Insurance, too, is likely to be high, due to the model being prone to theft.

That aside, though, the model is still a versatile and capable package with good after-sales backup and parts availability.

Runner-up:Volkswagen Touareg (3.0 TDI)

The VW Touareg takes the runner-up place with its great styling, excellent engines and well-equipped and luxurious interior.

Left-field: Toyota FJ Cruiser

You don’t get much more left-field than the Toyota FJ Cruiser with its retro looks and suicide doors. The V6 sounds awesome and combined with the Prado underpinnings makes it a great vehicle off-road.

THE BEST VALUE PRE-OWNED CROSSOVER/SMALL SUVs

Winner: Nissan Qashqai (1.5 dCi)

The previous-generation Qashqai is a great package in the segment, and the turbodiesel engine offers exemplary fuel economy. The cabin is a bit cramped though and the seating position up front is quite high for taller drivers.

Nonetheless, having pioneered this segment, the Qashqai remains a great pre-owned package for those looking for a compact and economical crossover.

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Runner-up: Renault Duster (1.5dCi)

The Renault Duster keeps things in the Renault-Alliance stable, with the Renault Duster scoring highly. Its low price, now combined with decent mechanicals, loads of space and the same diesel motor as the Qashqai, makes it a good choice.

Left field: Suzuki Jimny

The Suzuki Jimny might not be the most-feature-packed model in the segment, but it has incredible character and its off-road ability will put many an expensive 4×4 to shame.

THE BEST VALUE PRE-OWNED LUXURY SUVs

Winner: Range Rover Sport (TDV6)

The more economical version of the Range Rover Sport, the previous-generation TDV6 remains a good pre-owned buy. However, the air suspension could prove a costly exercise should it fail, so ensure that a factory warranty is in place.

Luxury remains the model’s highlight so expect high specification levels. It remains at home in the urban areas and is sublime off-road.

Running costs are not likely to be cheap, so ensure the balance of the maintenance plan is still in place. The new generation Sport arrived at the end of 2013 so you might get a decent price on it too.

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Runner-up: Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (GL350)

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is basically a S-Class SUV with loads of luxury and equipment. It’s surprisingly good off-road too.

Left field: Lexus LX570

Lexus comes in from left-field with its LX570. With many buying the Toyota Land Cruiser 200, the Lexus offers more luxury and something different.

This article is adapted from one originally published on IgnitionLIVE; the full buyer's guide features cars from 16 segments. Read it now.

 

 

IgnitionLIVE is South Africa's premier motoring title, delivering supercharged motoring content. Follow them on Facebook.

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