Best 4x4s for £15,000

The British built Honda CR-V is popular choice. And why not? It's practical, well-built and spacious. Then there’s the high comfort levels and excellent diesels engine. In fact, we’d go as far as saying it’s pretty much the perfect family car. 

It’s huge boot boasts 1669 litres of luggage space with the seats down. Put the seats up and the back is a comfortable space for adults with plenty of generous head and leg room. There’s lots of storage spaces, too.

Engine-wise, we’d go for the 1.6 i-DTEC with 160PS and decent real world mpg. If you need an auto, try and find one of the nine-speeders, which really suits the car.

• Cheapest 4x4s

This generation of the Toyota RAV4 creates the perfect balance of crossover and full-sized SUV. It’s a great family car with plenty of legroom and headroom in the back. And thanks to the low cabin floor there’s no awkward transmission tunnel either so even the middle seat is useable.

The boot is large and has some neat, practical extras like a net for storing bits and pieces, cubby holes and seats that fold completely flat in one movement. In terms of practicality it's among the best crossovers, bettering the likes of the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan for overall space.

We’d recommend going for a diesel engine - either the 2.2-litre with 151PS or a 2.0-litre with 123PS. If you do want a petrol, you’ll have to go for the 2.0-litre Valvmatic with 152PS which was available only with Multidrive S CVT automatic gearbox and 4WD.

• Best large crossovers for £10,000

If you’ve got £15,000 to spend, then the world is your oyster when it comes to our next choice - the Suzuki Vitara. Don’t be put off by the badge, this is an excellent car that has proved very popular. We rate highly thanks its on-road manners and high levels of interior comfort and space.

From its launch in 2015, one of the biggest criticisms we had was the sub-standard interior. That’s not to say it was bad, just that it’s rivals were way ahead. Thankfully, later models benefited from a much-improved offering.

There’s plenty of engine choice available, but we reckon the 1.0-litre turbocharged BoosterJet petrol, launched when the Vitara was facelifted for 2019 is the best. Smooth, strong and almost silent. If you need all-wheel drive then make sure you pick up one with AllGrip.

• Best petrol SUVs

The Mazda CX-5 is a work of genius. It combines everything we love about a larger SUVs, but in a neatly-styled package that’s extremely comfortable and an absolute joy to live with. Most drivers love the higher seating position, while the interior oozes off-road vibes.

But despite its SUV styling, it’s actually not much bigger than your average family hatchback, although it’s more practical and easier to get in and out of. There’s a choice of 2.0-litre petrol or 2.2-litre diesel - the latter of which is available with two power outputs.

There’s also plenty of standard kit. Entry-level models get cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth. Move on up and you find luxuries like leather upholstery, built-in satellite navigation and xenon headlights. And all models get active safety gear, including collision mitigating braking. 

• Best cars for reliability

When it comes to crossovers, the Nissan Qashqai is the king of the hill. It’s UK’s best-selling crossover and it’s easy to see why - decent engines, low running costs, smooth ride and great styling.

There are huge range of engines to choose from - so make sure you do your homework. For £15k, you might be able to find one of the 1.3 petrol which are capable of returning more than 50mpg and therefore offer a decent diesel alternative. 

True, the Qashqai won’t suit the dynamic driver, but it’s easy to drive around town and on the motorway, while it’s 4x4 system makes towing caravans or traversing muddy tracks a doddle.

• Cheapest large crossovers

The SsangYong Tivoli might seem like a cheap and cheerful option, but it’s actually a worthy contender to many cars on this list. Plus, it’s budget price tag means you can actually pick one up brand new, if that’s your thing.

It’s practical, with plenty of space in the back for adults, and the boot is a generous 422 litres. It’s also well-specified, with plenty of standard equipment like Bluetooth and heated seats. And don’t think that because it is cheap it feels cheap - the materials decent quality (miles better than previous SsangYong fare).

Buyers can choose from petrol or diesel 1.6-litre engines. Okay, so they’re not much to write home about but then the car itself is not particularly engaging to drive. Factor in the competitive pricing, though and a seven-year warranty, though, and you can forgive its lack of excitement.

• Best cars with a seven-year warranty

The first thing you notice about the Mitsubishi Outlander is its boxy SUV styling, but this is also a car that offers real 4x4 go anywhere ability.

It’s a smart choice if you live in the muddy countryside but also fancy cutting a dash in town. But there are compromises to be made. On paper, the boot sounds spacious but it’s hampered by poor design. While the raked roof lines means the rear seats can get a bit cramped for adults.

The all-wheel drive underpinnings can hamper you in you’re pressing on - but most of the time it’s perfectly fine on or off-road. As you’d expect from Mitsubishi, the Outlander gets a proper four-wheel drive system with a differential that can be locked and a low-range gearbox. It’s even got a braked tow-weight of 2000kg - more than enough for a medium-sized caravan. 

• Best £15,000 cars for towing caravans

What do you get when you bring together the best parts of a hatchback and go anywhere attitude of an off-roader? The Skoda Yeti. Remember it was this sort of thinking that brought us the ubiquitous ‘crossover’ but few cars can deliver like the Yeti.

Essentially, you’ve got the affordability and low running costs of a hatch mixed with the practicality, styling, and pulling power of a 4x4. Not only does it work, but the result has been a huge success. Here is a versatile family car that you can easily tow a small trailer with or get across a muddy field.

It is a genuinely capable off-roader but one that is a pleasure to drive on road with neat, responsive steering, decent body control and an excellent gear change. Bottom line? Easy to park in town, easy if you fancy a spot of green laning. Combine with the 1.2 TSI and you’ll have nippy performance and decent fuel economy.

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Dire to drive, noisy on road, and not particularly pretty - the Suzuki Jimny is an acquired tasted. But, whether you’re into its Tonka toy looks, this is one supremely capable off-roader.

Buyers love its reliability and low running costs, as well as its ability to get from A to B… even if that means going via X, Y, and Z. That said, the Jimny is not without its ‘quirks’. Or flaws, to you and me. You see, as an old-school 4x4, it’s not that great to pilot on-road… but it’s size and light controls do make up for it.

On the motorway, though, the Jimny can be hard work. There are only five gears and 60mph feels strained. The steering also requires a lot of input, so you’ll be busy. Creature comforts are pretty minimal, too...

• Best small cars for off-roading

Unlike many of the SUVs you'll find here, the Subaru Forester is a working tool beloved by farmers looking for a robust and dependable machine that can turn its hand to any task – such was their appeal, Subarus were first sold at farm shows alongside tractors and combine harvesters. 

The qualities that appeal so much to farm workers could just find a place in your heart for the Forester too, and one of its defining features is its permanent four-wheel drive system. It's not great for fuel consumption, but it does mean the Subaru's engine turns all four wheels all of the time, so it'll keep moving in slippery conditions where cars fitted with an on-demand system lose momentum.

The Subaru's not flashy like other SUVs, but it does have a sense of utilitarian cool that's carried through to the hard-wearing and robust plastics found on the inside. Naturally, you get a boot big enough for sheep dogs, hay bales and, erm, shopping and the back seat will happily accommodate tall adults. 

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