Best SUVs for £30,000

Recent years have seen Volvo transform itself into a genuinely premium brand capable of truly rivalling the likes of Audi and Mercedes. Yet it’s done this while still forging its own path as the Volvo XC60 shows. 

It’s admirably different in a class obsessed by sporting appeal, focussing instead on comfort alongside Volvo’s usual pillars of safety and style. For that alone it’s appealing. So yes, it may lack the sharpness of rivals, the steering light and accurate enough if lacking in anything you could describe as feel, but that’s not really a complaint. The suspension rides nicely, isolating bumps but maintaining good control. The interior has a beautifully Scandinavian feel and the huge iPad-style touchscreen works well.

There’s a good range of models and engines, with R Design the sporty trim and Inscription the high spec luxury version. Momentum is the entry-level model but still comes very well equipped. The T5 petrol is smooth but also thirsty, so we’d suggest the D4 diesel which has plenty of pulling power.

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Honda ditched the diesel engine for its latest generation Honda CR-V - a move that surprised many loyal buyers. In its place came a new hybrid version and the good news is that it’s one of the nest hybrids around. Honda has had hybrids before of course, but this is the first time a hybrid has featured in the CR-V.

And the result is mightily impressive. While Toyota may be the hybrid expert, the Honda CR-V is the best hybrid SUV on the market, better than even the Toyota RAV4. Like the majority of hybrids, it has a petrol engine (a 2.0-litre) and an electric motor but the big difference here is the gearbox. Instead of the usual CVT, Honda has fitted a clever single fixed-gear system.

It means the CR-V is quick, responsive yet easy to drive. Plus with fuel economy of 50mpg, it’s cheap to run. Still missing that diesel?

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While no one ever has got excited about a Nissan Qashqai, it's proved to be a hit with families due to its low running costs, SUV appearance and impressive practicality. There's a new Qashqai on sale now, though, and we reckon it's genuinely desirable – you might even consider a high-spec model alongside premium alternatives like the Volvo XC40.

It's the simple things that the latest Nissan Qashqai gets so right. Things like the rear doors that open extra wide to make loading a child's car seat easier, to the rear seats that drop ultra-flat for when you need to transport bulky items.

A budget of £30,000 will get you a brand new Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium with the more powerful version of the 1.3-litre petrol engine and Xtronic automatic gearbox. Your money will go further on the nearly-new market, though, where you can pick up a desirable Premiere Edition with delivery miles on the clock for less than £30,000.

We wouldn’t describe the current Q5 as a revolution in design. It very much picks up where its predecessor left off, with an understated (we’ll stop short of calling it dull) and inoffensive design. But the Audi Q5 has it where it counts. The interior is one of the best around in this market, with a sleek design, superb attention to detail and an easy to use layout. You can also get Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’ which replaces the conventional dials with a configurable high-resolution screen.

It’s practical too with a large boot that has a wide opening plus lots of room for those in the back. It’s the kind of car that’s just as happy on the school run as it is driving across Europe with a roofbox and a few bikes on the back.

Easy, if not exactly thrilling, to drive, most models at this budget are the TDI 40 - a 2.0-litre diesel with 190PS. It suits the Q5 perfectly and gives it more than enough performance, even when fully loaded.

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Mercedes has had huge success with the GLC and it has proved particularly popular with UK buyers. That’s partly down to the image (that three-pointed star still carries a lot of weight) but also down to the quality interior and all-round comfort. Driving the GLC is like piloting a big, luxury SUV - and we mean that in a good way.

Yet it still handles exceedingly well. The steering could do with more weight - a BMW X3 is more satisfying - but the GLC nonetheless corners superbly for an SUV. Its real forte though is undoubtedly comfort and refinement. Even with one of the smaller diesels under the bonnet, the GLC remains smooth and quiet making this one of our favourite motorway cruisers.

A £30,000 budget will stretch to a facelifted GLC. The changes on the outside give it a look similar to the bigger GLE, but the main changes inside are a vastly improved infotainment system.

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The BMW X3 is an SUV that’s designed for sporty on-road driving rather than tackling anything more serious off-road than a gravel track. But given the majority of SUV drivers never venture off-tarmac, this is good news when it comes to the driving experience. Staying true to BMWs reputation, the X3 is one of the best handling SUVs around yet it still strikes a balance between road holding and comfort.

It’s also well equipped. Forget any notions that BMW skimps on equipment levels as all X3s come with leather upholstery navigation, an electric tailgate and even heated seats. BMWs are rarely cheap, but the X3 feels like a luxury car and one that’s worth the money.

Buying a used model will make you feel even more smug and for £30,000 you can get a 12-month-old model with below average miles. The 20d is the most popular version but look at the 20i petrol if you don’t plan on covering lots of miles. 

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The latest RAV4 is unique in this list as it’s the only car sold exclusively as a hybrid. As Toyota moves away from firstly diesel and now petrol engines, its hybrid systems are taking their place. The good news is that Toyota has been at the vanguard of hybrid technology for years and can rightly claim to be the leading exponents of hybrid power.

The advantages of hybrid power are obvious, but the reality hasn’t always been that great. Fortunately, Toyota’s expertise shows in the latest RAV4 which is quiet and refined, yet still has performance when required. It retains the much-maligned CVT gearbox, but now with stepped ratios to prevent that horrible drone associated with CVTs.

A fly in the ointment of the latest RAV4 is the list price - it’s considerably more expensive than non-hybrid rivals. At this budget, you’re looking at year-old examples with around 10,000 miles.

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If you hanker after a hot hatch but family requirements mean you need an SUV, how about getting the best of both worlds? The Cupra Ateca is the performance version of the SEAT Ateca. Cupra was once the badge that adorned sporty seats but in 2019 it was spun off as a separate entity. So here we now are with the Cupra Ateca.

As well as posh badges, the Cupra Ateca gets the same 300PS turbocharged 2.0 TSI petrol that’s used in the Volkswagen Golf R among others. Add in the obligatory racing spoiler, bodykit and four big exhaust pipes and it’s clear this isn’t an SUV for the shy and retiring type.

On paper the Cupra Ateca will cover 0-62mph in just 5.2 seconds which is actually quicker than a Honda Civic Type R and even a Porsche Macan S, which costs considerably more. Yes the neighbours will frown but this is an SUV that will put a smile on your face. 

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Skoda got everything right with the Kodiaq. It’s the perfect family car and one that’s very appealing. Comfortable, spacious and practical, it’s good value for money when you compare it with the competition and when it comes to affordable seven-seat SUVs, we’d choose the Kodiaq over its rivals every time.

It’s everything you’d expect when it comes to driving. Easy, comfortable and reasonably quiet. There’s very little wind or road noise, even on the motorway, while the ride is excellent making this a very comfortable long distance car. The only caveat here is that some of the smaller petrol engines feel underpowered.

The good news is that for £30,000 you can get a very high spec model with all the bells and whistles. At this money you can get a Kodiaq Scout model with the 2.0 TDI 150PS engine, DSG gearbox and four-wheel drive.

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The Volkswagen Tiguan has always played it straight as a comfortable and practical SUV. As a result it has become a popular choice with family car buyers, who value low running costs and everyday usability over design-led styling and performance SUVs. The Tiguan may be short on thrills but it’s refined on and off the motorway, with a well-judged ride that resists pitching in the corners or crashing over bumps in the road. 

The quality of the interior is another highlight with a solid and durable feel. There's plenty of head and legroom for adults to stretch out and the rear bench can be slid backwards to accommodate six footers.

With a budget of £30k you can get a high spec (and better looking) R Line model which comes with sporty styling extras and bigger alloys. The 2.0 TSI is thirsty so look for a 1.5 TSI Evo if you want around town comfort.

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