Transporting your family in comfort does not have to empty your bank account, thanks to the solid value you could get from these five used family crossovers.
With new-car prices increasing almost every day, you might wonder if you’ll ever be able to replace your ageing family car with something newer and nicer. But, if you knew where to look, you could get yourself into a much nicer, late-model family crossover for the same money as you’d spend on a new compact hatchback or small SUV like a mid-spec VW Polo or a Hyundai Venue.
We decided to set some filters before looking through the listings for family SUVs on ChangeCars.co.za. Using our mid-level Polo hatch’s pricetag as a guide, we decided on a price limit of R 400 000, capped eligible vehicles’ ages at four years, and set a mileage restriction of 60 000 km.
Why did we apply these filters? Because you’d like to at least keep this SUV until it’s fully paid-off before it becomes necessary to move on to the next vehicle, and because your family deserves to be transported in a reliable vehicle with good safety credentials. Here are some of the used gems we found on sale.
1. Kia Sportage
We’re specifically pointing at the fourth-generation model, which first arrived on local shores at the end of 2016 and remained available until September 2022. These cars were pretty expensive when new, but represent excellent value for money in the used-car market. They are all well-equipped and spacious, and they still look contemporary even in comparison to its aggressively styled successor.
While you could get a nearly-new 2022 petrol-fueled base model within our budget cap, we’d recommend a 2020 or 2021 model with the 2.0-litre diesel engine instead. Most of these were sold in the mid-level EX or EX Plus specifications, which gives a fairly comprehensive list of standard convenience- and safety features. Six airbags, stability control and ISOFIX child seat anchors were standard across the fourth-generation Sportage range, and this model scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing.
Not only are these 2.0 CRDi models very frugal, but the Hyundai/Kia “R” diesel engine has a solid reputation for reliability, and is surprisingly pleasant to use. Outputs of 130 kW and 400 Nm are staunch enough to provide decent performance, and the standard six-speed torque converter automatic transmission makes all road conditions easy to manage.
2. Renault Koleos
Its name still doesn’t resonate with either automotive enthusiasts or family-car buyers, but the Renault Koleos is a chronically-overlooked and underrated family crossover with a lot to offer. They sell in miniscule numbers when new, to the extent where even Renault South Africa has trimmed the range to only one model, and this may be due to a new Koleos being quite pricey and fighting against some formidable opponents.
This picture changes when looking at the used market, however, because a year-old example will have lost about 30% of its new-car value. R 400 000 will actually give you some change when considering a 2021 or 2022 Koleos, because they hover between R 340 000 and R 390 000 in value.
In some cases, these cars have as little as 15 000 km on their odos, and this turns them into serious used-car bargains. Buying a 2021 or 2022 Koleos will also give you a substantial chunk of the standard 5-year/150 000 km warranty and 5-year/90 000 km service plan, so short-term maintenance won’t present any surprises, either.
Equipped with a 2.5-litre, non-turbo petrol engine and sending its power to the drive wheels (either to the fronts or to all four) through a constantly variable transmission (CVT), the Koleos won’t set your hair alight with its accelerative abilities, but its classy and spacious cabin, comprehensive standard equipment list, comfortable seats, and supple ride quality will soothe the misery of your daily commute. It’s also something unusual, which will be a definite drawcard if you imagine yourself to be an individualist.
3. Mitsubishi ASX
This car has been around for more than a decade, yet the first generation ASX has been one of Mitsubishi’s best-selling vehicles for most of that time. And, while it is ancient in automotive terms, frequent updates have kept the ASX from becoming antiquated in terms of on-board technology.
Seeing as our age cap coincides with the last ASX facelift in 2019, all cars within this age group sport the latest Mitsubishi front-end and tidier rear-end styling, but you won’t even need to go that far back in time to find a great buy within our price range. Even a 2023-model Mitsubishi ASX with a manual transmission can be had for much less than R 400 000, while 2022-model examples will come in a good R 50 000 below our budget cap.
Power is provided by a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine delivering 110 kW and 197 Nm, so the five-speed manual gearbox will give the best performance, but the CVT-equipped automatic versions are not entirely terrible to use, either. And, while the straight-line performance is quite pedestrian, the chassis strikes a very nice balance between comfort and handling prowess. Safety credentials are also first-rate, with seven airbags, stability control, and ISOFIX child seat anchors teaming up with five stars in its Euro NCAP crash test.
4. Toyota RAV4
While most buyers around this price point would head directly to a new Corolla Cross if they were to consider a Toyota, a used RAV4 could be an even better buy. Late-model RAV4s within our budget- and age bracket are universally entry-level 2.0-litre GX models, but even those are great cars and may prove to be more satisfying than their smaller brothers in the long term. At this price point, you’ll probably have to go without an OEM warranty, however, because they’re all likely to be at least three years old.
A 2019-2021Toyota RAV4 will definitely be a better family SUV than a mildly annoyed (because it’s not even really cross) Corolla wagon could ever be, because it has loads more cabin space and is more practical in the cargo-carrying department. The manual gearbox is a six-speed unit and the automatic is a CVT, but both are pleasant to use and offer surprisingly lively performance (for this segment) in combination with the 127 kW and 203 Nm on offer from the 2.0-litre petrol engine.
In entry-level GX trim, the RAV4 doesn’t have a whole lot of luxury toys inside the cabin, but the bare necessities are all present: 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel remotes for the 7-inch color infotainment system, LED headlights, keyless entry with pushbutton start, cruise control, a rear-view camera, and rear parking sensors are all part of the basic specification sheet. Safety is top-notch as well, with a five-star Euro NCAP rating and seven airbags all forming part of a solid safety package.
5. Mazda CX-5
This is also an older model, but, because the CX-5 was treated to regular updates, it doesn't really look or feel its age. The Mazda CX-5 has a classy and well-equipped interior, is really satisfying to drive, and its suspension tuning gives an excellent blend between very good handling and a smooth ride. While the 2.0-litre models aren’t quick, most drivers will find the overall refinement and comfort to be a fair trade-off for the gentlemanly performance on tap.
Mazda’s current cars all struggle a bit with packaging, so larger drivers and passengers may find the interior slightly snug, but the interior design and quality finish all round compensate for its smaller cabin- and luggage compartment dimensions. As with the other cars in this list, the CX-5’s 2.0-litre engine is naturally aspirated, and it delivers a competitive 121 kW and 213 Nm to the front wheels through a choice of six-speed transmissions in either manual- or torque converter automatic flavours.
The CX-5 is well-equipped with contemporary comfort- and convenience necessities, while its safety is comparable to the other cars in this list. While it no longer stands out in its market segment, and looks awfully familiar simply because it’s been around for so long, buyers would be wise to keep this Mazda in mind when bang for the buck is a priority - two-year-old examples with less than 30 000 km on their odos represent a saving of about 35% in comparison to new vehicles. That’s a lot of near-premium crossover SUV for not all that much money.
Martin Pretorius
- Proudly ALLTHINGSMOTORING
