I'm also looking to buy a used Small SUV in VIC for around 30k..
I'm looking for Hyundai Tuscon, Nissan X-trail, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage that has still some warranty left.. 2017+ models…
Say, if they are priced around 26k-30k with few differences with KM's run and Year made.. What would be a good bet? I'm inclining towards Kia Sportage as it has got 7 Years warranty and with a 3 Year old car, I'll have 4 more Years of warranty left..
To be frank.. I don't have any personal preferences and need a more reliable car with less maintenance.. Also let me know if there are any other small SUV's that I'm missing in this range..
Please share your thoughts… Thanks in advance…
BTW, I managed without a car for close to 2 Years in Sydney but looking tough here in the West of Melbourne..
Used Small SUV Advice - Hyundai Tuscon, Nissan X-trail, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage
Last edited 30/01/2022 - 13:08
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Car sales top models are these 4 and so the choice. nothing specific..
By the looks, I like the Tuscon.. But the warranty of Sportage is making me lean towards it.What's wrong with Qashqai.. It has more bells and whistles than the other models for the same price…
Nissan Japan was mostly bought out by Renault France years and years back.
Since then, the quality of their cars have steadily crashed.
The Qashqai is one of the worst cars Nissan produced in the modern times, avoid it like the plague.The X-Trail used to be the industry leader, but I'd rather recommend a Toyota Rav4 now. Their Rav4-Hybrid has actually turned out to be a great car, that's easy for the city life, but versatile for those longer trips and recreational. So that's the current flagship.
Hyundai has caught up big time to the others, and Kia is not far behind.
The best option is probably to go with the Kia Sportage, get one that's cheaper/better value, and take advantage of their 7-year warranty. You'd be surprised.Thanks a lot for the details..
The Qashqai is one of the worst cars Nissan produced in the modern times, avoid it like the plague.
built in the UK
@Ryk: Absolute garbage!One of the biggest sellers in the UK & Europe.I had one for 4 years,not an ounce of trouble with it.The quality is fine.
Nissan has a long history in 4WD.and off-road vehicles
X-trail especially has a very long history and highly rated reputation
The Korean cars bend and twist easily and don't stand the tough running.
Their reputation is not the best by a long shot.
If you want your car to last the distance its a no brainier - Go the X-trail
So for a used one this is greatly amplified !
X-Trail and Renault Koleos are basically same car underneath, but the Renault has lousy resale value. Deal breaker for me is must have a full size spare which the Renault has. It’s also very comfortable. Had mine 10yrs now, very reliable.
No squash-key. The other 3 are ok, just pick one YOU like. Kia/Hyundai are the same under the skin. Nissan is decent, although you may not be keen on a CVT.
No squash-key
You mean cash-cow?
Only for the mechanic
Could you please shed some light on the CVT thing that you are referring to.. Thanks.
CVT, Continuously Variable Transmission. A new-ish transmission that does not use old school gears. Some people don’t like the way they drive, others think they will blow up too soon. Do some research (including driving one) and make up your own mind.
Personally I’d rather have a manual, but to each their own.
i honestly dont think thats a thing here
manual toy suvs like this are pretty rare
i think my exposure to cvts for normal people is that it acts just like a normal auto
my talks with the guy i use for auto service says that the only cases of bad cvts is for people who ran them for 100,000+ but never serviced them
for most modern cvts, read jatco nissan, as long as you put a service in at 60-75,000 you're good
this does not include oddballs like audi and gm cvts, youre on your own there
@tonyjzx: I added that I’d personally prefer a manual. Some people prefer auto, others prefer not CVT for ‘reasons’, typically the way the engine doesn’t do what they expect. I’m sure they are fine to use and TBH I’d probably get used to it if I couldn’t get an alternative.
Agree, there is no reason for hysterical ‘DoNt GeT CvT’ responses. It’s just fear of the unknown.
@ Euphemistic.Have you ever owned a Qashqai?I have owned two,never ever had an issue with either.Before you slam them,actually do some research or own one,then judge them.ALL manufactures have issues one way or the other.They are a very capable vehicle.
No. Haven’t owned one. I’d avoid them because they are in a no mans land of design. A bit taller than a hatchback, but not big enough to be a decent SUV. Just the same as I wouldn’t get an ASX, HRV or Toyota CHR. If it suits your needs then go for it.
I have no issue with Nissan vehicles mechanically, own 2 of them.
BTW, I managed without a car for close to 2 Years in Sydney but looking tough here in the West of Melbourne..
Any reason you want an SUV in particular? You can get a similar spec'd hatchback for probably like $10K less with lower running costs, lower maintenance and repair costs, lower insurance…etc.
Example would be something like a Hyundai i30 for around $20K, which would have very low kms. Worth pointing out that the i30 and Tuscon are very similar in size, with the Tuscon being around 15cm longer and 7cm wider. Is that worth $10K to you?
For your use case (commuter car for someone who's never owned a car), an SUV seems an odd choice (doesn't sound like you're carrying a whole bunch of cargo, which is the SUV's main strength).
My initial research started with a small Sedan like the Corolla/City/Elantra/Mazda 3 etc.. But wifey and many friends suggesting to go for an SUV with a hope that after things get normal might be doing some long trips..
Pandemic was one of the reasons for not getting a car before and as I was staying near a station with many stores close by.. Never felt the need there…
I feel spending as less as possible and buy something to move places.. Upgrade in required after some years..
Wifey feels.. If we buy something we might never upgrade in the next few years and so get a good one.. She feels that a months savings for something that could be used for some 5+ years is worth spending.. :-|But wifey and many friends suggesting to go for an SUV with a hope that after things get normal might be doing some long trips..
What benefits will a Tuscon have for long trips? Maybe a bit more cargo space, but when you say trips, I suppose that you don't mean you're going camping or off-roading? If you are, worth getting a proper 4x4 instead of an SUV (which is just a hatchback that's been raised, at the end of the day).
I feel spending as less as possible and buy something to move places.. Upgrade in required after some years..
Depends on what you need - getting a Hyundai i30 or something similar today will last you much longer than "some years", probably will last you a decade, or even if you want to upgrade sooner, at least 5 years.
Wifey feels.. If we buy something we might never upgrade in the next few years and so get a good one.. She feels that a months savings for something that could be used for some 5+ years is worth spending.. :-|
Depends on what's worth spending on or not - my take on it is that the vast majority of people who feel they "need" an SUV are actually better off with a hatchback as they're better value, more economical, cheaper to run and maintain…etc. Not to mention that in busy carparks, they're still easier to navigate in a hatchback. Sure, an i30 is not the most exciting thing to drive, neither is a Tuscon.
Compact - medium SUVs are horribly overpriced IMO, they're there to cater to the "bigger is better" crowd - (big SUV, big double storey house, big everything), despite not actually being any bigger than a medium hatchback and just being made to appear bigger. Actually go and sit in a Tuscon and then go and sit in an i30, I guarantee you that you'll find the Tuscon to not really be any more spacious than the i30 despite "looking bigger".
Get a proper big SUV or 4x4 if you need the space and intend to go offroading or the like, get a hatchback if you only ever drive in the city or suburbs, get a sedan if you prefer that form factor or want something a bit more spacious.
Thanks a lot mate.. Appreciate your detail… Yeah you are 100% true…
Not going to go into deep details, but SUVs are not better for trips (unless you love hauling around shit tone of luggage).
For long road trips nothing beats your good old full sized sedans, the longer wheel base means much smoother drive and a lot less wobbling around in the cabin.
Big full size sedans, generally have horrible fuel economy around town so might not be worth it for your particular use case.
I know many people who bought small/medium SUVs for trips, and after 2-3 trips realised their sedans drove much better.
Small/Medium SUVs are really just a way for manufacturers to make quick buck, but raising their hatch backs and the marketing seems to be working.
Buy a haval jolion, 7 years use then redo. I did just buy a Holden equinox for 20k myself with 2.5yr warranty
Or MG ZST core for $25,490
I found the haval seats more comfortable and the offering more premium imo. Check both out but the haval will be better if your a taller larger person
ehhhh for $25 - $30k buy new… but to be fair to get to that class its more like $35k
or either go much less at $15k
sub $10k looks like utter shit high mileage shitheaps
To be on a safer side.. looking for cars that ran under 40k and has some warranty left. So planning to put in around $25k-$30k… At least a 3-4 Year peace of mind for an extra 5k bucks seems like a worth..
It depends on how long you are prepared to wait, as waiting lists of nearly a year are not unusual at the moment.
I bought a Kia Seltos Sport+ for $34k drive-away 18 months ago, and absolutely love it.
The base model is $29,290 drive-away, so well within your budget with 7 years of warranty.
The inside is as big as the Sportage and Tucson in the years that you mentioned.The Kia Stonic starts at $24, 690 drive-away, but it was too small for me.
The Hyundai Kona (a little smaller than the Seltos) is also worth a hard look at $29k drive-away, and the Hyundai Venue (smaller still) at $26k drive-away.
I am biased towards my car, but there are quite a few makes and models in that price range if you look.
the seltos kia twin w/ the turbo 1.6 sounds ok
less so w/ the 2,0 n.a
You should get a decent car for that money.
For example, I will soon be selling my 2019 Kona Elite with 14,500 kms and 2 years warranty left for around $29,000Have you looked at Subaru Forester, Honda CRV or Toyota Rav 4?
Yeah I have seen some CRV's in those price range.. Looks like RAV4 is more pricier..
CR-V is an excellent choice,bullet proof engines,very well put together.Honda manufactures its on CVT trans.They are very reliable.
Although the RAV4 is more expensive, they are reliable. We are looking to replace our 08 RAV4 with a 2016-2018 gen RAV4 for improved safety and wanting an automatic car. I also heard its just as reliable than our old girl who we have had 240,000km of stress free motoring
Honda engines are pretty much the same,they very rarely give trouble.Honda has always built very good engines.
@tiernanv: People knock Honda(especially @ the moment with their agency style model) but they are still very good cars.We have a 2019 CR-V VT-I LX AWD, just a great car.Would not part with it.
BTW they are all in the medium SUV class not small. You might also consider a Mazda CX5 in the same class.
qaskhai dualis is small
crv xtrail rav4 is compact size
to go up from that is pathfinder then ladder frame
They all crossover catergories, but compact and RAV4 don’t go together, it and the CrV and trail are mid sized.
theyve always used to be called 'compact suvs' because a real SUV used to be a ladder frame Patrol/
a fake monocoque compact suv used to be a 1st generation 1999 Honda CRV or Xtrail which used to be a very "compact" car.
eg.
The Honda CR-V is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda since 1996 and introduced in the North American market in 1997.[1][2] It uses the Civic platform with an SUV body design. The CR-V is Honda's mid-range utility vehicle, slotting between the smaller HR-V and the larger North American market Passport/Pilot. Honda states "CR-V" stands for "Comfortable Runabout Vehicle,"[3][4][5] while the term "Compact Recreational Vehicle" is used in a British car review article that was republished by Honda.[6]
I used to own one of these. It was compact. I'd argue even a large mid size like an Xtrail is still 'compact' in that they park and fit into whatever without and issue.
Not so my dad's old Pathfinder.
Sure a CRV is a lot bigger now but so is a BMW 3 or Mercedes C but i wouldnt call those mid sized either.
@tonyjzx: Your so called ‘real SUV’ were never a thing. They were always a 4wd - until the RAV4 came along and invented the SUV.
Yes, the RAV4 was compact when it started or, but since then they’ve grown significantly and compact has been slotted in underneath.
Don’t forget the yanks think that anything smaller than a F150 is compact, not so here.
I'm in the exact same boat as you OP
I'm actually omw to test driving Suzuki Vitara atm.
Too many choices driving me insaneAlso like the Kia due to warranty
And also the Subaru XV due to all wheel drive, plus decent look imo
Warranty = good
Latest model you can get for your budget
ANCAP rating 5
Full size spare
Nice to drive
Cheap to run and service
Nothing wrong with CVT - but yes servicing is needed - but some CVTs are listed by the car manufacturer as “sealed” and not requiring service (eg - Renault Koleos - same engine & CVT as Nissan X-Trail) The Koleos is a nice drive and very comfortable and reliable but you are unlikely to find one that has had the sealed CVT serviced (mine has been at my request). Their resale value is poor so you could pick one up quite cheap - but face the same equation when you want to upgrade. As a trade-in they are worth almost nothing - dealers don’t want them.
The Sportage seems to be very popular.Thanks a lot mate for your inputs… Yeah looks like it would mostly be the Sportage.
Peugeot 3008 GT-Line, 2017 or 2018
I have a Tucson and highly recommend it. When I sell it I will be buying another Tucson.
Drives well, no mechanical issues and I feel comfortable in the seats . Kia is probably the same but I prefer the look of the Hyundai over the Sportage.Agree!!! Tuscon looks much better… But yeah only the warranty thing is pulling me towards the Sportage..
There's an about year old now Youtube channel called ReDriven which specifically focuses on reviewing Used Cars in the Australian Market and focuses on cost, maintenance and reliability and made by an Aussie Car Journalist and Aussie Mechanic. They've done in-depth reviews of both the Tuscon and Qashqai and done a high-level summary of the Sportage in the below videos:
Relevant Vids for you, but check out their other videos for other cars you're considering:
- Hyundai Tucson used car review
- Nissan Qashqai used car review
- Top 5 SUVs under $15,000 - Kia Sportage at spot 3 (Older model than you're looking at but still relevant for maintenance etc)The prices quoted on their slightly older videos are a bit lower than you'll find on the market thanks to COVID, but still a good rough guide and the only resource I've found that actually talks about out-of-warranty maintenance costs in Australia.
I highly recommend checking out their website Redriven.com as they have cheat sheets for cars reviewed (not a lot of cars yet as they're new) and their "Top 5" lists for best and worst on Youtube.
Not affiliated with these guys at all, just want them to get views/traffic so they keep reviewing used cars
Wow this an excellent piece of information. Thanks a lot mate….
You're welcome Samp, hope the videos helped.
Not sure if you've already bought or still looking but since your post they've uploaded new vids specific to your budget and the Sportage with the 7 year warranty is again recommended:
- Top 5 SUVs UNDER $30,000
- Top 5 WORST SUVs UNDER $30,000Happy car hunting!
If it has to be one those 4, Hyundai or Kia.
Depends on engine options for each, but pretty much same car underneath
Qashqai is only for people who hate life :)