If you live out in the sticks and need to stay mobile, a 4x4 is ideal, however bad the weather gets. Despite off-roaders having a reputation for high running costs, you don't necessarily need deep pockets to buy and run one. From budget models that start off cheap and only get cheaper on the used market, to yesterday's luxury SUV that's today's second-hand steal, these are our picks of the best bargain used 4x4s to buy in 2024.
The Best Cheap 4x4s of 2024
- Suzuki Jimny (1998-2018)
- Dacia Duster (2012-2018)
- Fiat Panda 4x4 (2014-)
- Honda CR-V (2011-2018)
- Kia Sportage (2010-2014)
- Skoda Yeti (2009-2017)
- BMW X3 (2011-2017)
- Hyundai Santa Fe (2012-2018)
- Volvo XC90 (2002-2014)
Suzuki Jimny (1998-2018)
The latest Suzuki Jimny attracts a lot of attention, with its rugged, boxy looks and immense off-road ability but, under the skin, it's really a thorough update of the previous Jimny, a mini-4x4 that's been around since the late '90s.
The fashionable status of the new Jimny means inflated prices, so if you want a small off-roader on the cheap, do your bank balance a favour and consider the previous generation instead. Like the new model, the older Jimny is a proper AWD 4x4, not a crossover that will struggle with anything more challenging than a muddy car park, much like its Vitara stablemate. With the right tyres fitted, there aren't many places a well-driven Jimny can't go.
The flipside to the Jimny's goat-like off-road prowess is that it's rather rough and ready on the road. The car is noisy, the ride is uncomfortable, and the cabin is cramped, but that's a lot easier to forgive when you are paying £3,000, rather than the £20,000 plus you'll fork out for the latest example of the latest model.
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Dacia Duster (2012-2018)
You can't have a round-up of the best cheap 4x4s without including the Dacia Duster. It's cheap to buy as a new car, and an absolute steal second-hand. High-mileage first-generation Dusters can be picked up from £3,000.
Your money doesn't buy a plush interior or a very sophisticated driving experience, but it does bag a no-nonsense 4x4 that's surprisingly capable off road. It's practical, too, with a five-seat cabin and reasonable boot space for a relatively small SUV.
The first-generation Duster was sold in both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive forms, so be sure you are buying a proper 4x4 if that's what you need. Go for high-spec Laureate trim for a respectable list of standard equipment, including alloy wheels and cruise control. The entry-level Access model is best avoided if you want any creature comforts at all.
Petrol and diesel examples should be easy enough to find, with the DCi diesel offering better MPG and stronger mid-range pull. It's a good choice if you’re looking for a budget tow car to pull a caravan or trailer. The biggest downside to running a Duster is that safety standards are weak compared with most modern SUVs, with a so-so three-star rating from the experts at Euro NCAP.
Dacia Duster review
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Fiat Panda 4x4 (2014-)
A city-car-sized 4x4 is very niche, but it's one the Fiat Panda 4x4 fulfils exceptionally well. Any Panda hatchback makes an inexpensive and practical runaround, but the 4x4 adds the ability to tackle harsh weather and even venture off-road if required.
The regular Panda 4x4 is impressive, but the Panda Cross is even better (although more expensive), thanks to its terrain selector system. One word of warning; the Panda Trekking gets the styling changes of the proper 4x4 Panda, including the higher ground clearance, but it's front-wheel drive, so don't be fooled.
Inside, you get more space than you'd think, despite the car’s tiny size, and the boot is bigger than you’d expect. There's a choice of diesel and petrol engines – go for the diesel for the lowest running costs, or choose the petrol for a more pleasing engine note. Safety standards are fairly modest, though, as more recent cars tend to have more driver aids and are more highly rated by the experts at Euro NCAP.
Fiat Panda review
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Honda CR-V (2011-2018)
Not every CR-V has a 4x4 drivetrain, so you'll need to make sure you buy the right model if you need it, but find one with four-wheel drive and you'll enjoy a practical, reliable, all-weather family SUV. It won’t get as far off road as something from Jeep or Subaru, but it’s a far more civilised family car.
Little things make a big difference, like the way the rear doors open wider than those of most cars to make it easier to lift kids in and out of child seats. And if your tiny tots have turned into towering teens, you'll be glad of the exceptional rear legroom. Boot space gets another big tick – there’s loads of space for bags.
This generation of CR-V was sold by the Japanese firm before diesel became a dirty word, so petrol models are comparatively rare. Of the early cars, we'd go for the 2.2-litre diesel, but if you’re shopping for a car made after the 2015 facelift, then the 158bhp 1.6-litre diesel is the one to choose.
Prices start from around £6,000 for a high-mileage car and, with a deserved reputation for reliability, there's no reason to avoid a CR-V that's been around the world a few times. But with a budget of up to £12,000, you should be able to find a good post-facelift example. Or if you want something similar, but with seven seats, try the Nissan X-Trail instead.
Honda CR-V review
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Kia Sportage (2010-2014)
The third-generation Sportage was a handsome car when it was launched more than a decade ago, and Kia has taken an evolutionary approach to its design since, so the mk3 still looks modern. Find one that's been pampered by its previous owners and only the number plate will give away that you're driving an older car.
It's not as much fun as a Mazda CX-5, but it's still a pleasant car to drive, with a choice of petrol and diesel engines and manual or automatic gearboxes, with anything from 114bhp to 181bhp. The more powerful diesels were only offered with four-wheel drive, whereas many of the lower-powered models are front-wheel drive only. Look for a car with 'KX' badging to be sure you’re buying a proper 4x4.
Sportage mk3s will no longer be covered by Kia's generous seven-year warranty for new cars, but don't let that put you off. These are solidly made and reliable cars, that stand up well to the rigours of high-mileage driving. You should be able to find a high-spec Sportage with a full service history for less than £8,000.
Kia Sportage review
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Skoda Yeti (2009-2017)
If you want a recommendation, then know that more than one of the car reviewers writing for CarGurus have spent their own money on a used Skoda Yeti. Put simply, it’s a brilliant all-round used car.
Most are two-wheel drive, but there are also plenty of 4x4 versions on the second-hand market. These are surprisingly able off road – certainly more so than most road-focused crossovers and SUVs – but whichever version you choose, the Yeti combines character and practicality. Its distinctive looks make it stand out from the crossover crowd, and nimble handling means it's more fun to drive than most rivals.
If you're specifically looking for a 4x4, then you have a choice between the 1.8-litre turbo petrol and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines. As much as we like the 1.8 for its sprightly performance, the economical 2.0-litre diesels are more sensible buys.
Whichever engine you choose, the Yeti has space for five inside in a cabin that's very roomy for a relatively small SUV. The three individual rear seats fold and tumble individually, and can be removed completely to maximise luggage space. Prices start from around £4,500, but a £10,000 budget will buy a really good example.
Skoda Yeti review
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BMW X3 (2011-2017)
If you don't mind mega miles, you can pick up an F25 model BMW X3 for well under £10,000. A well-cared-for example from 2014 or thereabouts will cost around £13,000, and your money buys one of the very best 4x4s to drive. Short of a Porsche Macan, the BMW X3 is among the most rewarding mid-sized 4x4s of the past decade.
Just to show how much the car market has shifted over the past few years, this generation of the X3 was never sold with a petrol engine. Of the diesels, we'd go for the xDrive 20d, because it combines punchy acceleration with excellent fuel economy.
If you want all-wheel drive, avoid the sDrive 18d as this only sends power to the rear wheels. Otherwise all X3 models use BMW's xDrive four-wheel drive system, which provides good traction in poor weather. Keep in mind, though, that the X3 is focused on road driving rather than tackling tracks and byways, so you won’t be waving at Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Shogun drivers as you blunder past them on your way to the wilderness. If you want serious off-road ability, your money is better spent on a Land Rover Freelander. However, if you want a road car that takes long motorway journeys and wintry weather in its stride, the F25 BMW X3 is a great choice.
BMW X3 review
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Hyundai Santa Fe (2012-2018)
The third-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is a big and practical car, much larger and roomier than most of the other cars in our round-up of cheap 4x4s. Prices start from less than £9,000, although if you can stretch to nearer £12,000 you'll get a more recent and lower mileage example.
That’ll get you a roomy family SUV with either five or seven seats (the seven-seater is more common). A 2.2-litre diesel is under the bonnet, and it's a tough and punchy engine that delivers strong acceleration, despite the Santa Fe's size and heft.
Don't expect the big Hyundai to rival a BMW X3 for driver appeal. Instead, the Santa Fe majors on comfort rather than cornering prowess, and that's no bad thing for a family car. Granted, it isn’t as luxurious as a Land Rover Discovery, but you get lots of kit, especially if you choose a Premium or Premium SE model. Style and SE models are cheaper to buy, but don't offer the same level of luxury.
Hyundai Santa Fe review
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Volvo XC90 (2002-2014)
Volvo is a relative newcomer to the ranks of premium brands. Not so long ago it was a cut above the mainstream rather than a true contender against the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, and the original XC90 is a good example of a Volvo from this more modest era.
When the second-generation car arrived in 2015, there was a big price hike to mark the brand's rapid push upmarket. The older model was better value as a new car, and the same is true today on the used market. It's easy to forget what a ground-breaking thing the first XC90 was when it launched in 2002, combining the lofty seating position of an off-roader, the road manners of an executive saloon, and the practicality of an MPV.
You can pick up an early example for less than £3,000, which is an absolute steal. However, the XC90 was improved and upgraded throughout its life, so if you have the budget, we'd go for a later car priced in the low teens. For less than you'd pay for a new supermini, you'll be buying a seven-seat SUV with an elegant, roomy, and practical cabin – just don't expect to run one on a supermini budget. Keep back a fighting fund for the odd repair, and expect around 30mpg from a diesel.
Volvo XC90 Mk1 review
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