Best used mid-size SUVs to buy 2026
Mid-size SUVs and 4x4s are as popular as ever, and these the best pre-owned models on sale
Mid-size SUVs are one of the go-to options for families looking for a practical and stylish set of wheels. With many of Britain’s best-selling cars hailing from this sector, there’s plenty of choice and deals to be had on the used car market. Thankfully, we’ve rounded up the very best used mid-size SUVs below.
The original Nissan Qashqai is credited for kicking off the trend when it was introduced in 2007, and offered all the key qualities families look for in a car - it was spacious, safe and easy on the wallet. Since then loads of great models have come and gone, so narrowing down your search on the second-hand market is trickier than ever before.
While some of the best used mid-size on this list are a little older, they still have all of the character and class that took them to the sharp end of the market when they were new, so as a used buy they offer better value and the same great breadth of abilities.
Depending on the age of the car and the brand you buy into, there could be some time left on the original warranty as well, which should offer peace of mind if you’re on a tighter budget.
Our expert road testers have driven and reviewed every model on the UK market, so you can be sure that you’re getting true bang for your buck from these selections.
Best used mid-size 4x4s and SUVs to buy
We think the best used mid-size SUV you can buy in the UK is the Hyundai Tucson. Not only is it a serial Auto Express New Car Award winner, it’s practical, spacious and comes loaded with tech across the range.
If you want your mid-size SUV to be fun and engaging on a twisty back road, the Ford Kuga is one of the best in the sector for driving dynamics. If you want a fuel-efficient and premium hybrid, the Lexus NX is a great choice.
| Rank | Make and model |
| 1. | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2. | Ford Kuga |
| 3. | Honda CR-V |
| 4. | Toyota RAV4 |
| 5. | Lexus NX |
| 6. | Dacia Duster |
| 7. | Nissan Qashqai |
| 8. | Vauxhall Grandland |
| 9. | Mazda CX-5 |
| 10. | Skoda Karoq |
Keep scrolling to learn more about the best used mid-size SUVs and 4x4s, or click the links in the table above to jump straight to a specific make and model...
1. Hyundai Tucson
● 1.6 T-GDI SE Connect (2022), 42k miles, £14,350
Why buy? Where do we start, when its talents are so wide-ranging?
There are only a few cars that can claim multiple wins in our New Car Awards, and the Hyundai Tucson is one of them.
For four years in a row (2021-2024) it bagged our Mid-size SUV of the Year award, which tells you all you need to know about just how wide-ranging its talents are.
And in the unlikely event that you’re not convinced by such credentials, it was our sister title Carbuyer’s Car of the Year in 2022, as well as taking the titles of Best Family Car and Best Hybrid. We rather like the Tucson. The good news kicks off with the driving experience, which consists of engaging handling, a composed ride, eager performance and impressive refinement.
Hyundai then backs this up with a roomy cabin that can easily accommodate five adults, but this isn’t at the expense of boot capacity. All of the latest comfort and safety tech was either standard or optional when new, the infotainment is top-notch and if you want the security of four-wheel drive it’s available, although you’ll have to search quite hard because most Tucsons are front-driven.
Launched in January 2021, the Tucson Mk3 came with a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, which was also offered in hybrid form. A few weeks later a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) joined the range. All of these powertrains are superb with at least 148bhp at your disposal; the PHEV packs a very fruity 261bhp, plus strong performance. You really can’t go wrong with a Tucson, whichever engine or trim you buy.
Latest used Hyundai Tucson deals
2. Ford Kuga
● 1.6T TITANIUM X (2013), 95k miles, £2,895
Why buy? Fun to drive, luxurious and practical, for not a lot of cash.
Most family cars aren’t exactly what you might call fun to drive, and that’s especially the case where SUVs are concerned. But Ford nailed it with the Kuga, which in Mk2 form offers truly entertaining handling, plus strong kit lists.
Choose between 1.6 petrol and 2.0 diesel engines; the former gave way to a 1.5-litre unit in 2014. Even entry-level Zetec editions are well equipped, but find a Titanium X and you’ll have a truly luxurious bargain SUV.
3. Honda CR-V
● 2.2 I-DTEC EX 4WD (2015), 78k miles, £9,495
Why buy? Everything was designed to make CR-V ownership as painless as possible.
The Honda CR-V is one of those vehicles that you won’t get excited about, but the low running costs, reliability and ownership experience will make you thankful that Honda has such talented engineers.
This is a seriously practical family car that came with petrol (i-VTEC) and diesel (i-DTEC) engines, manual or automatic gearboxes, and front or four-wheel drive. All are great all-rounders that are comprehensively equipped, quick enough, refined and ergonomically sound.
4. Toyota RAV4
● 2.5 DESIGN (2020), 71k miles, £19,495
Why buy? Easy to live with and cheap to run, the RAV4 is an owner’s dream.
Toyota is widely credited with inventing the compact crossover with the RAV4 in the nineties, and 25 years later the fifth-generation model represents everything that’s great about the brand: accessible tech, incredible reliability, low running costs and efficient powertrains.
Choose from hybrid and plug-in hybrid motors (accounting for a third and two-thirds of the cars available respectively), with all RAV4s having an automatic transmission.
5. Lexus NX
● NX 350H Prem (2023), 51k miles, £26,995
Why buy? It’s as good to drive as it is to look at, and to sit in.
The Lexus NX has won several consecutive awards from us. Three times (2022-2024) it was our Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year, because of its stand-out design, luxurious interior and brilliant infotainment, along with its peerless reliability and accomplished driving dynamics.
The cabin is crammed with user-friendly tech and economy is very agreeable too, courtesy of the turbine-smooth hybrid (NX 350h) and plug-in hybrid (NX 450h+) powertrains.
6. Dacia Duster
Brits have long loved a bargain, so when the original Dacia Duster hit the UK in 2013, buyers couldn’t get enough of this top-value mid-size SUV – to the point that quality initially took a nosedive because the company couldn’t keep up with demand. But things were soon sorted, and by the time the second-generation Duster arrived in summer 2018, Dacia had gained a reputation for producing good cars that were better value than just about anything else on the market.
At first glance it's hard to tell the difference between first and second-generation Dusters, because Dacia didn’t exactly go overboard with the restyle. But the Duster Mk2 was a big advance on its predecessor, even if the driving experience lacked pizazz. It was (and is) an impressive car with a roomy cabin, spacious boot and robust build.
The first-generation Duster started at a "shockingly affordable" £8,995, but the Mk2 arrived with a similarly tempting price tag of £9,995. Buyers could choose between 1.6-litre SCe 115 petrol or 1.5-litre Blue dCi 115 diesel engines, both rated at 114bhp, or 1.3-litre TCe 130 and TCe 150 petrol units. In August 2019 the 99bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged TCe 100 superseded the SCe 115. An updated Duster came in September 2021, with improved infotainment and driver-assistance systems, plus a six-speed automatic option for the TCe 150 petrol engine.
You can buy a Duster Mk2 from just £6,500, which gets a mid-range Essential or Comfort, or maybe even a top-spec Prestige. Whereas the Comfort gets cruise control, alloy wheels, privacy glass, electric rear windows, nav, a parking camera, and heated, electrically adjustable mirrors, the Prestige adds climate control, keyless entry and blind-spot monitoring. Prestige was the most popular trim, with Comfort not far behind.
Latest used Dacia Duster deals
7. Nissan Qashqai
The jury is out on whether Nissan really did invent the crossover with the original Qashqai in 2007, but what we do know is that the third-generation edition, from 2021, is one of the best mid-sized SUVs you can buy, new or used.
It was initially offered only with a petrol powertrain, but a perky 187bhp hybrid, called the e-Power, came soon after. You can buy one from under £10,000.
Latest used Nissan Qashqai deals
8. Vauxhall Grandland
The mid-size SUV segment is packed with cracking contenders, which is why also-rans don’t tend to succeed. The fact that the Vauxhall Grandland is so popular tells you all you need to know: with its roomy interior and strong equipment, the Vauxhall is most tempting in hybrid form.
We found a 22-plate, 22,200-mile Grandland 1.6 Plug-in Hybrid Ultimate for under £15,000 on Auto Express Buy a Car.
Latest used Vauxhall Grandland deals
9. Mazda CX-5
Whenever we drive cars like the Mazda CX-5, we wonder why the brand hasn’t earned a far higher profile in the UK than it holds.
The CX-5 typifies the firm's approach, with its sharp styling, a great driving experience, strong reliability and nicely designed cabins. There are also some excellent petrol and diesel engines, although most CX-5s are petrol-powered.
10. Skoda Karoq
Our 2022 mid-size SUV champ, the Skoda Karoq, still makes a fine used buy and takes a well deserved runner’s-up spot. Smart looks and an interior that blends class-leading space with premium appeal remain the highlights, along with sharp driving dynamics and excellent engines. However, values have hardened over the past 12 months with sub-50k mile cars starting from around £11,500.
When it comes to practicality, the Skoda Karoq’s 521-litre boot rivals models from the class above, while the option of four-wheel drive serves up surprising off-road capability. What’s more, a recent facelift means there are some real bargains to be had on earlier cars.
Now find out more about the best used cars to buy...
