Used Car Hunter: nimble, small SUVs for £11,000
Our Car Hunter has a budget of £11,000 for a nimble and small SUV
Dear Auto Express, I’m looking for a small and nimble SUV for a budget of £11,000. What do you recommend? - John Adams, via E-Mail
Small SUVs are incredibly popular with car buyers thanks to the combination of a high driving position, decent levels of practicality and low running costs.
Competition in the small-SUV sector is incredibly fierce, and with just about every mainstream manufacturer having a small SUV in its line-up, there’s no shortage of small SUVs on the used market.
First up is the Nissan Juke, which was launched in 2010 and is really the originator of the small SUV concept. Its chunky, trendy design set the scene for a segment which has raced away ever since. The second-generation model, first introduced in 2019, had a smorgasbord of rivals, including our second two choices: the Renault Captur and Kia Soul.
With supermini underpinnings and five-door hatchback-style bodies, these economical and affordable small SUVs make sense for many families or couples, although some models are more practical than others. While they all share a concept, each has their own distinctive flavour or style, so which one would you choose?
Here's our expert pick of the three best used small SUVs for a budget of £11,000, together with links to buy one through our Buy a Car service…
Nissan Juke - the fashion-focused choice
- For: Stand-out styling, cheap to run
- Against: Limited rear-seat space
The Nissan Juke is a very common sight on UK roads. A budget of £11,000 can bag you both a Mk1 or Mk2 Juke, although it’s worth mentioning that you will be looking at higher-mileage Mk2 Jukes. We’d recommend going for a Mk1 Juke as there are plenty of cars with sub-30,000-miles on the clock and the options of either 1.6 petrol or 1.5 diesels.
If you want low running costs, consider the 1.5 dCi engine as it’s punchy and efficient, but a little bit coarse. The 1.2 turbo petrol is more refined for everyday use, but we’d avoid the 1.6 petrol turbo available with four-wheel drive; it’s overkill. Engines apart, all Jukes have light steering and easy driving characteristics, but expect some body roll on B-roads.
The heavily sculpted body means the Juke is not as practical as some boxier-looking rivals when it comes to interior space. Used Jukes are generally well equipped and have a fairly functional feel, but you need Acenta trim or higher for decent audio, cruise control and air-conditioning. In the back, the seats are cramped and best suited for only two smaller passengers. Even fitting child seats means front passengers will have to move their seats forward. The 354-litre boot is competitive, although pre-2014 examples only get 251 litres, and the Juke comes with a 60:40 split-folding rear seat.
Renault Captur - the practical choice
- For: Roomy cabin, large boot
- Against: Not very exciting to drive
The Renault and Nissan alliance meant the Juke’s development provided the French firm with an easy way into the small crossover class, and as you’d expect, the Renault Captur shares much of its engineering and tech with its Japanese rival.
While the Captur is crisply designed and attractive, it lacks the Juke’s extrovert nature. However, the Renault is roomier inside and when new, offered better equipment levels. Today, £11,000 will buy a 2019 0.9 TCe petrol with 29,000 miles on the clock or 1.5 dCi diesel with 27,000 miles on the clock. The Captur is not the most exciting car to drive, but it is relatively smooth and refined.
Despite its similarly compact dimensions, the Captur feels roomier than the Clio supermini, and does especially well for space in the back. Unlike the Juke, its styling doesn’t compromise rear headroom. You also get a 60:40-split rear seat, while the rear bench slides back and forth, giving up to 455 litres of boot space when it’s pushed all the way forward. Fold everything down and you’ll be rewarded with a flat floor and 1,235 litres of luggage capacity. When it comes to trim levels, look out for the upgraded infotainment systems fitted to Dynamique and Signature models from 2017. These have better graphics than earlier versions and also feature Android Auto smartphone connectivity.
Kia Soul - the electric choice
- For: Spacious and roomy, EV option
- Against: Unrefined ICE engines
The Kia Soul is arguably more small MPV than SUV, but the lines are blurred with ‘crossovers’. If you are looking for practicality, though, it’s hard to argue with the Soul’s boxy design.
There are 1.6-litre petrol or diesel versions, but neither is overly refined or efficient, even if they are adequate for the task. A comfy ride makes the car a good motorway companion. This budget gets you a choice of petrol and diesel Souls from 2019 with under 25,000 miles on the clock. But you can bag a fully electric 2017 version for your budget, with under 50,000 miles under its belt.
That high roof and boxy body mean there’s lots of space for three in the back, and boot space is good, at 354 litres. This is reduced to 281 litres in the EV version. With seats folded down, the Soul offers a decent 1,367 litres. The interior has a dark, plasticky feel, but there’s a bit of design flair, although avoid the entry-level 1 trim to make sure you get the eight-inch touchscreen. Spec levels are fairly good across the board, and any Soul should have a pretty contemporary feel inside. Some may find the EV variant’s 130-odd-mile official range too little, but for low-mileage drivers, it’s a very cheap-to-run option.
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