An SUV, short for “sport utility vehicle”, is basically a vehicle that is similar to an estate car, and usually features four-wheel drive capability. They are really practical due to the amount of cabin and boot space that is offered, and are quite useful for towing too.
There is a wide range of SUVs that you can choose from, all of which suit a variety of requirements and budgets. If you are thinking of buying such a vehicle but aren’t really sure which make and model will best suit your needs (and your wallet), check out these examples, plus some hints and tips on how to get the best SUV for your needs.
The Budget SUV: Skoda Yeti
Classed as a small SUV, the Skoda Yeti has been in production since 2009, with a revised model being introduced in 2014. It has received critical acclaim from the motoring press, including Jeremy Clarkson from BBC’s Top Gear programme.
There are a number of engine options to choose from, and the seating arrangement is quite flexible and highly suitable for a vast number of applications. Its car-like handling is very attractive to the masses and is backed by the familiar Volkswagen reliability and build quality.
The Executive SUV: Porsche Cayenne
With exceptional handling and virtually limitless performance, the Porsche Cayenne is perfect for those seeking a more luxurious driving experience. The Cayenne is one of the German car manufacturer’s most popular models and is widely perceived to be the model that saved the company from bankruptcy a few years ago.
There is a lot of power and performance to be had from the engines; even the base model comes equipped with a 295 brake horsepower 3.6-litre V6 engine!
The Sporty SUV: Range Rover Sport
If you would prefer to drive around in a piece of British engineering (and an iconic one at that), then you should perhaps look to buy a used Range Rover Sport.
Like the Cayenne featured above, it is a luxurious 4×4 SUV and has an array of impressive features, as well as a number of engine options to suit those that require torque or power (or both) for a number of different applications. This is perhaps one of Jaguar Land Rover’s best-selling models, both here in the UK and abroad.
What to look out for when buying a used car
As with any car, there are a number of key points that you should be aware of when you are going to view the SUV of your dreams, and they are as follows:
-
Insurance – you should consider how much it would cost to insure the SUV that you want to buy;
-
Road tax – cars built after March 2001 are taxed on their emissions rather than their engine size, so you should consider going for a diesel SUV if you are concerned about the price of road tax;
-
History – make sure that you can fully verify the history of the car, and check that it has not been written off, reported stolen, or contains outstanding finance from a previous owner.
