3 family-friendly SUVs that won't break the bank

Here's three family-focused crossover SUVs that today cost from just £6500: which is the best used buy?

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17 February 2017

The Nissan Qashqai transformed the family SUV marketplace. Before its arrival, buyers had to choose from a range of traditional 4x4s, which had the nice and high driving positon but which also had 4x4-like driving dynamics and poor fuel economy.

Nissan cannily created a more car-like SUV with the Qashqai, one offering a commanding view of the road but with better handing and mpg. It was easier to drive, easier to park and, all told, a real hit.

It wasn’t long before rivals cottoned on; a few years later, both the Peugeot 3008 and Skoda Yeti were squaring up to the Qashqai. When they were new, they didn’t quite manage to knock the Nissan off its pedestal. Five years on, have things changed? We’re looking at used examples of all three to find out.

All of them are 1.6-litre diesels, and it’s the Qashqai that proves strongest. It’s powerful and torquey, so pulls smoothly – much more so than the weaker Skoda, which will demand you change down a couple of gears when tackling steep hills. Even this is better than the Peugeot though – a car hampered here by its dim-witted semi-automatic gearbox.

The Yeti proves the most car-like to drive, because of strong grip and well-controlled body roll. The ride is choppier, though – the Qashqai rolls more in corners but has more compliant suspension. And it rarely feels untidy, whereas mid-corner bumps can shutter the 3008, which also leans into corners. We’d say its ride is almost too firm.

It’s a pity the Yeti is so noisy, though. Both its engine and suspension grumble much more than the others, which are significantly quieter; we rate the Nissan the quietest of all.

All are roomy inside, with the Peugeot and Nissan offering commanding driving positions for a feel-good vibe. The Yeti is very roomy in the rear, with the Peugeot lagging, but the 3008 fights back with its vast and flexible boot. Saying that, the Skoda’s sliding rear seats can pay dividends when you need to juggle passengers and luggage.

We like the Peugeot’s smart, well-finished interior, with only the fiddly infotainment system letting it down. The Skoda is plainer but much easier to use, while the Nissan is also straightforward, albeit without the quality finish of the other two.

The Peugeot wins again when it comes to costs; depreciation has done its work, meaning you can pick a secondhand one up for significantly less than the others. It’s cheap to service as well, unlike the pricier Nissan, although the situation is reversed when you look at reliability ratings – and surprisingly, the Yeti is worse than both of them.

Our test Peugeot wasn’t all that well equipped though, lacking key features such as Bluetooth and climate control. Economy is, by a small margin, the worst here, and CO2 emissions are just on the wrong side of a key VED band – so it costs £110 a year to tax, instead of £30.

And although it’s cheap, we think the merits of the other two models outweigh 3008 strengths such as its practical boot. Indeed, the Yeti is the most flexible of all, and is surprisingly good fun to drive. Ultimately though, its inflexible engine and sheer on-road noise levels peg it back.

Even on the secondhand market, the Qashqai remains the best family-friendly SUV you can buy. The Nissan is quiet, comfortable, punchy and cheap to run. It’s nice to drive as well, and should still prove reliable five years on from launch. You have to pay a bit more for it, but we certainly think it’s worth it.

Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi 130 Visia S/S (4 stars)

Engine size 1.6-litre diesel
List price when new £19,695
Price today £8000
Power 128bhp
Torque 236lb ft
0-60mph 10.3sec
Top speed 116mph
Fuel economy 62.8mpg (Official average)
CO2 emissions 119g/km

Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI Greenline II SE (3 stars)

Engine size 1.6-litre diesel
List price when new £18,505
Price today £8000
Power 103bhp
Torque 184lb ft
0-60mph 11.8sec
Top speed 107mph
Fuel economy 61.4mpg (Official average)
CO2 emissions 119g/km

Peugeot 3008 1.6 e-HDi Access EGC (3 stars)

Engine size 1.6-litre diesel
List price when new £19,845
Price today £6500
Power 110bhp
Torque 199lb ft
0-60mph 12.8sec
Top speed 109mph
Fuel economy 60.1mpg (Official average)
CO2 emissions 122g/km

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