Best used large SUV for 2020

Where do you draw the line between a seven-seat family wagon that will go off-road and one that won’t?

Contrary to popular opinion, not everyone wants a vehicle that can capably climb every mountain and ford every stream.

Some buyers prefer their economy-size family wagons – or large SUVs, as we know them – to be up to the job of not much more than occasional towing.

What’s more important to these buyers is that the vehicle will transport the kids and the grandparents, or the kids and their friends, in dependable comfort.

A truck-like all-terrain wagon won’t satisfy these buyers, which is why Toyota market both the LandCruiser Prado and the Kluger in the same segment.

For the 2020 carsales Best Used Car Awards, proudly presented by Bingle, the year in review is 2014.

The VFACTS large SUV segment for that year was one of the market sectors that actually improved on its sales performance from 2013, but only by about 1300 units. Most of those extra sales came from dependable names like Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Pathfinder and the previously mentioned Toyota Prado.

Along with other categories of carsales Best Used Cars for 2020, the winner and two honourable mentions in the large SUV category were the three vehicles with the best aggregate score, based on points out of 50 from RedBook and individual scores out of 10 from each of the five judges.

And in 2020, the carsales best used large SUV is the 2014...

Even in its twilight years, the Ford Territory was keeping its rivals honest.

By 2014, the locally-developed SUV was in its final iteration – the SZ MkII series. The majority of cars sold by then were the diesel-powered models with the 2.7-litre V6 that was known in Australia as the powerplant for the Land Rover Discovery III and IV – the Discovery IV being our best used large SUV winner in 2019.

This year’s winner was built in Campbellfield, on the outskirts of Melbourne, with the diesel V6 imported from abroad, rather than trucked up from Ford Australia’s engine plant in Geelong.

Representing the best value in the range, the mid-spec Ford Territory TS AWD with the diesel V6 scored 39.5 points from RedBook and 35 points from the judges for a total of 74.5 points.

At just under $50,000 when new ($49,990), this variant of Territory is valued by RedBook at $21,150 for a used example from 2014.

“Quality product that will forever remain Australia’s only bespoke SUV model line,” says Ken Gratton, carsales technical editor.

“Shame the world-class Territory diesel couldn’t crack the export market and maybe survived a little longer,” says Cliff Chambers, carsales used-car buying expert.

“Great all-round home-grown family-friendly favourite, with the diesel engine providing abundant torque, and costing little to run,” says Ross Booth, RedBook data services director.

You can read more about the Ford Territory TS in our launch review.

Driving the Territory for the local launch, reviewer Bruce Newton remarked: “The rest of the package is as we have known it for so long – functional, flexible and spacious... All of which explains why it continues to be so popular with Aussie families.”

Find a used Ford Territory TS AWD on carsales

Scored 40.4 from RedBook and 34 from the judges for a total of 74.4 points
RedBook Value: $19,850

“Good family option for those who want a more wagon experience, with great safety functionality and diesel performance and economy” – Ross Booth, RedBook data services director

“Best vehicle Subaru makes – which is saying something!” – Bruce Newton, carsales senior journalist

Scored 32.5 from RedBook and 36 from the judges for a total of 68.5 points
RedBook value: $28,450

“Fantastic Luxury driving if only five seats are required” – Ross Booth, RedBook data services director

“Appalling retained value means the Luxury version can actually cost less than a Kluger” – Cliff Chambers, carsales used-car buying expert

What makes a car eligible for carsales Best Used Car Awards?
• Less than six years old
• Standard side-curtain airbags
• Standard Bluetooth
• Standard electronic stability control (mandated for 2014)
• Standard reversing camera for SUVs

How did RedBook weight the categories for scoring?
• 10 per cent for resale
• 10 per cent for ANCAP rating
• 20 per cent for cost of ownership
• Five per cent for service intervals
• Five per cent for number of days for vehicle to sell

Read all about carsales Best Used Cars for 2020 here.