Best used medium SUV for 2019

What is it that makes the medium SUV so popular?

It's the all-round 'can-do' nature that goes with its design flexibility. Within the segment, the sheer diversity of choice and the breadth of functionality, comfort, refinement, value and driveability ensures there's a model to suit the needs of even the fussiest buyer.

The medium SUV is Australia's most popular type of new car in 2019, and that will probably have some impact on the prices of used models too, the mid-size SUVs gaining in popularity as time goes by. A medium SUV makes a lot more sense to families on a budget than an aging hatchback or sedan that the kids have outgrown.

For the carsales Best Used Car Awards for 2019, we've looked back to the year of 2013 to decide the top choice of medium SUV in the used market. Our winner in the category and the two 'honourable mentions' were decided by aggregating a RedBook score out of 50 and individual scores out of 10 from each of five judges.

And in 2019, the carsales best used medium SUV is the 2012...

The 2013 KE model of the widely applauded Mazda CX-5 achieved a points tally of 42.3 from RedBook and 44 points from the five judges, totalling 86.3. That's even higher than last year, when the 2012 CX-5 Maxx scored 81.9 points altogether. RedBook research indicates the 2013 Mazda CX-5 Maxx will sell privately for an average-condition retail price of around $17,350.

Technical Editor at carsales, Ken Gratton, says of the CX-5 that: "Mazda chalked up another win with the CX-5, a well-equipped SUV that costs little to run."

You can read more about the Mazda CX-5 in our launch review. In his assessment of the Mazda CX-5 as a used-car buy, Cliff Chambers wrote: "Mazda's new participant in the combative medium SUV market was a success because it did most of what its target market wanted without quirks or chest thumping."

Find a used Mazda CX-5 on carsales

Honourable mentions:

Scored 38.3 points from RedBook and 38.0 points from the judges for a total of 76.3
Red Book value: $17,600

"Rugged, dependable and spacious, the Forester is a great choice for outdoorsy buyers" – Matt Brogan, carsales Road Test Editor

Scored 40.0 points from RedBook and 34.0 points from the judges for a total of 74.0
Red Book value: $17,550

"Toyota reliability and durability in a spacious, albeit conservative package" – Ross Booth, RedBook Data Services Director

What makes a car eligible for carsales Best Used Cars Awards?
• Less than six years old,
• Standard side-curtain airbags,
• Standard Bluetooth,
• Standard stability control,
• 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 2019 here.