Best used small SUVs under $25,000

Buyers in the small SUV category are spoiled for choice, so there are lots of possibilities to select from when buying used.

Let’s check out five of the best for under $25,000. 

The looks of the Skoda Yeti may polarise opinion, but it’s an excellent all-rounder, and being a member of the Volkswagen Group the Yeti offers a quality feel.

It’s an ideal and economical city runabout which is also comfortable enough for longer trips. Standard kit includes ABS brakes, rear parking sensors, cruise control and 17-inch alloy wheels.

It also has Bluetooth for hands-free calls, USB audio input, Apple CarPlay, keyless start, a leather-bound steering wheel and proximity key with central locking.

The interior is roomy and versatile with three removable centre seats and a cargo area that can swallow quite a lot.

Power is from an 81kW/175Nm 1.2 litre turbo-petrol engine bolted to a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.  

Find a Skoda Yeti under $25K on carsales 

The Subaru XV is an SUV for marketing purposes, being more of a ‘crossover’ alternative to a passenger car – like many other small SUVs.

And that’s no bad thing. It’s much more car-like in its ride and handling, and has sufficient ground clearance for soft-roading.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre ‘boxer’ four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 115kW/196Nm, and there is only an auto transmission available.

The wider G5X-series XV sits on the Subaru Impreza platform and drives through an updated constant all-wheel drive system. It has 30mm-longer wheelbase, translating into a bigger cabin, except for the (high-lipped) cargo area that is a tad small.

Inside are comfortable cloth-trimmed pews and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a reversing camera and parking sensors.

The safety suite is comprehensive, with lane departure warning and lane keep assist, seven airbags, front and rear collision mitigation and adaptive cruise control.  

Find a Subaru XV 2.0i-L under $25K on carsales

The popular front-wheel drive Nissan QASHQAI feels big and roomy because it sits on the Nissan X-TRAIL platform, and this five-seater also offers a decent 430 litres of boot space.

It has six airbags and a respectable amount of standard fare to satisfy most buyers even at this entry-level ST model.

Under the bonnet is a 106kW/200Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine with either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Giving the exterior a lift are 17-inch alloy wheels. Additional kit includes a reversing camera, hill holder, cruise control and electric mirrors and windows.

Find a Nissan Qashqai ST under $25K on carsales

The Suzuki Vitara has a loyal band of followers and it’s easy to see why.

Its five-door body boasts a roomy interior and the Vitara has a choice of two four-cylinder engines: a front-drive 86kW/156Nm 1.6-litre petrol unit with choice of manual or auto transmission; and, in either front-drive or all-wheel drive, a 103kW/220Nm 1.4-litre turbo powerplant with auto transmission.

Standard equipment runs to 17-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite navigation, cruise control, climate control, seven airbags, a reversing camera, rear privacy glass and keyless entry/starting.

Unlike many other brands, Suzuki’s three-year/100,000km warranty includes roadside service for the full term.

Find a Suzuki Vitara under $25K on carsales

Sharing its name with the west coast of Hawaii’s big island, the Hyundai Kona arrived in 2017 and immediately ate into the sales of its rivals thanks to its bounty of funky looks, keen pricing, clever packaging and comprehensive equipment levels, even at the near entry-level Active model.

This variant has 16-inch alloys, roof rails, cup holders in both rows, air-conditioning, reversing camera and parking sensors, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite navigation, digital radio and a leather-bound steering wheel and gear shifter.

Powering the front-wheel drive Kona Active is a 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine bolted to a six-speed sports automatic. For keen drivers, selectable drive modes are also included.

Find a Hyundai Kona under $25K on carsales