Which circa-$30,000 SUV should I buy?

SUVs are the best selling vehicles in the country, but there are so many choices it can be confusing finding the right one. Here are four of the best cheaper options.

A reader is on the hunt for a new SUV that won’t break the bank. We serve up four of the best options on the market right now.

THE QUESTION

We’re moving from a rural property to the coast and must sell our 2020 Toyota Prado for a medium SUV of similar age. I’m looking forward to lower fuel bills and ease of parking. It must carry my two kids (10 and 12), a medium dog, a surf ski on the roof and camping gear. Budget’s in the low $30,000s, auto or manual is fine and non-negotiables are 5-star safety and Apple CarPlay. I’d love a Toyota RAV4 but know they’re scarce.

Amanda Ocean, email

ANSWER

A Prado’s a superb four-wheel-drive in the right environment, but cumbersome for busy coastal life: you’ll enjoy the driving/parking ease and cheaper running costs of a medium SUV. The buoyant used market helps and hinders you: you’ll get close to the $80,000 paid for your Prado, but late model mid-size SUVs are in hot demand with prices to match. I’d try to buy new instead.

CHOICES

The Kia Seltos is one of the bigger small SUVs.

KIA SELTOS SPORT WITH SAFETY PACK, $33,790 DRIVE-AWAY

For your budget the Seltos is the best new car choice – if it’s big enough. Rear seats are ample for two older kids, while its 433L boot with full-size spare swallows the weekly shop or camping gear. There’s 5-star safety, reasonable driver assist tech, radar cruise and Apple CarPlay through an excellent 10.25-inch touchscreen. Kia’s seven-year warranty gives peace of mind and services are average at $1914 for five years. It rides and handles well but its 2.0-litre engine is dull and returns an average 6.8L/100km. It’s an accomplished, attractive SUV but stock is a problem. Some dealers have ex-demos if you can’t stomach a waiting list.

MAZDA CX-5 MAXX, $35,800 DRIVE-AWAY

A base Mazda CX-5 will stretch the budget but is bigger and more accomplished.

It tests your budget, but the CX-5 rewards as a superb all-rounder. You said you wouldn’t mind a manual and the entry-level Maxx starts from a little more than $35,000 with three pedals. Crash tests show the CX-5 to be a benchmark, and the Maxx has excellent active safety kit. The CX-5 has a quality, classy cabin, although lacking some tech and luxury. There’s Apple CarPlay through an 8-inch screen while the kids score reclining seats and decent rear space. Comfort and cornering ability are excellent, but Mazda’s 2.0-litre petrol lacks oomph and drinks more than its claimed 6.9L/100km. There’s a five-year warranty with servicing at $2014 for that period, but visits are shorter than usual at every 10,000km.

2021 SSANGYONG KORANDO ULTIMATE, EX-DEMO, ABOUT $34,000 DRIVE-AWAY

The Korando’s price is right and a seven-year warranty is handy.

With familiar brand SUVs at daft prices and in short supply, the lesser-spotted Korando could appeal. The Korean brand shifted only 353 last year but they look good, are loaded and have an excellent seven-year warranty. Dealers will want to shift ex-demos with a few thousand on the clock, so haggle hard. The Ultimate offers heated and ventilated leather front seats, a digital dashboard, sunroof and Apple CarPlay. There’s 5-star safety, generous driver assist and kids will love reclining heated rear seats and acres of space. The ride’s comfortable but the engine is sluggish and thirstier than its quoted 7.7L/100km. It’s not that great through corners and $2385 for five years of servicing is steep. Resale value could be a problem too.

WILDCARD

2019 HOLDEN COMMODORE LT or RS SPORTWAGON, ABOUT $30,000 DRIVE-AWAY

Wagons aren’t the mosts popular choice, but they are often the smarter one.

Can I talk you out of an SUV? A wagon certainly makes roof-loading a kayak easier. I’d normally suggest Skoda Superb or VW Passat wagons over this German-built Holden Commodore, but their used prices have gone stratospheric. About $30,000 buys a low-ish kilometre LT or higher-spec RS with zesty 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and cornering skills lacking in the above SUVs. But it’s thirsty at 7.9L/100km. There’s Apple CarPlay, reasonable driver assist and it self-parks, but the cabin is rental-car dull. Sportswagons offer giant rear seat space and a vast boot – the dog will love it. There’s plenty of its five-year warranty remaining, while Holden’s certified service departments (they’re still out there) will service for between $259 and $359 each visit.

VERDICT

If the Seltos is big enough, and I believe it should be, it’s the best overall ownership prospect. If you need larger, stretch to the CX-5.