Buying used: Four family friendly SUVs

Which is best – the Audi Q3, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 or Toyota RAV4?

Car buyers can’t get enough of the SUV these days. Particularly now, as the winter turns, the raised driving positions, extra road-crossing height and addition traction from four-wheel drive means their appeal swells further. But which is the best secondhand choice if you have around £12,000 to spend? We bought four of the most popular models together to find out.

We have the posh Audi Q3, which is the smallest of the group, but is also the fanciest. In contrast, the Honda CR-V may not have the badge, but certainly has the space, as does the Toyota RAV4. Sitting between them in terms of size is the Mazda CX-5, acknowledged as being the driver’s choice of compact SUV. All are equipped with the turbodiesel engines that most buyers in this sector err towards.

It was the RAV4 that actually started off the mid-size SUV craze around two decades ago, and if you don’t ask too much of it, the 122bhp engine performs without too much fuss. But that meagre power output soon starts to limit progress when you start to press on – the Audi not only has more power, but is also lighter, so its sweeter engine is much easier to drive.

Mazda CX-5

The powerhouses of the group are the 148bhp Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5; the Honda has great mid-range pull and the Mazda is a delight to drive harder, spinning round to its 5200rpm redline with all the smoothness of a good petrol motor. It feels similarly sporty to drive, with weighty steering and confident suspension – purists will love it.

The Q3 is fun too, with tight body control and great grip. It does have a hot hatch-like edge to its ride at lower speed, but smooths out nicely when you up the pace. In contrast, the CR-V has a very plush and absorbent ride at lower speed, making light work of potholes, but becomes wallowier when you go faster, leaning more in corners and running out of grip sooner. The RAV4 actually strikes a better compromise here, trading slightly busy in-town suspension for a better and more secure-feeling ride.

For those seeking a premium feel, the Q3 will be the most appealing, with excellent noise suppression that gives it an executive feel. The CR-V is refined too though; apart from a bit of engine roar when revved, it’s a great cruiser; both the CX-5 and RAV4 let the side down here, with too much road roar and wind noise, and their engines also become vocal when driven harder – something you have to do more often in the down-on-power Toyota.

Toyota RAV4

Inside, you sit up nice and high in the Honda and Mazda; you drop down lower in the Audi, and have the choice of both sitting high or low in the Toyota thanks to its multi-adjust seat. Pity its seats are the least comfortable on a run, then, due to a lack of support; you’ll much prefer the chairs in the CR-V and CX-5. The Q3 has a decent seat too, but as lumbar support was optional, not all used examples may be as appealing as our test car.

The Toyota’s dash isn’t particularly attractive either, with too many drab plastics; it’s in stark contrast to the luxurious Audi, which feels a genuinely premium-built machine. The other two sit in the middle, and you shouldn’t be disappointed by the perceived quality of either. Equipment levels differ across all four; the glaring omissions were the lack of parking sensors on the CR-V and cruise control on the Q3.

Where the RAV4 fights back is in terms of interior space. All are roomy up front but the Toyota aces it here, and in the rear, there’s loads of legroom and headroom. The Honda and Mazda aren’t too bad either; the cramped one of the quartet is the Audi, which offers little more space than a family hatchback, and has a big central tunnel that effectively makes the rear seats only comfortable for two, not three. It’s hard to get in and out of the Q3, too.

Audi Q3

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Audi has the smallest boot. The CR-V and CX-5 have impressive load bays too, but the RAV4 again leads the others – particularly when you fold the seats, where it becomes enormous. The only tricky part is its awkward folding rear seat mechanism, and the electric tailgate is slow-acting.

So how much will you have to spend? Again, unsurprisingly, Audi is the most expensive secondhand, although this does mean it should also be worth more when you later go on to sell it. Value-hunters will err towards the Mazda, meanwhile, particularly as it has the added bonus of four-wheel drive, something lacking on the Toyota. The CX-5 delivers the best fuel economy too, with the Audi again trailing the others. In terms of road tax, the CX-5 costs just £30 a year; the Honda is £120 a year dearer…

Where the Toyota does lead the others is in reliability – and its five-year warranty is two years better than the others, too. There’s not an unreliable car in this group, mind; it’s just that the Toyota’s margin over the others is pronounced, with a 10 percent better reliability feedback rating than the Audi.

Honda CR-V

That doesn’t stop the Q3 coming out bottom of the group here. Those seeking space and practicality should still look at it, but in terms of overall appeal, its weak engine and cheap engine sees it lag the others. The Audi Q3 is much more alluring, thanks to a high-quality feel and executive-like refinement; what a pity it’s too cramped for many family-focused SUV buyers to contemplate, then.

Which leaves the Honda and the Mazda. The CR-V is great value for money and has a good quality interior, although there are some strange standard equipment omissions and it’s a bit ponderous to drive. This is not something that you can accuse the Mazda of: it’s a fantastic car to drive, and the fact it blends this with excellent practicality, low running costs and bargain secondhand prices makes it the clear group winner here – it’s the SUV all-rounder you should definitely look at first.

---

Mazda CX-5 2.2D 150 SE-L (5 stars)

Engine size 2.2-litre diesel

List price when new £22,995

Price today £11,500

Power 148bhp

Torque 280lb ft

0-60mph 9.5sec

Top speed 120mph

Fuel economy 61.4mpg (Official average)

CO2 emissions 119g/km

---

Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC S 4x4 (4 stars)

Engine size 2.2-litre diesel

List price when new £24,605

Price today £12,000

Power 148bhp

Torque 258lb ft

0-60mph 9.4sec

Top speed 116mph

Fuel economy 50.4mpg (Official average)

CO2 emissions 149g/km

---

Audi Q3 2.0 TDI 140 SE (4 stars)

Engine size 2.0-litre diesel

List price when new £25,065

Price today £13,000

Power 138bhp

Torque 236lb ft

0-60mph 9.7sec

Top speed 118mph

Fuel economy 49.6mpg (Official average)

CO2 emissions 137g/km

---

Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D Icon (3 stars)

Engine size 2.0-litre diesel

List price when new £24,295

Price today £12,000

Power 57.6bhp

Torque 229lb ft

0-60mph 11.6sec

Top speed 108mph

Fuel economy 46.9mpg (Official average)

CO2 emissions 127g/km

Price today is based on a 2013 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing