Which is our king of the hill?
Latest crossovers mix chunky style with space for all the family. We pick from three top used buys
Renault Kadjar Renault Kadjar 1.6 dci Years: 2015 to date Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 128bhp Ins group: 18 Official econ/co2: 42.4mpg/117g/km Why? Kadjar is a practical, economical and stylish choice for families looking for low running costs.
Prices from: £14,500
A WINNING blend of desirability, quality, practicality and low running costs makes the Renault Kadjar a surefire family favourite.
It’s good to drive, with a range of powerful yet efficient turbocharged petrol and diesel engines to choose from. Refinement is also impressive, while the handling always feels secure and composed on the road.
The Renault is a practical car; its boot has 472 litres of space, or 1,478 litres with the rear seats folded. The car finished 58th in this year’s Driver Power satisfaction survey, with owners rating the running costs but raising question marks over its reliability.
Hyundai Tucson Hyundai Tucson 1.7 CRDI Years: 2015 to date Engine: 1.7-litre 4cyl, 114bhp Ins group: 13 Official econ/co2: 45.0mpg/119g/km Why? Handsome Tucson is a worthwhile alternative, especially if a quiet, relaxed drive is important. Prices from: £13,999
HYUNDAI revived an old name with the Tucson, but everything about this SUV is bang up to date. And although it faces some very tough opposition here, it’s a strong contender.
It’s impressively refined – engine noise rarely enters the cabin, even when cruising on motorways. And while it’s set up with quite soft suspension, the car resists body roll well and takes fast corners in its stride.
The 1.7-litre diesel is economical and has adequate performance in a car designed for a family of five. The Tucson’s 513-litre boot is bigger than the Renault’s, all of which helped it rank in 17th place in Driver Power 2017.
Toyota RAV4 Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D Years: 2016 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 141bhp Ins group: 29 Official econ/co2: 40.3mpg/123g/km Why? Toyota’s reliability record is very strong and the big boot is a plus point for those after space.
Prices from: £16,650
THE Toyota RAV4 doesn’t offer the appeal or good looks of the Hyundai or Renault, but it does have space and practicality on its side.
It’s also very well made and known for its dependability, so it’s ideal for family buyers who aren’t interested in glamorous styling or fancy tech. But that still makes it hard to forgive the characterless driving experience.
Ride and handling trail rivals, and even after a recent update, the overall design is rather plain. It has the biggest boot here at 547 litres and Toyota’s reliability record is one of the best, backed up by the RAV4’S fourth-place finish in Driver Power 2017.