3008 CX-5 Ford Hyundai Karoq Kuga Mazda Mitsubishi Nissan Opel Peugeot Qashqai Skoda Tiguan Tucson Volkswagen Top 10

The 10 best SUVs for 25,000 euros

Antonio Roncero @roncero_antonio 29 October 2018 9 min.

With a budget of 25,000 euros you can get a well-equipped mid-size SUV with an engine that doesn’t fall short on power. Here is our Top 10 of the best buys without going over that budget.

These are the cars in fashion: SUVs. For their design and style, but also because they can offer comfort similar to a saloon for travelling, or the versatility of an estate and the flexibility of an MPV when you need space or want to enjoy your leisure time. And now there are SUVs in every category and at every price.

But if you really want a mid-size SUV for all uses, with a size that guarantees a spacious interior and a good boot, an engine that doesn’t fall short and full equipment, the budget you’ll need to set aside is around 25,000 euros. Without going beyond that, these are for us the 10 best buys in the category.

Hyundai Tucson 1.6 CRDi

Updated after the summer, the new Hyundai Tucson 2019 has received many improvements. The most important is the arrival of the new 1.6 CRDi engines with 116 and 136 CV, which replace the previous 1.7 CRDi. Above them sits the 2.0 CRDi, now with improved consumption thanks to an electric motor that acts as a starter motor and a 48 V electrical system. There are also two petrol engines, a naturally aspirated 1.6 GDi with 136 CV and the 1.6 T-GDI Turbo with 177 CV. Our choice, for its balance between performance and low running costs, is the 136 CV turbodiesel. It is also a very smooth engine. It is available in Tecno trim, already very complete, with a price from just over 34,000 euros including the 2,500 euro official discount. But you can even double that discount by financing the purchase with the brand and trading in a car. Dropping down in power, the 116 CV costs 3,000 euros less; it may be an alternative if you won’t often travel with the car fully loaded or on roads where you need to overtake.

Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T

The leader in the list of the 10 best-selling compact SUVs in Spain in 2017, the Nissan Qashqai, is not the best at anything, but it offers a good balance when assessed as a whole, and it has a very competitive price. There are cheaper versions, but within our budget, with the current offer, we recommend the new 1.3 DIG-T petrol engine with 140 CV in Acenta trim for 24,300 euros, which, given its comprehensive standard equipment, is more worthwhile than the Visia version, even though it is the entry level of the range and available from 22,800 euros. This engine has replaced the previous 1.2 petrol with 115 CV. It includes the safety pack with all the assistance systems, intelligent parking, Nissan Connect, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights… and there is still enough budget left for the sunroof (650 euros). We choose the 1.3 petrol engine because it drives the Qashqai very well and is smoother than the two diesels. If you are one of those who do a lot of kilometres a year and want a diesel engine, the 1.5 dCi with 116 CV is available from 24,000 euros in the entry-level Visia trim.

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI DSG

One of the newcomers to the category, and a real masterstroke. We give you two options: the 1.5 TSI with 150 CV with cylinder deactivation and manual gearbox, for 24,300 euros including discounts, or the 1.0 TSI three-cylinder with 115 CV and DSG gearbox dual-clutch, which comes in just 200 euros below the stated budget. If you’re wondering whether a 1-litre three-cylinder TSI engine is sufficient for a car the size of the Skoda Karoq, the answer is yes. The trim is Ambition, which already comes with everything essential as standard; although it is not as well equipped as the Qashqai in Tekna trim, we like it more than the Nissan overall. It stands out for its space, good finish, dynamic behaviour and how well thought out its practical solutions are that make everyday life easier.

Peugeot 3008 1.2 PureTech

There is little choice, since in the Peugeot 3008 range the only one below 25,000 euros is the 1.2 PureTech with 130 CV in Active trim. Its price is 24,700 euros. For equipment, the most recommended trim level is Allure, but in this case it goes up to 26,200 euros; it is worth considering. The best thing about the Peugeot 3008 is its ride comfort. The consumption of the 1.2 PureTech engine is somewhat higher than that of other petrol-engined SUVs in its class, although the Peugeot is among the best in performance. Its driving position is very unusual; it is advisable to try it before deciding, as the steering wheel is very small and the instrument panel sits high; not all drivers can adopt a posture in which they feel comfortable. The diesel range starts with the 130 CV BlueHDI, which, with the same equipment, costs about 1,350 euros more than the petrol. Choose the diesel only if you will be doing a lot of kilometres a year.

Opel Grandland X 1.5 CDTi

The Opel Grandland X is the “cousin” of the Peugeot 3008, but with a more conventional design, both exterior and interior. And one of the SUVs in this category with the best value for money, both with petrol and diesel engines. Although the 3-cylinder 1.2 Turbo with 130 CV performs very well (we have already chosen it in the Peugeot), in this case we recommend the new 1.5 CDTi with 130 CV, which replaces the previous 1.6 CDTi with 120 CV. The Selective version comes in at around 24,000 euros, but it is worth stepping up to Design Line trim, which costs about 26,300 euros after applying the 4,600 euro offer currently in force. You can also choose it with an automatic gearbox.

Ford Kuga 1.5 Ecoboost

There are two versions of the Ford Kuga with this brilliant petrol engine to consider. With 120 CV you can opt for the better-equipped versions without exhausting the budget, or go for the 150 CV variant if you want more performance. The latter, in Titanium trim, is advertised from 21,500 euros with the Ecobonus of Ford, compared with the list price of 28,500, when financing the purchase with the brand. Without financing, you can get it for 25,000 euros. It stands out for its price, but also for the smoothness of the Ecoboost engine, which requires very “gentle” driving to achieve low consumption. If this point worries you, there are diesel options: the 1.5 TDCi with 120 CV or the 2.0 with 150 CV, also within budget. In its latest restyling the Kuga has received the latest multimedia systems with Ford SYNC 3, and a cutting-edge driver assistance system it previously lacked.

Seat Ateca 1.6 TDI

Without losing sight of the 1.0 TSI with 115 CV, which we have already chosen in the Skoda Karoq, in the case of the Seat Ateca we recommend the 1.6 TDI with 115 CV, which fits the budget in Reference trim – you already get everything essential – and exceeds it by just 310 euros in Reference Plus trim. Like its cousin, the Karoq, the Seat Ateca also stands out for its balance between exterior size and interior space, and for offering a great balance between stability and comfort at the wheel, making it one of those SUVs that drives most like a car. That said, the two 115 CV versions, both petrol and diesel, may be a little short on power for those who do a lot of kilometres with a full load on roads with mountain passes, or on two-way roads where overtaking is needed. For everything else, the TDI offers sufficient performance and a very low consumption, which can stay below 7 l/100 km in real-world use.

Mazda CX-5 2.0 Skyactiv

In terms of driving feel, presentation and finish, the Mazda CX-5 is one of those SUVs you can consider as an alternative to premium models, without a high outlay. And the current offer is worth considering. The entry-level version costs 27,270 euros, which drops to just over 25,000 euros with the discount… and to 24,090 euros with the current promotion if you finance the purchase with the brand, which includes free maintenance, that is, the official services for the first five years. The engine in this case is the 2.0 naturally aspirated petrol with 165 CV. Very smooth in operation, it more than delivers in performance and consumes less than one might expect from an engine of this capacity and power. And don’t think you won’t get a well-equipped car: in Origin trim it already comes as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen, cruise control, LED headlights and dual-zone climate control.

Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI

Yes, the Volkswagen Tiguan is one of the most expensive in its category. But there is a version currently on sale below 25,000 euros. It is the VW Tiguan 1.4 TSI with 125 CV in Edition trim, which costs 27,890 euros, but has a discount of 2,275 euros plus an additional promotion of 2,930 euros when financing the purchase. This means you can get a Tiguan with the turbo petrol engine for 22,865 euros. And you don’t have to invest more in equipment: the promotion includes the Advance pack as standard, which costs 2,650 euros and adds AppConnect, parking assistant, rear camera, LED headlights and navigation. Digital instrumentation is also standard. A very complete car, which may fly under the radar for anyone unaware of this promotion that brings a very competitive final price.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 150T

For 24,150 euros, with the current discount of 2,500 euros, you can get a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 150T, with the only engine offered in the brand’s new SUV, the 1.5 turbo petrol with 163 CV. Compared with its rivals, the Eclipse Cross plays the card of its coupé-style bodywork, so it is not one of the roomiest. But with 485 litres of boot capacity and a sliding rear bench, it works as an all-purpose car for four passengers. Its strong points are the ride quality it offers in any situation, and the performance of the turbo engine. Consumption is sensitive to pace, and to save fuel you need to use ECO mode and drive smoothly. The equipment of this Challenge version is already very complete, and there is no possibility of adding options. The next step up in the range is the Motion trim, which goes up to 26,350 euros.