SUVs for under R50k: Top picks

The people in our country are being squeezed hard by this Covid-19 lockdown. We are facing a future with less cash left over at the end of the month, and one of the first things we are doing is looking at cutting our debt and getting out of our expensive cars and into cheaper options.

This has been fully supported by data that shows that there has been a massive 300% increase in searches on the AutoTrader website for cars below R50 000. And now that dealers can finally open, you are able to trade your car, or sell it, and maybe have a look at what you can get for your money at this level.

The SUV segment was one of the few segments that showed growth leading up to the financial meltdown caused by the Coronavirus. Buyers have been opting out of their sedans or hatches for a few years now in their search for the practicality of an SUV. But the average SUV is not cheap, yet I was surprised at the number of SUVs that I found in this all important under R50 000 part of the market. If you have a look at the top 20 list I complied below, you will see that you can find almost anything your heart desires.

RELATED: Cool wheels for under R50k

You can get SUVs that offer hardcore 4×4 off-road pedigree and ability, while also being loaded with a bunch of pricey aftermarket add-ons. There are full house and snobby vogue-type SUVs that offer you all sorts of luxury. There are soft-roaders that feature front-wheel-drive and AWD on demand systems, that also run economical diesel and petrol engines.

There are German premium SUVs to reliable, never die, Japanese models.  Hell, you can even get some quirky Chinese offerings that are going dirt cheap.

Subaru Forester 2.5 X SEL – 2005 – 216 000 km – Manual – R49 900

Land Rover Discovery TD5 ES – 1999 – 327 000 km – Automatic – R 49 900

Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDI – 2006 – 165 000 km – Manual – R49 700

Hyundai Tucson 2.0 GLS – 2006 – 201 000 km – Manual – R49 000

Jeep Patriot 2.4 Limited – 2008 – 198 000 km – Manual – R49 000

Range Rover Vogue 4.6 – 2000 – 229 000 km – Automatic – R49 000

Mitsubishi Pajero 3.5 GLS – 2000 – 187 000 km – Manual – R48 000

Land Rover Freelander 2.0 TD4 SE – 2006 – 224 000 km – Manual – R48 000

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 – 2003 – 300 000 km – Manual – R47 000

Chevrolet Captiva 2.4 LT – 2009 – 161 000 km – Manual – R46 000

Toyota RAV4 2.0 – 1996 – 300 000km – Manual – R44 000

Mahindra Scorpio 2.6 CRDi – 2007 – 251 000km – Manual – R43 000

Chery Tiggo 2.0 TXE – 2010 – 119 000 km – Manual – R43 000

Volkswagen Touareg R5 TDI – 2005 – 300 000 km – Manual – R42 000

BMW X3 2.5 si – 2004 – 241 000 km – Manual – R41 000

BMW X5 3.0D – 2002 – 221 000 km – Automatic – R40 000

Nissan Murano 3.5 – 2007 – 173 000 km – Automatic – R32 000

GWM Multi-Wagon 2.8 TDI – 2009 – 76 000 km – Manual – R27 000

Kia Sportage 2.0 – 1998 – 230 000 km – Manual – R23 000

Zoyte Nomad Hunter 1.5 – 2013 – 140 000 km – Manual – R22 000

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