A SAVVY car expert has picked out four luxury SUVs that drivers can pick up for peanuts – including one that cost £60,000 when it was new.
Motoring guru and YouTuber Matt Goodwin of the channel High Peak Autos has showcased his collection of bargain SUVs that are perfect if you’re looking for a reliable 4×4 without breaking the bank.
Matt’s first pick is a Range Rover Vogue – and specifically he talks about an example that he himself owns.
He said: “I bought this car about 18 months ago for £1,250 and it’s never really put a foot wrong, and honestly it’s one of my favourite cars within this weird collection.
“I just love it, I think it looks really classy and elegant.”
The Range Rover in question is from 2012 and uses a 4.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine built by BMW – and it would’ve cost around £60,000 when it was new.
Matt reveals that, other than needing to change the rocker cover gasket when he first bought it, it’s always been very reliable – highlighting only small issues in recent years with the air conditioning which was easy enough to fix.
Matt added: “Since then it has been perfect – ice cold.
“So I’m really quite chuffed.”
Matt also mentions that he often likes to use the large SUV when he’s appearing in videos for his channel as it “just looks so good on camera.”
“You’ve got this nice light leather interior, it’s nice and airy and bright inside,” he added.
He also notes the luxury extras it comes with such as a heated steering wheel and seats, making it ideal for upcoming winter months.
Matt’s next SUV on the list is a 2003 Volkswagen Touareg that he bought for £1,400 a few months ago.
The YouTube star reveals that he originally bought it in an attempt to sell for a profit, but he eventually ended up keeping it after it failed to attract any offers.
He added: “After a few months of trying to sell it, I thought I’d just keep it.
“I quite like it, it drives really well, the air conditioning works, it’s quite a nice colour, it’s in quite good condition, so why not?”
Since keeping it, the German motor has had its engine and gearbox serviced, as well as four all new tyres fitted.
Matt added that it’s only done 110,000 miles and reiterated that it “drives really well”, boasting a 3.2-litre V6 engine.
He said: “It’s hard to believe now this car is 21 years old because I still think it looks really good.”
Matt then talks up the stylish BMW X5 as he features a model from 2007 in his video.
This particular X5 has a 3-litre turbo diesel engine, and he says he bought it for just £2,000 last year.
He describes the large Beemer as a “bit of bargain”, not least because it comes with seven seats and a split tailgate, meaning there’s plenty of room inside.
Matt added: “It really doesn’t feel as though you’re in a 17-year-old car.
“It still feels quite modern.”
The car guru’s final SUV pick is the evergreen Toyota Land Cruiser – perhaps one of the world’s most famous and reliable go-anywhere 4x4s.
The motor that Matt gets behind the wheel of is a 1998 example, and he mentions that it’s the slightly smaller ‘Colorado’ edition, which in various markets around the world is known as the Prado.
Matt said: “I bought this back in January from a viewer in London who’d had it from new.
“He’s the only owner of this car, but sadly because of ULEZ rules and stuff it was costing him every time he took it off his driveway so he wanted rid of it.
“If it wasn’t for the ULEZ rules though, he would’ve never got rid of it – he loved it.”
Featuring a petrol engine instead of a diesel, Matt reveals he’s planning to give it a full service and a refurbishment – but he claims it could be worth £6,000 when it’s done.
For fans of SUVs, Jeep is preparing the release of three new models in a bid to take on Audi – but they will come with a hefty price tag.
Elsewhere, a little-known car brand is set to take the UK by storm with the release of two bargain SUVs that could take on the likes of the Nissan Qashqai.
