The best used family SUV cars for less than £5,000 to buy in 2022

The Honda CR-V has now been around for more than 20 years and this third generation version is one of the best in the model’s history.

For starters, there’s the way it drives. It steers smoothly and resists the kind of roly-poly behavior often exhibited by SUVs in this price range. Additionally, the CR-V’s well-damped suspension will be comfortable enough for most, although it doesn’t blow with the best.

It feels sturdy inside, too, with the kind of no-nonsense build quality you’d expect from a Honda, and many CR-Vs come with a long list of standard equipment – especially if you opt for the top-of-the-line EX.

There’s also a choice of two good engines – a petrol, a diesel – and while the latter’s reputation for reliability isn’t as impeccable as the former’s, neither engine should prove a nuisance if well-maintained. And that’s all before we’ve even talked about the CR-V’s trump card, which is its spacious interior with room for three adults to sit comfortably in the back and a huge trunk.

Price from: £2,500

We found: 2009 CR-V 2.2 CTDi ES, 91,000 miles, full service history, £4,600

Watch out for: failure of the dual-mass flywheel and injector on diesel engines; premature clutch wear

This article will be updated with the latest advice.

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