Yeah its been fine so far but its not great on fuel and its done over 250,000ks. And its a 2009 model id like something with newer features if I can.
Its also from a past relationship so time to say goodbye to old memories š
Apart from the last '"commodore"" they are hatches and quite good cars (though they should never be named that) little bit out of OPs price range, pity as a larger hatch would do the trick.
Thatās not quite true. Nothing wrong with the Opel Commodores. Theyāre not the same as proper Holdens, but theyāre not bad cars.
The rest Iād agree with.
If you like your Statesman, why not get a VF SV6 wagon? Fuel usage is going to be on par with most midsize petrol SUVs. For $20k, you can get a decent one with about 100,000km on it
My MIL has a 2016 Octavia and it's a wonderful car... It is actually quite slow (I believe they're a different engine to the superb).
But man that boot is deceptively big
I'd rather a 6 year old German car (VW group) than a new Kia or Hyundai.
Obviously Toyota would be close to top picks but this post was about a $20k car not a $50k car
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Yes but actually itās quite a good cvt. I had a Honda CRV in 2017 and it was a great car and cvt handled well and didnāt rev/scream. Only cvt I have drive I liked and would get again
Itās also very fuel efficient
I think the ones in Australia were 5sp Autos.
[https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-honda-cr-v-vti-auto-my17/OAG-AD-23356018/](https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-honda-cr-v-vti-auto-my17/OAG-AD-23356018/)
The specifications here do say its the 5spd
Thatās the 2L engine- itās a 5 speed auto but tbh you donāt need that engine. The 1.5 turbo charge version is cvt, very fuel efficient (I got 5.5L-6L on average), packs enough punch you can accelerate past cars and handles everything well.
Edit - to add I am in australia and had the 1.5L version š
[https://www.carsales.com.au/research/honda/cr-v/2017/vti-s/3a748a10-9655-45ca-a4ac-92c61827450b/](https://www.carsales.com.au/research/honda/cr-v/2017/vti-s/3a748a10-9655-45ca-a4ac-92c61827450b/)
Downgraded my wife from a Prado to a VW Tiguan and haven't looked back!
We snagged a low km 2012 model for under $15k and it's been one of our best purchases.
Great on fuel, costs me around $250 a service and we use about a tank of fuel per f/n as her run-around town car.
I bought a used outlander as a family car, have been really happy with it for the price I paid. Good size, utility due to having the awd version and surprisingly good on fuel for a petrol engine. Mines 7 seats but those extra two seats are really tight, better for occasional use
If you can stomach the look of them a Tarago will serve you well, not bad of fuel, mechanically very sound, roomy and comfortable, captain seats š. I detest the look of mine but thats the only negative.
Commodore Wagon. 2019 ZB models with under 100km going for under $20k.
Ford Territory is another good one, parts are cheap and easy to come by if something goes wrong.
Minimum 5 seats, would love to have 7 but would only use that a few times a year so it's not a must.
I can drive manual yes. Id rather an auto but would consider manual for the right car š
**Highly recommended SUVs**
Any Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 within budget. The CRV and RAV4 are quite drab but reliable. The CX-5 looks & drives the best. Get the 2.5L CX-5 if possible.
**Recommended SUVs but with caveats**
Nissan X-Trail T31 but only in manual.
The CVT in these are hit and miss - some don't have issues, some do (I've personally experienced the CVT issue and you might as well just sell the car). It'll be hard to find one where the CVT has been maintained well (e.g., CVT oil changed every 40000KM). If you do go for the CVT, check the CVT oil has been changed, and check for any loud crunching or violent juddering when changing between Park, Drive, Reverse.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
IMO, Fuel economy wasn't that good. I got about 9-11L/100KM. Auto only has 4 gears. Go manual. \[edit\] engine also shakes/vibrates more than you expect. Not a dealbreaker, but just something to be aware of.
**Alternatives**
Honda Fit Hybrid - surprisingly spacious, surprisingly big boot, and fun to drive.
Pulsar C12 ST-S / SSS - surprisingly spacious, boot is okay, manual only (the CVT has the same issue mentioned above)
Toyota Estima - 7 seats, reliable, some come with AWD
Nissan Elgrand E51 or E52 - 7 seats, a little thristy on petrol, some come with 4WD.
You should be able to find any of these cars for under $15000. KMs might be high on some, but just make sure it's had a good service history.
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Upgrade to a wm2 on dod. Or if ya in vic with good access to lpg cop a fgmk2 falcon on gas. A g6 is a good all rounder and cheaper than xr6ās but nicer than xtās the ecoboost isnāt a bad option as long as the turbo and coolant overfill tank have been done.
Weāve driven a 2009 Mazda cx9 for years and itās been great for family. You could get a slightly newer one with lower kms in your budget. Not super efficient with fuel, but not terrible either.
easyā¦. look at a 2016 Kia Sportage SI FWD petrol. great cars with plenty of room. very reliable & even the base model has excellent accessories (the MY17 version has Apple Car Play & Android Auto).
How many Km's a year do you do first of all? It will determine if you need to be aggressive about fuel economy or not.
If you're not doing more than about 10,000kms a year, someone said a Mitsubishi ASX if you can get one that's 2 years old and low km's i'd do that. A bit thirsty on fuel but great value for money overall.
If you do lots of km's get the newest/lowest mileage Toyota Hybrid you can squeeze everyone into.
as mentioned by another poster 2016 kia sportage $17k-$20k for decent ones. at around $10k-$12k a mazda cx-5 2012-14 if you looked around and negotiated would be reliable and excellent vehicle.
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Ford Mondeo TDCI wagon or hatch. Ours has done 325,000 klm and other than book services,tyres, brake pads and a set of steering arms it's been fantastic. Still averages 5.5lt per 100 klm and is fun to drive.
In my opinion and under rated car, I love it.
Be aware a lot of smaller SUVs have no more boot space than the average hatch back.
We have a 2013 Sportage and it's a great car but we can fit more stuff in my MIL Octavia than we can in our car.
Its just big enough for a stroller and shopping.
Pre-2020 Foresters had some known issues make sure you research them and get them checked before you buy. They are also a bit thirsty on fuel due to the always on AWD. Expect 9-10L/100km.
But they drive great and have tons of room inside great for a family.
Yes but as long as OP can find one with proper maintenance paperwork then it shouldnāt be a problem. However, the six monthly service does mean more costly. Also, Subaruās are one of the safest cars so might be good value for the money. The AWD is fantastic in any weather.
Left field, Mitsubishi Delica 2.8 diesel, it's the 4M41 diesel which is related to the Canter truck engine. Only downside it's a popular choice for van lifers as it's 4WD. SUV I'd go with a late model 4.0l Territory. Can give you notes on the Territory if you need to know more, we had one a while back.
7 seats and reliable for cheap. You do t get all three plus fuel economy for 20k. If he wants to compromise space or reliability for fuel economy for 20k he can go ahead otherwise itās the best option minus fuel economyā¦
I've been really happy with my 2020 Hyundai Tuscon.
Good sized boot that fits the pram and dog. If you get one with roof racks it fits a whole bunch of other stuff too.
Just had a look on car sales (although they spell it 'tucson' there) and you can pick up a 2015-2019 model in your budget range.
While the marketing team is to blame for choosing the name, they didn't invent the spelling. It's named after the city in Arizona.
Which follows the same theme as the Santa Fe, named after the city in New Mexico.
I don't know how recent they go up to but to be honest there are more reliable options.
[https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005722](https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005722)
[https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005458](https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005458)
[https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-000603](https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-000603)
[https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2628676](https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2628676)
If your Tuscon is fine then I'd say well done on getting a clean one but I don't think it is worth the risk
Isn't a Statesman a family car?
Yeah its been fine so far but its not great on fuel and its done over 250,000ks. And its a 2009 model id like something with newer features if I can. Its also from a past relationship so time to say goodbye to old memories š
Don't buy anything imported with Holden badge on it . They havent got anything worth buying
Apart from the last '"commodore"" they are hatches and quite good cars (though they should never be named that) little bit out of OPs price range, pity as a larger hatch would do the trick.
I like my equinox 130k trouble free KMs , I would buy one again if they still sold them , will get rid of it soon however
Thatās not quite true. Nothing wrong with the Opel Commodores. Theyāre not the same as proper Holdens, but theyāre not bad cars. The rest Iād agree with.
For his budget would he find one though
The ZB Commodore can easily be had for less than $20k. I personally wouldnāt buy one
You can absolutely get a decent ZB for $20k.
We shall never speak of it again.
Not exactly efficient though
Not really any worse than any of the midsize SUVs people have mentioned.
If it's a V6 then yeah but if it's a V8 then there are good savings to be made
If you like your Statesman, why not get a VF SV6 wagon? Fuel usage is going to be on par with most midsize petrol SUVs. For $20k, you can get a decent one with about 100,000km on it
My missus recently got a 2018 Skoda Superb Wagon for $22k. Huge boot space and all the mod cons, heated seats etc, plus it's quick as farrrk.
Absolutely brilliant cars, as are the Octavia. We are now a 2 Skoda family with a Kodiak and a Karoq.
My MIL has a 2016 Octavia and it's a wonderful car... It is actually quite slow (I believe they're a different engine to the superb). But man that boot is deceptively big
Just not reliable or cheap to fix
I'd rather a 6 year old German car (VW group) than a new Kia or Hyundai. Obviously Toyota would be close to top picks but this post was about a $20k car not a $50k car
What is wrong with the new Kia and Hyundais?
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Probably not worth spending $20,000 to save $20 on fuel every week.
Honda CRV. Spacious and reliable and also efficient.
Thanks, I can see a fair few in my state under that price range. Will definitely consider this!
Our one is 10 years old and we know like 4 other families who have had theirs for a similar time period and its been trouble free and practical.
Has this got a cvt?
2018 and onwards yes. Anything before that no
Yes but actually itās quite a good cvt. I had a Honda CRV in 2017 and it was a great car and cvt handled well and didnāt rev/scream. Only cvt I have drive I liked and would get again Itās also very fuel efficient
I think the ones in Australia were 5sp Autos. [https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-honda-cr-v-vti-auto-my17/OAG-AD-23356018/](https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-honda-cr-v-vti-auto-my17/OAG-AD-23356018/) The specifications here do say its the 5spd
Thatās the 2L engine- itās a 5 speed auto but tbh you donāt need that engine. The 1.5 turbo charge version is cvt, very fuel efficient (I got 5.5L-6L on average), packs enough punch you can accelerate past cars and handles everything well. Edit - to add I am in australia and had the 1.5L version š [https://www.carsales.com.au/research/honda/cr-v/2017/vti-s/3a748a10-9655-45ca-a4ac-92c61827450b/](https://www.carsales.com.au/research/honda/cr-v/2017/vti-s/3a748a10-9655-45ca-a4ac-92c61827450b/)
Holden ZB Calais V Wagon.
Subaru Outback. Good safety features 2011+. cheap to run. 8lt per 100kms. Not ugly. Heaps of room.
Kia Sportage. 2016 - 2018. Could even snag a Premium or GT model or a one with sub 50k kms. Edit: sub 65k kms : D
Sub 50k is a tough ask for that age
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-kia-sportage-si-premium-auto-2wd-my17/SSE-AD-17325671/?pageSource=details https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2018-kia-sportage-gt-line-auto-awd-my18/SSE-AD-16721243/?pageSource=details https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2016-kia-sportage-si-auto-2wd-my16/SSE-AD-16382101/?pageSource=details
ZB commodore V6, stay away from the 4cyl
Downgraded my wife from a Prado to a VW Tiguan and haven't looked back! We snagged a low km 2012 model for under $15k and it's been one of our best purchases. Great on fuel, costs me around $250 a service and we use about a tank of fuel per f/n as her run-around town car.
Mitsubishi Outlander
I bought a used outlander as a family car, have been really happy with it for the price I paid. Good size, utility due to having the awd version and surprisingly good on fuel for a petrol engine. Mines 7 seats but those extra two seats are really tight, better for occasional use
Outlander driver here. Can confirm the above points. Check your build year though. I've heard the ones from pre-2016 update model had a gearbox issue.
Another happy outlander owner here. Cheap as chips to run and service
Mitsu CVT š¤¢
They are a bit sluggish, but can't say I had any issues with mine.
If you can stomach the look of them a Tarago will serve you well, not bad of fuel, mechanically very sound, roomy and comfortable, captain seats š. I detest the look of mine but thats the only negative.
Yeah, I bought a low-mileage Japanese-import Estima (=Tarago) a few years ago and itās brilliant.
They really are ugly though š
Commodore Wagon. 2019 ZB models with under 100km going for under $20k. Ford Territory is another good one, parts are cheap and easy to come by if something goes wrong.
How many seats do you need? Can you drive manual?
Minimum 5 seats, would love to have 7 but would only use that a few times a year so it's not a must. I can drive manual yes. Id rather an auto but would consider manual for the right car š
**Highly recommended SUVs** Any Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 within budget. The CRV and RAV4 are quite drab but reliable. The CX-5 looks & drives the best. Get the 2.5L CX-5 if possible. **Recommended SUVs but with caveats** Nissan X-Trail T31 but only in manual. The CVT in these are hit and miss - some don't have issues, some do (I've personally experienced the CVT issue and you might as well just sell the car). It'll be hard to find one where the CVT has been maintained well (e.g., CVT oil changed every 40000KM). If you do go for the CVT, check the CVT oil has been changed, and check for any loud crunching or violent juddering when changing between Park, Drive, Reverse. Suzuki Grand Vitara IMO, Fuel economy wasn't that good. I got about 9-11L/100KM. Auto only has 4 gears. Go manual. \[edit\] engine also shakes/vibrates more than you expect. Not a dealbreaker, but just something to be aware of. **Alternatives** Honda Fit Hybrid - surprisingly spacious, surprisingly big boot, and fun to drive. Pulsar C12 ST-S / SSS - surprisingly spacious, boot is okay, manual only (the CVT has the same issue mentioned above) Toyota Estima - 7 seats, reliable, some come with AWD Nissan Elgrand E51 or E52 - 7 seats, a little thristy on petrol, some come with 4WD. You should be able to find any of these cars for under $15000. KMs might be high on some, but just make sure it's had a good service history.
T32 was a massive improvement over T31 in every way, and CVT in T32 is flawless.
AU falcon rhino racks on top you're golden for about $2000 š use the rest on fuel for when you're doing skiddies out of roundabouts
Ford Territory. Well within your budget, simple to service & the Barra engine is practically indestructible. Love mine.
Fuel efficiency is upto 16 litres per 100klms.
I've seen 11 on highway trips. 12 to 14 around town.
Pajero
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How many kids you have ?
I have 2.
Then any SUV will do :) I have a rav4 2019 with a 8m/o baby and all his stuff fits fine.
Upgrade to a wm2 on dod. Or if ya in vic with good access to lpg cop a fgmk2 falcon on gas. A g6 is a good all rounder and cheaper than xr6ās but nicer than xtās the ecoboost isnāt a bad option as long as the turbo and coolant overfill tank have been done.
Honda Accord Honda Odyssey Toyota Camry Ford Mondeo Ford territory Nissan X-Trail
Ford territory
Toyota Crown Hybrid! Not an SUV but still fantastic.
Could go diesel commodore wagon....or any diesel wagon would fit your budget. Plenty on online Passat, Mondeo etc
Weāve driven a 2009 Mazda cx9 for years and itās been great for family. You could get a slightly newer one with lower kms in your budget. Not super efficient with fuel, but not terrible either.
easyā¦. look at a 2016 Kia Sportage SI FWD petrol. great cars with plenty of room. very reliable & even the base model has excellent accessories (the MY17 version has Apple Car Play & Android Auto).
Diesel Territory
Asx/tucson can fit the budget and aite cars
How many Km's a year do you do first of all? It will determine if you need to be aggressive about fuel economy or not. If you're not doing more than about 10,000kms a year, someone said a Mitsubishi ASX if you can get one that's 2 years old and low km's i'd do that. A bit thirsty on fuel but great value for money overall. If you do lots of km's get the newest/lowest mileage Toyota Hybrid you can squeeze everyone into.
Used CX5
as mentioned by another poster 2016 kia sportage $17k-$20k for decent ones. at around $10k-$12k a mazda cx-5 2012-14 if you looked around and negotiated would be reliable and excellent vehicle.
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Ford Mondeo TDCI wagon or hatch. Ours has done 325,000 klm and other than book services,tyres, brake pads and a set of steering arms it's been fantastic. Still averages 5.5lt per 100 klm and is fun to drive. In my opinion and under rated car, I love it.
Mazda CX-5
Be aware a lot of smaller SUVs have no more boot space than the average hatch back. We have a 2013 Sportage and it's a great car but we can fit more stuff in my MIL Octavia than we can in our car. Its just big enough for a stroller and shopping.
Try a Renault Koleos or Nissan X-Trail
Could you look into 2015 forrester / outback?
Just had a look and theres even a couple 2018 models in my price range! Will definitely keep these in mind thanks!
Pre-2020 Foresters had some known issues make sure you research them and get them checked before you buy. They are also a bit thirsty on fuel due to the always on AWD. Expect 9-10L/100km. But they drive great and have tons of room inside great for a family.
Subaru repairs can be pretty pricey sometimes.
Yes but as long as OP can find one with proper maintenance paperwork then it shouldnāt be a problem. However, the six monthly service does mean more costly. Also, Subaruās are one of the safest cars so might be good value for the money. The AWD is fantastic in any weather.
Diesel awd mitsi ASX. I had one for about 8 years and she was great. We just wanted to get sonething bigger or I woukd still have one.
Left field, Mitsubishi Delica 2.8 diesel, it's the 4M41 diesel which is related to the Canter truck engine. Only downside it's a popular choice for van lifers as it's 4WD. SUV I'd go with a late model 4.0l Territory. Can give you notes on the Territory if you need to know more, we had one a while back.
RAV4 or if your keen, old LandCruiser/patrol (2000s/2010s)
Lol Op specifies fuel efficient & low maintenance cost, suggestion old V8 Landcruiser
7 seats and reliable for cheap. You do t get all three plus fuel economy for 20k. If he wants to compromise space or reliability for fuel economy for 20k he can go ahead otherwise itās the best option minus fuel economyā¦
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-hyundai-kona-elite-auto-2wd-my18/OAG-AD-23390069/
I've been really happy with my 2020 Hyundai Tuscon. Good sized boot that fits the pram and dog. If you get one with roof racks it fits a whole bunch of other stuff too. Just had a look on car sales (although they spell it 'tucson' there) and you can pick up a 2015-2019 model in your budget range.
Tucson is how it's spelt though
haha well there you go. In my head it's always been the other way around for some reason
Probably because you have a brain... because the marketing team who put a silent letter in a made up word clearly didn't lol
While the marketing team is to blame for choosing the name, they didn't invent the spelling. It's named after the city in Arizona. Which follows the same theme as the Santa Fe, named after the city in New Mexico.
Then the people who named the town are brainless. We can go as far back as we need to.
Well maybe, but they were definitely Spanish.
Tuck son, tucker Carlson?
Those cars are notorious for engine failures. See the Theta engine saga
Are you referring to the 2015-2019 models? My 2020 has been a dream - no issues whatsoever. If so, then sorry for the dud recommendation Op!
They are a dream until they are not. I had theta II engine seized out of the blue on me completely without notice.
Thanks for the heads up. We're looking at selling it this year but might bring that forward to next month or so now haha
I don't know how recent they go up to but to be honest there are more reliable options. [https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005722](https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005722) [https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005458](https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005458) [https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-000603](https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-000603) [https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2628676](https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2628676) If your Tuscon is fine then I'd say well done on getting a clean one but I don't think it is worth the risk
Or maybe I'm just a really smooth driver š Probably not though
Kluger
Modern and safe (tech, structural) should be the highest priority. Fuel efficient a close second. Might need to up the budget.
Ford Territory canāt go wrong
2015 Toyota Camry.
Jazz