In an attempt to make it easier to identify the best value used cars, Auto Trader has introduced a new tagging system to accompany the prices of the cars for sale on the site. With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look at 20 4x4s marked ‘Great Price’. As ever, inclusion doesn’t represent an endorsement.
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Suzuki Jimny: £8,500
Following the demise of the Land Rover Defender, the Suzuki Jimny is one of the last bastions of the old-school 4×4. New, a top spec Jimny SZ4 will set you back at least £14,784, which makes this 2011 example a bit of a bargain. Don’t expect to go anywhere in a hurry, but do expect a characterful and capable 4×4.
Land Rover Discovery: £5,950
Nobody is going to pretend that an old Land Rover Discovery will be cheap to run, but at least this 2003 example looks more appealing than the new model. A seven-seat ES automatic is a fantastic and sought-after spec, while the seller claims there are 14 stamps in the service book. Check the history before purchase and this could be a great buy.
Dacia Duster: £7,850
The Dacia Duster might have been updated, but you’ll pay upwards of £16,495 for a diesel 4×4 in Laureate trim. Which means this 2013 example is essentially half price – not bad for a four-year-old car with 40k miles on the clock. Plaster it in mud and nobody will know that it’s a pre-facelift model.
Skoda Yeti: £5,999
Skoda’s decision to kill the Yeti and replace it with something utterly anonymous hasn’t been well received. But no matter, because there are plenty for sale on the used car market and there are real bargains to be found. This 2011 Yeti S might not offer a lavish spec, but it’s on sale for less than £6k.
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin: £1,995
The Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin was essentially a ‘fun size’ version of the full-fat Shogun and was built for people who lived in the hills but needed the convenience of a smaller car. By today’s standards it will feel rather crude, but with 61,000 miles on the clock and an MOT until April 2018, we think this is a potential bargain.
Toyota Land Cruiser: £41,221
Auto Trader’s ‘Great Price’ tag was made for cars like this Toyota Land Cruiser. New, you’d spend upwards of £56,630 on an Invincible model, which means you can save £15,000 by purchasing this 2016 example. The spec list is as long as the Land Cruiser is big, and it’ll handle just about everything you throw at it.
SsangYong Rexton: £3,269
Let’s get the negatives out the way first: the SsangYong Rexton won’t be especially nice to drive and the interior is bordering on horrendous. But as cheap and practical workhorses they are hard to ignore, which makes this 2006 example look like good value for money. If towing and off-roading is your thing, this could be a good use of £3k.
Jeep Wrangler: £19,999
The Wrangler is a car to file under ‘is that still on sale?’ New, you’ll pay upwards of £34,740 for a four-door model, but this five-year old Sahara is up for £19,999. The 2.8-litre CRD diesel engine is a terrific unit and the Wrangler is, unsurprisingly, great off road. The last MOT mentioned that the rear diff is leaking, so that’s something to get checked out.
Daihatsu Terios: £4,794
In common with many of the cars featured here, the Daihatsu Terios is more suited to off-road driving than it is urban commuting, which highlights just how far the SUV has come. Today, we take it for granted that an SUV will be a master of all trades. According to Auto Trader, £4,794 for this 42k-miler is a ‘great price’.
Suzuki Grand Vitara: £2,000
This 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara has a near-perfect MOT history, which suggests that it has enjoyed a cherished existence. The Vitara was one of the first SUVs to be designed as much for the King’s Road as it was for off-road, and owners swear by them. Two grand is a great price.
Nissan X-Trail: £18,970
From something old-school to something new, the current Nissan X-Trail is a fully paid-up member of the new breed of SUVs. This one-owner car has covered a mere 14,159 miles and offers all the toys associated with the N-Tec specification. You’ll also enjoy the remainder of the manufacturer’s warranty.
Land Rover Freelander: £6,775
There are certain things to look out for when buying a used Land Rover Freelander, but thanks to the badge they remain incredibly popular. This dealer-plus-one-owner car looks to be in perfect condition, but do your homework on the 2.2-litre diesel engine and rear diff before taking the plunge.
SsangYong Korando: £9,995
SsangYong’s limited mileage five-year warranty is one of the best in the business, which removes some of the guesswork associated with buying a used example. This 2014 Korando looks very tidy and there are only 52,000 miles on the clock. The diesel engine isn’t the last word in refinement and the interior is a bit low-rent, but aside from that the Korando is a solid buy.
Land Rover Defender 90: £7,495
Defender values are so high, it’s genuinely hard to find a ‘Great Price’ listing on Auto Trader. We like the look of this 2002 Defender 90, not least because the MOT history makes for encouraging reading. If the photos are anything to go by, it looks to be in great condition.
Honda CR-V: £1,595
The Honda CR-V is a popular used car buy, which means £1,595 for a 2008 example looks stupidly cheap. So what’s the catch? Well, there are 178,000 miles on the clock, but if it has been well maintained, there’s no reason why it won’t see 200k miles with ease. Full Honda service history for the first 150,000 miles is encouraging.
Fiat Panda Cross: £3,000
The Fiat Panda 4×4 is proof that you don’t need a lumbering great SUV to make tracks. Thanks its narrow footprint and formidable off-road talents, the Panda 4×4 is a hit with folk living high up in the Alps. This one-owner Panda Cross is available for £3,000.
Suzuki Swift 4×4: £5,991
The Suzuki Swift 4×4 might lack the character and charm of the Fiat Panda 4×4, but a 25mm increase in ride height and an on-demand all-wheel drive system means that a little green-laning is no problem for this hatchback. Be warned, it doesn’t offer whippet-like pace.
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon: £11,990
A candidate for ‘all the 4×4 you could ever need’, the Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon is big, brash and formidable off-road. The 4.2-litre diesel engine, as offered here, makes more sense than the V8 petrol, and it’s much, much cooler than a seven-seat MPV.
Mitsubishi Shogun: £25,774
A year ago, this Mitsubishi Shogun SG3 would have set you back upwards of £35,000. Today, with just 11,560 miles on the clock, it’s available for just £25,774. At that price, the thoroughly old-school SUV makes a great deal of sense.
Range Rover: £2,990
Is the Range Rover P38A on course to becoming a modern classic? It’s a little too early, perhaps, but the second generation Range Rover is ageing rather well. Sure, it’s not the last word in reliability, but it’s rare to find a one-owner example such as this. Yours for a little under £3,000.
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The Dodge La Femme arrived on the scene in 1955, a year when America was thriving with post-war prosperity. The baby boom was in full swing, and more people lived in the growing suburbs than in any other type of community, drawn by elbow room, fresh air, and affordable housing for growing families.
Women were going to work in greater numbers than ever before by the mid-1950s, accounting for about one-third of the workforce and increasing overall household income. They were also taking a greater interest in cars; about one half of all adult women held a driver’s license. The automobile industry recognized that women were a growing presence in the marketplace, and actively sought to court to them.
Yet what the La Femme represents, however obtusely, is a recognition by the American automotive industry, and therefore the largest sector of industrial manufacturing on the planet, that women were an rising economic force, and that it was imperative that their specific wants and needs be addressed. So great was this tide that by 1958, GM executives from all over the country came to the unofficially named Feminine Auto Show to see the cars created by its six female designers. Not too many years later, Ford released its own car created to appeal to women: the now world-famous Mustang.
Women make or influence a majority of new car purchases today, and manufacturers do everything they can to appeal to them. Marketing is a science, and demographics can target a person by age, gender, region, education level, and myriad more variables. Once a target demographic is acquired, the manufacturers do their best to present a vehicle that has the performance levels, economy, and features that demographic wants. This La Femme ad from 1956 illustrates the difference between a car “designed with the ladies in mind” (as stated in the above ad) and the modern practice of designing a car that offers the attributes a particular demographic wants.
Viewed through today’s standards, the marketing material shouts, “Hey, princess! Pink is for girls!” which hits every wrong nerve in modern psyches. It discolors perception of the La Femme, which is a powerful, well-engineered, and stylish vehicle. It’s designed by Exner, has a wicked Hemi under the hood, and comes with a matching umbrella, just like a new Rolls Royce.
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