Best 4x4 SUV: which used compact and mid-size models to choose

• For everyday driving and winter trips to the mountains, the Škoda Karoq I 2.0 TDI 4x4 makes sense. From its 2017 launch, the 140 kW version came with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed DSG as standard.
• If you need more space, look at the Volkswagen Tiguan II (2016–2024) 2.0 TDI or 2.0 TSI 4Motion. The 2.0 TDI diesel was also sold with front-wheel drive, so look for the 4Motion badge in the listing.
• The Toyota RAV4 V 2.5 Hybrid AWD-i (163 kW) suits mixed driving without plugging in and can tow a braked trailer of up to 1,650 kg. In ADAC's breakdown statistics for 2025, however, it is among the models with a noticeably high number of breakdowns.
• The Subaru Forester always has four-wheel drive. The Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and the premium BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 have it only with certain engines.
• A 4x4 SUV is a road car with better traction. It makes pulling away on snow easier, even with a trailer, but it does not shorten braking distances and is no substitute for winter tyres.

For drivers who head to the mountains, drive to a holiday cottage on a poor road or tow a trailer, a compact or mid-size SUV with four-wheel drive is the most common choice among used 4x4s. You cannot pick the best 4x4 SUV by model name alone, however. On most of them, four-wheel drive was sold only with certain engines and gearboxes, so the same car can be found as an economical front-wheel-drive model or as a diesel or hybrid 4x4. With a used car you also buy a particular combination of engine and gearbox, along with its service history. The guide below matches five models that are common on the used market to typical situations and shows which engines come with four-wheel drive. The differences between drive systems are explained in the article on permanent and on-demand 4x4.

This is not a ranking by quality. Each car suits a different combination of driving, space and drivetrain.

For regular motorway journeys and the mountains, a diesel 4x4 is the right choice; for mixed driving with plenty of town use, a hybrid. If you only rarely encounter snow and the road to your home is well maintained, the front-wheel-drive version of the same model is also worth considering. You save on drivetrain parts and their servicing.

The Karoq, Tiguan, Tucson and Sportage engage the rear axle via an electronically controlled clutch, so most of the time they are driven mainly through the front wheels. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD-i drives the rear wheels with a separate electric motor, and the Subaru Forester has permanent four-wheel drive.

Škoda Karoq I: a compact 4x4 for every day

The first-generation Škoda Karoq, built from 2017, is a good starting point for a driver who wants a higher seating position and winter traction but does not need a bigger SUV. It is easier to manoeuvre in town than the Tiguan and does not feel like a small car on a long journey.

For regular motorway trips and drives into the hills, the 2.0 TDI 4x4 is the right choice. If you want a diesel, four-wheel drive and an automatic, the 140 kW version keeps it simple: it came with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed DSG as standard. With the less powerful diesel and the 2.0 TSI petrol, look for the 4x4 badge in the listing. The Karoq was never built as a 4x4 with the 1.0 TSI, 1.5 TSI and 1.6 TDI engines.

The diesel's weak spot is driving made up of short trips. A diesel engine with a particulate filter regularly needs a longer run to warm up properly. If your usual journey ends after a few kilometres, the 2.0 TSI 4x4 petrol is a better choice.

Volkswagen Tiguan II: more space and a choice of fuel

The second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan from 2016–2024 is for the driver who finds the Karoq too tight but does not want to move up to a large SUV. It suits long journeys, motorways and carrying bulkier equipment.

For high mileage there is the 2.0 TDI 4Motion, for lower mileage and mixed driving the 2.0 TSI 4Motion. The petrol copes better with short trips, but on a long journey you will spend more on fuel than with the diesel.

With the Tiguan, it pays to read the full version designation. Neither the 2.0 TDI engine, the DSG automatic nor a high trim level reveals which axle is driven, because the two-litre diesel was also sold with front-wheel drive. What you are looking for is the combination of engine, gearbox and the 4Motion badge.

Toyota RAV4 V: a hybrid for mixed driving

The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 from 2019–2025 takes a different route from European diesel 4x4s. The 2.5-litre Hybrid AWD-i, with a system output of 163 kW, suits a mix of town, suburban roads and weekend trips. It does not need charging from a socket and uses the electric part of the drivetrain in slow traffic. In sustained fast motorway driving it loses its advantage. Under hard acceleration, its e-CVT gearbox behaves differently from a diesel with a conventional gearbox.

Hybrid 4x4s are quickly becoming more common on the used market. According to a Carvago analysis, the share of electric cars and hybrids among used 4x4s more than doubled in three years, between 2023 and 2026, in six of the seven European countries tracked.

A brand's reputation is no reason to overlook a car's technical condition. In ADAC's breakdown statistics for 2025, the RAV4 is among the models with a noticeably high number of breakdowns that required roadside assistance. With a used RAV4, condition and service history therefore matter more than the badge on the bonnet.

Subaru Forester V: when snow is a regular occurrence

The fifth-generation Subaru Forester from 2018–2024 was sold in Europe only with four-wheel drive, so there is no risk of ending up with a front-wheel-drive car. It has permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive and a single engine: the 2.0 e-Boxer hybrid with a CVT gearbox. It suits a driver who regularly uses snowy mountain roads or has an unpaved track to the cottage. In return you accept a limited engine choice with no diesel and a sparser Subaru service network than that of Škoda or Volkswagen.

Hyundai Tucson III and Kia Sportage IV: a widespread alternative

The third-generation Hyundai Tucson (2015–2020) and the fourth-generation Kia Sportage (2016–2021) share their technology. Four-wheel drive was offered with the turbocharged 1.6 T-GDI petrol and the 2.0 CRDi diesel. The naturally aspirated 1.6 GDI petrol and the smaller diesel drive the front wheels only. If you want a petrol 4x4, look for the 1.6 T-GDI. For high annual mileage, the 2.0 CRDi is the better fit. In listings, four-wheel drive appears as 4WD, AWD or 4x4.

Premium SUVs: BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60

If you want more comfort and more powerful engines, you will find them in the third-generation BMW X3 (2017–2024) with xDrive, the second-generation Audi Q5 (2016–2024) with quattro and the second-generation Volvo XC60 (from 2017) with AWD. The more powerful versions have four-wheel drive as standard, but the weakest engines were also sold with only one driven axle. Expect higher costs for larger wheels, brakes and more complex equipment. Traction on snow depends mainly on the tyres, not the brand.

Four-wheel drive makes it easier to pull away with a trailer on wet grass, on snow or on a steep incline. The permitted trailer weight, however, is set by the manufacturer for a particular version of the car, not by the drivetrain itself.

For the Toyota RAV4 V 2.5 Hybrid AWD-i, the permitted braked trailer weight is 1,650 kg. This version is not suitable for a heavier trailer. The figure applies only to the AWD-i and cannot be transferred to the front-wheel-drive hybrid.

On the Karoq, the Tiguan and the other models, the limits vary according to engine and gearbox. Before buying, compare the weight of your loaded trailer with the figure in the chosen car's documents. A figure from a general model description is not enough.

At the same age, mileage and condition, a 4x4 is usually more expensive than a front-wheel-drive car. The difference often also reflects a more powerful engine, an automatic gearbox and a higher trim level, because on most models in the table four-wheel drive was sold only with the more powerful engines. Comparing a basic front-wheel-drive car with a top-of-the-range 4x4 therefore does not show the cost of the drivetrain alone. It makes sense to compare versions with the same engine and trim.

In everyday use, a 4x4 adds weight and extra components, so it uses slightly more fuel and needs more maintenance. On Škoda and Volkswagen models, servicing includes an oil change for the rear-axle drive clutch, which a front-wheel-drive car does not have. All four wheels should have identical tyres with similar wear, because different rolling circumferences put strain on the clutch and the differentials.

Financially, a well-kept car with a documented service history makes more sense than a cheaper one on which you have to catch up on neglected maintenance of the engine, the automatic gearbox and the drivetrain after purchase.

• Mistaking a front-wheel-drive car for a 4x4. Neither photos nor the trim name reveal the drivetrain. The 4x4, 4Motion or AWD designation must match the car's technical data.
• The wrong engine for your journeys. A well-kept diesel is a poor buy if you will mostly be pottering around with a cold engine.
• Missing drivetrain and gearbox servicing. A stamp for an engine oil change says nothing about the rear-axle clutch or the automatic gearbox.
• Signs of off-road use. Damaged underbody guards, sills and exhaust say more than plastic body cladding.

Vibration when pulling away, noise from the rear or irregular gear changes are revealed by diagnostics and a test drive. Both are part of the CarAudit™ inspection that Carvago carries out on every car before sale.

A 4x4 SUV is not suited to deep ruts, axle articulation and heavy terrain. That is the job of an off-roader with low-range gearing.

With a used 4x4 SUV, finding the model is not enough. You need the right combination of engine, gearbox and drivetrain, in good condition. Carvago has the widest selection of used cars: around a million cars from dealers in several European countries. The choice in practically every segment is therefore larger, usually many times larger, than on the local market. A Tiguan 2.0 TDI 4Motion with DSG or a RAV4 Hybrid AWD-i in the trim you want is therefore not limited to a handful of listings.

Before sale, every car is checked by a technician as part of CarAudit™ with up to 270 checkpoints. The inspection covers the available information on history and legal status, technical components, diagnostics and a test drive. You know the result before you decide to buy, and Carvago guarantees the condition stated in the certificate.

Before sale, Carvago buys the car from the original seller, becomes its owner and takes over its risks. You therefore buy directly from Carvago. Once the purchase is approved, Carvago uses a power of attorney to handle the paperwork, including registering the car in your country, and delivers it to your door, so you can drive off as soon as you take it over.

Are large wheels better for a 4x4 SUV?

For winter roads and broken-up access tracks, a smaller approved wheel size with a higher-profile tyre is more practical. A higher profile protects the rim better and gives a more comfortable ride. Large wheels are chosen for their looks; they do not help on snow.

Does a 4x4 need snow chains?

Even a car with four-wheel drive may need chains. Whether they are permitted, what size to use and which axle to fit them to is set out in the owner's manual. With some wheel and tyre combinations there is too little room for chains.

Is a factory-fitted tow bar an advantage on a used car?

The advantage is its integration with the car's electronics. At the same time, it reveals that the car may have towed a trailer regularly. The condition of the gearbox, clutch and rear suspension therefore deserves as much attention as the tow bar itself.

What if the Karoq or the Tiguan is not big enough?

The next step is a larger SUV, such as the first-generation Škoda Kodiaq (2016–2024), which was also sold with four-wheel drive. Large seven-seat SUVs are covered in the article on the 7-seater SUV.

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2. https://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/pdf/241127-RAV4-Press-Pack.pdf
3. https://www.presseportal.de/pm/7849/6260842
4. https://blog.carvago.com/ctyrkolky-se-elektrifikuji-podil-elektromobilu-a-hybridu-se-v-sesti-zemich-za-tri-roky-vice-nez-zdvojnasobil/
5. https://carvago.com/car-delivery
6. https://carvago.com/caraudit
7. https://carvago.com/how-carvago-works