After many years, your reliable Japanese MPV needs to be replaced. This model no longer exists, but something similar is your desire again. You need a lot of space and appreciate Japanese quality. The range of used cars worth twenty thousand is not even large, which one should it be?

The selection of used cars is huge. You can find used cars everywhere at the dealership, on the specialist website Gaspedal.nl, and even on Facebook. What spacious and reliable car can you buy for 20 thousand euros? Autovisie selects the best used cars every week.

Three spacious and reliable family cars priced up to 20 thousand euros

• Mazda CX-5 (2012 – 2017)
• Nissan Qashqai (2014 – 2017)
• Toyota Verso (2013 – 2018)

1. Mazda CX-5 (2012 – 2017)

Mazda’s whole SkyActiv idea is pretty cool in the good sense. Instead of a small, hard-working engine, Mazda opts for a large 2.0 engine that is simply efficient and therefore achieves low consumption. That means: an effort of about 1 in 15. Great towing power at low speeds and a towing weight of at least 1800kg are great pluses.

On the road, the Mazda is also a great companion, although the suspension is a bit too firm. The interior is spacious enough for four adults, and luggage space certainly isn’t bad at 463 litres. A car company in Vasse has a recently imported black CX-5 “Exclusive Line” (2015, 108,000 km) for €19,945.

What should you pay attention to on this occasion?

Sometimes it may happen that the ground connection between the battery and the vehicle chassis does not make good contact, or even becomes loose. The car may not start, but it’s a small matter. In older units it may happen that the heating does not work. In this case, the heater radiator is clogged, and this will be an expensive joke, especially since it requires a lot of work. Moreover, the CX-5 is of course very reliable.

2. Nissan Qashqai (2014 – 2017)

Qashqai has been a huge success. The model is still there, even though we are a generation or so behind us. There is also a large selection of used cars in the country and they are also very popular. This model is also closer to an MPV than an SUV.

It’s nice and spacious, and the back seat is roomy enough for three adults if necessary. On the road it feels heavier than it actually is. The 1.2-litre engine is only powerful enough, but its consumption is around 1 in 15. A car company in Portfleet has a 1.2 ‘DIG-T’ in elegant Dark Gray (2017, 57,000km) with some options for €19,450.

What should you pay attention to on this occasion?

Interestingly, the Qashqai actually has the same problem as the Mazda: a poorly connected ground cable. This is due to little rust formation. What is distinctive is that this only happens with older versions of this model – which are before us here -, because it does not happen with later Qashqai cars, perhaps due to a simple modification at the factory. Moreover, Nissan is also an epitome of reliability.

3. Toyota Verso (2013 – 2018)

Looking back, it is very surprising that Toyota did not follow up this model with a new generation. Well, we’re not talking about looks and taste, but the Verso has its good qualities. The interior is slightly less spacious than the other two cars, but the luggage compartment is the largest of the three at 484 litres. The entire instrumentation is located in the middle of the dashboard and the gear lever is on a pedestal. After a week you don’t know any better.

The second row of seats consists of three sliding seats. The Verso drives very comfortably. Average 1.8 1 out of 12. At a car company in Reusselle, the price of a newly imported (!) Dynamic Business 1.8 (2015, 71,000 km) is 19,995 euros.

What should you pay attention to on this occasion?

Well, you always have ‘boss over boss’. In general, Japanese brands are of equally good quality. Toyota has the reputation of being the best brand in the industry. How coincidental that this model confirms this image, because there is not a single known defect that occasionally occurs that can be called a “feature of this model.” In other words: great, carefree, loyal servants, and this becomes increasingly important as the years and kilometers pass.

What will the occasion be?

You can’t make a wrong choice here. It just depends on where personal preference lies most. All three of these cars are beautiful, spacious, powerful and trouble-free and will last you about ten years without any problems. Well, if I had to choose: Mazda.

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