Hunting 2nd Hand SUV - Japanese vs European compact around 30k

onomatopoeia on 31/12/2020 - 14:20

I'm planning to spend $30000 on a second hand SUV. There are many options in the market, there are the high-specs Japanese made SUVs like CX-5, Forrester or Rav4 which holding their values well, and the European compact-SUVs by BMW X1 or Merc GLA. The reason I'm upgrading is to get more space for the little one. I live in the city and I don't drive much(barely 3000km a year), I also don't need high performance either.

I know maintenance cost for european cars have been discussed many times, and how bad the resell value is. This is why I'm looking for a relatively new (about 5 years) and low milege (less than 70k). Now the question is where to get a second hand Japanese SUV or European Compact SUV.

I've done a quick comparisons between them, what do you guys think? I'm not planning to get a new car.

2015 Mazda CX-5 Akera KE Series 2 Auto AWD - $31k
2015 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Auto AWD MY14 - $31k

2016 BMW X1 sDrive18d F48 Auto - $32k
2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class GLA180 Auto - $30k

Automotive

Comments

  • BertieBrown on 31/12/2020 - 14:58
    +3

    If it were me spending $30K on a car, I’d definitely be going for the Japanese makes over the Mercedes or BMW.

  • Boioioioi on 31/12/2020 - 15:02

    Japanese all the way. You are right. With a european car you're more likely to be paying to fix it and losing more in the long term if you resell. What is the point?

  • Orico on 31/12/2020 - 15:07

    Why not buy a large sedan? Mazda 6 or Camry or Hyundai. Nicer to drive too!

    Trust me, the little one does not need more room. They literally sit in one spot.

    I like the RAV 4 out of the SUVs. The AUD/USD is going up, people working from home but car prices are skyrocketing. Stupid market.

    The GLA and X1 cars have like jack all room at the back. It's just a higher car.

    • chartparker on 31/12/2020 - 15:48
      +4

      Getting children in and out of rear facing car seats is a right royal PITA in lower roofed cars. That's really the biggest benefit in having an SUV for our little one, otherwise I'd much prefer a nice wagon or sedan

      • lgacb08 on 02/01/2021 - 21:56

        how long is the kids gonna stay in rear facing for? It's barely noticeable unless you want to pop out one every year in the next 5 years, but if that's the case then you'll probably need something else for the long term.

        • Euphemistic on 03/01/2021 - 09:48
          +1

          how long is the kids gonna stay in rear facing for?

          Long enough to put your back out!

  • pao2x on 31/12/2020 - 15:58

    These prices are crazy, A 6 yo RAV4 only depreciated less than 10k

    A new RAV4 hybrid AWD is only 45K + (with a lot of waiting). and a 6yo superceded inferior model is 31K?

    • netjock on 31/12/2020 - 16:38

      These prices are crazy, A 6 yo RAV4 only depreciated less than 10k

      There you go, by the Toyota, most of the depreciate have already been taken.

      • pao2x on 01/01/2021 - 00:16

        More like depreciated less than 2k a year which is ridiculous

        • netjock on 01/01/2021 - 07:38

          Makes you wish you owned one. Join the team.

          • pao2x on 01/01/2021 - 09:50

            @netjock: I wouldn’t mind and have been eyeing RAV4 hybrid for a while but still got a Camry that probably wont die anytime soon. Which I bought 55% depreciated 3 year old 55000km on it then

            • netjock on 01/01/2021 - 11:05
              +2

              @pao2x: Your Camry probably has as much space as a RAV4.

  • netjock on 31/12/2020 - 16:33

    Save your financial future, get the Toyota.

  • Drakesy on 31/12/2020 - 18:17

    go the toyota, but surely you'll be able to get the newer model in this price range?
    I'd expect that model to depreciate pretty heavily given the curent gen is such an upgrade.

    Personally the Hyundais or Kia SUVs should be looked at as well, the 7-10 year warranty on these speaks volumes about reliability.
    Oh and the out of warranty parts won't force you onto a second mortgage.

  • Euphemistic on 31/12/2020 - 19:30

    Is the cx5 really bigger? I heard they are compact on the inside.

  • onomatopoeia on 31/12/2020 - 20:22

    Wow, almost everyone recomended the Japanese, even though the Europeans might have better features and 'identity'.

    • bobbified on 31/12/2020 - 22:38
      +4

      This is ozbargain - it's value for money to get from A to B and that's it. "Identity" and "prestige", etc don't factor into the definition of "value"! lol

    • Euphemistic on 31/12/2020 - 22:39
      +1

      Most people who search on bargain sites are likely to choose the option that will do the job adequately despite not having bells and whistles if it costs less.

      Euro cars have a reputation for being expensive, and therefore a luxury item. The higher cost of repairs and parts make them impractical for those who don’t lease a new one every 3 years.

      • netjock on 01/01/2021 - 07:41

        Euros are cheap up front like inkjet printers. They get you on the on going maintenance and consumables.

    • brendanm on 03/01/2021 - 09:48
      +2

      Only idiots buy a car for "identity". Unless you like the car more, then who gives a toss what badge is on it.

  • nephilim on 31/12/2020 - 22:55

    X-trial Hybrid to make people who spend 50k on a Rav4 hyrbid look silly
    http://www.j-spec.com.au/lineup/Nissan/X-Trail/hybrid/id-ZAD

    • netjock on 01/01/2021 - 07:43

      Nissan Leaf makes people who buy Kona and Tesla look silly too?

      Nissan basically has Renault calling the shots and you know French cars.

      Look what they did to Mitsubishi.

    • pao2x on 01/01/2021 - 09:52

      How much would it cost imported?

    • brendanm on 03/01/2021 - 09:48

      Except ones a good car, and ones a Nissan.

  • whitelie on 01/01/2021 - 07:58
    +3

    Camry hybrid…..more room than a mid size SUV and runs on the smell of an oily rag but I mean if you're only doing 3k per year, economy won't be a huge deciding factor. Can probably get one a year or two old for the 30k budget.

    But if you're set on an SUV, stretch the budget for a facelifted CX-5. Very similar to this recent thread asking between the CX5 and Rav4

  • hugamuga on 01/01/2021 - 18:09

    Maybe if you want the luxury badge with Japanese reliability, Lexus could be an option. I think you would struggle to get an example at that price with under 100k km but if you're not driving it very much and the interior has been well kept, probably not an issue. Nx300h and rx270 are probably able to be had at 30kish

    • onomatopoeia on 04/01/2021 - 01:42

      Is it worth the money? When coming to value, I'm thinking about leather seats, features, panoramic roof or extra security features which are the base for luxury badge. I've been checking at NX300h and RX270, there are about 32k+. For that price I can get a loaded Rav4 which relatively new though

      • Euphemistic on 04/01/2021 - 07:38
        +1

        With your relatively low budget and seeming inexperience, the extra features are not worth it.

        • chartparker on 04/01/2021 - 07:41

          This. Don't get sucked into a money pit for a badge, especially if you have zero idea about the brand's quirks. I stick with Subaru, Toyota and Kia mainly because I know them backwards by this point and know what to look out for (for the most part)

      • hugamuga on 05/01/2021 - 09:55

        hard to know, you probably save a bit of money on fuel with the hybrid. possibly paint, interior quality will hold up a little better than a rav4. maintenance costs would be higher. I think it would be worth at least looking at and making your own judgement as to if there is enough difference to justify the price.

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