Thirty grand doesn't buy what it used to, but in the used SUV market it still buys a lot. The ten below are genuinely worth chasing this July 2024. I've ranked them by June sales, so you can see what Australians are actually voting for with their wallets rather than what a marketing brochure reckons. Some are small crossovers, a couple are proper seven-seaters, and one is even electric.
1. Toyota RAV4
No surprise at the top. The RAV4 shifted over 3,900 units in June alone, and it keeps selling because it does the boring family stuff well and rarely lets you down. You'll find it in GX, GXL, Cruiser and Edge trims, so there's a version for most budgets and needs.
Most models run a 2.0L hybrid and give you a choice of 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. The Edge is the odd one out: it gets an 8-speed automatic and a punchier 2.5L petrol engine instead. Drive-wise you can have 2WD or AWD, and there's an electric AWD variant if you want the extra traction.
Safety is where the RAV4 earns its keep. The Toyota Safety Sense suite bundles Pre-Collision Safety, Lane Departure Alert, Active Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Monitors. For families it's hard to argue against, and in this price bracket it's about as safe a bet as they come.
2. Mitsubishi Outlander
Over 3,000 Outlanders found homes in June 2024, and a lot of that comes down to flexibility. You can get it as a 5-seater or a 7-seater, which puts it on the shortlist for growing families who don't want to jump to something the size of a bus.
Mitsubishi's MiTEC package handles the driver-assist side of things, with Blind Spot Warning, Lane Change Assist, Hill Start Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control. Both 2WD and AWD are on offer. If you'd rather skip the plug-in powertrain, the petrol-powered Exceed seven-seater is the pick of the range: it looks modern and tough, and it's roomy without the charging faff.
3. Tesla Model Y
The interesting one. The Model Y sold over 2,900 units in June, making it the best-selling electric model in the country that month. That's not a niche result anymore; it's mainstream.
The value case is real, too. The AWD dual motor version hits 100 km/h from a standstill in 3.7 seconds and covers more than 500 km on a single charge. Inside there's a 15-inch touchscreen, a glass roof with UV protection, and over 2,100 litres of cargo space once you fold things flat. After a string of price cuts, it has slid into striking distance of a lot of buyers who never thought they'd be shopping electric.
4. Mazda CX-5
The CX-5 is the sensible-shoes choice that somehow still looks sharp, and over 2,600 sold in June backs that up. Mazda offers it as the Maxx, Maxx Sport, Touring, GT and Akera. Depending on the model you get toys like a 360° View Monitor, a 7-inch LCD infotainment unit and Mazda Radar Cruise Control.
The cabin is classy, if a touch light on the flashier tech. Apple CarPlay runs through an 8-inch screen, and the rear seats recline with decent legroom, so it holds up as a family car. Be honest with yourself about the base 2.0-litre petrol, though: it can feel a bit gutless and it tends to drink more than the claimed 6.9L/100km. Running costs are predictable at least, with a five-year warranty and servicing that comes to $2014 across that period at 10,000km intervals.
Want more grunt? The turbocharged SKYACTIV-G 2.5T engine is now available, putting out 140-170kW. It pairs with the i-ACTIV AWD system, which reads real-time data from 27 different monitors to keep things planted. There's also a Kuroi Sports pack, 19-inch alloys and cargo illumination if you feel like dressing it up.
5. Ford Everest
The Everest has been around since 2003 and it's now in its second generation, which means the current one is a properly sorted thing rather than a first attempt. It sold 2,267 units in June 2024. This is the one on the list that will happily leave the bitumen and tow a boat, so if your weekends involve gravel or a caravan, start here.
Trims run Ambiente, Trend, Sport and Titanium, and most of them come as either rear-wheel drive or 4WD. It's as at home crawling through city traffic as it is on a bush track, which is a rare combination at this money.
- Model variants: Ambiente, Trend, Sport, Titanium
- Drive options: rear-wheel drive, 4WD
If you're after a used one, there's a 2024 Ford Everest Platinum automatic wagon in Hamilton, NSW, with only 12kms on the odometer, going at Kloster Ford in Newcastle, NSW.
6. MG ZS
MG has come a long way, and the ZS is the proof. First launched in 2017 under SAIC Motor's ownership, it sold over 1,900 units in June and has quietly become a default pick for value hunters. The ZS Excite gives you LED daytime running lights, an 8-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloys, rear parking sensors and EPS power steering, which is a solid kit list for the money.
What really sells it is the ownership maths. The warranty runs seven years with unlimited kilometres, and it only needs servicing every two years or 40,000km. Total cost of that servicing over the first six years? Just $1499. That's the sort of number that wins arguments.
7. Kia Sportage
The Sportage has grown into one of the better medium SUVs going, and June's 1,800-plus sales show plenty of people agree. This affordable flagship comes as the S, SX, SX+ and GT-Line. Engine choice covers petrol and diesel, most models offer manual and automatic, and select variants add AWD if you want more grip.
Inside it's more comfortable than the badge might suggest, with synthetic leather trim, a leather steering wheel, roof rails and a 6-speaker audio system. It's an easy car to live with day to day.
8. Hyundai Kona
The Kona starts from $22,220, which makes it one of the cheaper ways onto this list, and it still shifted over 1,800 units in June. It's a small SUV with a bit of personality, and the range is broad enough that you can spend as little or as much as you like.
Choose from the Active, Elite, N Line, Highlander and Electric. The Highlander is where it starts to feel a bit fancy, adding a two-tone roof, daytime running LED lights, alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel and a sunroof. Across the range you also get Hyundai Auto Link and the SmartSense safety features, so even the entry cars aren't short on kit.
9. Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson is the Kona's bigger sibling and moved 1,795 units in June 2024. It comes in Active, Active X, Elite and Highlander trims, with 2WD and AWD both on the table.
The detail that matters on Australian roads is the Australian Tuned Suspension, fitted to both drivetrains, which makes it genuinely comfortable on a long country drive rather than just around town. LED headlamps plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto round out a car that's easy to recommend for families who cover real distances.
10. Mazda CX-3
Rounding out the list, the CX-3 is the small, city-friendly Mazda, and it still managed over 1,500 sales in June. It's sold in FWD and AWD, and the 2024 range starts at $26,950, so it slots in comfortably under budget.
The lineup runs Neo Sport, Maxx Sport, Maxx Sport LE, S Touring, Akari and Akari LE, which is a lot of choice for a car this size. Reviewers scored the 2024 CX-3 a 7.4 out of 10, and that feels about right: it does the fundamentals well without pretending to be something it isn't.
Safety comes via an active safety kit, and Apple CarPlay runs through an 8-inch screen for maps and music. The cabin is comfortable and neat, though like its bigger CX-5 sibling it's a little light on the higher-end luxury touches. As a runabout for the commute and the odd weekend away, it's hard to fault at the price.
One last thing before you sign anything. Whatever you land on from this list, run a full car history check on the exact car first, because a great price on a bad car is no bargain. Have a look here to check a vehicle before you buy.
