Top five SUVs for under $40,000

Do you have just under $40K to spend on an SUV and aren't sure who to tell to shut up and take your money? Let us help you with that.

See you may not know it, but this price point is sort of magical, not in a David Copperfield magical way but more in an unlocking-entry-into-some-excellent SUVs way. That's because car brands make more than one level of most models – several variants in fact.

So while a top-of-the-range SUV might list for $60 grand, you can pick up what is essentially the same car for a lot less money lower in the line-up. Sure you may not get some of the fancier tech or little luxuries, but they are almost always non-essential.

With so many SUVs in this magical price band where do you start? Here are the five we'd have at the top of our shopping list. So let the magic begin. Umm... Abracadabra.

1.    Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI Comfortline

The top-of-the-range Volkswagen Tiguan costs $49,990 while the entry-grade car lists for $31,990 but $36,990 will score you a Tiguan 110TSI in the mid-spec Comfortline grade.

The Tiguan has a high-end air about it with its crisp lines and serious looks. At 4486mm in length it's about 210mm shorter than the Santa Fe and seats five.

There isn't another SUV at this price point with a more premium-feeling, well-crafted cabin. The materials are high quality, the fit and finish is excellent and it's super stylish.

There isn't another SUV at this price point with a more premium-feeling, well-crafted cabin.

Head and legroom in the second row is excellent – I have the same amount of space behind my driving position as I do in the bigger Santa Fe – heaps.

The Comfortline trim level sits in the middle of the Tiguan range and comes with some great standard features.

Boot space is big at 615 litres, while cabin storage is outstanding. There's overhead cargo areas, a bin under centre console armrest, a hidey hole on the dash top, large drawers under the front seats, and a grocery net for the boot.

There are two cup holders up front, another two in the fold-down armrest in the second row and giant bottle holders in all the doors.

The Comfortline trim level sits in the middle of the Tiguan range and comes with some great standard features. There's an eight-inch touch screen with sat nav and reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto parking, plus front and rear parking sensors.

The 110 TSI Comfortline has a 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine. It's the least powerful petrol engine in the range, but it has no problems moving the 1450kg SUV, plus it's super fuel-efficient when combined with the seven-speed DSG auto transmission which sends the drive to all wheels.

Handling is another best for this class and the ride is comfortable.

Also outstanding is the level of advanced safety equipment. There's AEB (city); lane keeping assistance and driver fatigue detection.

2.    Hyundai Santa Fe Active

Without sounding like one of those furniture TV ads that yell at you… don't pay $64,250 for a Santa Fe SR when $39,350 will get you into the entry-grade Santa Fe Active.

It's large at 4700mm end to end, but still 375mm shorter than the enormous Mazda CX-9.

There isn't a single angle from which the Santa Fe doesn't look absolutely stunning. That grille, those headlights, that coupe-esque side profile, the tailgate – it looks pretty, but tough as nails.

It's large at 4700mm end to end but still 375mm shorter than the enormous Mazda CX-9. But being big means it has room for a third row of seats for a total of seven.

Legroom is good in the second row – I'm 191cm and can sit behind my driving position with about 4cm of space between my knees and the seat back. I've sat in the third row and well, the leg cramps begin immediately but as a spare couple of seats for kids they'll be fine.

That third row folds flat to give you a 516-litre boot with underfloor storage for wet clothes and muddy shoes.

While it does carry the maximum  five star  ANCAP safety rating, the Hyundai Active doesn't get the more advanced safety tech such as AEB.

Cabin storage is good with a decent-sized bin under the centre console armrest, a deep well in front of the shifter and a small tub in the second row. There's two cup holders in each row and bottle holders in all the doors.

Standard on the Active is a seven-inch touchscreen with reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors, LED running lights, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Active comes with a 138kW/241Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which has an official combined fuel consumption of 9.4L/100km with six-speed manual gear box or six-speed auto. All Actives are also all-wheel drive.

While it does carry the maximum five star ANCAP safety rating, the Hyundai Active doesn't get the more advanced safety tech such as AEB, which is only available on the Highlander and SR grades.

Sitting just beyond the $40,000 barrier and worthy of an honourable mention here is the new Santa Fe Active X.

At $40,990, it represents outstanding value with a 199kW/318Nm 3.3-litre V6.  The standard features list is extensive with 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, dual-zone climate control, a cooled glovebox, and a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

3.    Subaru Outback 2.5i

I'm not naming names, but there might be some entries in this top five who have just jumped on the SUV bandwagon not all that long ago *cough* Mini Countryman *cough*, but not the Subaru Outback.

Having been around since 1994 you could say the Outback is one of the original SUVs.

No, having been around since 1994 you could say the Outback is one of the original SUVs and there's a reason why it's still one of the best sellers – it's damn good and great value at $36,240 for the entry 2.5i grade. This is the entry grade car in a range which tops out at $48,740.

Okay it might not be as tall and pretty as the Santa Fe or Koleos, but when the zombie apocalypse comes you'll see me running straight past those SUVs and jumping into the Outback. Why? Because of its awesome all-wheel drive system, its better handling, its 213mm of ground clearance, a full-sized spare and it only needs the cheapest petrol – 91RON, and that'll mean it might run on cooking oil too. Those petrol stations are going to be drained within days...

The 129kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine is a great unit that gets good mileage and even the auto transmission isn't bad for a CVT.

The 2.5i's weakness is its acceleration – 0-100km/h in 10.6 seconds is slow off the mark, but so are zombies. Still, the 129kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine is a great unit that gets good mileage and even the auto transmission isn't bad for a CVT.

Boot size is 512 litres which is up there with the cargo capacities of the other SUVs, while cabin space is also good with excellent leg and head room in the second row. You'll find two cup holders in the front and two for the back seats.

The 2.5i is the base-spec Outback in a range that tops out at $48,470, but most Subarus represent good value for money. The standard features list includes 18-inch alloys, a 6.2-inch touch screen with reversing camera and dual-zone climate control.

4.    Mini Countryman Cooper

There was once a time when things were simple: phones were just phones and Minis were small. But now phones are better and so are Minis, even if they've multiplied into countless variations that nobody can keep track of – I'm talking about Minis. The Countryman is the biggest Mini money can buy and the Cooper is the most affordable at $39,000 in a range which stretches to $51,500.

The Countryman Cooper offers a sporty drive even if it's not the quickest in the range. (Image credit: Dan Pugh)

At 4097mm long the Countryman is big for a Mini but not for an SUV. It looks unmistakably Mini, though with its googly headlights, sad-mouth grille, flat bonnet and short overhangs.

Boot space is the smallest in this top 5 at 450 litres, and legroom in the sliding second row isn't as generous as the other SUVs here.

That it has ritzy BMW underpinnings makes the Mini Countryman something to be taking very seriously.

Out on the open  road  the small engine can feel underpowered, but in its city natural  habitat  the Countryman (or should that be Urbanman) is entertaining to drive.

A fuel-efficient 100kW/220Nm three-cylinder turbo petrol engine is in that nose and is connected to a six-speed auto transmission.

The Countryman Cooper offers a sporty drive even if it's not the quickest in the range and ride is a little firm. Out on the open road the small engine can feel underpowered, but in its city natural habitat the Countryman (or should that be Urbanman) is entertaining to drive.

You might think that a bottom-of-the-range Mini might be a bit light-on in terms of features but the Countryman Cooper's stylish interior has a prestige well-crafted feel and the standard features list is impressive.

Along with leather seats, kick-open auto tailgate, a reversing camera, auto parking and front and rear sensors, there's also AEB, collision warning, pedestrian detection and speed limit sign recognition. That's great value.

5. Renault Koleos Zen

Oooh lah lah, a French SUV. Well it's really a Nissan X-Trail that's been given to Renault as part of a relationship between the two carmakers. The Zen grade with four-wheel drive lists for $36,490 which puts it midway in a range which begins at $29,990 and climbs to $43,490.

The X-Trail looks so much better than it used to, but then the French have made it even more handsome.

Thing is, what Renault has done to it makes it better in some ways than the X-Trail. Starting with those looks...

The X-Trail looks so much better than it used to, but then the French have made it even more handsome with a bolder more angular look and a cabin which has a premium feel with its stylish layout.

That sub $40K price will get you into the mid-sped Zen with four-wheel drive. Standard features include a seven-inch touchscreen, sat nav, reversing camera, eight-speaker stereo, rear privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, 18-inch alloys and upholstery which looks like leather but is definitely not leather.

Storage elsewhere is good too, with a deep centre console bin and a large lunch-box sized well in front of the shifter.

The Aussie Koleos is a five seater. Leg and head room in the second row is excellent while the boot is big at 458 litres – but don't compare that to VDA litres of the other SUVs here – Renault quotes actual fluid litres. Under the boot floor is another enormous area for wet things you don't want anywhere near the cabin.

Storage elsewhere is good too, with a deep centre console bin and a large lunch-box sized well in front of the shifter.

There are two cup holders in the front, another two in the back and smallish bottle holders in the doors.

Leg and headroom in the second row is excellent – again at 191 tall I sit like I'm being chauffeured in a limo.

The Koleos has a 126kW/226Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a CVT automatic transmission.

What you do miss out on at this spec level is the advanced safety equipment which comes on the Intens grade above it such as AEB and blind spot warning. Still, this is a five-star ANCAP rated car.

Which SUV would you buy for under $40k? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.