Hyundai Tucson Mk3: The ultimate sub-£5000 family workhorse

Trims begin with S and rise to SE and SE Nav, with Premium topping the range. There was also a Sport trim with big wheels, which don't help the ride.

In 2019, Hyundai broadened the range with a light facelift. The petrols were carried over. Little changed, but the turbocharged variant gained the dual-clutch automatic as an option.

For the diesels, a 1.6-litre replaced the 1.7 and could be had with 113bhp or 134bhp, with the option of the dual-clutch 'box in the higher-powered variant. The 2.0-litre diesel became four-wheel drive and auto only, gaining a slight power boost to 184bhp courtesy of a 48V mild-hybrid system.

As for equipment, a larger infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 360deg camera all became available. If you're worried about reliability concerns hurting residuals in the long run, prices are already quite cheap - starting at £4500 - and there are enough examples out there to find a well-looked-after one.

Our pick, a 1.7-litre CRDi with a manual gearbox, is the cheapest one today because buyers are cautious about diesels. And road tax (VED) will be just £35 for those registered before 1 April 2017.

What to look for

Engine: The 1.6-litre 'Gamma' petrol engine has a poor reliability record. We spoke to a Hyundai/ Kia mechanic who advised avoiding it because it's not uncommon for piston rings to fail at 50,000 miles - the telltale sign is excessive oil consumption -  resulting in the need for a replacement engine. Owners suggest changing the oil every year or 5000 miles, instead of the two years and 20,000 miles recommended by Hyundai, but that isn't foolproof. Glow plug faults are common on the 2.0-litre diesel. Expect to pay £1500 for a fix.

Diesel Particulate Filter: On diesels, the DPF can be an expensive problem. An illuminated warning light may indicate a failure to regenerate or the AdBlue injector failing. Either issue can cost thousands to fix. To help prevent problems, regularly undertake a reasonable motorway drive. Also note that pre-facelift Tucsons do not have AdBlue.

Gearbox: The synchromesh in manual cars can prematurely fail, requiring a replacement gearbox. Look out for noisy, difficult changes. Dual-clutch cars are prone to getting stuck in gear.

Four-wheel drive system: The rear driveshaft can fail on 4WD Tucsons and it isn't a cheap repair. If left unresolved, vibrations may damage the gearbox and leave it irreparable.

Electrics: They're temperamental at best. Door locks, handles, window switches and electronic parking brake switches often fail. Parts from Hyundai for a handbrake switch cost as much as £550. ABS, traction control, engine management and auto hold lights are reported to be regular dashboard features, often requiring a new sensor. Sat-navs are easily confused about where they are currently located and some owners have reported the screen delaminating.

Also worth knowing

Rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and Renault Kadjar are ultimately better-rounded but are pricier, so the Tucson is something of a bargain for the space on offer. The split in the classifieds is slightly in favour of the petrols, while one in five is an auto and just one in 10 is 4WD. Even so, there is a good number of all variants available.