When winter comes around, it can sometimes feel like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s almost Christmas, but also the weather is often gloomy and miserable. With that in mind, it makes sense why a lot of people tend to go away around this time of year in search for a different wonderland.
If you’re planning to drive to your destination — be that the Alps, Scandinavia or Weston-super-Mare — you’ll need something practical enough to pack your trip essentials, capable enough to tackle the threat of harsh weather and comfortable for a longer-distance drive.
We’ve picked out a selection of cars under £10,000 to tick those boxes…
Subaru Impreza WRX
There’s a reason the Subaru Impreza made an icon of itself on the rally stage. With genuine performance, go-anywhere capability and typically Japanese reliability, it proved both an incredible competitor in motorsport and a dependable machine in the real world. So, if your winter getaway is going to require something that won’t break with the ability to tackle some snow should it fall — and be a ton of fun in the process — look no further than a WRX. Along with a decent amount of power from its 2.5-litre ‘boxer’ engine, and estate variants could swallow plenty for a trip.
Audi A4 Allroad
Spacious and capable — two words to describe this German estate. The Audi A4 Allroad is an estate with added versatility, thanks to a raised ride height and four-wheel drive. This means, while the regular A4 Avant is a good choice for everyday driving, this Allroad version is a safer bet for all-weather motoring. It comes with a decent helping of luxury too, with cars in this budget offering navigation, parking sensors, cruise control and — if you shop right — heated seats. Even the longest journeys should be a comfortable breeze.
Toyota Land Cruiser
It doesn’t come more rugged and reliable than this. The Toyota Land Cruiser has been renowned for its can-do attitude ever since the first one came along in 1951. With a powerful engine and a properly functional four-wheel drive system, it defines the go-anywhere vehicle. On top of that, it’s huge dimensions mean it can swallow just about any amount of cargo and there’s enough luxury in this budget for the needs of most.
Ford Ranger
A pickup taking your fancy? This offering from Ford may be able to help. The Ranger is the best selling pickup in the UK – and for good reason. It has a large load box easily capable of carrying everything you need, for starters. Plus, its all-wheel-drive system means it isn’t just a load lugger — it’s got great off-road and all-weather ability too. Not only will it get the Christmas tree in the back, but also the family at the same time, thanks to capacious seating for five.
BMW 3-Series Touring
You’ll have to sacrifice all-wheel-drive if you want a well-kept BMW 3 Series Touring within this budget, but for those longer, more motorway-bound journeys, why look any further? Not only has it made a name for itself as one of the most practical cars on the market, but it’s also one of the most comfortable too. With examples as recent as 2014 around for under £10k as well, you shouldn’t have to worry about reliability concerns nor outdated technology.
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Wrangler is a name synonymous with off the beaten track motoring — taking on the harshest of terrains and doing it with ease. On this budget, you should be able to get your hands on a good early ’00s Wrangler complete with a big 4.0-litre engine. If your winter getaway involves tackling deep snow, treacherous rivers and even a frozen lake or two, this might be the perfect companion.
Skoda Yeti
The Skoda Yeti may not look like a big car on the outside, but it certainly has the space of one the inside. A generous boot and good rear legroom combined with efficient and smooth engines make this a good long distance family cruiser. Better yet, it didn’t cost a whole lot when new either — so very recent examples with low miles can be found for comfortably under £10k.
Volvo XC90
The XC90 is Volvo’s largest SUV and has been a popular choice for many families for a long time. It’s a great do-it-all machine, with four-wheel drive, seven seats and plenty of space for all your belongings — the XC90 is the winter holiday dream machine. While high-mileage examples are most common in a £10k budget, proven Volvo reliability means that shouldn’t be a concern as long as it boasts good service history.
Dacia Duster
Getting an SUV for under £10,000 brand-new may seem unlikely, but with the Dacia Duster you can — starting at just £9,995. However, it must be said that if you want four-wheel drive and some other extras, the price starts to rise — which is where the used market comes in. Low-mileage 2015 examples fall within the price range, and offer genuine off-roading capability with efficient engines. Sure, it’s not the most luxurious machine, but for sheer functionality, it does the trick.
Nissan X-Trail
Nissan’s X-Trail is something of a forgotten gem when it comes to the world of 4x4s. Perhaps it’s overshadowed by more iconic rivals like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota Rav4, but that doesn’t mean the X-Trail fails to deliver on capability and dependability. The upside of its lack of popularity is that it becomes a bargain on the used market. For £10k, the potential of sub-60k mile examples opens up complete with a functional all-wheel-drive, enough space for five and a capacious boot.
by Oliver Young