The budget of 1.5 million rubles is slightly higher than the average price of a used car in Russia. For this money it is possible to find both an almost new Chery with low mileage and a well-maintained older German car. Motor magazine studied classified advertisements and chose seven crossovers that are worth looking at first, and at the same time recalled their typical problems.
Renault Duster
According to major classification data, a locally assembled second-generation Renault Duster is now offered for 1.5 million rubles (production was discontinued in 2022). The mileage of such specimens is usually 80-100 thousand km. However, there are also first-generation cars with even lower numbers on the odometer – about 60-70 thousand km. The budget allows you to count on an all-wheel drive version. Under the hood is a 2.0 naturally aspirated engine (143 hp), which is combined with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a classic automatic transmission. There are also modifications with a 1.6 petrol engine.
Renault Duster first generation, restyled version
Renault
Among the nuances: before buying a Duster, you should check the stabilizer struts and silent blocks. They give up at 50-70 thousand km. The body is formally galvanized, but chips down to metal on the sills and arches quickly “bloom.” And over time, interior plastic begins to actively creak – you need to be mentally prepared for this.
Hyundai Creta
For the same money you can pick up a 2018-2019 Hyundai Creta with an average mileage of 90-110 thousand km. “Korean” stubbornly keeps the price, so noticeably cheaper options usually require investment. Budget logic dictates the choice of the most popular engine – 1.6 l (123 hp). The budget of 1.5 million rubles includes cars from 2017–2018 with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. If you really want all-wheel drive, be prepared to drive over 100 thousand km.
Hyundai Creta
Hyundai
The engine is notorious for problems with the catalyst: after 100 thousand km, ceramic dust from it can get into the cylinders, causing scuffing. The transfer case in all-wheel drive versions requires regular maintenance – once every 2-3 years. And the trunk door is a traditional weak point for corrosion.
Geely Coolray
The first generation Geely Coolray on the secondary market costs about 1.5 million rubles. Usually these are 4-5 year old cars with a mileage of 50-70 thousand km. Their main trump card is a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo engine with 150 hp, created with the participation of Volvo. It is paired with a 7-speed preselective “robot” with two clutches. Drive is front-wheel drive only.
Geely Coolray
Geely
The dynamics of the model are excellent, but it is important to understand the risks. As the engine ages, it may begin to vibrate more and the engine mounts may need to be replaced. The “robot” is capricious due to overheating and bad oil. During a test drive, be sure to pay attention to how the car starts from a standstill: jerking when switching indicates wear on the clutches. Electronic failures such as parking sensors and multimedia freezing are also common.
Haval F7
A Haval F7 assembled in Tula in early years (2019-2020) with a mileage of 90-110 thousand km costs 1.5 million rubles: these will be front-wheel drive versions with a 1.5-liter turbo engine (150 hp) and a 7-speed “robot”. To purchase a used crossover with all-wheel drive and a 2.0 engine, you will have to increase your budget.
Haval F7
Haval
A robotic transmission can cause inconvenience: at mileage of 80 thousand km, if the car has been operated carelessly, it begins to twitch. You should approach the purchase of such an F7 with a cool head and mandatory diagnostics of the box.
Nissan Qashqai
For 1.5 million rubles you can look at a second generation Nissan Qashqai 2016-2018 with a mileage of 120-150 thousand km. Newer cars, younger than 2019, are already rare for this money. The budget fits mainly front-wheel drive cars with a 1.2 turbo engine. The two-liter version (144 hp) will most likely have a mileage of well over 150 thousand km.
Nissan Qashqai
Nissan
Typical faults are known and well studied. The 1.2 engine is prone to oil appetite. The Jatco variator does not like slipping and overheating, and also requires oil changes strictly according to regulations. Even the 2.0 engine has a design flaw – thin walls of the spark plug wells. Excessive force when tightening the spark plug and the cylinder head may crack.
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is a fresh player in the secondary market. For 1.5 million rubles, you can buy a completely “fresh” car from 2022–2023 with a mileage of 20–40 thousand km. Under the hood there is almost always a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with 113 hp, working with a manual or variator, front-wheel drive. For this money, sellers offer cars in maximum configurations.
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
Chery
But not everything is so smooth. The CVT does not tolerate aggressive driving well and quickly overheats. The paintwork is delicate: chips appear quickly, and corrosion can appear on the sills and arches over time.
Volkswagen Tiguan
The most ambitious option in this budget is the Volkswagen Tiguan. For 1.5 million rubles it is possible to buy a restyled first-generation Tiguan from 2014-2015. Second-generation cars (2017−2018) are also found, but with a huge mileage – from 160 to 180 thousand km. The most reasonable choice is a first-generation crossover with 100-120 thousand km on the odometer. Under the hood are TSI engines: base 1.4 (122 hp), or versions 1.8 and 2.0 TSI paired with an automatic transmission.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen
Here you need a sober assessment of your finances: servicing a Volkswagen is more expensive than many mass-market cars. Until 2013, 1.8 TSI engines suffered from timing chain stretching. After restyling it became better, but the requirements for oil quality remained high. On cars with 1.4 TSI, a “dry” DSG DQ200 robot was used, which has a limited clutch life. Also typical are problems with ABS, souring of the rear calipers and constant leaks of antifreeze through the pump and thermostat.
