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Ten checks before you buy a used SUV

Ten checks before you buy a used SUV

Underbody rust, honest kilometres, service gaps — what our inspectors look at first when an SUV rolls into the yard.

SUVs lead hard lives: monsoons, speed breakers, the occasional farm road. Here's the shortlist our inspectors work through before any Terrano earns a bay in our yard.

Start underneath

Rust travels upward. If the chassis rails show scaling paint or bubbling, walk away — repairs cost more than the discount justifies.

Read the odometer against the interior

  • A worn steering rim and driver's bolster usually means well past 60,000 km
  • Pedal rubber is cheaper than odometer rollbacks — check its depth

Demand the service book

Gaps aren't always sinister (some owners service outside the network), but every gap deserves a straight answer. We print each car's history and hand it over before negotiation begins.

Bring any car to our inspection bay — even ones you're considering elsewhere. The first report is free.

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