'I'm a used car expert - these three cheap SUVs come with expensive faults'

In the video, Grant urges drivers to avoid three popular variants of used SUVs (Image: YouTube @ScottishCarClan)

A popular used car expert has taken to YouTube to warn motorists thinking of buying a cheap SUV to avoid three variants of popular models that could have expensive issues.

Grant runs the YouTube channel Scottish Car Clan and regularly creates videos in which he gives tips to help motorists find the best pre-owned model for them and avoid others with troublesome track records.

In a recent video, Grant discusses a number of unreliable used SUVs, recommending that drivers think twice about getting a pre-owned Vauxhall Mokka 1.4.

He warned: "Kicking us off is the Vauxhall Mokka X with the 1.4 turbo in it. I wouldn't go there for that reason. I have a friend who is a technician, and it was he who originally warned me of that engine and some of the head gasket problems they can see.

"What he reckoned was happening was little airlocks forming in the cooling system, the engine would overheat and then cook the head gasket, and before you know it, you've got a big old problem on your hands."

Grant recommended that drivers avoid the 1.4-litre version of the Mokka, choosing the diesel instead (Image: Getty)

Whilst Grant reassured drivers that not every 1.4-litre Mokka will have this issue, the YouTuber urged drivers interested in buying one to make sure it has been thoroughly looked after to reduce the risk of breakdowns.

If an air lock causes the head gasket to fail, drivers could be forced to pay between £500 and £1,500, and other than regular checks, little can be done to prevent the issue from happening again.

Instead, it is more advisable that drivers looking to buy a used Mokka should choose the 1.6 CDTi diesel, which is both reliable and economical.

Buyers were also urged to avoid the Ford EcoSport 1.0-litre, due to its wet belt engine (Image: Getty)

Later in the video, Grant also urged motorists against buying a used Ford EcoSport if it is fitted with the entry-level 1.0-litre engine, due to an unfortunate wet belt design that could fail if it is not regularly checked.

He added: "A Ford EcoSport 1.0-litre EcoBoost. Can we all say it together? Absolutely not. Again, like the 1.2 PSA PureTech engine, these 1.0-litre EcoBoosts use wet belts, so that's a belt running through hot engine oil.

"It's destined for failure, so I just would not touch one of these with a barge pole and I wouldn't recommend that you do either."

Finally, the YouTuber suggested that drivers looking to buy a used Kia Sportage should avoid the 1.7-litre variant that features a six-speed gearbox.

He continued: "This one is the 1.6, so right away these are slow. This isn't me being a speed freak; they just are a bit slow. Test drive one first before committing to the purchase.

"These were fitted with a five-speed gearbox, but the bigger brother, the 1.7, had a six-speed. More and more of them are being seen to have problems with that gearbox. What happens is the little tabs on the synchromesh break away, and ultimately, what that means is it grinds between gearchanges."