Toyota rav 4 diesel v Nissan x trail.

shawnee

Hi, friend of mine is looking at the two and wondering which would be most reliable and economical as a jeep run around. No trailer work etc.:D Any views or experiences would be appreciated:D

mgbgt1978

Rav4 should be the better bet . X-Trails are giving a huge amount of trouble in the UK.
Some Rav4 d4d's have given gearbox trouble but the x-trail appears to be causing a lot more complaints.
See reviews for both on honestjohn.co.uk

gyppo

Tbh, the petrol engined rav4s are pretty light on fuel - I have a 1.8 that returns 37/38mpg - if you're not going to do trailer work, I'd consider the petrol

bazz26

What year of car are we talking about here?

Older X-Trail 2.2 diesels suffer from frequent turbo failure, two people I know from work had to replace the turbo on theirs. Newer X-Trail with the 2.0 diesel engine seems to be more reliable.

Older RAV4 2.0 D-4D can suffer from DMF failure at high mileage but most modern manual diesels suffer the same problem. Not sure about the later 2.2 D-4Ds though.

shawnee

gyppo wrote: »

Tbh, the petrol engined rav4s are pretty light on fuel - I have a 1.8 that returns 37/38mpg - if you're not going to do trailer work, I'd consider the petrol

That's a consideration alright, because I am not doing huge mileage at present , what year is your rav4 and how do you find it as a driver ?

colm_mcm

The Rav diesel can do a DMF way even at low mileage, uncle did his at 50k miles.
If no off roading required, then the 2WD 1.8 VVT-i is the one to go for. it's lighter, not perm 4WD and returns mpg not far off the diesel.
Granted the diesel is quieter, doesn't torque steer, and has nice extended wheelarches.

If it's the 06 onwards model, then get the diesel. the 2.0 is a pig on juice in the new model.

Hyundai Tucson diesel has to be worth a look too, especially the later 130hp 6 speed model. 2WD is phenomenal on diesel.

STForSale

We put 60K on an '07 RAV 2.2 D4D without replacing so much as a bulb.
Serviced once a year and 2 front tyres was all it ever got till it was nicked.
High motor tax was the only complaint.
Averaged 6L - 100, pretty impressive for a 4WD. Never liked the X-Trail, find the interior very van like.

Tucson is a good shout, will come for a lot less that a RAV too.

shawnee

Very tempted to buy the 1.8 Rav 4 petrol Have seen one today, 04 green 6,500. Price seems okay, would probably prefer silver but may go with this one.:p

NewApproach

BMW 320d Touring?

shawnee

No thanks, find the 320s a bit small for my 6 foot plus.:D

NewApproach

shawnee wrote: »

No thanks, find the 320s a bit small for my 6 foot plus.:D

520d?

NewApproach

Or how about a Subaru Outback?

shawnee

NewApproach wrote: »

520d?

520d are all 08 and are a bit too expensive. Hoping to spend 7 grand at most

shawnee

Was happy enough with the drive of Rav 4, however friend of mine suggests driving a tuscon diesel before buying. Does anyone know if the 4 wd models can be driven on 2 wd when not needed. Or has anyone experience of these v the Rav 4.

colm_mcm

Most Tucsons have 2WD only, however the 4WD models have 2 modes - Auto and On

You can lock the 4WD on, or it comes on on-demand. there is no option I know of switching it off. In my experience of them, the 4WD is a bit heavier on fuel (about 3-4mpg in the difference) bit still quite good on fuel.

If going for the Hyundai, as said before, go for the 130hp model. The early 112hp ones seem to mirror the Toyota 112hp engine in needing release bearings and getting a heavy clutch after a while. The newer ones don't seem to suffer this, although it must be said that the 130 engine could very well wear a clutch out if the driver is in any way unskilled. there is a fair whack of torque and it's all too easy to slip the clutch on gearchanges as the clutch is feels very light.

Rav4 Vs Tucson (Rav4 model being the older 00 shape)
Interior - The Hyundai would have an edge here on plastics, the Rav has quite nasty light grey plastic, but it's all put together very well, the rear seats remove completely if required, but seats in the Hyundai are better, have better quality covers, and the rear seat is a better shape.
Equipment wise, it's fairly close, all Rav4s in the 2005 bracket will have either aircon or sunroof, 4 electric windows, remote locking, CD player, electric mirrors, ABS, ISOFIX, front fogs, alloys.
The Tucson does without a factory fitted radio (a security worry) and double locking. On the other hand the Rav4 won't have side airbags, Rav4 has a full sized spare and colour coded bumpers which the Tucson does without.
The Rav uses a side hinged rear door with the spare wheel mounted on it which is quite heavy, the Tucson uses a conventional tailgate with a seperately opening rear window.
Very similarly specced I'd say.

Performance wise, they're very similar, the older Hyundai 2.0 unit is shockingly similar to the Toyota with the narrow power band, although the Toyota is grippier and feels stronger when driven hard (DMF failures would suggest otherwise)

Both 2WD models will spin the front wheels and be a bit of a handful if driven agressively, the 130 2WD Tucson in particular will spin the front wheels quite easily on roundabouts, but you get used to it.

The petrol Rav4 is quite boomy, the exhaust in them is quite noisy. it sounds good though, so it's not much of a hardship.

The post 06 Rav4 upped the game a lot, but as previously mentioned, they're taxed as a 2.3 and there would be concerns about the engine based on tales from IS220d owners. They're only 135hp anyway and the Tucson has way more usable power.
Safety wise, the newer Rav has 9 airbags, but no standard ESP and no 5 star NCAP rating. the interior is a class above the Tucson though and feels very nice in most places, some nice touches like the button operated top glovebox and the lever operated one touch fold down function for the rear seats lif the mood, but there are some annoyances like the rear parcel shelf that is too small to clip onto the rear seat unless it's reclined and the lack of a leather steering wheel or front fogs like the old model had. Both can be added, but you're talking serious money for either.

On balance, I'd get the Tucson, only in the higher HP and preferably the rare Deluxe model which has colour coded bumpers, leather interior, cruise control, parking sensors, tinted glass, retracting mirrors and other bits and pieces.

techie

colm_mcm wrote: »

The Rav diesel can do a DMF way even at low mileage, uncle did his at 50k miles.
If no off roading required, then the 2WD 1.8 VVT-i is the one to go for. it's lighter, not perm 4WD and returns mpg not far off the diesel.
Granted the diesel is quieter, doesn't torque steer, and has nice extended wheelarches.

If it's the 06 onwards model, then get the diesel. the 2.0 is a pig on juice in the new model.

Hyundai Tucson diesel has to be worth a look too, especially the later 130hp 6 speed model. 2WD is phenomenal on diesel.

What mpg is average on the 2WD Tucson as wife is interested in getting one?

colm_mcm

40 is doable on 6 speed commercial 2wd. Passenger should be similar.

techie

Cheers, I have a 2L Petrol Sportage and am getting 30 so not too bad, as mine is 4WD.

shawnee

colm_mcm wrote: »

Most Tucsons have 2WD only, however the 4WD models have 2 modes - Auto and On

You can lock the 4WD on, or it comes on on-demand. there is no option I know of switching it off. In my experience of them, the 4WD is a bit heavier on fuel (about 3-4mpg in the difference) bit still quite good on fuel.

If going for the Hyundai, as said before, go for the 130hp model. The early 112hp ones seem to mirror the Toyota 112hp engine in needing release bearings and getting a heavy clutch after a while. The newer ones don't seem to suffer this, although it must be said that the 130 engine could very well wear a clutch out if the driver is in any way unskilled. there is a fair whack of torque and it's all too easy to slip the clutch on gearchanges as the clutch is feels very light.

Rav4 Vs Tucson (Rav4 model being the older 00 shape)
Interior - The Hyundai would have an edge here on plastics, the Rav has quite nasty light grey plastic, but it's all put together very well, the rear seats remove completely if required, but seats in the Hyundai are better, have better quality covers, and the rear seat is a better shape.
Equipment wise, it's fairly close, all Rav4s in the 2005 bracket will have either aircon or sunroof, 4 electric windows, remote locking, CD player, electric mirrors, ABS, ISOFIX, front fogs, alloys.
The Tucson does without a factory fitted radio (a security worry) and double locking. On the other hand the Rav4 won't have side airbags, Rav4 has a full sized spare and colour coded bumpers which the Tucson does without.
The Rav uses a side hinged rear door with the spare wheel mounted on it which is quite heavy, the Tucson uses a conventional tailgate with a seperately opening rear window.
Very similarly specced I'd say.

Performance wise, they're very similar, the older Hyundai 2.0 unit is shockingly similar to the Toyota with the narrow power band, although the Toyota is grippier and feels stronger when driven hard (DMF failures would suggest otherwise)

Both 2WD models will spin the front wheels and be a bit of a handful if driven agressively, the 130 2WD Tucson in particular will spin the front wheels quite easily on roundabouts, but you get used to it.

The petrol Rav4 is quite boomy, the exhaust in them is quite noisy. it sounds good though, so it's not much of a hardship.

The post 06 Rav4 upped the game a lot, but as previously mentioned, they're taxed as a 2.3 and there would be concerns about the engine based on tales from IS220d owners. They're only 135hp anyway and the Tucson has way more usable power.
Safety wise, the newer Rav has 9 airbags, but no standard ESP and no 5 star NCAP rating. the interior is a class above the Tucson though and feels very nice in most places, some nice touches like the button operated top glovebox and the lever operated one touch fold down function for the rear seats lif the mood, but there are some annoyances like the rear parcel shelf that is too small to clip onto the rear seat unless it's reclined and the lack of a leather steering wheel or front fogs like the old model had. Both can be added, but you're talking serious money for either.

On balance, I'd get the Tucson, only in the higher HP and preferably the rare Deluxe model which has colour coded bumpers, leather interior, cruise control, parking sensors, tinted glass, retracting mirrors and other bits and pieces.

Thanks for the really comprehensive report Colm, I was to look at a Tuscon
tomorrow. What do you think of this one ? Has had clutch replaced and timing belt recently done.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1964427

techie

Nicer one here with lower mileage:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2106486

techie

Or here , depending on budget:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2061605

shawnee

Like the blue one, have a particular dislike for anything black and either way it is outside budget. Just spoke to garage with blue one and he says that there is a slight problem crunch with car going into first which needs to be sorted.

colm_mcm

The 6 speed didn't come till 06. Pay particular attention to transmission and drive a load of them so you can compare

shawnee

Yeah, interestingly the guy with the Blue one for sale mentioned that he is having a crunch noise going into first and that it needs looking at

bazz26

Have a look at these too:-

Honda CR-V:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201111201670372

Suzuki Grand Vitara:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201110201531142

techie

shawnee wrote: »

Yeah, interestingly the guy with the Blue one for sale mentioned that he is having a crunch noise going into first and that it needs looking at

One of the mechanics from that garage is my neighbour and if there is a problem with the jeep , it will be sorted before the sale.

shawnee

bazz26 wrote: »

Have a look at these too:-

Honda CR-V:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201111201670372

Looks a nice jeep buy 3 owners and only 66000 miles makes me a little bit
nervous :eek:





Suzuki Grand Vitara:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201110201531142

d

shawnee

I drove the wine coloured Tuscon today and while the jeep and the bodywork was in good condition overall, I found the transmission/gearchange a bit lumpy and truck like. While the jeep was comfortable it didn't do it for me and I will not be buying one at present.

bazz26

shawnee wrote: »

Originally Posted by bazz26
Have a look at these too:-

Honda CR-V:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index...01111201670372

Looks a nice jeep buy 3 owners and only 66000 miles makes me a little bit
nervous





Suzuki Grand Vitara:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index...01110201531142

3 owners on a 7 year old car is hardly unusual, lots of people don't do big mileage and the CR-V like most soft roaders the only off roading they see is the kerb of the local retail park.

techie

shawnee wrote: »

I drove the wine coloured Tuscon today and while the jeep and the bodywork was in good condition overall, I found the transmission/gearchange a bit lumpy and truck like. While the jeep was comfortable it didn't do it for me and I will not be buying one at present.

I would suggest to try another one before you rule it out as , already said I have a Sportage, its sister jeep , and it drives fine and is nothing like the description you give above.

shawnee

Yes, It would be worth trying another, friend of mine has had three and loves the Tuscon, interestingly his most recent one is automatic.:P