Best mini-SUV

Pique

I was just reading about the Mitsubishi ASX and while going "geez, another one", I tried to work out all the different variants of the modern mini-SUV.

Ford Kuga
Nissan Qasquai
Hyundai ix35
VW Tiguan
Mitsubishi ASX

I'm sure there are a bunch of others out there.
My question is, if you HAD to own one of these, which one would it be?
Are they basically all the same under the skin apart from minor differences?

so...where would your hard-earned go?

HappyHouseWife

Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti

colm_mcm

The tiguan is very like the golf mk5, and very expensive for what it is.
The mitsubishi has a savage engine but I don't think theres much else going for it.
The qashqai is this decades Avensis, they're everywhere. The ix35 is outclassed by its KIA cousin,
Id probably consider the kuga except its a bit girly and I hate aspects of the interior.

KIA sportage or kuga but most likely the KIA

Pique

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti

I dont even class the Yeti in the same class as those listed. It's too good apparently 

si_guru

I've driven a KIA Sportage for a week - over 1000miles. Loved it. The bottom model has everything you need.

BHP

KIA Sportage or BMW X1

Lex Luthor

Seen a few RR Evoques in uk a few wks ago and like the look of them. Volvo xc60 is also a good lookijg motor

Pique

BHP wrote: »

BMW X1

Are you serious???
Hideous yokes with horrendous price tags and less appeal than a Lada Niva.

HappyHouseWife

Lex Luthor wrote: »

Seen a few RR Evoques in uk a few wks ago and like the look of them. Volvo xc60 is also a good lookijg motor

With you on the Evoque, lovely. I find myself pronouncing it Evok rather than Evoke, which is it? Volvo's are a bit too weird looking now and the whole ownership thing with Volvo over the past couple of years has seriously tainted the brand I think.

si_guru

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

With you on the Evoque, lovely. I find myself pronouncing it Evok rather than Evoke, which is it? Volvo's are a bit too weird looking now and the whole ownership thing with Volvo over the past couple of years has seriously tainted the brand I think.

...and Land Rover's reputation???

exador

The Evoque range were on show to the public at the weekend in RDS and I beleive are in dealers over the next few days...Look nice

spank_inferno

The one that is most functionaly adept is probably the Yeti, especially if you have kids.

The best looking with quirks that could annoy you (little things like being able to see out the back) would be the Kia Sportage or the Citroen DS4

I do think the DS4 is drop dead gorgeous though

Hogzy

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti

Used to work in Budget Car Rental. Had the displeasure of driving this car a few times. What a crock of shoite.

OP would you not consider a highly spec'd estate instead of one of these mini SUV's. An estate would be better spec'd, probably have a bigger engine, better mpg etc all for the same money.

Pique

Hogzy wrote: »

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti

Used to work in Budget Car Rental. Had the displeasure of driving this car a few times. What a crock of shoite.

OP would you not consider a highly spec'd estate instead of one of these mini SUV's. An estate would be better spec'd, probably have a bigger engine, better mpg etc all for the same money.

That's interesting. What was so bad about it?
Btw. I'm not looking to buy one. I'm just curious as to which is considered the best.
I'd forgotten about the Volvo. I think that's where my money would go if I was buying.

si_guru

Pique wrote: »

I'd forgotten about the Volvo. I think that's where my money would go if I was buying.

The cheapest one being 43 grand I think.

tfitzgerald

The kuga would be my first choice but it is a bit expensive IMO , what about the Toyota rav 4 or the new Hyundai I40 it's a lovely car and you get a lot of extras as standard

Zubeneschamali

Pique wrote: »

so...where would your hard-earned go?

A Subaru Forester.

R.O.R

Pique wrote: »

I'd forgotten about the Volvo. I think that's where my money would go if I was buying.

si_guru wrote: »

The cheapest one being 43 grand I think.

Cheapest Kuga is €30,000 and the Hyundai/Kia options are less than that. Cheapest Volvo XC60 is a shade under €43,000 so it's a huge hike - but if it's good enough for that sparkly vampire and Jedward..................

si_guru

R.O.R wrote: »

..and Jedward

That rules it out for me!

Hogzy

Pique wrote: »

That's interesting. What was so bad about it?
Btw. I'm not looking to buy one. I'm just curious as to which is considered the best.
I'd forgotten about the Volvo. I think that's where my money would go if I was buying.

Sorry i got confused between the Yeti and the Roomster, Although the Yeti doesnt look too nice. It reminds me of a Yaris Verso

Tea 1000

There are often very good deals on the Fiat Sedici, which is quite a good car. I've seen demo models for around 10k before. These used to have selectable 2 and 4wd with lockable diff too, making it actually useful off-road.

Lex Luthor

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

A Subaru Forester.

there are better cars out there for that kind of money...

Zubeneschamali

Lex Luthor wrote: »

there are better cars out there for that kind of money...

Yes, but the OP asked about small SUVs.

pattwoie

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti
Skoda Yeti

I second this.
Happy Yeti owner for 16 months. Quality motor.

HappyHouseWife

si_guru wrote: »

...and Land Rover's reputation???

Yeah but, no but, yeah but, at least their products aren't gone totally weird looking as well and are still instantly recognisable as LR's:)

HappyHouseWife

Hogzy wrote: »

Sorry i got confused between the Yeti and the Roomster, Although the Yeti doesnt look too nice. It reminds me of a Yaris Verso

You really are getting mixed up, it's the Roomster that looks like a spamobile.

si_guru

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

Yeah but, no but, yeah but, at least their products aren't gone totally weird looking as well and are still instantly recognisable as LR's:)

Did you see the new Defender..? I reckon they made it look like a Yeti so people forget how bad the old one is!



At least as a Land Rover owner you get plenty of chances to drive decent courtesy cars. My L322 was like a homing pigeon.

bmstuff

Yeti only pulls 110HP with a 2.0 turbo diesel for the basic version?
Woa you need to be eat a banana a day to move anywhere with this thing

Hogzy

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

You really are getting mixed up, it's the Roomster that looks like a spamobile.

In fairness they are not that different, Both are pig ugly in my opinion.

Anan1

bmstuff wrote: »

Yeti only pulls 110HP with a 2.0 turbo diesel for the basic version?
Woa you need to be eat a banana a day to move anywhere with this thing

The basic version isn't quick enough for you? Maybe move up the range a bit.

HappyHouseWife

bmstuff wrote: »

Yeti only pulls 110HP with a 2.0 turbo diesel for the basic version?
Woa you need to be eat a banana a day to move anywhere with this thing

That's 110 bhp, more importantly in the real world, the 2ltr diesel has 350NM's of torque which is more than enough to give a Superb plenty of grunt never mind a Yeti.

HappyHouseWife

Hogzy wrote: »

In fairness they are not that different, Both are pig ugly in my opinion.

Not that different??:rolleyes:
Fair enough,you've a chip on your shoulder about Skoda's. That's your opinion which you're entitled to but I think you're in a minority in critisizing the Yeti.

Hogzy

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

Not that different??:rolleyes:
Fair enough,you've a chip on your shoulder about Skoda's. That's your opinion which you're entitled to but I think you're in a minority in critisizing the Yeti.

I have no chip on my shoulder :rolleyes:
I just know a pretty car from an Ugly car. Im not saying the Yeti is a bad car, im just saying its an ugly car. Looks are entirely subjective anyway. Im just telling you what i think. So lets just agree to disagree.

For the record - I am saying the Roomster is a bad car. And i can i wont be hard pushed to find people agreeing with me on that one.

HappyHouseWife

Hogzy wrote: »

For the record - I am saying the Roomster is a bad car. And i can i wont be hard pushed to find people agreeing with me on that one.

I'll half agree with you on the Roomster, I don't think it's a bad car but it does look hideous, I reckon Skoda will drop it completely in the next 12-18 months.

si_guru

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

I'll half agree with you on the Roomster, I don't think it's a bad car but it does look hideous, I reckon Skoda will drop it completely in the next 12-18 months.

I know someone who has one.... by god they are ugly - even as a Skoda lover I struggle to see myself in one. But anyway, as a car they are great. From the inside it 100% works.

Anan1

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

I'll half agree with you on the Roomster, I don't think it's a bad car but it does look hideous, I reckon Skoda will drop it completely in the next 12-18 months.

In my experience, when a car has genuine ability then the looks have a way of growing on me.

VolvoMan

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

Volvo's are a bit too weird looking now and the whole ownership thing with Volvo over the past couple of years has seriously tainted the brand I think.

I don't really understand where you're coming from.

Volvo were sold by Ford to the Chinese over a year ago and now have an ex VW man at the helm. They are operating pretty much independently now and are experiencing great sales success with the S60/V60 and XC60. They returned to profitability this year and the future is looking brighter than ever.

spurious

I drive a Roomster - stands out a mile in the car park compared to the bland sameness of similar cars.
Great car - does exactly what it says on the tin. Buckets of room.

HappyHouseWife

VolvoMan wrote: »

I don't really understand where you're coming from.

Volvo were sold by Ford to the Chinese over a year ago and now have an ex VW man at the helm. They are operating pretty much independently now and are experiencing great sales success with the S60/V60 and XC60. They returned to profitability this year and the future is looking brighter than ever.

I just feel they went through a phase of great uncertainty and were passed around from Billy to Jack for a while. As for being owned by the Chinese now, I've nothing against the Chinese but what do they know about Volvo's heritage or European tastes?? feck all! The latest S60 is not a looker and doesn't draw on enough Volvo styling cues to be distinctive, you could put any Asian car makers badge on it and nobody would be any the wiser. It's no 940!:)

Tea 1000

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

I just feel they went through a phase of great uncertainty and were passed around from Billy to Jack for a while. As for being owned by the Chinese now, I've nothing against the Chinese but what do they know about Volvo's heritage or European tastes?? feck all! The latest S60 is not a looker and doesn't draw on enough Volvo styling cues to be distinctive, you could put any Asian car makers badge on it and nobody would be any the wiser. It's no 940!:)

You're right about the Chinese not knowing squat about Volvo's heritage, but they don't necessarily need to. Volvo know about it, and the Chinese just need Volvo to do their thing the best and help them in the weaknesses.
Audi for example could have ruined Lambourghini, but I genuinly don't think they did. They introduced processes to help them to be built properly, and let the Italians design and configure the rest. Works well too.

Brian?

I don't think anyone has made a better small SUV than the Forrester. Sure you can even get them in daysel these days. All 4x4 and the petrol ones go like bejaysus.

But then I suppose it depends on what you actually want it to do, if it's for a school run the scooby would probably be wasted.

Lex Luthor

briankeating wrote: »

I don't think anyone has made a better small SUV than the Forrester. Sure you can even get them in daysel these days. All 4x4 and the petrol ones go like bejaysus.

But then I suppose it depends on what you actually want it to do, if it's for a school run the scooby would probably be wasted.

the new Forester is not all its cracked up to be

Brian?

Lex Luthor wrote: »

briankeating wrote: »

I don't think anyone has made a better small SUV than the Forrester. Sure you can even get them in daysel these days. All 4x4 and the petrol ones go like bejaysus.

But then I suppose it depends on what you actually want it to do, if it's for a school run the scooby would probably be wasted.

the new Forester is not all its cracked up to be

Why?

VolvoMan

HappyHouseWife wrote: »

I just feel they went through a phase of great uncertainty and were passed around from Billy to Jack for a while.

Sure look at Land Rover. They've been passed from BMC, to British Leyland, to British Aerospace, to BMW, to Ford and now to Tata.

Volvo Cars have been from Volvo AB, to Ford and now to Geely.

Tea 1000 wrote: »

You're right about the Chinese not knowing squat about Volvo's heritage, but they don't necessarily need to. Volvo know about it, and the Chinese just need Volvo to do their thing the best and help them in the weaknesses.

That's pretty much it. The Chinese will allow Volvo to continue what they are doing and maybe learn a thing or two from them along the way.

Audi for example could have ruined Lambourghini, but I genuinly don't think they did. They introduced processes to help them to be built properly, and let the Italians design and configure the rest. Works well too.

When you say Audi it really was VW. For a short period VW had an organisation within the group where SEAT and Lamborghini were headed by Audi.

Anyway, we'll get back on topic.

Lex Luthor

briankeating wrote: »

Why?

Previous one is better