SUV overload. Which one?

Pique

Hi All,

I'm thinking about buying a medium SUV as my main longterm car (5-7 years probably) and could do with a bit of advice.
I have a wishlist of things which most manufacturers include at some point, either standard or optional extras but the main thing I want is 4wd surefootedness and safety for the wee man plus the comforts like reversing camera, bluetooth, usb and leather if poss. I'm not going to be doing off-roading, but I still want 4wd. Yeah I know....

I want a decent bit of power, so no 110 engines please. 140 and above only please.

I have a bit of a hankering for the Subaru XV tbh, it's different (which really appeals to me), ticks all the boxes and not too expensive (I may be buying new, but convince me not to if you can please) as money is a factor.

So out of the usual suspects, Sportage, ix35, Yeti, Kuga, Rav4, ASX, CX-3, Qashqai and the XV....which ones have you got experience of?

I have seen the CX5 engine is supposed to be a peach. The XV has the best 4wd. The Kuga is probably the best looking (but could be well old in a couple of years). The Rav4 is a Toyota and therefore probably very reliable(?). The Koreans are twins basically and have 7 year warranties. The Yeti is the oddball but excellent all round (although I much prefer the pre-facelift ones with the old lights). The Qashqai is ubiquitous and that says a lot.

Does it all come down to personal preference or are there obvious winners from that lot and obvious 'just a car on stilts' like I class 4x2 SUVs?

OK this is a bit of a ramble but go on, what's the Motors views?

tw0nk

Im not adding anything to the mix here, but Im really interested in peoples opinions, Im in same boat as yourself

freddieot

I think you already have a fair grip on the pros and cons. I can tell you my experiences with various SUVs. All had 4 wheel drive as I need it sometimes but it is worth bearing in mind that none of these will take you up mountains over rocks etc.

I've had , from new:-

2002 Santa FE - 5 years no issues - great car (new model presumably much better).

2007 Kia Sorento Auto - 5 years no issues - great car - very competent 4WD with low ratios and goes 'most' places.

2006 Suzuki Vitara 4 Door - hated it.

2012 Kia Sorento Auto - 3 years no issues - great car, good power but no low ratios, some much more car-like, but had 197 bhp so can't complain too much.

By the way when I traded in the 2012 Sorento I got a very good deal, partly because of course there was still 4 years left on the 7 year warranty, so something worth considering. New one is possibly even better.

colm_mcm

I would rule out the and straight away. It was outdated at launch.
I couldn't really recommend the RAV4 either. As a model it has lost its way,


I would throw the crv into the mix. There's a new 160bhp 1.6 diesel and a 9 speed auto just been added. There is also the new HRV.

Discovery Sport might be worth a look too.

Qashqai and xtrail would safe enough bets too. 1.6 diesel is supposed to be quite strong in them., supposed to feel more than its 130bhp

Pique

colm_mcm wrote: »

I would rule out the and straight away. It was outdated at launch.
I couldn't really recommend the RAV4 either. As a model it has lost its way,


I would throw the crv into the mix. There's a new 160bhp 1.6 diesel and a 9 speed auto just been added. There is also the new HRV.

Discovery Sport might be worth a look too.

Qashqai and xtrail would safe enough bets too. 1.6 diesel is supposed to be quite strong in them., supposed to feel more than its 130bhp

I presume ou mean the ASX to rule out
Was thinking that meself. Mitsubishi are doomed with their cars (have been for a long time, really).
RAV4 is not bad and I'm not ruling it out yet without good reason.
HRV is 2wd only. CRV is too expensive unfortunately, as is the Disco, and they're too big for my needs anyway, and so is the X-Trail.

The CX5 is well up there for the specs and price but the engine is a bit underpowered by the looks of it. Only 105bhp :eek: Honda get 160 out of a similar sized engine, but that's Honda for ya, I suppose.

EDIT: Sorry, I mean the CX3, NOT the CX5.

bazz26

The Hyundai ix35 is being replaced in the next few months with the new Tucson. If it doesn't bother you then there should be good deals on current stock of the ix35 though sales are still quite strong on them. Sportage is being replaced early next year too.

Narsil

Test drove a few of these before settling on the Kia Sportage GSE (4x2 wd) which I'm still just a bit in love with. Was deliberately looking for full leather interior too as I was sick of trying to pick the dogs hair out of the Astra's seats:

12 Kia Sportage GSE 1.7: Interior fab-lots of space super comfy heated leather seats, sunroof, great sized boot (fits big German Shepherd), great pick up driving, good on diesel.

Pre 141 Qashqai (SV model): Very nippy to drive, but interior was disappointing and driver seat felt uncomfortable (too squishy)

141 on Qashqai (SV model): If I could have afforded one of these and they came with leather I would have loved it. Fab interior and fantastic to drive

12 & 131 Hyundai ix35: Nice interior but huge engine noise and wind noise when driving, pick up only ok

Didn't drive a Toyota Rav4, Mazda CX5 or Ford Kuga as they were out of my budget and was afraid to drive Range Rover Evoque for fear of remortgaging the house to get one!

Eric Cartman

Pique wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm thinking about buying a medium SUV as my main longterm car (5-7 years probably) and could do with a bit of advice.
I have a wishlist of things which most manufacturers include at some point, either standard or optional extras but the main thing I want is 4wd surefootedness and safety for the wee man plus the comforts like reversing camera, bluetooth, usb and leather if poss. I'm not going to be doing off-roading, but I still want 4wd. Yeah I know....

I want a decent bit of power, so no 110 engines please. 140 and above only please.

I have a bit of a hankering for the Subaru XV tbh, it's different (which really appeals to me), ticks all the boxes and not too expensive (I may be buying new, but convince me not to if you can please) as money is a factor.

So out of the usual suspects, Sportage, ix35, Yeti, Kuga, Rav4, ASX, CX-3, Qashqai and the XV....which ones have you got experience of?

I have seen the CX5 engine is supposed to be a peach. The XV has the best 4wd. The Kuga is probably the best looking (but could be well old in a couple of years). The Rav4 is a Toyota and therefore probably very reliable(?). The Koreans are twins basically and have 7 year warranties. The Yeti is the oddball but excellent all round (although I much prefer the pre-facelift ones with the old lights). The Qashqai is ubiquitous and that says a lot.

Does it all come down to personal preference or are there obvious winners from that lot and obvious 'just a car on stilts' like I class 4x2 SUVs?

OK this is a bit of a ramble but go on, what's the Motors views?

everything you've listed there except the rav4 is a car on stilts or 'crossover' the 4av4 would be considered a small 4x4 but just about.

a small suv is the likes of the santa fe, nissan x-trail, mercedes ML, BMW X5

a medium SUV is the likes of the land cruiser , pajero , land rover discovery , older kia sorento (the new ones are small suv category)

a large SUV is the range rover , landcruiser amazon, mercedes GL

you may be better amending the thread to 'medium-large crossover' , out of your list my pick would be the rav4 (although factory spec isn't great) or the sportage (although thats basically a tall car now, the old one was a 4x4)

Pique

Eric Cartman wrote: »

everything you've listed there except the rav4 is a car on stilts or 'crossover' the 4av4 would be considered a small 4x4 but just about.

a small suv is the likes of the santa fe, nissan x-trail, mercedes ML, BMW X5

a medium SUV is the likes of the land cruiser , pajero , land rover discovery , older kia sorento (the new ones are small suv category)

a large SUV is the range rover , landcruiser amazon, mercedes GL

you may be better amending the thread to 'medium-large crossover' , out of your list my pick would be the rav4 (although factory spec isn't great) or the sportage (although thats basically a tall car now, the old one was a 4x4)

Tomayto, tomahto.

Crossover/suv whatever.

A "car on stilts" is (to me) something that looks like it is a 4wd, but is just a 4x2.

Anyway... Think the list is down to the XV, ix35 or CX3.

NorthDublin1

Cx5 all the way.