Best SUV £10k-£13k

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

Soldato
Joined
13 Jan 2004
Posts
12,773
Location
Leicestershire
Any ideas? Currently got a 2014 Outlander GX4 which *touch wood* has been great over the last 12months/13k miles.
Partner is after a car and something different.
Requirements:
Must be 4WD.
Must be automatic.
Must be able to fit a pallet in the back. (Outlander can just...)
Must be less than £300 a year tax.
Must be reliable.
Prefer 2017+.

Probably some other things but these are the main ones....
Been looking at 2014 Freelander 2s, 2017 Evoques (not looking at now), 2016 CR-Vs.

Honda looks decent as does Freelander 2 but partner wants a newer car.
 
A pallet, what size ? loaded ? how heavy ? how do you get a pallet in the back, use a forklift ? I dont think you can fit much more than a handbag in an evoque never mind a pallet.
 
whitecrook said:
A pallet, what size ? loaded ? how heavy ? how do you get a pallet in the back, use a forklift ? I dont think you can fit much more than a handbag in an evoque never mind a pallet.
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We collect fill size pallets occasionally just to build stuff with Compost bins etc. it's just useful. The Evoque we've discounted really. We also do tip runs with big stuff sometimes and pick-ups have limits.
 
Calpol said:
CR-V
Reliability is excellent.
The older models look great imo. Paint quality is excellent - I see ten year old cars that look better than 3 year old ones.
Only downside would be less than average infotainment.
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Glad to hear this. Reviews back up what you are saying and TBH infotainment isn't really a thing.
 
helpimcrap said:
She does but you can't put seats down to fit longer stuff in. We had to get a Ford Galaxy last time to transport a sofa.... Needs to be 4x4 though.
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Do you regularly transport sofas? Making a choice on a vehicle that will be used every day based upon something you do once every few months or years isn't a smart idea!
 
Dis86 said:
Do you regularly transport sofas? Making a choice on a vehicle that will be used every day based upon something you do once every few months or years isn't a smart idea!
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The amount of times I've had the seats down in the Outlander is every other week.
I agree she probably doesn't need one that big but it's gotta be capable. We're looking at Freelander 2s and CR-Vs but open to other ideas.
 
We ran a 2008 CR-V 2.0EX for 10 years. It was faultlessly reliable. We had to do the usual stuff like brakes, clutch, suspension etc. but it just kept on going. It was on 155k when we got rid of it. Sold it to a friend of the wife and he is still using it and has had no issues. It must be on over 200k now.
 
If you're just collecting unloaded pallets, could they be attached to roof bars? It would open up your choices a bit?

re the point about the pick-ups - wouldn't the length of the bed be equal to or greater than the length of the outlander boot with seats down? Anything longer could just have the tailgate down?
 
Dis86 said:
Genuinely a suggestion I've made on here before. People put out their list of wants and vans are the perfect solution for them.

4wd may be the issue there though.
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indeed. not sure the reason for anting 4x4 though. I guess sometimes you gotta carry pallets and sofas over slippy, muddy rough terrain? There are still plenty 4x4 vans though.
 
4x4 - we need the option because of where we live. Hills, muddy roads (tractors etc) and bad weather means we NEED 4x4 for at least 2 months of the year just to leave the house.

I get the idea of a van but we use the 5 seats often and I've not seen a 4x4 van? Also re: pickups/vans a visit to the trip isn't straightforward but I've never seen one there.

The Outlander has been a proper do-it-all car and I'd be tempted to get another but the support isn't there and we're after a CR-V as an alternative.

Although we are considering others that we haven't thought of. A RAV4 night be perfect but it's small IMO.
 
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I (occasionally) drive a few VW Transporter vans at work. They're 4x4, but manuals. Don't know if they do autos. Worth considering?

Or some auto Merc Sprinters have the option to switch between 2 and 4 WD.
 
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Your location is Leicestershire, I live in rural Northumberland. Gonna go with conditions and roads are worse here!

I drive a rwd electric bmw and have had no issues. 4wd can be helpful but, owning a 4wd capable vehicle i can say I've never had a situation where it's been essential. Driving skill and tyres are far more important. Its a pickup and the reason we have it is the bed is massively practical for transport.

Your Mrs seems to be getting hung up on very strange requirements that are going to massively and unnecessarily limit vehicle choices. The £300 tax thing is completely nonsensical for example.

As an additional bit of info the band below 300 is £255. The first band above is £305. Then £355. Then £385.

And extra £8 a month isn't going to break the bank, especially given the increased fuel consumption and tyre wear from 4wd.
 
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Dis86 said:
Your location is Leicestershire, I live in rural Northumberland. Gonna go with conditions and roads are worse here!

I drive a rwd electric bmw and have had no issues. 4wd can be helpful but, owning a 4wd capable vehicle i can say I've never had a situation where it's been essential. Driving skill and tyres are far more important. Its a pickup and the reason we have it is the bed is massively practical for transport.

Your Mrs seems to be getting hung up on very strange requirements that are going to massively and unnecessarily limit vehicle choices. The £300 tax thing is completely nonsensical for example.

As an additional bit of info the band below 300 is £255. The first band above is £305. Then £355. Then £385.

And extra £8 a month isn't going to break the bank, especially given the increased fuel consumption and tyre wear from 4wd.
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Mid Wales as of last year. Haven't changed my location as forgot. We've had vehicles get stuck going past our house consistently and need towing out by local farmers.
Pick-up trucks are classed as commercial vehicles and so follow different rules for pretty much everything from what we've seen. Basically something like a 4X4 Galaxy is what she wants. The pallet thing is just something useful but not essential.
The tax is a rough limit because we can't afford to be paying £750+ a year in tax.
 
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