Softroader Comparisons

Berger

Berger

Berger

Soldato
Joined
22 May 2003
Posts
10,856
Location
Wigan
Doing some research now on softroaders, but reviews don't seem to really cover their 4wd/awd systems much and was wondering if anyone had come across any comparisons or reviews before.

Looking at things like

Nissan Qashqai/Dualis
VW Tiguan (I like this but boot seemed small)
Hyundai IX35
Kia Sportage (Same as IX35)

Then new Honda CRV coming out shortly.

No BMW/Audi/Merc as too expensive.

The larger full time 4x4 cars have poor rear seating for 4 adults, and I can count on one hand how many times I have used the low ratio gearbox at work, having no diff locks is a problem before you need low ratio. Its certainly something I wouldn't use in my own car, but 4wd/awd would be useful for dirt roads or slippy conditions. Otherwise I could consider Ford Ranger/Nissan Navara D40/Mitsubishi Triton, Hilux is way overpriced.
 
We had an older CRV in the family for a couple of years (i'm talking car age circa 1999) and it was actually a pretty good all rounder. The interior was nasty but that should be taken care of in the newer models, it used lots of fuel (25mpg max) but done it's job very well - it never went properly off road but went through a good few muddy fields / dirt tracks / journeys mildly off road in the snow and coped admirably on its all season tyres.

Was pretty practical too, it had sliding seats and loads of room in the back for 3 - i seem to remember the floor being flat too, you could almost walk through the cabin.

I quite like the kia too, in all honesty i'd imagine any of the softroaders would cope with mildly slippy conditions reaosnably well if they aren't fitted with summer tyres.
 
all the motoring mags love the Yeti..but I suspect its roughly the same size as the tiguan so may be a bit small
 
Another shout for the yeti from me. I like the idea of a remapped 1.8 TSI 4WD Yeti. didn't evo have one in that guise that was rather quick around a track ?
 
My Step mum had the CRV until recently, and that was the most recent model. The interior was a big improvement over the older ones certainly, the new one coming soon should be even better I would have thought.
 
Went and had a sticky beak today.

Mazda cx5 seemed ok but a little expensive and don't expect it to be up to much off road, only 150mm ground clearance.

Toyotas Rav4 cruiser seemed quite good, pay a premium for it saying Toyota on the front but better residuals I expect.

Mitsubishi asx aspire, good specification, a little smaller perhaps than the others, new outlander on the way this month.

Checked out the Kuga, good looks and pretty big, the Trend model was keen on price, the top spec titanium not so much. Expect to be alright off road, not sure on the media system, Sony given them too much money I think to get their system in there. Only one USB input in the centre armrest.

VW Tiguan, still one of my favourites, looks to be face lifted and the new models are a little more than I wanted to spend, the MY12 are well priced. There was more legroom in the back for adults than almost all the others, smaller boot, but clever seats that slide forwards to increase space, or go fully flat. You can get optional HID lights which is a big plus. You have to run them on premium unleaded which is 20c a litre more expensive, not a deal breaker but I would have expected them to retune for Aus to allow you to use E10 unleaded.

Nissan Dualis, my girlfriends favourite, excellent spec as it would be top end model, CVT transmission, not too sure how this will drive compared to a manual. Little worried that with the weight of the car, only having a 2l engine with 100kw is enough power. No HID lights though :(



Also had a look at the ford ranger and Nissan Navara while I was at it, the rangers a little expensive as it is new out, the Navara seemed pretty good. Would need a dual cab, leg room not so good in the back, and would want to buy a canopy for the tray to keep things dry.
 
I found the ranger terrible I certainly wouldn't want it as a daily drive, the Toyota mitsubushi of the world are so much better
 
Navaras are a great utility vehicle and hilarious to drive in the wet but they really aren't anywhere close to the softroaders for general comfort and refinement so bear that in mind.
 
maccapacca said:
Are Great Walls available over there yet? Guy had one on a shoot last week it was quite good
Click to expand...

They are available, but I would be the laughing stock at work for owning one, and I can't help but feel they won't be very safe in a crash, plus residuals are terrible. There is a reason why they are so cheap.

I won't buy a ssangyong, chery, Great Wall or anything along those lines.

Looked at the Subaru Xv and Forester, the boot was none existent on the Xv, not sure how they managed that really! Forester was ok but nothing special.

The refinement of the tradies utes I know about, driving a Hilux or Land Cruiser at work, the new Hiluxes are pretty good really, we have a few leggy ones which are showing their age with knackered shocks and tired bushes, the lower km ones and friends privately owned ones ride well. You seem to get USB input on the stereo as standard with Bluetooth and aircon which is all you really need on one. I imagine the Nissan and Fords are similar, the Hilux has quite a cost premium for no advantage, see a lot of navaras and tritons about now instead of them. No HID lights, but can fit an aftermarket ARB roo bar and spotlights down the line to one which wouldn't be an option on the smaller cars, hence wanting good standard lights.
 
I used to have one of these but according to the motoring press they are aren't any good. Especially off road or in the snow :p

Dodge Nitro CDR SXT 2.8 diesel (Basically a bored out VW transporter sportline engine)


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It was fantastic for the money, apart from a slightly crashy ride due to having low profile goodyear F1 on 20 inch rims. It handled as well as any other small 4x4 I've driven on road. I even pulled a freelander 2 out of a snowy ditch, the piece of rubbish :D

I had it for 2 years & not even a bulb blew. The alloys corroded though, and I had them replaced under warranty.
In the third picture you can see my brother's Nitro, identical apart from the registration. He had zero issues with his too.
 
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Berger said:
I won't buy a ssangyong, chery, Great Wall or anything along those lines.
Click to expand...

The new SsangYong Korando Sports pick-up is remarkably good for the money - and leaps and bounds ahead of the Great Wall Steed. The Steed is just a pile of poorly made dross.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advic...-four---wheel-drive-pick---up-2012-road-test/

It's worth noting that the Korando Sports only really shares its name with the unremarkable and somewhat disappointing Korando 4x4.
 
I quite like the new Volvo XC70, and the 6pot petrol in one I drove was pretty nice. Didn't take it in much mud but loads of non-surfaced roads and it seemed fine.

The other one I know about is the Lexus RX450H. That will only ever connect its 3.5 V6 to the front axle, but has the electric motors for both the front and rear and will kick them in for pulling away upto 20MPH IIRC (or when you're cruising along and absolutely floor it all electrics front and rear as-well as the engine will kick in too).
 
Volvo, too expensive, seen as a premium brand, but VW isn't for some reason.

Went over to the next town who have a Dodge, Jeep and Skoda dealer, but this consisted of a porta cabin next to the Toyota dealers with a sign saying if nobody about comes see us next door.... :rolleyes:
 
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