I have enjoyed being driven in a V8 Landcruiser in Dubai, but otherwise not been in any SUVs except old Land Rover Defenders/Discovery which are not what I'm looking for. I have the excuse for an SUV living in a farming area. As long as it isn't on crazy wheels hopefully it would be comfortable and sensible in winter. The wife's Golf GTI isn't comfortable or refined, but in the UK a V8 SUV isn't ideal for a long trip, although if they are unloved because of economy and tax they might be VFM?

What SUVs do the following?

Ride really smoothly
Have great refinement
Good reliability

Doesn't have to handle well, doesn't have to be huge or expensive either.

Lexus RX? X5? Land Cruiser? XC something?

 

Proper Range Rover - as in NOT the Sport.

Will waft you along in comfort and when you come to the snowy bit of road or the muddy green lane it'll drag you through it with zero fuss.

ETA - I guess it isn't what you'd call an SUV, though.

 

When did they start to become reliable? Recent ones seem OK, but mega money?

 

SWB Landcruiser -- much cheaper than the LWB version but the same legendry build quality
I have a LWB 4.2 TD – and it makes all other off roaders/SUV’s seem like toys in comparison --- I have regularly taken mine, fully loaded to the Alps and the South of France, and dragged Solihuls finest out of snow covered fileds - peerless

 

Could add an Isuzu Trooper to the mix.

Possibly a bit agricultural, but you're in deepest Scotchland anyway so it wouldn't matter.

 

So has my L200, but I wouldn't recommend anyone buys one on the back of it.

 

Steve

 

VW Touraeg? Killer depreciation means they are a great VFM used buy and they tick all the other boxes. Not bad off road either.

Land Cruisers are great but they really do guzzle fuel and are very rolly. Massive too.

 

Based on image rather than the car itself?

 

I'd love a Rangey or Land Cruiser.Agreed,Sport is just the cackest nastiest vehicle on the planet.

Can't knock our cacky nasty rock solid, never missed a beat, no nonsense X Trail though.Been fantastic after 90k and I'd have another!

Flipping Japs....so good at cars! Check it out Land Rover...learn how to make a good engine and the rest will come!

 

What about a Skoda Octavia Scout? Daft name but they are essentially a cut price Audi Allroad. Unless you need to tow Solihull's finest around and just need something that can tackle muddy or snowy roads, it could fit the bill.

Steve

 

Volvo XC90 , ticks all the boxes

 

Hi John

It might help if you narrow your search criteria for us.

My choice would be 2nd hand Touareg, but not the V10

 

I'm at the ideas stage. The reliability of the RR and X5 look horrific. Landcruiser and Lexus RX look good on this front.

 

Skoda Yeti

evo have one and love it!

 

...and whatever you choose it won't be a new Overfinch - they've gone bust!

 

this is quite an interesting article in the Financial Times, comparing the global brand image of the Range rover and the Landcruiser

http://www.howtospendit.com/#/articl...4wd-domination

idiotic website layout

 

Hodgy - not driven a new shape RR but driven plenty of other LRs and driven 100s of miles on and off road in 4.2TD Amazons (not the latest but a few model of different ages) including through central London and on "tractor only" green lanes.

The LC does many things very well - it's wafts along very nicely, it's comfy (seats need more back support though), it's genuinely good off road (one of the best), they are pretty reliable (though not as reliable as some may think) and has plenty of toys.

However they are massive, they roll a lot, they are dreadful on fuel and to me they have a bit of a "pikey done good" image -I've seen loads at fun fairs outside the rides and towing greasy spoon type truck stop vans.

Good vehicles but I'd never have one.

 

Mattee

in complete agreement - apart from, the "I'd never have one" obviously

Those Pikey's know a good car when they see one though

 

John

SUV or 4x4?

With the best will in the world, the big Toyotas, Shoguns, Nissans, etc, are not SUV's more UV's, and are not likely to be as refined as your Golf.

The most refined and comfortable one I've been in was a Lexus 400 RH. How good that would be in the snow is anyone's guess though. Very cheap tax.

When we change the Shogun, I'll proably either buy another one or a Landcruiser Colorado. Although Mattee's recent Defender purchase has got me thinking. Might just try a Disco4 with plenty of warranty left as well.

I need to tow a tonne and a half plus of horse in box though.

What about something smaller - RAV 4 or the like? refined, comfortable and very reliable. Audi Q5 on winter tyres? Freelander?

 

I really don't want another car, but this started off as a look to find something that I could run with less worry through the very worst of winter than the GTR which although it has gone everywhere I want it to, had a few near misses last winter as other people were sliding towards it. Our visit rate was very high in the worst of the weather and it was a bit nerve racking using the GTR through it (don't want to get rid of it either). The Golf on 18" summer tyres was monumentally useless, but the wife needs that for work anyway.

So the options range from:

A FWD banger on skinny tyres/winter tyres. Problems: all the good bangers seem to be sitting in an airfield for scrappage

A 4WD car that also addresses the refinement and ride quality issues of her Golf as we tend to use that for long trips. Subarus seem to fail in refinement and ride quality too, Jaguar X-type look reasonable, but the reliability doesn't sound good and for a budget buy it could be a headache to repair when it is always breaking.

The I start looking at expensive SUVs which kind of ruins the original objective, but the Lexus RX isn't too heavy, too thirsty, is reliable, rides well and is comfortable, plus good value, but not at banger money.

 

It is reassuring having a 4x4 when out in the sticks - take this morning for example. Pretty severe storms battered the county last night and ripped part of our garage roof off - I wouldn't want to risk taking our little one swimming (pool about 15 miles away) in the BM (or a GTR!) so the 110 is very handy.

Don't know a lot about the Lexus - not keen on the look/image but that doesn't mean they aren't decent motors.

Hodgy - tee hee!

DD - you'll need something fairly large to comfortably tow 1.5 tonnes. Although a 90 Defender would do the trick too. 110s have a slightly better towing capacity than a 90 though - not quite sure why. One thing Defenders do kick **** on is towing weights. You have to accept the compromises though - appalling turning circle, noisyish, slow, etc. We have and are loving ours to bits!

 

surely this is screaming a 15 year old Defender 90 tdi

and if you buy it at the right money it will not depreciate

 

You mention the X-Type, so i'll chuck Audi into the mix.

Newer X5 is much better than the older, but so far, we've not had anything go wrong with ours other than needing a couple new bushes, but that's an age/mileage thing.

Faither had the newer X5 35d M-Sport and i dare say, that would impress you mamothly John. Torque is most surprising for such a large machine and handles/stops, just as well. It's worth going for a test drve, if not just to annoy the salesman.

 

Also just been looking at Imprezas LOL. Full circle. Interesting how my eye caught what was claimed to be a completely stock UK turbo rather than the modified tat Maybe pslewis was right...

Maybe a normally aspirated Subaru would be good.

From what age are the X5s much better?

 

Absolutely Matt - That's why we have this




(pictured posing on its summer wheels & tyres ) Point was that whilst we do, John doesn't need (and in all reality probably doesn't want) a "proper" 2 tonne 4x4

 

I probably don't. That doesn't look too big, what type of Shogun is it?

 

DD - does it tow okay? I know they have plenty of ooomph but no idea on towing weight.

Lots of fun driving through semi flooded areas today in the 110. Not so much fun parking it just now in a tight car park!

John - Forester maybe?

 

I don't think John is taking my suggestion of a Yeti seriously!

 

The Yeti does seem very good indeed but hands in the air - I'd struggle to own one. They are fugly beyond comparison and although I'd love to admit that a Skoda badge doesn't matter, it simply does a tiny bit. Main reason? The amount of justification Skoda owners seem to feel the need to give for justifying their purchase. If they were more laid back, I'd be interested.

Skoda Octy VRSs are also nearly up there with Audi repmobiles for being the most common car stuck to the back bumper of the BM when it's impossible to pull over.