Small 4x4, cheap reliabe and economical?
 

Does such a thing exist?

Seriously considering getting rid of the Pathfinder and replacing with a Ford SMax for the family 7 seater and then having a small 4x4 for the Winter school runs and rural trips in bad weather etc. Doesn't need to be World champion off roader, just want it to get me through snow and flooded roads like the Pathfinder does. The school run is down a tiny little rural lane with extremely steep hills so can be a nightmare in Winter - floods, frost/ice/snow etc.

I love my Pathfinder but as the wife has recently dinged it i'm expecting the insurance renewal to come in too expensive so it will have to go.

One little 4x4 I saw was a Terious that looked ideal but really wanted a diesel if possible although petrol will do if it is small engined and returns a good mpg figure. It must be relaible and cheap to run.

How small do you mean in regards to a 4x4 (though do mention the daihatsu terios).
Suzuki Grand Vitara maybe or a Honda CRV. Both give quoted decent mpg figures - compared to say your pathfinder. Would be leaning a bit more to the Suzuki than the Honda as have driven both in the snow and found the Suzuki better.
I dont think that now is a good time to buy a 4x4, prices have gone very silly.
Do like the pathfinder though.

Richard

Yep but also means i'll get a good price for the Pathfinder so swings and roundabouts on the price front. Looking to spend no more than £2k on the runaround.

Small as in Suziki SJ, Terios etc. Has to be be small for cheap insurance, cheap to run and maintain so only short wheelbase variants on my list.

So far looked at:

Daihatsu Terios - really like
Suzuki Vitara (Fat Boy edition - no idea what that is)
Toyota Rav-4
Suzuki Jimny
Mitsubishi Shogun (swb) too expensive
Suzuki SJ but possibly too long ion the teeth now to find a good one?
Daihatsu Fourtrak
Landrover - doubt there are any for £2k and reliabilty is a huge issue?

I would go with a Terios - the petrol consumption will be no worse than the pathfinder and they're like mountain goats, they literally go anywhere but feel a bit less agricultural than the Suzuki Jimny and has 5 door practicality. I've been off roading all over st lucia in one and as a 3 year old rental on arguably some of the worse roads you could find and in constant heat and humidity it keeps on going....

Depends on budget.

You can get a Fiat Panda 4x4 if you wanted a new one or old Subarus for a price crash. Winter tyres shouldn't see you getting stuck, after all you only want to get along the road!

5t.

Daihatsu Terios.
Daihatsu Sportrak.
Daihatsu Fourtrak.
Landrover 110/90/Defender/Series.
Suzuki SJ.
Suzuki Grand Vitara (Fat boys are useless on anything other than dry tarmac).
Toyota Landcruiser.
Toyota Hilux Surf (2.8 is great 2.5 is crap).
Fair few others.

Just picked up a 2001 Shogun Pinin from a dealer.
It's got 12 months MOT and is in fairly decent nick.
It's done 90k miles so unless it goes pop it looks like a decent buy.
Paid £1500 for it - half the cost of winter tyres for the Alpina.

Ah thanks that was the other model I was trying to remember! Sounds a bargain. What's it likeon running costs?

Not really been far in it yet, but the fuel comp is saying about 25mpg - bear in mind it's an old 2.0 petrol engine.
Insurance was £400.

Tbh, the running costs don't really concern me - whatever it is should be cheaper than having someone slide into the Alpina (or the wife sliding into a ditch!)

The old 3 door Toyota rav4's are great - cheap, reliable, will go anywhere. Only a 2.0 petrol but mpg isn't too bad.

sj mate

got a pajero mate i paid 900 for it with 12m mot and 6 tax downside i thought was that it was an auto! but its been 1 year just passed its mot with no problems and all ive done is change oil and filter and fit pads thats it! and its been abused been off road drivin it to france and back 3 times!

Suzuki Ignis 4x4 estate.

Fiat panda 4x4

Cheapest insurance going, low running costs and suprisingly, they are reliable :)