Light duty 4x4 with decent MPG required.

[V8A*ndy]

I know nothing about 4x4s but I now need one to fill the following role.

A 50 mile daily drive of motorway followed by mild but muddy (or snowy) slopes with the odd deep rut.

A Rav4 with decent tyres does this ok but it's too small.

Plenty of space for four adults and luggage and the ability to tow a trailer and track car.

Is 40+mpg possible?

Up to £15k budget.

[mikeh501]

you wont get 40mpg from any proper 4x4, and not at 15k. Maybe off some bran new models with all the fuel saving gizmos.

Would a car with 4x4 work? much more likely to get better MPG. Subaru Forrester, Subaru Legacy, Audi Allroad??

Whats tow capacity do you need?

I think you will easily get all your requirements except 40mpg for 15k. be interesting if anyone knows of a decent size 4x4 with decent tow weight and does anywhere near 40mpg for 15k.

[BFG TERRANO]

Volvo cross road.

[clunkbox]

first thing that springs to mind:

Skoda Yeti 4x4
Skoda Yeti 2x4 + M&S Tyres
Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4

Should all do 40mpg+ with a diesel.

Edit: Is it the same track every day? How about a cheap 4x4 just for popping up and down the track (does it even need to go on public roads?) and a car for the commute?

Edited by clunkbox on Monday 8th October 22:28

[anomaly]

How about a Jeep Grand Cherokee with an LPG kit? Failing that a Discovery 3 V8 with LPG?

[s_zigmond]

Jeep patriot

[Ranger 6]

V8A*ndy said:

...Is 40+mpg possible?

I don't know about towing weights but my 3.0d X3 showed 34mpg on a recent motorway run. It's lifetime average is 28mpg but that includes time spent ticking over to keep the battery charged when using radios.

The X3 is universally hated due to Clarkson but realistically it's actually a good car. £15k will get you a facelift, which is much better than the early ones and the 3.0d is a lovely engine - I guess you might get close to 40mpg with a 2.0d, but that's not half as much fun

[uk_vette]

Your not really going to get 40 mpg, and the type of 4x4 your looking for.
The average for the LC3 diesel D4-d Land Cruisers, ( 120 series) 2003 to 2010 is about 30 - 32 on a run
26 around town.
And that's a high pressure common rail engine, with "good economy"

Me thinks you need to have a rethink on what is more important, and prioritise.

vette

[E-B]

V8A*ndy said:

I know nothing about 4x4s but I now need one to fill the following role.

A 50 mile daily drive of motorway followed by mild but muddy (or snowy) slopes with the odd deep rut.

A Rav4 with decent tyres does this ok but it's too small.

Plenty of space for four adults and luggage and the ability to tow a trailer and track car.

Is 40+mpg possible?

Up to £15k budget.

A shogun sport/nissan pathfinder or navara/L200 double cab. But you won't see 40mpg. IMHO i doubt you'll get that from a volvo Cross country or an audi allroad. A diesel subaru might but you'll loose the towing capacity.

My personal chice has been a 2011 Mitsubishi L200 double cab auto. 4 adults 1 child & dog in comfort, 1 tonne payload, 2.7 tonne tow cap'. When towing my Range Rover rally car (AUW 5 tonnes inc spares tools fuel etc for the weekend) i get about 20mpg with an autobox, on longer runs i use the cruise control and can see approx 30mpg + (if i keep the speed down and not sit at 85-90 all the time which is never).

[V8A*ndy]

uk_vette said:

Your not really going to get 40 mpg, and the type of 4x4 your looking for.
The average for the LC3 diesel D4-d Land Cruisers, ( 120 series) 2003 to 2010 is about 30 - 32 on a run
26 around town.
And that's a high pressure common rail engine, with "good economy"

Me thinks you need to have a rethink on what is more important, and prioritise.

vette

Yes after reading all the replies I am going about this the wrong way.

I think I should be looking at something older and cheaper and keeping cash back for fuel and repairs but I don't want too much of a shed.

Looking at some of the suggestions. Havn't a clue LOL.

[300bhp/ton]

anomaly said:

How about a Jeep Grand Cherokee with an LPG kit? Failing that a Discovery 3 V8 with LPG?

40mpg running costs would be a pipe dream away though. A V8 Disco on LPG is likely only going to do 12-15mpg, so if you can get LPG at half price that's only going to be 24-30mpg equivalent in cost terms.

[300bhp/ton]

V8A*ndy said:

uk_vette said:

Your not really going to get 40 mpg, and the type of 4x4 your looking for.
The average for the LC3 diesel D4-d Land Cruisers, ( 120 series) 2003 to 2010 is about 30 - 32 on a run
26 around town.
And that's a high pressure common rail engine, with "good economy"

Me thinks you need to have a rethink on what is more important, and prioritise.

vette

Yes after reading all the replies I am going about this the wrong way.

I think I should be looking at something older and cheaper and keeping cash back for fuel and repairs but I don't want too much of a shed.

Looking at some of the suggestions. Havn't a clue LOL.

What sort of weight vehicle do you need to tow?

A Diesel Freelander 1 or Freelander 2 would fit the bill otherwise. Just need to check the tow weights. That said, they won't be 40mpg, but on a run (not towing) 33-37mpg should be quite possible.


The current shape JK Wrangler Unlimited (long wheel base) would be a good 'proper' 4x4 alternative. The 2.8 diesel isn't bad, but I'd have thought more like 32mpg.

[uk_vette]

V8A*ndy said:

uk_vette said:

Your not really going to get 40 mpg, and the type of 4x4 your looking for.
The average for the LC3 diesel D4-d Land Cruisers, ( 120 series) 2003 to 2010 is about 30 - 32 on a run
26 around town.
And that's a high pressure common rail engine, with "good economy"

Me thinks you need to have a rethink on what is more important, and prioritise.

vette

Yes after reading all the replies I am going about this the wrong way.

I think I should be looking at something older and cheaper and keeping cash back for fuel and repairs but I don't want too much of a shed.

Looking at some of the suggestions. Havn't a clue LOL.

.
Hi Andy,
I am guessing you are looking at towing at least 2000kg, (1 ton)
I think reliability should come near, or at the top of the list.
When you are towing, this obviously puts the most strain on engine and transmission, and this is exactly the time you don't want a breakdown.
Having a breakdown, without a towed load is one thing, breaking down while towing 1 tone or more, is no fun.
£15,000.
That's a fair budget.
How concerned are you about the age of the vehicle, providing it's not ancient, but there again, say, 5 - 7 years old?.
I make no bones about Land Cruisers being very reliable, having the status, and being a more than capable tow vehicle.
To get any where near your wanted fuel consumption of 40 mpg, it ain't going to happen.
In this case, the tug I would be looking at would be the 120 series D4-d Land Cruiser LC3.
Some thing along these lines.


This type.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Toyota-Land-Cruiser...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-LANDCRUISER-2005-...

vette

[uk_vette]

uk_vette said:

.
Hi Andy,
I am guessing you are looking at towing at least 2000kg, (1 ton)
I think reliability should come near, or at the top of the list.
When you are towing, this obviously puts the most strain on engine and transmission, and this is exactly the time you don't want a breakdown.
Having a breakdown, without a towed load is one thing, breaking down while towing 1 tone or more, is no fun.
£15,000.
That's a fair budget.
How concerned are you about the age of the vehicle, providing it's not ancient, but there again, say, 5 - 7 years old?.
I make no bones about Land Cruisers being very reliable, having the status, and being a more than capable tow vehicle.
To get any where near your wanted fuel consumption of 40 mpg, it ain't going to happen.
In this case, the tug I would be looking at would be the 120 series D4-d Land Cruiser LC3.
Some thing along these lines.


This type.
31 mpg - 33 mpg on a run
25 mpg 'ish around town
22 mpg towing 2 tonnes.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Toyota-Land-Cruiser...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-LANDCRUISER-2005-...

vette

[geeks]

I get 40mpg on a long run (sticking at 70) and 30 odd around town, B series Frontera 2.2 DTi LWB but they arent popular on PH...

But before the bashing starts i will say its great off and on road IMHO but for your budget its probably way under what you are looking for...

Volvo XC-90's are nice..
Toureg's
X5's

Even going cheaper say to 7k will still pick you up an excellent motor with 8k for fuel and parts...

[larrylamb11]

May I suggest Mitsubishi Outlander? Its a 4X4 but switchable, so 2 wheel drive most of the time, hence good fuel economy. I would think one of those would actually do everything you are asking for.

[300bhp/ton]

geeks said:

I get 40mpg on a long run (sticking at 70) and 30 odd around town, B series Frontera 2.2 DTi LWB but they arent popular on PH...

But before the bashing starts i will say its great off and on road IMHO but for your budget its probably way under what you are looking for...

Volvo XC-90's are nice..
Toureg's
X5's

Even going cheaper say to 7k will still pick you up an excellent motor with 8k for fuel and parts...

40mpg from one of them? Sorry but how is the old Frontera managaing what no other 4x4 can? I don't want to call BS on your claim, but come on, the might of the latest SUV's from Toyota and Nissan, all lighter and with more modern engines than the Frontera can't really manage that (I think Toyota claim 39mpg).

In my experience a Freelander is better off and on road than them too.

[jshell]

uk_vette said:

I am guessing you are looking at towing at least 2000kg, (1 ton)

[geeks]

300bhp/ton said:

40mpg from one of them? Sorry but how is the old Frontera managaing what no other 4x4 can? I don't want to call BS on your claim, but come on, the might of the latest SUV's from Toyota and Nissan, all lighter and with more modern engines than the Frontera can't really manage that (I think Toyota claim 39mpg).

In my experience a Freelander is better off and on road than them too.

Accelerate like a grandad and stay between 65 and 70, go any faster and it will drop quite quickly to 30! We have already had the on road/off road debate elsewhere

[Essel]

freelander 1 - we get about 36mpg gentle m'way driving, and has a 2000kg tow rating. 15K will get you into a Freelander 2 though, which is a nice place to be.

Edit: And in the bad snow the other year it was very sure footed, on straight road tyres.