£8-10k family SUV, ideally auto

[wilbo83]

Sorry for another What Car thread but I've been searching old threads and it's got me to here but keen to get specific opinions.

My wife currently has a mk3 Kuga ST Line 1.5 diesel on lease which goes back in a couple of months so I have begun looking for its replacement, favouring a used purchase this time due to a change in personal circumstances. Her budget is £8k but it could stretch to £10k.

Her preferred requirements are an SUV similar in size to the Kuga, as it’s the main family car, and an automatic. She is not too fussy on spec, me more so. Annual mileage is c.10k so we don’t necessarily need a diesel but her car does all the longer trips (she walks to work in the week) so I wouldn’t discount it and I’m finding that automatic SUVs tend to be more frequently diesel. I will see if she will compromise on the auto transmission to open up much bigger possibilities but I’m not hopeful!

Keen to know if there is anything I’ve not considered in the below, but also open to feedback on the shortlist. I’m wary at this budget, getting a decent spec and automatic is reducing the pool a lot, hence the comment above about manuals.

Current shortlist:
- Ford Kuga Mk2/2.5 Titanium/X – Concerned low mpg for the 1.5 petrol, so would probably favour the 1.5 or 2.0 diesel.
- Renault Kadjar Signature/Dynamique – 1.2 petrols seem to be very rare, far more choice in the 1.5 diesel.
- Nissan X-Trail – A new addition to the list, like the exterior looks. Look to all be 1.6 diesel engine.
- Mazda CX5 – Only the diesel comes in automatic, petrol are all manual.
- Honda CRV – 2.0 VTEC comes in auto.
- BMW X3 – good interior space but interior feels dated

Other considerations and feedback:
- Qashqai – too small, same platform as Kadjar but the Renault wins on space.
- Sportage – Mk4 out of budget, not a fan of the mk3
- Ateca – Out of budget, especially in auto
- Tiguan – Boot space doesn’t seem great
- Infiniti EX30 – Like these but incredibly rare (only 2 in budget on AT) and concerned on running costs
- Not a fan of anything Peugeot or Citroen
- RR Evoque - This would probably be top of the wife's list but I'm concerned about reliability / costs

Edited by wilbo83 on Tuesday 6th February 13:54

Edited by wilbo83 on Tuesday 6th February 14:01

[Summit_Detailing]

I assume a 500X and Yeti would be slightly too small!?

Santa Fe?

Outlander?

Kuga, excellent but not sure I'd want an auto out of warranty!

Evoque's are good, 2.2 diesel is the PSA engine so robust and reliable, if a little agricultural and being a Freelander in fancy dress its actually fairly basic mechanically. Door locks and diff's appear to be weak points.

Freelander2?

MG GS?

RAV4?

Jeep Compass?

I think I'd be narrowing the list down to 3 or 4 and go sit in and drive them back2back or as close as possible to see what works for the other half.

Cheers,

Chris

[joshcowin]

audi Q5, been really happy with mine, paid your top end for a 3.0tdi with 100k on the clock, its done 12,000 in 6 months without missing a beat. Feels solid and is in good condition. VFM I couldn't find a better car tbh my wife is the main driver and loves it! Get a 13 plate on as that has the bluetooth audio.

Think the 2.2d evoque is fairly reliable

[Whataguy]

I liked the CRV, the one I had for a day handled quite well.

The 4WD system wasn't great, but the one in the later RAV4 hybrid I also drove wasn't great either. I think they are more geared towards just getting you moving in slippy conditions.

The 2 litre engine in the CRV is a bit slow and needs revs (4k-6k) to make progress but it is a well proven design that will last a long time.

I had the same engine in my accord and did many miles. MPG is a bit low though as it's an older engine design.

[MattyD803]

At this price point on a SUV, I'd suggest you want to angle yourself towards reliability (Jap stuff) over anything else - hence Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Suzuki.

We owned a Gen3 CRV for 6 years (2.0 NA petrol auto) covering 50k miles in that time, mostly start stop around town - Dull as dishwater and slow, but fantastic specification, well thought out interior, easy to service yourself, utterly reliable (not a single mechanical failure or problem in that time) and generally super comfortable for family duties. I'd suggest you'd experience much the same from a 4th gen car, which is where I would go to for the more recent tech....either way, just brace yourself for fuel economy in the 20's round town....mid 30's on a run.

Another one to look at might be the Toyota RAV4. We've just come back from a week's skiing in Norway, supplied with a 2022 2.5i Petrol Hybrid (auto) RAV4 and it was really very good. Great interior space, felt very robust and on winter tyres it quite hauled 4 of us and a full boot of gear up 20-25% snow and ice covered switchbacks in minus 15-20 degrees with ease, barely breaking traction. Lots of room in the back for the teenagers too. (More than our CRV had).

However, most impressive was the economy...over 600km of mixed driving, including a lot of pre-heating, stop start town work, steep hill work to and from the resort it averaged 43mpg....well over 50mpg on a steady run and happy to operate purely as an EV round town. Quite impressive - Not sure whether the budget will cover it, but a Hybrid Rav4 would certainly be on my list.

Edited by MattyD803 on Tuesday 6th February 16:11

[ZX10R NIN]

The EX is a good option but with your budget I'd go for the later QX50, they're a very good car Q5 in size if you have a good Indy near you you'll be fine the 3.0d is the same one as found in Nissan's van range so parts aren't an issue either:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401316...

2.0d Sportage KX-3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401175...

The 1.5T isn't the most frugal on long runs but it's not bad around town:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401165...

2.0d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401255...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...

These are where I'd be looking.

[wilbo83]

Summit_Detailing said:

I assume a 500X and Yeti would be slightly too small!?

Santa Fe?

Outlander?

Kuga, excellent but not sure I'd want an auto out of warranty!

Evoque's are good, 2.2 diesel is the PSA engine so robust and reliable, if a little agricultural and being a Freelander in fancy dress its actually fairly basic mechanically. Door locks and diff's appear to be weak points.

Freelander2?

MG GS?

RAV4?

Jeep Compass?

I think I'd be narrowing the list down to 3 or 4 and go sit in and drive them back2back or as close as possible to see what works for the other half.

Cheers,

Chris

500X, Yeti, Compass all too small, and Freelander 2 and Outlander posssibly too big / jeep like.

Santa Fe I hadn't considered but like the look of them, will definitely try and have a poke around one. Rav4 is another one to consider.

Perhaps I won't rule the Evoque out just yet however I've realised that in some reports LR quote the boot space as up to the roof, rather than parcel shelf, so it's definitely not as big as I had hoped!

[wilbo83]

MattyD803 said:

At this price point on a SUV, I'd suggest you want to angle yourself towards reliability (Jap stuff) over anything else - hence Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Suzuki.

We owned a Gen3 CRV for 6 years (2.0 NA petrol auto) covering 50k miles in that time, mostly start stop around town - Dull as dishwater and slow, but fantastic specification, well thought out interior, easy to service yourself, utterly reliable (not a single mechanical failure or problem in that time) and generally super comfortable for family duties. I'd suggest you'd experience much the same from a 4th gen car, which is where I would go to for the more recent tech....either way, just brace yourself for fuel economy in the 20's round town....mid 30's on a run.

Another one to look at might be the Toyota RAV4. We've just come back from a week's skiing in Norway, supplied with a 2022 2.5i Petrol Hybrid (auto) RAV4 and it was really very good. Great interior space, felt very robust and on winter tyres it quite hauled 4 of us and a full boot of gear up 20-25% snow and ice covered switchbacks in minus 15-20 degrees with ease, barely breaking traction. Lots of room in the back for the teenagers too. (More than our CRV had).

However, most impressive was the economy...over 600km of mixed driving, including a lot of pre-heating, stop start town work, steep hill work to and from the resort it averaged 43mpg....well over 50mpg on a steady run and happy to operate purely as an EV round town. Quite impressive - Not sure whether the budget will cover it, but a Hybrid Rav4 would certainly be on my list.

Edited by MattyD803 on Tuesday 6th February 16:11

Unfortunately I don't think the budget will stretch to a Hybrid Rav 4. I think the CRV would tick a lot of boxes and likely be a great family car, but it just seems so boring (as a lot of the cars in this segment at this budget do!)

[wilbo83]

ZX10R NIN said:

The EX is a good option but with your budget I'd go for the later QX50, they're a very good car Q5 in size if you have a good Indy near you you'll be fine the 3.0d is the same one as found in Nissan's van range so parts aren't an issue either:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401316...

2.0d Sportage KX-3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401175...

The 1.5T isn't the most frugal on long runs but it's not bad around town:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401165...

2.0d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401255...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...

These are where I'd be looking.

The Infiniti's look very well specced, but they also look very thirsty. I expect a claimed average of 33 is likely to be low 20s in reality.

Thanks for the Kuga links though, that's definitely still near the top of the list for sure.

[joshcowin]

Just look at my earlier suggestion of the q5, not a great deal around for £10k and what is isn't that great!

The q3 seems popular, good mpg, some ok tech. There is a white one in Poole that has a good spec, pan roof, heated seats, Bluetooth...

[MattyD803]

wilbo83 said:

Unfortunately I don't think the budget will stretch to a Hybrid Rav 4. I think the CRV would tick a lot of boxes and likely be a great family car, but it just seems so boring (as a lot of the cars in this segment at this budget do!)

Fair enough. Yes, from my experience coupled with that of friends and family, at this price you make a choice:

European with a bit more style/flair, but an increased likelihood of faults/repairs/bills/problems.

Dull Japanese, but much better reliability and overall lower running costs.

It might well be worth a look at the Lexus RX450h.....300bhp, lots of toys, typically solid build and reliability but potential for better mpg?

[wilbo83]

MattyD803 said:

Fair enough. Yes, from my experience coupled with that of friends and family, at this price you make a choice:

European with a bit more style/flair, but an increased likelihood of faults/repairs/bills/problems.

Dull Japanese, but much better reliability and overall lower running costs.

It might well be worth a look at the Lexus RX450h.....300bhp, lots of toys, typically solid build and reliability but potential for better mpg?

Yep that seems a pretty good summary between the options.

Thanks for the Lexus recommendation, will take a look.

[wilbo83]

joshcowin said:

Just look at my earlier suggestion of the q5, not a great deal around for £10k and what is isn't that great!

The q3 seems popular, good mpg, some ok tech. There is a white one in Poole that has a good spec, pan roof, heated seats, Bluetooth...

Yep, had the same view, very leggy mileage at the budget. Q3 too small. Also not really a fan of the MMI systems in the Audi, they just seemed the have the same dash in models for ages so IMO it looks quite dated.

[joshcowin]

wilbo83 said:

Yep, had the same view, very leggy mileage at the budget. Q3 too small. Also not really a fan of the MMI systems in the Audi, they just seemed the have the same dash in models for ages so IMO it looks quite dated.

Yeah the interior in mine is used in loads of audis ranging well over a decade, but I like it, it works well for me but I am not very tech savvy or really bothered by it! I just want a solid, rattle free interior the audi is spot on even after 112k miles.

If you dislike the audi dash and controls I'm not sure jap cars are for you, I looked at a fair few based on suggestions here posted by really helpful posters and the dash and interior is a fair way behind the audi.