Rural bumpy rough roads – would MPV or SUV be most suitable?

[Clintpistol17]

Hi

I’m after any thoughts or suggestions on what car/vehicle to get, please, and thoughts on MPVs vs SUVs…

Here’s the low-down:
- I live in a very rural area where the roads are in bad condition
- It’s used mainly for short journeys of just a few miles
- But a couple of times a year or so it will be needed for a motorway run of a few hundred miles
- Annual mileage around 8k

It would be good to have:
- A decent mpg (petrol)
- Good road clearance
- Good boot capacity
- Budget = around £12k.
- No frills. I’m not bothered with any fancy stuff, so the more basic the better. Certainly don’t want to be paying extra for anything that’s fancy.


I had a Skoda Fabia Estate before, and now have a Corsa D. Both seem to forever have problems with: wishbone bushes, CV joints, drop links, shock absorbers, anti-roll bushes/links, suspension arms, etc… Are MPVs and SUVs likely to better in this respect? And if so, which of the two would be the best and not need frequent repairs?

Regarding SUVs, am open to suggestions but would be leaning towards a Dacia Duster…

Any thoughts or comments much appreciated.

Many thanks

Edited by Clintpistol17 on Wednesday 8th May 14:15

[trevalvole]

An SUV would be better at dealing with poor condition roads - an MPV will be just like any other road-based car. The SUV perhaps needs to be closer to a proper off-roader than a soft-roader though. Also the SUV will have increased clearance - the MPV probably won't.

[Krikkit]

I'd go for the slightly jacked-up estate, e.g. Subaru Outback (2005-2010), XC70, A6 Allroad.

They have a great ride quality, proper estate quietness and comfort, but without being big uncomfortable SUVs.

e.g. The Mrs had this generation of the 2.5 and it managed 38mpg quite happily: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...

Volvo with 2.0 T5: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403047...

Bit out of budget but this Allroad is rather nice in facelift form: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404078...

Edited by Krikkit on Wednesday 8th May 14:34

[InitialDave]

I'd probably buy a Skoda Yeti for that remit.

[AmyRichardson]

From your description my immediate thought was Duster, so you seem to be on target already. I can't think of a single person who's bought one and regretted it. Good reliably scores as well.

£12k should get a newish, low-mile 4wd example; anything else with similar capabilities will either be more money or leggier. None seem to get sold with anything but 60+ profile tires, so good for poor roads. Shouldn't be much less economical than a hatchback.

The only reason I might err towards an MPV is if I regularly needed to use the back for >3 people or needed to pull the seats to have an ersatz van. Otherwise the regular ground clearance and lack of 4wd options would put me (or, me if I was you) off.

It would be interesting to know why you've been eating suspension components; old/high mile cars? Magooing potholes? Live down an unmetalled road?

[super7]

We live in a similar area and had a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

Put a set of Yokohama Geolander A/T tyres on it (they're like a mild A/T tyre) and it was brilliant. Plenty of sidewall and tread for potholes, muddy ditches/verges and snow and equally as good for bombing down the motorway.

[CivicDuties]

One of the smaller KIA or Hyundai SUVs maybe, like Hyundai Tucson. But I think you've probably cracked it already with the Duster.

Or maybe Dacia Sandero Stepway.

RAV4 or Honda CRV maybe? Bit big, perhaps.

[bcr5784]

Unless you have ground clearance issues with your current cars, I doubt you would benefit from an SUV. Small SUVs are, for the most part based on a saloon platform. As a result the reliability of their suspension bits is likely to be similar to the saloon parent.

I'd look to Which to gauge which car families perform well for suspension durability, rather than choose by vehicle type. Let's be honest driving up a high kerb is extent of off road activity small SUVs might expect.

Likewise there is no reason for MPVs, as a group to perform any better.

[leef44]

I would also agree with the Duster. It's simple and basic which makes it light and reliable (or cheap to repair and maintain).

There is less wear and tear damage with a lighter vehicle on those kind of roads.

[Dave.]

The car doesn't really matter.... Smaller wheels, bigger sidewalls....

[Robertb]

Didn't Skoda do a sort of "Allroad" version of the Octavia?

Skoda Yeti is excellent, you can get them with 2.0 petrol so better for your short journeys (I'd be wary of diesel with your use case due to DPF issues)

Main thing is going to be sensible wheel/tyre combo, with decent tyre walls.

[trevalvole]

I do recall articles/reviews where it was said that Dacia's suspension components tended to be cruder/tougher than more premium brands as they sold a lot of vehicles in developing countries. Now that we have roads like those of a developing country, that might be appropriate here too.

[ATG]

As others have said, tyres with a tall side wall are probably the single most useful feature.

We're rural and surrounded by a lot of lanes that are "going green" in the sense that they're permanently flooded and losing most of their tarmac. Also steep and never ploughed or salted in the winter.

Our cars: Leaf for local journeys in good conditions. It has elastic band tyres and we've had two flats in three years as a result. One from a pothole, the other from the tyre getting pinched as it rode up the side of a brick-sized stone on the driveway. Peugeot 508 RXH (roughly equivalent to an Audi Allroad, so it's got sort of 4wd courtesy of electric motor, increased ground clearance and tallish tyres) used for long distance driving and can cope with local conditions 99.9% of the time. Until recently we had a Toyota Hilux Surf on A/Ts as our "go anywhere, no bother" vehicle ... low ratio box, masses of ground clearance, hugely strong mechanicals ... loved it, but it was ancient and body panels were rusting through having been parked outside for 30 years. "Replaced" the Surf with a little Daihatsu Terios. It doesn't have a low-ratio box like Surf, nor anything like the grunt of the 3L turbo diesel, but I've already used it to fish a 2wd Duster out of a wet field which is our standard "has anyone got a 4x4?" problem. It shows every sign of being a useful little mudplugger for local journeys in the cack and driving up the field when there's a tree across the driveway. Needs some more aggressive tyres. It's properly under-geared for cruising at 60 or higher anyway, so having less of a road tyre is going to make sod all difference. Lack of low ratio box and driver talent leads me to think the clutch may become a consumable, but the thing cost £1500 ...

[Deerfoot]

Robertb said:

Didn't Skoda do a sort of "Allroad" version of the Octavia?

Yes, the Scout. Unfortunately the later ones (in the OP's budget) will all be diesel, they did the previous shape in petrol but I'd avoid it as they'll all be well used by now.

I'd look for a 1.4 TSI Yeti.

[Clintpistol17]

Thank you so much for the many and very helpful replies Great stuff.

Just a quick thought... When I said MPV I was particularly referring to the van based ones like the Berlingo, Combo Life, etc. Would that change anything or does all of the above regarding MPVs still apply?

Thanks again

[Mammasaid]

C5 Aircross with hydraulic bump stops..

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404269...

[AmyRichardson]

Clintpistol17 said:

Thank you so much for the many and very helpful replies Great stuff.

Just a quick thought... When I said MPV I was particularly referring to the van based ones like the Berlingo, Combo Life, etc. Would that change anything or does all of the above regarding MPVs still apply?

Thanks again

The Berlingo was what came to mind initially; the previous generation cars seemed like tough, utilitarian things and it was rare to see one without mega-miles on it.

The problem arises from them (almost) all being diesel, and it seems the relatively popularity of the two previous generations hasn't carried forward to today - I can't think of the last time I saw one! Hence a petrol engine that isn't very old and leggy is a grade-A unicorn.

[cayman-black]

I live in Rural Devon and used a Skoda Yeti 4x4 L& K up until two weeks ago when it was written off, very underrated car.

[loskie]

Subaru Outback or Forester

With the miles you do MPG shouldnt be a big factor.

[PositronicRay]

Duster as you mentioned, good car for your use. Basic model has 16' steelies with big squishy tyres. You'll get a newer car for your budget too.