20k-ish; Volvo Xc60 or Rav 4

[ollyh1988]

Hi, just seeing if there are any opinions or advice on the above?

Looking to sell our Jaguar F Pace diesel and buy a petrol SUV (sadly has to be SUV as my wife has a hip issue and likes to climb up into a car rather than drop down). Car also cannot be diesel as don’t want another one of these!

Front runners are the Volvo XC60 - probably a 2016 onwards car with less than 50k miles, vs a Rav 4. I like the Volvo and they seem pretty reliable(?) but can also see the appeal of the Toyota (long warranty, loads of room inside), but the fact it is hybrid is probably a downside.

Any advice on either of these 2, or any other alternatives?

One other option is to lease a new Nissan Qashqai as there seem to be some really good deals out there.

[ZX10R NIN]

Lexus NX300h:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409174...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409274...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409234...

As long as they have fsh & you carry on servicing them at Lexus you'll have another four years.

[ollyh1988]

Are they a similar size, they always look smaller in pics.

What is the benefit over a Rav4?

Thanks

[Countdown]

We've got an XC60 D5 Auto

Good points
Built like a tank
Looks nice (IMHO)
Loads of space
Nice leather interior
Excellent motorway cruiser

bad points
Drives like a tank
Agricultural diesel engine
Barely averages 36mpg
Slushy gearbox (better in Sport or manual)
Brakes are poor, especially from high speed

The auto makes it nice for rush hour stop/start driving. In terms of reliability it's been average at best (I had a wheel sensor throw a wobbly when i was up in Ediburgh which cost £300 to fix) and the gearbox failed to engage on the M6 (fixed itself after 10 minutes)

I was originally torn between a GLC, a RAV4, and this. The GLC went up in price by £5k between me agreeing to buy it and going back with the deposit, with the RAV4 I just didn't like the dashboard.

After about 3 years of ownership I do wonder if I should have paid the £10k extra for a GLC. However that was definitely more cramped in the back and I needed something bigger to ferry the kids to university.

[ZX10R NIN]

ollyh1988 said:

Are they a similar size, they always look smaller in pics.

What is the benefit over a Rav4?

Thanks

Yes similar size & a nicer imo place to be than the Rav4.

[Macneil]

ZX10R NIN said:

ollyh1988 said:

Are they a similar size, they always look smaller in pics.

What is the benefit over a Rav4?

Thanks

Yes similar size & a nicer imo place to be than the Rav4.

Is this the model with a really small luggage space ? Might be important. If it's the one I saw you wouldn't be able to get 2 suitcases in with the seats up.

[Bridgewaterfalls]

We bought a 18 plate RAV4 this year for the wife. 2.5L hybrid 'AWD'.

Toyota's are just really reliable. The CCV transmission is very smooth. Its noisy if thrashed, but its not the car to buy if you have an Italian driving style.

Nice enough place to site.

Lots of room,, used it for a 4 up university drop off, rather than my A6 advant

[Countdown]

ollyh1988 said:

Are they a similar size, they always look smaller in pics.

What is the benefit over a Rav4?

Thanks

AIUI the NX300h IS basically a RAV4 in a posh frock. It's very nice but the boot could carry only 2 full sized suitcases and the back seats were a little cramped. From memory i think the gearbox was CVT which a lot of people criticise but I liked it.

[ollyh1988]

I’ve not tested a rav4 but my wife did and liked it. I’ve heard some mixed reviews on CVT saying it is noisy and not the most pleasant gearbox. But, hopefully as a very popular Toyota it should be reliable.
The Volvo almost seems like the sensible or safer option with a more conventional engine and gearbox.

Will try to drive both next weekend and likely buy from one of the major online retailers again - as that’s what we did for our last family car and liked how easy it all was.

[Jazzert501]

I have a new SUZUKI ACROSS (Rav 4) coming on Tuesday £7.5 k on a 2 year lease,similar circumstances,my OH does not like low cars, 45 miles on a charge allegedly!
I thought secondhand ones were too dear for me.

Edited by Jazzert501 on Sunday 6th October 19:21

[soxboy]

Countdown said:

We've got an XC60 D5 Auto

Good points
Built like a tank
Looks nice (IMHO)
Loads of space
Nice leather interior
Excellent motorway cruiser

bad points
Drives like a tank
Agricultural diesel engine
Barely averages 36mpg
Slushy gearbox (better in Sport or manual)
Brakes are poor, especially from high speed

We have the petrol version (B5 - 2.0t 250bhp).

The good and bad points are pretty much as above, with the exception obviously of the engine-related ones. The petrol is a mild hybrid and quite smooth, pretty good acceleration but average 30mpg.

[ollyh1988]

Jazzert501 said:

I have a new SUZUKI ACROSS (Rav 4) coming on Tuesday £7.5 k on a 2 year lease,similar circumstances,my OH does not like low cars, 45 miles on a charge allegedly!
I thought secondhand ones were too dear for me.

Edited by Jazzert501 on Sunday 6th October 19:21

Had been looking at some of these lease deals. A little more than a Qashqai but it is more car. Haven’t leased before so trying to get my head round renting the car rather than buying

[spaximus]

I have had a diesel XC 60 and now have a petrol T5.
It is a 2019 great car to drive not had any issues at all.

The car goes well but 29mpg is a bit thirsty but do not have to worry about DPF issues as it is relatively short journeys.

Only downsides are too many electronics that can be turned off but annoyingly not permanently.
The other is the newer model is picky on tyres for noise.

Just fitted Pirelli to the front which made a huge improvement.
They are built well not insanely expensive on parts

[a311]

I've just said goodbye after 4 years to my 2020 XC60 T8. It was a plug in hybrid getting up to 25 miles on the electric battery which for our usage profile worked for us. It had 400bhp for a 2.0l turbo and supercharged engine. It was an excellent all rounder, refined and comfortable for longer journeys and returned 60 mpg over 34k. My wife's family are a 550 mile round trip away, with growing kids and a dog it was starting to get a little bit tight but I'm 6'4" so there not many cars that leave much space behind me.

Don't know anything of the Rav4. I expect it's not a massively fair comparison as I expect your comparing what's considered as premium against more middle range? No issues with the XC during ownership, it did like tyres though. The seats are renowned for their comfort. They are a bit poorly equipped for the price tag. Mine was an R and no memory seats, adaptive cruise. I had a V90 T5 before that which was also a very nice car but got high 20s mpg regardless of hiw it was driven it seemed.

[Jazzert501]

ollyh1988 said:

Had been looking at some of these lease deals. A little more than a Qashqai but it is more car. Haven’t leased before so trying to get my head round renting the car rather than buying

Leasing works for me, as I have not had positive experiences with MOT stations, any savings on 2nd hand have been wiped out at MOT time!

[a311]

Jazzert501 said:

ollyh1988 said:

Had been looking at some of these lease deals. A little more than a Qashqai but it is more car. Haven’t leased before so trying to get my head round renting the car rather than buying

Leasing works for me, as I have not had positive experiences with MOT stations, any savings on 2nd hand have been wiped out at MOT time!

I'm a long time leaser, often for both cars in the household but now just the main family car. I've probably been leasing for a decade picking up some very good deals along the way. I wouldn't like to think what I've shelled out in that time on 'renting' a car, but it's a mind set thing and there's no right or wrong answer IMO as your ultimately investing your cash in a deprecating asset but you can choose at which point of the depreciation curve you purchase a car. I view the main family car almost as a 'white good'. We need a car, I like having something that's minimal hassle, reliable and covered by a warranty for a fixed monthly amount. Plus getting a shiny new car every 2-3 years is always nice too.

As a rule of thumb on a 2 year lease as an example if the total lease costs are <20% of the cars 'new' value then it's classed as a good deal. The thing with leasing is to chase the deal and not the car i.e. have a size/class of car in mind rather than an individual make and model.

[Jazzert501]

a311 said:

I'm a long time leaser, often for both cars in the household but now just the main family car. I've probably been leasing for a decade picking up some very good deals along the way. I wouldn't like to think what I've shelled out in that time on 'renting' a car, but it's a mind set thing and there's no right or wrong answer IMO as your ultimately investing your cash in a deprecating asset but you can choose at which point of the depreciation curve you purchase a car. I view the main family car almost as a 'white good'. We need a car, I like having something that's minimal hassle, reliable and covered by a warranty for a fixed monthly amount. Plus getting a shiny new car every 2-3 years is always nice too.

As a rule of thumb on a 2 year lease as an example if the total lease costs are <20% of the cars 'new' value then it's classed as a good deal. The thing with leasing is to chase the deal and not the car i.e. have a size/class of car in mind rather than an individual make and model.

7.5k on a 49.5k list price Suzuki!
( who is paying 50k for a Suzuki? )
The list price is laughable

[Jazzert501]

Jazzert501 said:

7.5k on a 49.5k list price Suzuki!
( who is paying 50k for a Suzuki? )
The list price is laughable

My fake Rav4 arrived today, driven from Lincoln, 350 miles at 42mpg, now at 43.3 and 430 miles.
Not plugged in yet,just cruising in hybrid mode.......
Except I launched it in sport from the traffic lights,it is quick!
Octopus are quoting 8.5 P Per Kwh so should be £1.70 per 45 mile charge, allegedly!
Super smooth in normal driving.