Looking for a Suitable Vehicle – Gardener in Rural Location

[sirpiston]

I’m a gardener living in a rural area, and I need a reliable vehicle that can handle narrow lanes, rough terrain, and country roads in poor condition. I plan to remove all seats except the two front ones to maximise space for my equipment, which includes extendable poles (one over 2 metres long).

Key requirements:
• Four-wheel drive (or very capable off-road ability) – essential for muddy lanes and rough tracks.
• Spacious interior – must fit all my gardening tools, machinery, including long extendable poles up to 200cm.
• Tight turning circle – necessary for navigating narrow driveways. (not essential)
• Rear parking sensors and possibly a reverse camera – helpful for tight spaces. (reverse camera not essential)
• Rugged enough for pothole ridden country roads – must cope with rough terrain.
• Budget: £15,000 – looking for the best option within this price range.
• Not a pickup – I don’t want any form of pickup truck.
• Must retain the passenger seat – my dog comes with me to work, so removing it isn’t an option.

If anyone has suggestions on suitable vehicles, I’d really appreciate your input.

[Alickadoo]

sirpiston said:

I’m a gardener living in a rural area, and I need a reliable vehicle that can handle narrow lanes, rough terrain, and country roads in poor condition. I plan to remove all seats except the two front ones to maximise space for my equipment, which includes extendable poles (one over 2 metres long).

Key requirements:
• Four-wheel drive (or very capable off-road ability) – essential for muddy lanes and rough tracks.
• Spacious interior – must fit all my gardening tools, machinery, including long extendable poles up to 200cm.
• Tight turning circle – necessary for navigating narrow driveways. (not essential)
• Rear parking sensors and possibly a reverse camera – helpful for tight spaces. (reverse camera not essential)
• Rugged enough for pothole ridden country roads – must cope with rough terrain.
• Budget: £15,000 – looking for the best option within this price range.
• Not a pickup – I don’t want any form of pickup truck.
• Must retain the passenger seat – my dog comes with me to work, so removing it isn’t an option.

If anyone has suggestions on suitable vehicles, I’d really appreciate your input.

Here you go.

Toyota RAV4. 4 wheel drive and reliable.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...

[normalbloke]

Yeti?

[Mr E]

This sounds like a duster to me.

[John87]

Id go Yeti or Octavia Scout.

There's also the van route with the likes of a Vauxhall Combo Cargo 4x4.

[JZZ30]

I've no idea if they are actually any good, but the Shogun Sport is a bit like a van

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410295...

[MustangGT]

Mr E said:

This sounds like a duster to me.

Agreed, your 15k budget will get a much more recent vehicle than for the other suggestions.

[Smint]

Subaru Forester (pre 2009 SG9 is a small rectangular narrow car but tardis like inside load area especially, change from £5k), or Outback of any year, Forester is a nimble car ideal for country roads.
Avoid turbo and H6 engines unless you don't mind high VED band.

[EdmondDantes]

A Volvo XC70 sounds like it would meet your requirements.

[ATG]

Height of tail gate might be a consideration if you're loading and unloading big stuff like lawnmowers. Most 4x4s have a high floor in the back. That's good for hand tools as you don't have to stoop. But for things like mowers it's a pain.

FWIW, we had a Hilux Surf for this kind of thing. Cost buttons, went on forever, would go anywhere and you could chuck loads of crap in the back.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

I'm considering a Subaru Outback currently. Apart from fairly high fuel consumption and cvt transmission they seem like an ideal rural / poor weather car.

[darreni]

The chap that cuts our trees has an old lwb defender with an aluminum tipping pick up bed = I know you said no pick ups but he finds it superb for shifting waste and log deliveries.
Looks pretty cool too.

[Matt_T]

With fairly modern SUVs, like the RAV4 or XC70 suggested above, will removing the rear seats cause issue with sensors / electronics? I presume you would have to leave the seatbelt & buckles in, but the seat cushions have weight sensors in?

Also, where does insurance stand with removing rear seats? I presume you have to declare this as a modification, but you are converting the car to a commercial vehicle?

[Huzzah]

Matt_T said:

With fairly modern SUVs, like the RAV4 or XC70 suggested above, will removing the rear seats cause issue with sensors / electronics? I presume you would have to leave the seatbelt & buckles in, but the seat cushions have weight sensors in?

Also, where does insurance stand with removing rear seats? I presume you have to declare this as a modification, but you are converting the car to a commercial vehicle?

This

If you're going to strip out the interior and turn it into van, you may as well buy a van.

A Freelander + trailer + roof box (long things) wouldn't be a bad shout.

Edited by Huzzah on Tuesday 22 April 12:32

[Mammasaid]

Matt_T said:

With fairly modern SUVs, like the RAV4 or XC70 suggested above, will removing the rear seats cause issue with sensors / electronics? I presume you would have to leave the seatbelt & buckles in, but the seat cushions have weight sensors in?

Also, where does insurance stand with removing rear seats? I presume you have to declare this as a modification, but you are converting the car to a commercial vehicle?

The answer is to buy the commercial version, e.g the Shogun Sport mentioned above is available as a 2 seater.



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202502219...

[Joe5y]

Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE with a load liner.