Seeking new family car

[AudiMan9000]

Family of 4. I’m currently pumping huge sums of money into an Audi Q5 45 TFSI quattro.

Major expenses are:

PCP £479 pcm
Expensive insurance
Expensive tax (£40k+ list price)
Expensive petrol (big tank, powerful engine, 20something mpg)
Replacing all four tyres every 20k miles
Expensive servicing Audi servicing regime

Huge balloon payment means it’s not worth refinancing or paying it off. By the time the car was paid off, it would be ready for the scrap heap due to doing so many annual miles.

Despite my username and fondness for the four rings, I’m prepared to admit this is all a bit of a waste of money for what is a pretty dull family workhorse. The only real benefits are it being auto, high up, with a spacious cabin and a big boot.

We need to replace it with something that doesn’t cost the earth.

Criteria:

- Must be new and financed by PCP.
- Must be under £40k list price.
- Must be similar size to Q5.
- Must be automatic.
- Must be petrol.
- Must be front wheel drive.
- Willing to consider brands less prestigious than Audi but perhaps not at the extreme end of the spectrum e.g. Vauxhall, Dacia etc.

Any ideas?

[Edible Roadkill]

Hyundai Tucson maybe worth a look.

[CarlosFandango11]

Kia Sportage.
As well as petrol, there are petrol hybrid options.

[SkodaIan]

Does a decent sized estate car count as being "similar sized" to a Q5?

An A4 Avant (if you want to stick with Audi) would fit all the other criteria as long as you were restrained on the options list to keep it inside £40k. It's boot is nearly as big, though cabin space would be a bit smaller.

If it has to be a crossover like the Q5, a Toyota Rav4 (hybrid) would be worth looking at, as would one of VW group cars of a similar size to the Q5 (Tiguan/Karoq/Ateca) with the 1.5 TSI engine. You'll see between 40 and 50mpg on all of those cars and they shouldn't chew through tyres quite so quickly either.

[AudiMan9000]

All great tips. I don’t think the wife would like an estate, although I would if it was solely my decision. A lower powered cross over seems sensible. Ironically we probably should have kept my Q3.

[Silvanus]

The new Dacia Jogger Hybrid

[McLarenLad]

Mazda CX-5= Circa 37k
BMW X2 = Circa 39k
Mazda CX 30 = Circa 28k

[covmutley]

Trouble is, pcp rates and new prices are both up significantly. A quick search suggests a 1.6 tucson is £1.5k and £568 a month. I'm sure you can do better than that.

So I'm not sure you will save any money, if that's the main aim. I highly doubt your q5 will be worthless after paying the balloon. Perhaps price up a private loan to pay it off?

[duckson]

Thought about leasing? Not sure what mileage pa you’d need but based on 10k;

Kia Sportage hybrid;
https://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/kia/sportage...

Or a VW Tiguan;
https://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/volkswagen/t...

[seadoo180]

New Sportage HEV, parents have one and id take it over any of the VAG stuff at that price point. Better cabin, much quicker than the 1.5tsi and better on fuel. Also the warranty is more than double.

Ateca, Karoq, Tiguan 1.5 TSI decent enough but pretty old school no hybrid element etc

New X1 looks decent but lower model to get under 40k

There's a new Honda CR-V coming out that has the new highly rated hybrid power train also, all the new Honda stuff has been well received.

Rav4, ticks all the boxes also, loaded with kit and decent power and mpg from the hybrid power train, 10yr warranty if serviced with Toyota

[Dimebars]

It's Groundhog Day!

[cuprabob]

Dimebars said:

It's Groundhog Day!

[FastEdd11e]

If you are a veteran I'd give Forces Cars Direct a look.

https://www.forcescarsdirect.com/new-cars

[ZX10R NIN]

Hyundai Tucson 1.6T H 230:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211081...

Ultimate 230:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205055...

3008 Allure Premium 300:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204154...

CX60 Exclusive Line 325:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204154...

[GreatGranny]

cuprabob said:

Dimebars said:

It's Groundhog Day!

+1

Doesn't matter what's suggested OP will just get the opposite

Joking aside, OP, it's good you finally realise it's just not worth trying to keep up with the Jones and there are other better value makes available.

[LadZeppelin]

I've got a RAV4. 2.5L petrol self-charging hybrid and it's currently averaging 45MPG. It's FWD but has an option for AWD in 'trail mode'.
Comfy, drives well, plenty of cabin space. It's automatic and my only real gripe is that it can be slow to change up gears, but it's not a massive issue. The 'urban khaki' colour gets plenty of compliments too

[Wills2]

Silvanus said:

The new Dacia Jogger Hybrid

Is the answer or a used Dacia of some sort

[ilikejam]

We went from a Peugeot 5008 to a Q5 and were left underwhelmed by the Audi. The drivetrain was a different level on the Audi, but the interior of the Pug was much more interesting and the build quality was very similar. Probably wouldn't have another Q5 but would have another Pug.

Would recommend looking at the 5008/3008. They've had a facelift since we had ours so not entirely sure of the specs these days, but the GT level used to have every toy you'd ever want - including massage seat!

[sunnyb13]

tiguan seems well built for the money

[PistonTim]

sunnyb13 said:

tiguan seems well built for the money

End of life.