Family Car with Off Road Capability

[EdMX5]

I’m looking for a family car that needs to be used regularly on forest and farm tracks, so off road ability and at least 200mm ground clearance. Budget is £30k max. Not too large, but able to fit 4 plus dog in the back. Land Cruiser is definitely too large. I’m aiming to keep it for at least 10 years and it needs to be reliable and with reasonable running costs, so new or nearly new. At the moment I’m thinking of Subaru Crosstrek or Dacia Duster. Has anyone any experience of either of these off road? Or is there something else out there worth considering?

[Decky_Q]

Any requirement for fuel efficiency?

Some well specified Audi Q7 V8 or RRV8 available at that price if you go nearly new. Porsche Cayenne v8 if can be a bit older.

T-Roc R has been mentioned on other threads for being like a golf R on the road but more room and 4x4 and higher ground clearance for off road situations.

All better places to be than a Dacia.

[A500leroy]

Don't discount a Vitara, or Jeep Renegade

[SlimJim16v]

Subaru Forester?

[Austin_Metro]

RAV 4 has 210mm clearance.

[Evanivitch]

Dacia Jogger for nearly new money £20k. Heaps of space, 200mm clearance and petrol engine probably best bet over next 10 years.

But hard to not say Toyota Rav4 with that budget and the 10 year warranty (rolling 1 year).

[TB2500]

We had a 2017 1.5 diesel 4x4 Duster for 6 years / 65,000 miles. It handled everything well, trips from the south east to north Wales, bit of off road and two dogs in the boot (30kg lurcher and 15kg springer).

But they're not big, 2 people and 1 dog and it was full for a week away in Cornwall. We've gone to a Subaru Outback now as we needed the extra boot space due to a baby arriving.

They can do 4 people and a dog happily providing there's no need for luggage in the car.

Also in that time only had servicing and a set of tyres.

We looked at the crosstrek at the dealer and thought they looked alright but the boot seemed too small and dark for our spaniel.

[durbster]

EdMX5 said:

Not too large, but able to fit 4 plus dog in the back.

Decky_Q said:

Some well specified Audi Q7 V8 or RRV8 available at that price if you go nearly new. Porsche Cayenne v8 if can be a bit older.

Erm, aren't these three of the largest vehicles you can buy?

[camel_landy]

Skoda Yeti... (Comes highly recommended by a Forestry Commission friend.)

M

[Richard-D]

I nearly bought a Discovery Sport recently. The last of the 2.2 diesels appears to be a pretty safe bet. These may be getting a bit too old for you at this point though (going by your budget).

[MustangGT]

EdMX5 said:

I’m looking for a family car that needs to be used regularly on forest and farm tracks, so off road ability and at least 200mm ground clearance. Budget is £30k max. Not too large, but able to fit 4 plus dog in the back. Land Cruiser is definitely too large. I’m aiming to keep it for at least 10 years and it needs to be reliable and with reasonable running costs, so new or nearly new. At the moment I’m thinking of Subaru Crosstrek or Dacia Duster. Has anyone any experience of either of these off road? Or is there something else out there worth considering?

Dacia Duster will leave you with money over

[BornRageFree]

Depending on how fancy you want to go there is a multitude of options - 3rd gen VW Touareg, RR as mentioned already, Cayenne, Q7 - Bit left field, have you looked at Octavia Scouts or Allroads? not sure on ground clearance but they're plenty big inside (Octavia boot is MASSIVE) - all of this is based on the assumption 4 plus dog is 2 adults, 2 children - if 4 children, disregard!

[Silvanus]

MustangGT said:

EdMX5 said:

I’m looking for a family car that needs to be used regularly on forest and farm tracks, so off road ability and at least 200mm ground clearance. Budget is £30k max. Not too large, but able to fit 4 plus dog in the back. Land Cruiser is definitely too large. I’m aiming to keep it for at least 10 years and it needs to be reliable and with reasonable running costs, so new or nearly new. At the moment I’m thinking of Subaru Crosstrek or Dacia Duster. Has anyone any experience of either of these off road? Or is there something else out there worth considering?

Dacia Duster will leave you with money over

I'd definitely be going Dacia Duster, or possibly a Jogger with the right tyre choice, if AWD isn't necessary. Both will be the newest options, with up to 7 years warranty. I had a Logan Stepway that I used on all sorts of non metalled forestry and farm tracks. Make sure you avoid anything with low profile tyres.

[v8250]

SlimJim16v said:

Subaru Forester?

This 100%.

Whilst the Crosstrek's are very capable, the boot space is too small for most dogs...and any reasonable sized shopping/loads. However, a Forester in XT form is the way to go with 240bhp, oodles of space, as rugged as a rugged thing and very comfortable.

And may be take a look at the Outback as they're another hidden gem.

[MattBee]

Freelander 2? Ours has been pretty reliable for the last few years with just servicing items and a couple of track rod ends needed.
Can fit 2 springer spaniels in the boot comfortably and it will seat 4 adults.
Off road wise, absolutely superb. We’ve used it for lots of green laning including Strata Florida.

[valiant]

v8250 said:

SlimJim16v said:

Subaru Forester?

This 100%.

Whilst the Crosstrek's are very capable, the boot space is too small for most dogs...and any reasonable sized shopping/loads. However, a Forester in XT form is the way to go with 240bhp, oodles of space, as rugged as a rugged thing and very comfortable.

And may be take a look at the Outback as they're another hidden gem.

£30k will get you easily into a late model e-boxer Forester and it will handle virtually anything thrown at it but make sure you can live with the performance of it. Everyone raves about its versatility, ruggedness and reliability but then comment on the performance or lack of.

£30k will also get you into a newish Gen6 Outback which could be all the car you ever need but it may be a bit big for your requirements (just shy of an Merc E-class estate for comparison)

(We’re in the same predicament and still trying to nail down our final choice)

[loskie]

It's a Subaru Outback you want. Or an XC70

[EdMX5]

Thank you for your advice everyone. I’ve finally taken the plunge and opted for the new Dacia Duster in 4x4 form. It’s not as powerful as I would have hoped, but more than adequate. The mild hybrid set up does give it a bit of a boost. I have taken it off road this morning and it does the job.

[MustangGT]

EdMX5 said:

Thank you for your advice everyone. I’ve finally taken the plunge and opted for the new Dacia Duster in 4x4 form. It’s not as powerful as I would have hoped, but more than adequate. The mild hybrid set up does give it a bit of a boost. I have taken it off road this morning and it does the job.

Excellent choice, sir!