Family SUV options

[Latifisnc]

Hey folks, after a bit of advice for the mrs. She currently has an F Pace, but since the engine went last year (replaced under warranty), she has lost faith in it. We also have no real need for a diesel anymore. She likes the way it drives and the boot space (although a roof box could be used on the occasions we actually need that amount of space for family trips).

We had a Qashqai as a courtesy car while the engine was being replaced and she really liked that too.
Would quite like to go plug in hybrid as a lot of her driving is only a few miles at a time with slightly longer journeys at the weekend.
Budget would be up to about £35k (including trade in) and ideally 22 plate (or newer) and 25k or less on the clock

F pace hybrid is a front runner (obvs) now she's happy to have a roof box - none remotely near Edinburgh for a test drive though
RR Velar (maybe a bit of budget creep) - definitely need a test drive as she can at least see what the running gear would be like in the F Pace, if not the ride.
She wants to look at the Qashqais too (not sure what the hybrid options are - although petrol could be an option)

What else would folks recommend - Toyota/Lexus?

[kiethton]

We've got an X5 45e and love it.

You're right at the bottom of budget for your mileage and age limits but flex them slightly (or inc. budget by 10%) and a lot more is available. I'd be wanting M-Sport Pro pack for looks/de-chrome and HK stereo.

Meets criteria;

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601159...

[Crumpet]

We had an F-Pace (albeit in SVR form) and it’s a hard car to beat. It was mainly my wife who drove it.

After testing loads of replacements we ended up in a BMW iX3 - an EV! It’s something neither of us really wanted to move to but it’s been absolutely fantastic so far and my wife absolutely loves it. As long as you’ve a driveway at home to install a charger living with it is an absolute doddle, long trips require a bit more planning but it’s not an issue really. BMW ‘approved’ for a ‘22 plate start around £25k.

I’m a die hard petrolhead but I’ve no idea why people persist with small-engined ICE cars when EVs are better in almost every way for daily driving.

[occasionalranter]

Yeah, don't rule out EVs if you're looking for as much car as possible at that kind of age and budget. iX3 is an excellent example. IX is probably just out of your range, (edited to add: 40 variants suffer low range and) 50 variants start at about £35k but with higher mileage.

I also wouldn't rule out leasing. If you add up all your expected costs over say a 3 year period of ownership - depreciation, loss of investment return on capital or cost of loan finance, repairs, road tax - you might be surprised at how that compares with total payments on a 3 year lease of something near the top of the value scale on leaseloco...

Edited by occasionalranter on Friday 24th July 08:50

[occasionalranter]

E.g petrol qashqai is less than £3500 a year to lease for 8k miles:

https://www.leaseloco.com/car-leasing/nissan/qashq...

[ZX10R NIN]

CX-80 Takumi Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606153...

CX-60 Takumi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606223...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606303...

Kuga Vignale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607194...

DS 7:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607073...

If you can live with petrol only then the GV70/80 is a good shout:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604281...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606183...

GV80:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604281...

Stelvio Veloce:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607164...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606223...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 24th July 10:38

[Latifisnc]

thanks for the replies so far.

The reason for not really considering full EV is down to the longer journeys we make every few months - her parents live 4 hours away (Lossiemouth) and just thought charging on the way and when up there could be a real pain (similar for my dad, but Southbound on larger roads, so easier if we went EV). Will take a look though, might be less of an issue than I have in my head.

Lease I hadn't even thought about tbh - worth a look

[Crumpet]

Latifisnc said:

thanks for the replies so far.

The reason for not really considering full EV is down to the longer journeys we make every few months - her parents live 4 hours away (Lossiemouth) and just thought charging on the way and when up there could be a real pain (similar for my dad, but Southbound on larger roads, so easier if we went EV). Will take a look though, might be less of an issue than I have in my head.

Lease I hadn't even thought about tbh - worth a look

It’s a fair consideration. Ours will do 220 miles from a charge (the newer ones do more like 250), so when we drive to my brother’s about 230 miles away we just stop for a coffee on the way. 20-30 mins on the charger and another 100 miles is in the tank.

Destinations are the biggest issue and I’ve had to ensure hotels have chargers before booking. Without one charging at the in-laws could really throw a spanner in the EV works.

[biggbn]

A Lexus...

[andy43]

Buying with your own money I’d also say Lexus, or Genesis or Mazda, purely for warranties and reliability.

[SFTWend]

Picked up a used Lexus NX 450 for the wife yesterday, which will serve as our family car. We wanted quality, reliability and comfort and its lovely based on those criteria. It's also supremely quiet, very economical, plenty swift enough and should do c.40 miles in pure EV mode. Charges overnight on a 3 pin plug.

We went for the Takumi spec, which is fully loaded.

[samoht]

For me when I visit my parents 185 miles away, I can get there on a charge (Polestar 2 LRDM), then plug in to their outdoor socket, which adds enough charge for local trips while there and to return home. So for this trip it's more convenient than petrol. Obviously not all relatives will be able to offer charging facilities.

[Evanivitch]

BMW iX3 - It's a BMW, but electric...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606223...

VW ID5 - I wouldn't recommend but lots of people seem to like them.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607244...

Skoda Enyaq - Best value for money offering
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605282...

Nissan Arya - If she liked the courtesy car, she'll love this.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512168...

Model Y - Best plug and play option, and a good car generally, but the experience can be quite marmite.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605282...

[edc]

Kia Sorrento / Hyundai Santa Fe phev.

[Screenwash]

…Or Kia Sportage.

And why does nobody ever think of the RAV4 PHEV?!

[UK_Scat_Pack]

Defo look at the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. I love mine. Loads of room and every bit of tech you can think of. Won car of the year last year and a whole host of other awards.

[Willber]

Late model mk5 CRV hybrid? Approved used with warranty will be available for that price, I think.

Been looking at them recently. Not a lot of info out there on them on Pistonheads but reviews are good. They definitely have an appeal but appreciate may feel a bit dated compared to latest stuff (that makes it appeal more to me)

[Latifisnc]

Cool, more options. F pace hybrid has come up for sale approved used in Edinburgh so she'll be looking at that.

Unfortunately full electric is a no go - the only decent public charging point for her parents is the next town over (plus shes less than enthusiastic about the prospect of full EV).

List is now, hybrids of these SUV
F Pace (maybe velar)
Hyundai Santa Fe (she hated a Tucson so will be interesting to see how she gets on)
Lexus NX
TOYOTA Rav4 if boot is big enough (good call)
Nissan Qashqai
Will have a look at Honda and Mazda too

Not really narrowed down that much, but don't want to discount without even seeing unless something is utter dogst

The BMWs and Genesisisisis isiis would have been great shouts if full EV was easier when visiting family. PHEV seems the most sensible though over a petrol as through the week most journeys can be on electric.

Thanks all.

[Matt_T]

The wife and I test drove all the usual suspects earlier in the year... my priority was reliability, comfy seats and something fun to steer.

Toyota RAV4 - Pros: brilliant drivetrain, goes really well. Cons: very light steering with little feedback, CVT is continuous, cheap feeling seats. Feels small inside.

Honda CRV hybrid gen5 - Pros: nicer interior and drive than the RAV4, great front seats, brilliant drivetrain. Cons: boot not very big.

Lexus RX450h - Pros: well built, lovely interior and seats, customer service excellent. Cons: very light steering with little feedback, V6 works hard if you try to make progress, CVT is continuous, dull to drive.

Kia Sorento - Pros: lovely interior and seats, good size for families, feels spacious inside, ok steering feel. Cons: strange hesitancy from drivetrain when pulling away, but this could be a setting? oh... and awful customer service with the dealer not allowing me a test drive telling me I couldn't afford it!

Genesis GV70 2.5 - Pros: fantastic build quality, makes Lexus feel cheap! Engine is lovely and smooth, fun to drive. Cons: expensive, also probably going to use a lot of petrol...

Subaru Outback: Pros: great steering feels hydraulic, great seats, rear seats recline, huge boot, feels much faster than 166 bhp, fun to drive, CVT has gear changes. Cons: does about 33 mpg with daily driving, but for the size of car that's the same as a Q7 or Discovery.

Edited by Matt_T on Saturday 25th July 10:55

[Matt_T]

...and out of all the above we bought this, it was simply the best to drive out of everything.

Edited by Matt_T on Saturday 25th July 10:44