We need a new (used) car, needs to be awd, roomy big boot, etc….narrowed it down to these two (although did flirt with the idea of a dacia duster). Will be buying an old one, like 50k on the clock. Interested in reliability, and usability…..anybody care to share their experiences of either? Thanks
Honda CRV, Japanese innit
Reliable, comfortable, not exciting but practical, found 30 mpg was average but that is probably because it was an automatic
And as with any car, the smaller the alloys, the more comfortable the ride
I like the look of the Kuga over the CRV but a couple of mates had them (Kuga) and fuel economy was awful - could be types of journey but it put me off doing anything more than admiring the look of them (a large brick shape seems to appeal to me).
Honda CRV with 140k on the clock.
We've had all the major mechanicals out the way, there was a batch of bad fuel pipesin 2010/2011, ours burst but somehow we got them replaced under warranty (third owners!).
A component of the exhaust gas recirculating system failed under the bonnet, was a reasonably cheap fix, think we've had some drop rods done and maybe three sets of tyres in 6 years.
We were gifted it so it will probably always pay for itself compared to a new car, I think a bad year might be £600 - £800 in maintenance and servicing.
I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up with 50k on the clock if the price was reasonable.
CRV boot is a fair. It bigger and seats fold better on the later ones.
CRV is a nicer more plush seating position and drive.
The Kuga though, couldn't fault ours, was a nice drive, nice bits on it.
Good friend has a MK2 that I helped him buy many years ago, has been pretty faultless. Clithero Honda have been good with him to the point he drives up from Shropshire every to have it serviced there (IIRC years free RAC/AA with a service/MOT?)
I'd have one.
I had a Transit and the engineering/build was crap, I hated working on it so I'd never have another Ford. See wet belt timing belts and Ecoboom engines.
With the Kuga you get a heated screen, which is always a Brucie Bonus on cold frosty and icy mornings. Also CarPlay, AndroidAuto, inbuilt satnav, excellent seats… Not sure you can make a direct comparison between a Kuga and a Transit, to be perfectly honest. I’ve got an EcoSport, and the bloke directly opposite me, who used to work in the engine department at Honda, Swindon, and who builds his own racing cars, has a Kuga.
Make of that what you will, but I’m continually impressed at just how quick my little 1.0 Ford goes, and on long steady runs it’s pretty economical - I fill it up before a run to London, which is 200 miles in total, the range shows 340 miles on a full tank, it’s usually showing around 280 when I get back.
More recently I drove up to Heathrow, picked up two people, along with two big cases, and a carryon, to take to Salisbury, then drove home later. That was 241 miles, and my range was still showing 241 miles from a fill-up of 341. The Kuga has a 1.5 and more space inside.
Had a mk1 kuga. Very nice to drive and very comfy(Titanium x) version. Loved it but as mentioned fuel economy was shit and it wasn’t big in boot despite its size. Found nasty rust under plastic arch covers(rear) no issue on front as wings are plastic . Got rid after that 🙁
Not sure you can make a direct comparison between a Kuga and a Transit
Found nasty rust
#1 comparison - rust.
I bought a 2014 CRV when it was 3 years old. The ex still has it. Utterly reliable, comfy, decent spec, massive boot and was pretty economical considering it was 2 litre NA petrol and AWD. It is boring but I'd have another
Got 2015 CRV here with 52k miles on it. Bought this year in March. 2l petrol automatic. About to set off today for a lap of England.
We have a Jazz as well and the CRV was the logical choice to give us 4 more space for longer journeys. We really like it, it's super comfy (my main requirement) and while big it's not XC90 big.
Got the EX spec with Michelin Cross Climate tyres.
Parents have a 14 plate Kuga. Only got about 60k on it but it's been relentlessly reliable for them. Not a fan of Fords myself, but it's a nice comfy space to be driven around in.
If anyone wants a cheap non ULEZ AWD bike carrying Kuga, our 2008 is for sale. Everything that fails has been fixed over the years, new clutch, gearbox and DMF, instrument cluster fix, new battery last month, alternator and water pump done. Ultimately very reliable PSA engine with 42mpg motorway and 30mpg town and just run in at 98k miles. Has a tow bar fitted for bike racks, and if it goes for £2k ill chuck in the roof bar with a couple of Thule racks if wanted.
A few scratches and dents outside and the results of 14yrs of kids inside but it’s a cheap relatively practical way to get to your trails.
I have a 2010 Honda CRV (2 litre petrol) with 104,000'ish miles on it.
It's comfortable, quick enough, been very reliable since I got it (bought it with 75,000 on it - 5 years ago) and it gets 35-40mpg all day long. Motorways and Cruise Control seem to get the best mpg.
I chose it because it will take my bike (front wheel out) with out any trouble. Has loads of space for luggage - there's only two of us but we travel heavy! It's petrol. Honda reliability was a major plus.
Handling isn't great (it understeers quite readily) BUT it's an SUV not a sportscar - as my wife reminds me regularly.
Had to get a new car earlier this year after a 'sudden' MOT failure that basically wrote off the old car, only had limited choices as no car to view cars, ended up with the Kuga Mk2, and it's a nice car, easy to drive, has enough extras to make life easier and has tons of space in the back, which is easily transformed from back seats to bigger boot space for bikes and so on.
Not had a Honda, or looked at it, but i dare say it's as good, so will come down to what you can get at a better deal and what scores higher with your personal choices.
Buying secondhand is always a pain though, no matter what the manufacturer and reliability perception, you're buying unknown provenance usually, yes you can get a check, but mechanically, it doesn't tell you much for how it'll cope in the next 10k miles, biggest thing for me is getting some type of warranty coverage for the first few months.
Rented the latest model Kuga on holiday last month. It really was very nice. Comfy. Noise cancellation in the cabin! Built-in satnav wasn't as good as my phone.
MrsDoris has never been interested in cars, but after we got home she's suddenly been thinking about trading up 😅
2009 diesel CRV with 185k. Bought with 55k at 4 years old. Thing won't die. It's not ULEZ compliant, which is annoying for us. Two major bills in that time; dual mass flywheel/clutch (125k), and alternator replaced (95k). Boot is always big enough and has a perma-dog cage. the newer versions are more car like. The older one with swing door (died at 125k with big end failure) would take bikes upright. The CRV replacement (for when it dies) is not as practical, but a lot more fun to drive (if a small SUV can be fun).
We've had a 2003 CRV for seven (eight?) years, only got rid in January. Reliability? Not markedly better or worse than other brands IME. Then again, if your car gets to 140k and 20 years old, Things Start Going Wrong A Lot.
Nice enough office to sit in. Spacious boot. Not particularly economical, but it was a brick. Good bike wagon with a roof rack on.
We had a 14 reg Kuga Titanium 4x4 diesel from new for around 4 years. Decent car, never let us down and was happy to lug bikes and kit around on the roof. Pretty dull to drive and not the most refined but was a pleasant enough thing to own. Around 40mpg from memory?
Don't rule out the Rav 4. My sister swears by them and the boot is much bigger than the Kuga. Her current version is a 65 reg.
We have a Kuga at work.
Less than a year old and already has issues - coolant disappears, keeps blowing bulbs, terrible gearchange.
The air con is amazing and the heated windscreen is genius, but appart from feeling more spacious than the previous Kia Sportage, the Kia was a nicer car in every way.
And I advise anyone going to Honda in Clitheroe to hang around inconspicuously and see how their pride and joy is treated after it's had it's service.
I have a petrol auto CRV and I’m pretty happy with it. Not great on the fuel economy mind you but will average 32 on a motorway run.
no turbos, no particulate filters and no dual mass flywheels means I don’t miss my old diesel S-Max. ULEZ compliant too even though the tax is double what the non-ULEZ diesel was
I’d never have another Ford. See wet belt timing belts and Ecoboom engines.
Agreed. I have a Focus. I think the Kuga has the 1.5L version of the Ecoboost which may not have the timing belt problems of the 1.0L, but Ford's denial of responsibility the problems has convinced me not to buy another Ford.
Picked up a 2013 CRV auto petrol last week , replacing a Qashqai 2017 manual petrol.
Requirements were petrol auto and more space in the boot, the Kuga was a contender until I found out about the 1.5
Ecoboost engine problems , just not worth the risk , dealing with EGR and DPF would be much easier than terminal engine failure from a purely financial perspective.
The big problem is used car prices they are really tough to swallow .
The CRV will drink a bit more fuel but that is predictable , along with it being unlikely to fail in service that suits me.
CRVs are great. Over the last 13 or so years my parents have had three in a row - each time just buying the newer versions of it. Im. It aware of a single issue they’ve had other than when a bus failed to squeeze past on a country lane - not the cars fault.
I think the Kuga has the 1.5L version of the Ecoboost
You can also buy the 1.6 petrol Kuga which is a bit less common, but they're out there... my one last year was the 1.6, although i only had it 5 months due to moving to the Transit.
I've got a 2010 crv, 79000 miles on the clock, needs an egr pipe replacement, though it went through MOT like it( been quoted £500 by local garage ) a few scrapes and scratches on it nothing terrible no rust, just been serviced, tow bar, roof bars. Going on Autotrader soon, you can have it for £4000 if you like.
My business partner had a Kuga, never seen a worse relationship between outside size and inside space
We had a Kuga as a courtesy car for a few months,couldn't wait to hand it back.
Horrible drive and (IMO) it took bland to a whole new level.
Next door neighbours have a Kuga. On that basis I'd never get one.
My business partner had a Kuga, never seen a worse relationship between outside size and inside space
The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport hire car that was foisted upon me last week begs to differ. Absolute behemoth on the outside - less room in the back than my Leon inside.