[Closed] Recommend me a small 4x4 for the wife

Driven RAV4 & Hyundai Tuscon - both good but me mate in the far east advised me to get RAV4 if I were to upgrade my Corolla.

Ya, RAV4 for me but Hyundai feel more powerful or at least feel that way to me ...

Get one with automatic gear.

Other choice for me will be either Sukuzi Vitara or Skoda Yeti.

Does she need a 4x4? Is she going to drive off road? Or is this an image thing?

I'd never really seen the X3 as a "small" 4x4 but I guess it's all relative.

My wife drives a Toyota Urban Cruiser.

Toyota are, apparently, going to be selling a new, small SUV next year.

Oh - and it's not about "off-road" it's very much about staying ON the road 🙂

Fiat panda 4x4 or
Porsche Macan

Mazda CX3

[img] /revision/latest?cb=20101129221523[/img]

New Rav4 isn't small imo (had the 2000 model which was a great car) neither is an x3

Some ideas assuming you want 4x4

Suzuki Vitara or Vitara Max
BMW X1
Audi Q3 or brand new model Q2 just launching
Nissan Juke (gets a lot of stick on here but good little cars and very popular)
Skoda Yeti

Does she need a 4x4? Is she going to drive off road? Or is this an image thing?

Didn't take long.

3 door rav 4 is tiny and the 5 doors not huge either

Vitae as rot like hell

Jukes nae bad but Renault engine same about duster

Fiat panda 4x4 is ace fun for a small 4 x4

I've always wanted a kangoo tracka though

[quote=scotroutes ]Toyota are, apparently, going to be selling a new, small SUV next year.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/toyota/c-hr

Fiat panda 4x4 is ace fun for a small 4 x4

Absolutely killer pch and pch deals on the yeti at the moment as the new model comes out next year. Both 2d and 4wd variants

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas...
Will be driving off-road hence required need of 4x4 and a higher driving position.
F.I.L has a RAV4 that she likes so it'll be something similar..
Didn't think of X1 so that's a good shout.
She also likes the Yeti, anyone got one to give me a review?
Cheers

Porsche Macan.

My girlfriend has just picked up a Nissan Juke. I've been out in it a few times and it's ace, really refined, smooth and the 1.5dci engine pulls well. Not huge boot space but easy to use and a bargain really

OP there have been a few threads on Yeti, they seem well liked and like the older Rav4 I had you can remove the rear seats completely making it a van like load carrier. The Yeti styling has imo evolved from 😯 to 🙂

Just looking at the Yeti myself at the moment and like some have said, some great deals to be had.

If you want a 4wd with out getting all sorts of rabid comments on this forum, howabout a Phev. For example the bmw 2 series activ tourer Phev or its sister the mini countryman phev

Ive had a petrol 2wd yeti for awhile now great little car bikes fly in drives nice its no sports car but dosnt fall over in corners. Its vetured down green lanes and through muddy fields and hasnt got stuck. The 4 wheel drive version should be even better at getting around in the mud.

Mrs Dubs vetoed the Yeti - it looks too much like the Roomster apparently...

We have a Kuga which I can recommend - it's ok on dirt tracks etc. and drives well on the road.

If you want something smaller I can only go on what the FiL recommended from their recent search:
Ford EcoSport - rubbish, horrible inside, crap to drive
BMW - looked at the X1 and liked it, but too spendy for him.
Mazda CX-3 - what he eventually bought.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/hr-v-2015/

Freelander?

I got an 04 reg in April and took it for a thorough off-road test while on hols recently - and I was pretty impressed.

Also beats my old 3 series bimmer on mpg for the daily work commute

We have the current Ford Kuga in 4wd and like it very much . Comfy, easy to drive, stable, practical etc.

Sister had various older Rav 4's which she thought were great. Changed to the last version X1, didn't like it so chopped in after 6 months for a current Rav 4.

Suzuki Jimny 🙂
[img] [/img]

Kuga seem to be pretty good, nice to drive like most current Fords, I was very impressed with the Mokka, felt very stable and nimble on twisty roads, very comfy, and good seating position - loads of them around too, they seem to be very popular with the Motability dealers, along with the Qashqai, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find a reasonably priced second-hand one.
I really don't like the Juke styling, but I can't argue about how much fun they are to drive, not sure about how many are actually 4x4, though.
I've driven a Ford Ecosport, and I can't say I was terribly impressed with it, definitely built down to a price-point..

Shogun Pinin?

What's "off-road"? Covers a lot of bases..

Don't discount a Forester or even Impreza.

Now I don't need it for towing I keep thinking about replacing our defender with a jimny.

My better half would rather a yeti but to many stories of poor paint and rust for my liking

OP we've been looking at similar cars, over the years I have had two Shoguns (200k miles trouble free), a Rav 4 (80,000 miles 10 yrs mostly trouble free) and an A6 Quattro (110,000 miles 8yrs trouble free) and after a while 4x4 less are kicking tyres and don't want something full size

I really don't like the Juke styling, but I can't argue about how much fun they are to drive, not sure about how many are actually 4x4, though.

My wife really likes them, she has a Micra CC and is a big Nissan fan I have managed to veto one so far as boot is tiny so not bike friendy and I have persuaded her that bike cannot travel outside the car 😉 Atbthe riskmof being flamed as sexist Inthink they are a good and fun "ladies 4x4" if you don't need the load carrying. I like older Rav4's but removable seat models are now 10 years old now and I think the new ones are too big. X1 we have on a short list. She won't have a Skoda, Q3 I loved my Audi but I think as comfortable / high quality as it is as a bike car it's too small (less space than an A3 5dr ? OP if your wife doesn't need the height of a 4x4 and you can find a 2L Quattro that could be a good option)

The new Mazda 3 suggested above looks good in photos.

I'd have said a Lada Niva, but as the authorotative badge snobs that we are, the best 4x4 by far appears to have lost its only UK importer. Superb road manners from the independant suspension, excellent off road with its low range box, brilliant break over and approach angles, but slightly embarrassing badge.
Or a Jimny (with its leaf springs all round), but it is pretty good off road.

Freelander?

I got an 04 reg in April and took it for a thorough off-road test while on hols recently - and I was pretty impressed.

Also beats my old 3 series bimmer on mpg for the daily work commute

Incredibly capable off road and the TD4 auto with a remap is pretty quick and pulls our sheep trailer no problems.

BUT

the window regulator cables will eventually snap (rear tailgate most troublesome as when it fails you can't open the tailgate). The door lock mechanisms will also fail. The VCU will eventually get tight and need to be replaced before it takes out the IRD and/or rear diff. The TD4 inectors will eventually fail and cost around £120 + vat each to refurb. The huge back box will rust on top and spring open. The sunroof will go wrong. The TD4 electric fuel pump will fail.

Our freelander has now had all that done/checked. Not cheap but it is a car that feels safe no matter what you throw at it and we are tempted by a freelander 2 for the slightly larger boot. It is not a small car though and is the length of a large estate due to the huge bonnet. HSE spec gets heated seats and a fuel burning heater and parking sensors which are very nice to have.

My advice is go Japanese for an easy life. I love Jimnys but they are a tad small. Thinking about getting one for my nephew as his first car

If she does go off-road then get decent tyres. Not saying something like a General Grabber but something M&S rated will be a lot better than normal road tyres. We use a set of cheap M&S tyres on the freelander and am yet to get stuck yet and we do use it for towing a sheep trailer on wet grass. I nearly got it stuck once but used the weight of the trailer to pull it backwards out of the field 😀

Kia Sorrento?

Not "small" but MrsT is on her 2nd and is unlikely to change/part with it any time soon....

Said before but I got the Yeti 1.2tsi DSG (leather) SE on PCH for 109 pm, and partner got a 1.4TSI L+K yeti 4x4 for 135pm (top of range). Both 2K Down deposit.

My folks got a 1.2 tsi DSG SE on PCP - which should be 21000 for 15500 (with a 2.5 Deposit). Got nearly 3000 in incentives or discounts. Costs 177 a month on interest free.

All good cars. I prefer the 1.2tsi DSG over the 1.4 man.

When you add a spare wheel in the boot is small but driver space and passenger space is good. Handling is great, brakes could be better and cheap glossy plastics are crap. However its a nice package overall and good to drive.

Or a Jimny (with its leaf springs all round), but it is pretty good off road

Nae leaf springs on a Jimny - leaf sprung model was the long-gone SJ.

VW Tiguan - performs well in snow, 2.0 Diesel averaged 50 mpg

Now I don't need it for towing I keep thinking about replacing our defender with a jimny.

My better half would rather a yeti but to many stories of poor paint and rust for my liking

Oh, the irony! A Defender owner worrying about poor paint and rust!

Nae leaf springs on a Jimny - leaf sprung model was the long-gone SJ.

My mistake. 😆

[img] http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=b3d7ff887cc34defad7ea61e5e8948fb [/img]

Subaru XV? Basically an Impreza with wellies on.

Was interested in the freelander but have heard horror stories from the earlier versions, have these been ironed out?
Gonna look at a couple of RAV4s today.
The interest in the X3 comes from the quality of the interior i.e less plasticy feel.
She would prefer a higher driving position for the dirt tracks and hedges on the regular tracks so it tends to rule out a Quattro, forrester etc...

Which version of the Panda 4x4 is better - oil or gas?
Potentially looking at getting one for the MiL - who really want a Discovery, but she's not getting one.

Good luck keep us up to date 🙂 I wonder if for a 4x4 test drive you really want rubbish weather ?

Which version of the Panda 4x4 is better - oil or gas?
Potentially looking at getting one for the MiL - who really want a Discovery, but she's not getting one.

Don't know. I've only driven the 1.2 petrol, which is a sweet little engine if a bit long in the tooth. The Twin Air petrol is supposed to be a doozie, but neither oil or gas get anywhere near the stated mpg.
I have a green lane running past my house- not particularly challenging but it was fun to pass Land Rovers "on Safari" with a cheery wave as they stop to discuss the next section.

I was going to suggest the Jimni, but it might be a tad small. The upside of that is it's much easier to negotiate steep, narrow lanes, and with a set of decent M&S tyres they can go pretty much anywhere.
Not so hot for long A-road/motorway jaunts, but that's not what they were designed for.
Very popular in south Devon, because [i]all[/i] the roads are narrow!
And steep.
Interior might be an issue, but if you want a fairly utilitarian vehicle for negotiating narrow lanes, then something maybe has to be sacrificed.
I'd rather a less posh interior which is easy to keep clean, rather than fussing over it every time it gets muddy.
There's also the inevitable scratches along the sides from sticky-out branches when pulling in close to hedges, etc.
It's almost impossible to find cars that haven't got scratches all over their door mirrors in rural areas because of this.

[i]Was interested in the freelander but have heard horror stories from the earlier versions, have these been ironed out?[/i]

Apples and Pears, like comparing an Escort to a Focus. We've had both, 12 plate Freelander is a nice place to be.

[i] Atbthe riskmof being flamed as sexist Inthink they are a good and fun "ladies 4x4" if you don't need the load carrying[/i]

My wife booked her Freelander in for a service and asked for a demo Range Rover Sport. The garage gave her an Evoque, as "it's more of a ladies car", according to the Salesman.

He rang a week later with 'numbers' for a new Evoque to be told she'd bought a new car, a new xDrive 435d coupe. And I've kept the Freelander instead of my old Vectra shed. Next time a woman asks for an RR I'm pretty sure he'll give her the RR 🙂

I wouldn't recommend the Jimny, given the requirements you stated.

Got one myself, and it's an outstanding vehicle for my needs (forestry surveyor, loads of very marginal 4x4 tracks etc driven on on a daily basis). It is like a mini-Defender, has excellent axle articulation with its coil-sprung live axles.

One of the nicest things about the Jimny is that they're great project cars, you can turn one into an absolute beast for a fraction the cost of a stock Defender.

But as a daily driver on tar roads it falls way short. Loads of body-roll in corners, skittish rear end, underpowered, geared too low for A-roads and motorways, and my biggest bug-bear, that it has no central diff so its not advisable to use it in 4wd on tar roads unless they're completely snowed over.

I'd probably go for a Subaru Forester or suchlike if nothing more than gravel roads is to be driven on.

SX4 here. Jimny was too small for carrying kit so went with SX4...still small enough for those little country lanes but does ok on motorway (my work means 90% A road/motorway then 10% country lanes/mud/dirt track). Selectable 4x4 is useful.

Also got a 2wd Yeti which is very capable (perfect aside the previously mentioned rust/paint issues) but has nearly got stuck when offroad (although tyres weren't really suitable for off road)

My wee Vitara has been awesome. Totally reliable, I have had nearly 70k trouble free mostly rural miles. It has got me out of some difficult spots with flooding, snowy roads, and got me home when others had to turn back.

And it was a total legend at the infamous rainy muddy hell of iXS cup Inners a few years ago, when everybody else got stuck in the field, the Vitara just glided out.

Down side - its a bit thirsty. And the wheels are rusted but that is fixable.

I am toying with getting another new one next year.

Bloke I was at uni with now runs a race car prep company.
He made a Yeti quite capable...! 😆

I have an X3. Current model 2 litre diesel Msport with a manual box. I absolutely love it, some reviews don't rate the manual but I have no complaints. Having come from a Mazda CX5, and having looked at a number of other mid sized 4x4 from the jap brands etc, the build quality, interior and drive is night and day difference, but you do pay the premium for it. I am financing mine so and as residuals are strong he difference in payments is not so bad, I was all set to go for another CX 5 as they'd sorted some f my gripes with it in the facelift model, but I got a decent deal on the X3.

But, it isn't small. It's a little bigger inside than the Mazda CX-5, and about the same size as a mk1 x5. I think the new model is due soon too. I'd definitely buy another one.

Jimny owner here. From new in 04. Been faultless. Wish my 110 was. The Jim actually can be as good in snow as it is so much more agile and doesn't feel so scary when things go wrong.
Never seen the lack centre diff an issue as the set up is the same as a series Landy. If its bad enough for 4wd then a locked transfer box isn't a problem. Lack of so called motorway comfort is relative. Maybe not Rolls comfort but still better than many cars from 10 years ago. 70 is fine and we live in the UK.
Not a lot of room in the back though. Not a nice ride for 25 miles if you are not a kid.
Not many small 4wd out there. I don't see a Yeti for example as small nor the BMW for example. Where a Jim shines is that it is a proper 4wd. ie it has low ratio. If you need that. Otherwise there are many 4wd cars

Don't laugh, but my ex Mrs had a Panda, (2 wheel drive) in about 1983 ish. It was & still is, the best thing I've driven in snow. I put some cheap Town & Country tyres on & there was no stopping it. Lord knows what the 4X4 was like!

The modern version should theoretically be even better.

Honda CRV has to be a sensible option. The 4wd is a bike fake but should get your out of trouble. IIRC they did issue a "fix" for the lame 4wd.

nuke - Member
SX4 here. Jimny was too small for carrying kit so went with SX4...still small enough for those little country lanes but does ok on motorway (my work means 90% A road/motorway then 10% country lanes/mud/dirt track). Selectable 4x4 is useful.

VW do a 4x4 Caddy.

SX4 was the one used as a Fox in a fox hunt race on TG so looked pretty capable off road.

Don't laugh, but my ex Mrs had a Panda, (2 wheel drive) in about 1983 ish. It was & still is, the best thing I've driven in snow. I put some cheap Town & Country tyres on & there was no stopping it. Lord knows what the 4X4 was like!

Many years ago on my way to work I had just started down Winnat's Pass in some impressive snow. A colleague going up in a Panda 4x4 stopped to tell me a snowplough was stuck across the bottom. She then let the clutch out and continued up completely fuss free. I ended up having to slither down losing speed by bouncing off snow banks. The Panda looked pretty impressive to me.