what are the least worst SUV options?
Discussion
Mr Tidy said:
Call it a draw - they are all a f
g abomination!
The question is a bit like asking which sort of perm looks best on a bloke...
A genuine question - have you driven one and if so which?g abomination!The question is a bit like asking which sort of perm looks best on a bloke...
I had a very similar view until I had a Cayenne as a loan car one day and since then my attitude has changed completely - didn't think it would but I really can see the merits.
K..
I'm not exactly going to flame you but the Evoque does not scream those things at all in my view... perhaps a mildly blinged white one might... but in a good colour combination, they are classy, incredibly capable and useful.
Yeti: This is a good car, but it is not a Wife's car
Quashqui: one can't deny its popularity, but its fairly dilute as an SUV.
Other things to consider:
Dodge Nitro: Fairly Rare, compact and from the Jeep Factory
Jeep Cherokee: 2009/2010 Sames as above, but actually a Jeep.
Audi Q5: Doesn't have that rugged look, but very refined
Land Rover Freelander 2: All round good
Not sure if you want to go to full size...but my OH drives our Range Rover Vogue and she absolutely loves it..and I cannot recommend it enough... but you will need deep pockets to keep it spot on..
Cheers
A
I'm not exactly going to flame you but the Evoque does not scream those things at all in my view... perhaps a mildly blinged white one might... but in a good colour combination, they are classy, incredibly capable and useful.
Yeti: This is a good car, but it is not a Wife's car
Quashqui: one can't deny its popularity, but its fairly dilute as an SUV.
Other things to consider:
Dodge Nitro: Fairly Rare, compact and from the Jeep Factory
Jeep Cherokee: 2009/2010 Sames as above, but actually a Jeep.
Audi Q5: Doesn't have that rugged look, but very refined
Land Rover Freelander 2: All round good
Not sure if you want to go to full size...but my OH drives our Range Rover Vogue and she absolutely loves it..and I cannot recommend it enough... but you will need deep pockets to keep it spot on..
Cheers
A
krunchkin said:
exactly. I know car image is subjective etc and someone will be along to flame me. But Evoque screams "I'm Jordan, or an Essex drug dealer" and the others just scream "I have given up on life and am content to be a dullard". *awaits torrent of abuse*
Another recommendation for the Mazda CX-5 or if you want slightly smaller, it's baby brother, the CX-3 when it's launched in a couple of months if it's anything the CX-5 it'll be a great little car.
My OH has a CX-5, great to drive, goes well, good economy (hers is diesel) returning an average in the low 50's, well spec'd and seemingly holding its value well at the moment too.
My OH has a CX-5, great to drive, goes well, good economy (hers is diesel) returning an average in the low 50's, well spec'd and seemingly holding its value well at the moment too.
sday12 said:
£1K Jeep Cherokee V8 with side exhaust.
Yes.This one's £3K, can't see a side exhaust...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
If the GF can find £16K:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=us...
I have a Kia Sportage. It's the KX3 model with satnav, so it has 4wd and lots of toys. 150(ish) bhp diesel engine and it goes ok. I actually drove it across a muddy field this weekend, and with the electronic diff lock on it coped fine.
Nice place to sit too. Worth a look if she wants this sort of thing.
Nice place to sit too. Worth a look if she wants this sort of thing.
Justin Case said:
How about the RAV4? I had a good look over one when I was last in the Toyota dealer. It seemed very roomy and well screwed together and would definitely be on my shortlist if I was in the market for that type of vehicle.
Had one as a hire car last year. Horrible things, unpredictable steering effort (I think due to the EPAS and the mapping), a couple of times it nearly caught me out as it suddenly needed a lot more effort than you were expecting. I found driving it in "sport" (Hahaha) was better as it was then more consistent. The less said about the diesel engine though the better. Second worst diesel I've ever driven.
Funny how chaps come on here asking about which car their wife or GF should buy. Aren't their women capable of deciding for themselves?
The Evoque is an enjoyable SUV to own and drive. The RAV4 is marketed mostly at 40+ women and is sanitised and unenjoyable to drive. Yet people like the practicality. The sleepers are the newer Subarus, and the BMW SUV's.
The best of the identikit rest is possibly the Volvo XC60 (big choice of engines but a D3 is the minimum for fun) the Mazda CX5, though the VW Tiguan is a nice ride. I've driven all of these in the last year and owned a 2007 RAV4. Doing it again I'd get the Tiguan as it's classy enough and a pleasant space to be in for long periods. The RAV4 is so boring it euthanises its occupants on a long drive. My local Volvo dealer is a jerk, so that puts me off the otherwise excellent XC60, along with the £600 a year annual service bills for my last one.
Down-market, there's the Ford Kuga and the Vaux Mokka. Further downmarket are the Kia's and the Nissans.
Plenty of choice.
The Evoque is an enjoyable SUV to own and drive. The RAV4 is marketed mostly at 40+ women and is sanitised and unenjoyable to drive. Yet people like the practicality. The sleepers are the newer Subarus, and the BMW SUV's.
The best of the identikit rest is possibly the Volvo XC60 (big choice of engines but a D3 is the minimum for fun) the Mazda CX5, though the VW Tiguan is a nice ride. I've driven all of these in the last year and owned a 2007 RAV4. Doing it again I'd get the Tiguan as it's classy enough and a pleasant space to be in for long periods. The RAV4 is so boring it euthanises its occupants on a long drive. My local Volvo dealer is a jerk, so that puts me off the otherwise excellent XC60, along with the £600 a year annual service bills for my last one.
Down-market, there's the Ford Kuga and the Vaux Mokka. Further downmarket are the Kia's and the Nissans.
Plenty of choice.
Before my wife and I got married we made an agreement never to own an SUV (we both hate them) or an automatic (she hates them) and that I would never have to drive a front wheel drive car, except in emergencies (my thing - although it's rapidly becoming her thing too).
So my answer is argue or divorce your way out of it and find a woman who likes proper cars
Seriously though, many SUVs these days drive broadly like a car. The X3 for instance probably handles not much worse than a Mondeo when all things are considered. It's not all bad, although obviously it could be better!
So my answer is argue or divorce your way out of it and find a woman who likes proper cars
Seriously though, many SUVs these days drive broadly like a car. The X3 for instance probably handles not much worse than a Mondeo when all things are considered. It's not all bad, although obviously it could be better!
The OP's brief kind of screams Merc GLA to me - it's got the badge, it's SUV-like enough to placate the partner while not being a cumbersome, high rise hippocrathingy, it rides much better and doesn't lose anything much in agility compared to the A-Class it's based on (which I quite like - it reminds me of my BMW Minis - but yes, it does have an, erm, 'focused' ride quality and feels more like a small coupé inside than a regular hatchback), it's the best looker of the current bunch, too IMO and like a suitably specced A-Class feels a bit special inside (Merc traditionalists don't need to apply though).
Mercedes learned from their '90s/'00s quality issues, too, unlike a couple of other 'premium' brands that still seem to get away with quality issues below the superficial glitz - for now.
If you're being ruthlessly logical about it, however, you'd buy a Yeti and be done with it...
[edit: Mazda CX-5 also a good call. Pretty similar to the Merc in proportions, useability and driving appeal).
Mercedes learned from their '90s/'00s quality issues, too, unlike a couple of other 'premium' brands that still seem to get away with quality issues below the superficial glitz - for now.
If you're being ruthlessly logical about it, however, you'd buy a Yeti and be done with it...
[edit: Mazda CX-5 also a good call. Pretty similar to the Merc in proportions, useability and driving appeal).
Edited by 900T-R on Monday 26th January 12:36
TTwiggy said:
I have a Kia Sportage. It's the KX3 model with satnav, so it has 4wd and lots of toys. 150(ish) bhp diesel engine and it goes ok. I actually drove it across a muddy field this weekend, and with the electronic diff lock on it coped fine.
Nice place to sit too. Worth a look if she wants this sort of thing.
A couple of my staff have these, and they're very happy with them. Having been given lifts from time to time, I thought they're pretty decent sensibly-priced alternatives to more 'mainstream/smarter' models. Nice place to sit too. Worth a look if she wants this sort of thing.
TTwiggy said:
I have a Kia Sportage. It's the KX3 model with satnav, so it has 4wd and lots of toys. 150(ish) bhp diesel engine and it goes ok. I actually drove it across a muddy field this weekend, and with the electronic diff lock on it coped fine.
Nice place to sit too. Worth a look if she wants this sort of thing.
I really like the Sportage. Would definitely consider one for my next car.Nice place to sit too. Worth a look if she wants this sort of thing.
dazwalsh said:
Volvo xc60, if your going to travel in it best do it in comfort. not too bling either.
Agree with this, while my wife was looking at a V40 last week, sat in a facelifted XC60, thought it was really nice. According to orangewheels, you can pick one up in R-design spec for about £26k, and Volvo's offers page has them for this price too. I'm quite tempted myself.
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