Cheap, reliable, large-ish SUV for the beating?

[J4x4K]

Is there any cheap (€1000-2000), reliable/low maintenance, cheap to run, large-ish, 4-doors SUV out there?

Something widely available in Europe.

I need a back seat but also need space to transport things at times. But I guess most of them have a foldable back seat.

I don't need a V8 or anything. Actually something more economical is even better, as long as it has enough power for it's size. It would be also cheaper on the insurance.

Would prefer petrol, but diesel is not the end of the world.

Would prefer something with a manual transmission.

4x4 would also be nice, but as longs as it's not FWD.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[J4x4K]

Too common of a question or not possible to find such a car?

Edited by J4x4K on Wednesday 18th January 09:07

[jmsgld]

Cheap AND reliable large SUV will be difficult

A Honda CRV is quite small for an SUV but both cheap and reliable, it is however largely FWD the rear wheels only kicking in if needed.

I bought one when I returned to the UK from Australia a few years ago, it has been faultless, only ever needed a new battery, brake pads and a windscreen. It is however quite dull.

It will be for sale shortly in your price range, PM if you're interested.

[J4x4K]

CRV is indeed too small.

I was thinking of a Frontera 4 doors. But don't know how good they are. Cherokees and Grand Cherokees are also cheap and supposedly reliable?

[OldGermanHeaps]

My frontera 2.8 was woeful. Is an x-trail big enough? They are bigger inside than they look outside.

[J4x4K]

OldGermanHeaps said:

My frontera 2.8 was woeful. Is an x-trail big enough? They are bigger inside than they look outside.

Is it any bigger than the CRV?

Also, isn't it more of a crossover than a SUV?

[J4x4K]

The X-trail indeed looks to be around the same size as a CRX

[joshcowin]

Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero

Hyundai Terracan

Nissan patrol? price may be an issue?

[OldGermanHeaps]

X trail is miles bigger internally than a crv, at least the 52 plate anyway, crv struggled to take a big icandy travel system thing, you couldn't get much else in the xtrail taken that, and 2 weeks shopping with room to spare. The boot was more useful than the x5 which replaced it.

[caelite]

In this pricerange I would strongly recommend the Mitsubishi Shogun SPORT (2.5TD). Make sure its a sport that has the old style super select 4WD system (the full fat shogun has a far more complicated, less reliable electrical system), make sure its the 2.5td, the engine is about as reliable as the full fat's more refined 4M40/4M41 however parts for the old 4d56 are dirt cheap and it is easy to repair, wheras the 4M4* blocks are far rarer.

There really isn't much that goes wrong with the old shoguns but:
-It will smoke, but excessive smoke is a sign of a worn out engine
-Rust, in your pricerange it will be ~'95-02 models, they are bound to be a little brown although these old frame on chassis units will last forever if they are kept treated.
-Timing belt, the 4D56 has a rather short interval if I remember right
-Oil leaks, this is a general point for all big old 4x4s, diffs, transfer cases etc, oil leaks are common and generally bad.

Nissan Frontera/patrol I've heard is good but I have no experience with them.

Any of the mainstream pickups are pretty solid too (L200,Dmax/Rodeo, Navara etc), but all demand a price premium it seems.

[exelero]

Duster