Compact 4x4 Help

[Splog]

Hi,
Sorry to be one of those people that pitch up at a forum looking for help having not contributed before, but I'm really rather clueless when it comes to stuff like this.

In short: my father passed away a little while back, leaving my mother with two cars (a Toyota Yaris and a Honda CRV), neither of which suit her individually, but she doesn't want the expense of maintaining both. As such, we're looking to sell both and buy something that will suit both her requirements:
Req 1- 95% of her driving will be taking her dogs for walks and parking in the city centre of Edinburgh, so the Yaris is ideal.
Req 2- But for a few weeks during winter she can't use the Yaris as she lives at the top of a fairly exposed hill which gets a fair amount of snow and ice. She'll also use the car to visit family up in the north of Scotland during winter, so something four wheel drive seems essential.

My initial recommendation, the Skoda Yeti, was rejected as she thought it was still too big and i've always been averse to the Suzuki Jimny so don't really want to suggest that... and that's just about the extent of my knowledge of 4x4s.

My research so far has been a bit of a bust, as some of the lists of "small 4x4s" actually contain the Honda CRV:
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/green-cars/ar...
so i'm not sure just how small some of the other ones are.

The Suzuki SX4, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Kuga, Hyundai ix35 and the Toyota Rav4 all seem to come up on these lists of small 4x4s quite often, but i know nothing about them and it's hard to judge how big they are by the photos. Are they any good?

I saw mention of a four wheel drive Audi A1, which sounded promising, but a little digging only showed this:
http://news.topmotors.com/2012/02/only-19-audi-a1-...
...which wasn't exactly what i had in mind.

The guy who pointed me in your direction also suggested a Golf 4Motion, would that be any good in the snow?

Price-wise, we'll be selling both of the cars she has, and they're both fairly new, so that gives us a bit of a budget to play with. But knowing her, she'll not want anything extravagant.

So basically that's it... i now realise that's rather long. sorry about that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Stu

[Codswallop]

You're not going to find anything much smaller than the Panda 4x4. However, whilst a 4x4 will be easier to get moving on snow, it will not be any better at steering or stopping on snow than a normal car. That is what winter tyres were made for - they help with traction in all those scenarios. Tell your mum to get whatever car she wants, and get some winter tyres on it when the snow arrives.

Edit: I just remembered about the Daihatsu Terios - it's really small as well, quite good off road and marketted as a Toyota in other markets (though I still maintain winter tyres would be a better option).

Edited by Codswallop on Thursday 19th April 17:06

[Six Fiend]

I own and have driven none of the suggestions...but the 4wd Pandas seem to get very good reviews, neighbour has a 2wd one and loves it.

Edited by Six Fiend on Thursday 19th April 18:30

[Deluded]

Whats wrong with the Jimny? Its a fantastic little 4x4 that can actually go off road and does a good job of it.

[garycat]

Subaru Impreza (not a turbo one) - Its just a fairly basic hatch with 4wd

[excel monkey]

Nissan Juke?

[5lab]

can you still get any of the jap kei cars with 4wd? there used to be a daihatsu with a name longer than the car that had 4wd and was quite handy

otherwise, panda 4x4. it is rather slow and thirsty, but I think any of the cars here would be.

its worth noting the current panda has just been replaced - I don't know if they do the new one in 4x4 yet - if not there should be some stonking deals on run-out last gen models

[richyb]

Deluded said:

Whats wrong with the Jimny? Its a fantastic little 4x4 that can actually go off road and does a good job of it.

+1. People often discredit them but having driven one for a bit I was well impressed. There is no where I take the hilux I wouldn't take a Jimny. Also you can remove the rear seats to give a pretty large load area which would be ideal for dogs.

[Splog]

Blimey, that was fast! Thanks all.

Codswallop: thanks, i'll certainly suggest snow tyres, but i think she'll want the 4x4 for peace of mind. the Daihatsu Terios looks like an excellent shout though.

Six Fiend: I'd largely been put off it as it looked a tad weird, but that's certainly not something my mum will care about. cheers.

Deluded: You're probably right, but i've always thought it looked awful. i'll add it to the shortlist, but probably try and persuade her elsewhere.

garycat: she'd probably think that's too sporty and not consider it. would the dogs not struggle to fit into the boot as well?

excel monkey: the juke looks excellent, but it looks a tad large. is it not similar in size to the Yeti?

5lab: i hadn't even considered daihatsu, but i'll take a look at their range. certainly the one codswallop suggested looks good.

thanks again all!
Stu

[Bill]

Codswallop said:

You're not going to find anything much smaller than the Panda 4x4. However, whilst a 4x4 will be easier to get moving on snow, it will not be any better at steering or stopping on snow than a normal car. That is what winter tyres were made for - they help with traction in all those scenarios. Tell your mum to get whatever car she wants, and get some winter tyres on it when the snow arrives.

This is not Codswallop If she likes the Yaris get her a spare set of wheels with winter tyres and put them on when it starts getting cold again.

[Deluded]

Just one to throw in for no real reason apart from it's a 4x4 and small. Bit niche so you might not have heard or seen one before.

Daihatsu YRV 4-grip? Based on the yaris with the same 1.3 from the yaris but 4x4.

Also how about a Daihatsu Terios? Small 4x4. The new ones a nice looking thing. Jezza Clarkson used on in the fox hunting Top Gear challenge.


ETC : Already been suggested.

Edited by Deluded on Thursday 19th April 17:36

[Hairspray]

Is a Kia Sportage small enough? Smaller than a CRV at least, and they have a long warranty, and IMHO look great!

[Splog]

Excellent, thanks all. I appreciate the winter tyres are a good idea, but i think she'll definitely want a 4x4 for getting up the hill as well.

Deluded: Daihatsu YRV 4-grips seem to be few and far between. do they still make them?

so my short list is currently:
Fiat Panda 4x4
Daihatsu Terios
Suzuki Jimny <- although i still think it's ugly.

things to check the size of:
Nissan Juke
Kia Sportage

i'm assuming the Suzuki SX4 is a nono. Whatcar certainly don't seem to be a fan.

Thanks again!
Stu

[irish boy]

I have a panda 4x4 which I bought as a daily snow car, can't recommend it enough and I would be a bhp snob....planned to sell it around march but it's really grown on me and it's staying. Bought with 16k, now on 29k and it's been totally reliable. The 1.2 is no ball of fire but it's a lot better than the figures suggest. Returns 47 on mixed driving, only done a very small bit of light off roaring but it's very much surprised my friend in an ml500. Light weight is the key, high ground clearance is usefull also with a 45cm wading depth.

Now is the time to buy....a nice low mileage one will be bought for less than 4k, same car will be a solid 5k in October.

[SystemParanoia]

nearly all of the jap superminis are availible in 4x4, Swift, yaris, etc

[y2blade]

Six Fiend said:

I own and have drvien none of the suggestions...but the 4wd Pandas seem to get very good reviews, neighbour has a 2wd one and loves it.

Same, I know a people with 2wd ones and they have been great cars! have heard a lot of good things about Panda 4x4s...I'd have one

[Bluebarge]

You are missing the point somewhat. Winter tyres will get her up the hill and down the hill and help her to stop much better than a hairdresser's 4x4 on summer tyres (which is what many of them will be fitted with). In the Alps, people drive little 2x4 hatchbacks on winter tyres on roads that are covered in snow and ice. Many of them don't bother with 4x4 or, if they do, they get a "proper" 4x4 in the Disco/Merc M Class mode. Winter tyres are all she needs.

P.S. the Suzuki Jimny is too small, noisy and bouncy - for serious mud-plugging only.

[y2blade]

Bluebarge said:

You are missing the point somewhat. Winter tyres will get her up the hill and down the hill and help her to stop much better than a hairdresser's 4x4 on summer tyres (which is what many of them will be fitted with). In the Alps, people drive little 2x4 hatchbacks on winter tyres on roads that are covered in snow and ice. Many of them don't bother with 4x4 or, if they do, they get a "proper" 4x4 in the Disco/Merc M Class mode. Winter tyres are all she needs.

P.S. the Suzuki Jimny is too small, noisy and bouncy - for serious mud-plugging only.

REALLY?
Did you miss the bit about visiting family in The North of Scotland?
Do you know the exact area the person in question wants to be able to get about in?

[Deluded]

How about a Suzuki ignis 4x4. A small true 4x4. Good boot for the dog too

[zax]

Suzuki SX4 sells very well here to persons of a more senior age who live off the beaten track. It's slightly agricultural but then usually so are they Similar story with the Swift 4x4, and that one would be easy to park in the city for sure. How big are the dogs? Are we talking great danes or chihuahuas?