Smallish auto 4wd - Suzuki auto ridiculed?

[weeve]

Evening. Need car for the OH in Q1/early Q2 latest.
Should be: Newish, less than 20,000 miles ish, auto, must be 4wd for 200miles a week rural driving.on narrow roads. Petrol or petrol hybrid but not a PHEV as nowhere to charge it. Safety and reliability more important than looks or gadgets. Was going to get a Suzuki Vitara or sx4 cross but auto box appears to be a hateful thing if motoring journalists are to be believed. Is this true? Anyone got one? I won’t be able to test drive before purchase…

[Caddyshack]

I would say the 2 that I would consider would be Panda 4x4 if you want a good 4x4 that is cheap to run, reliable and engaging or if you want bigger and more comfy / grown up then a yeti seems to tick a lot of boxes.



I am not 100% certain that a 4x4 is the true answer as most modern cars on cross climates are very good for traction. There is something comforting about having a 4x4 though.

[sawman]

We have a 2019 vitara (its not an all grip) with the auto box. Seems to be perfectly functional, doesnt hunt for gears excessively, but probably not merc smooth.

Overall the vitara isnt a bad car, although i have noticed in the winter the sunvisors are rubbish!
We looked at the sx4 but couldn’t get past its looks

Edited by sawman on Friday 30th December 21:29

[ChocolateFrog]

What's the budget?

A new 4x4 diesel Auto Duster is about 22k.

[weeve]

Thanks. Panda too small. I do want something with manufacturers warranty remaining for at least a year so limited options. Yaris cross looks fancy but cramped in back and will carry 3-4 people (incl kids). VW T- something or another looks pricey…

[weeve]

Budget flexible to 25k -30k ish …but only want to spent 5p obviously

[bobthemonkey]

ChocolateFrog said:

What's the budget?

A new 4x4 diesel Auto Duster is about 22k.

Unless something changed, Duster is 4x4 OR Auto - not both. (If it was, I probably would have bought one!)

[weeve]

True dat. Also a diesel so doesn’t fit the brief I’m afraid…

[dmsims]

Pretty wide spectrum for those criteria

BMW 320i
Audi S3
Rav4
Audi Q3
XC40
Mini Clubman

the list goes on.......

[Pistom]

I had a similar requirement and I found nothing to get even close to the Vitara with the exception that the auto box is really not nice so I went for a manual.

50K miles on, the Vitara has proved to be outstanding but if auto is an absolute requirement then you will need to look elsewhere.

[HTP99]

bobthemonkey said:

ChocolateFrog said:

What's the budget?

A new 4x4 diesel Auto Duster is about 22k.

Unless something changed, Duster is 4x4 OR Auto - not both. (If it was, I probably would have bought one!)

Yep and not a diesel auto either!

[Patrick1964]

My girlfriend has a 72 plate SX4 S Cross 4x4 Auto. It replaced a manual Vitara and although the SX is only marginally larger than her old car it feels a bit nicer with higher levels of sound insulation etc. The new model looks a lot better than the old one too. The gearbox is fine, the only negative comment I can make is that the 1.4 petrol engine doesn’t have the torque of a diesel which can make low speed manoeuvres (parking in tight spaces etc.) a little more challenging.
Overall, we really like it and it does it’s job admirably.
She did get 18% NHS discount though, which really does help.

[Caddyshack]

Maybe buy an older Range Rover for the same budget, it would be a much nicer place to be and she is doing a fair few miles. Don’t worry about narrow lanes, the other road users know their place.

[sawman]

Patrick1964 said:

She did get 18% NHS discount though, which really does help.

Is that a suzuki uk discount or a dealer specific?

[Dan W.]

sawman said:

Patrick1964 said:

She did get 18% NHS discount though, which really does help.

Is that a suzuki uk discount or a dealer specific?

Suzuki affinity discount scheme most likely

Certain dealers have to sign up to the programme, You speak to places like forces direct and they arrange it all.

We have had a few deals through it

[weeve]

Thanks all. I’ll buy one..if they are that bad I’ll get a decent deal on an new/nearly new.

Edited by weeve on Saturday 31st December 17:59

[Pistom]

weeve said:

Thanks all. I’ll buy one..if they are that bad I’ll get a decent deal on an new/nearly new.

Edited by weeve on Saturday 31st December 17:59

I wasn't too fussed about going for the auto. I would have if it was a decent gearbox but seeing as it isn't, I went for the manual however the auto isn't pants like say a Smart auto. It's just typical CVT pants so you can live with it.

The Vitara as a car overall is really surprisingly capable though so I don't think you will regret getting one.

[weeve]

Not wishing to offend anyone but managed a ‘test drive’ of a colleagues Vitara auto at work abroad. Love the car. Hate the box. So much so that I’m going to have to find something else as has to be an auto. Sad face. I was set on one.

[troika]

Subaru XV. CVT but no problem, works well.

[POIDH]

Octavia Scout?
V60 XC or V70 XC?

Personally, as someone who lives and travels around the Highlands on wet, muddy, icy and snowy roads regularly, 4x4 isn't a 'requirement' at all.

Yes it helps you go. But do you want to go when weather is that icy and snowy?

4x4 adds nothing to stopping. Arguably it's heavier, and therefore worse for stopping.

A 2wd car on all season tyres or even winters will be a perfectly workable tool, unless you live in Caithness up a 3 mile track.

I spent 5 years driving a Yaris on all season tyres up 8 miles of public singletrack road as a daily commute through floods, snow, ice and more. It was a surefooted as I needed. And three times I watched local farmers slide past and into ditches in Defender's while the wee lightweight Yaris had already stopped easily.

If you're prepared to compromise, there's a much wider choice of vehicles that are petrol, automatic, and some with great electronic assistance for grip in near off-road conditions (Ford Active, Peugeot Grip Control to name a couple).

Edited by POIDH on Wednesday 11th January 21:22