Medium-sized SUV/MPV/Crossover for £15-20k?
Discussion
I'm thinking about selling my Superb 280 estate, and getting something a little smaller but still practical. I just don't use the Skoda enough to warrant keeping it. It really does need to be used, not sitting on the drive for a week or two at a time. I don't really need the performance either.
Even once we get back to "normal", annual mileage will only be around 5k. I've got a small car for local journeys, so when it does get used, it will be at least 20 miles at a time.
Needs to be big enough to carry 8 foot loads with the front passenger seat folded.
High-up driving position, so SUV or MPV type, and 5 doors.
Automatic.
Quick enough to overtake, so no big cars with tiny engines.
Satnav, keyless, heated seats, all-round parking sensors, etc.
Reasonably comfortable.
It will mostly be used with one or two onboard, so rear seat space is isn't important.
Badge irrelevant - my other car is a Kia.
Budget £15 to 20k
Most importantly, it must have plenty of warranty, or the ability to get an extended manufacturer's warranty, or be so reliable that it won't need expensive repairs in the next few years.
Even once we get back to "normal", annual mileage will only be around 5k. I've got a small car for local journeys, so when it does get used, it will be at least 20 miles at a time.
Needs to be big enough to carry 8 foot loads with the front passenger seat folded.
High-up driving position, so SUV or MPV type, and 5 doors.
Automatic.
Quick enough to overtake, so no big cars with tiny engines.
Satnav, keyless, heated seats, all-round parking sensors, etc.
Reasonably comfortable.
It will mostly be used with one or two onboard, so rear seat space is isn't important.
Badge irrelevant - my other car is a Kia.
Budget £15 to 20k
Most importantly, it must have plenty of warranty, or the ability to get an extended manufacturer's warranty, or be so reliable that it won't need expensive repairs in the next few years.
Not small but the RX450h ticks a lot of your boxes:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008272...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...
You can get a warranty from Lexus once it's been inspected.
Petrol wise the Ford Kuga Vignale 180 would be my pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102189...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012187...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008272...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...
You can get a warranty from Lexus once it's been inspected.
Petrol wise the Ford Kuga Vignale 180 would be my pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102189...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012187...
The requirement for 8 foot long things may preclude many smaller SUV type cars?
Not sure if you mean front seat folded forwards so to have a flat surface - in my experience reclining the front seat back doesn’t really help as the seat gets stuck on the rear bench part.
Think most of the Volvos XC 60s or V60s have folding front seats although finding petrol ones can be tricky as most appear to be diesel.
Not sure if you mean front seat folded forwards so to have a flat surface - in my experience reclining the front seat back doesn’t really help as the seat gets stuck on the rear bench part.
Think most of the Volvos XC 60s or V60s have folding front seats although finding petrol ones can be tricky as most appear to be diesel.
Lexus looks good, although it might be a bit on the large side. I guess it's about the same size as a Touareg? I had one of those before the Superb, and found the width of it a bit intimidating away from A roads.
Kuga Vignale looks good too. How do they manage to make it so slow though?
I'd not considered a Volvo - have to have a closer look.
I've been looking at the cheaper (new) SUVs that are available in budget - Dacia, MG, Ssangyong (had no idea they were still going!), and you get plenty of metal and toys for £20k. Reading some reviews, they get distinctly average ratings dynamically, are mostly under-powered, and don't exactly hold their value. A top spec Duster might be a good secondhand buy - I wonder if they actually sell many in Prestige trim?
I keep coming back to a Peugeot Rifter, in GT-Line trim with the 130 diesel. Can't find one with the auto box though.
I owned a Fiat Qubo 10 years ago, which was a similar van-based MPV, but the next size down. Quirky little thing, which I quite liked. Practical shape for carrying loads.
Also been looking at some of Kia's offerings, as I've been impressed with my Picanto turbo. Not sure I'd want the same 3-pot 1 litre engine in an SUV though. 7 year warranty is appealing.
Having spent nearly £2k getting the Superb fixed last month, maybe I'd be better off keeping it for a couple more years? What are the odds of getting another big bill?
Kuga Vignale looks good too. How do they manage to make it so slow though?
I'd not considered a Volvo - have to have a closer look.
I've been looking at the cheaper (new) SUVs that are available in budget - Dacia, MG, Ssangyong (had no idea they were still going!), and you get plenty of metal and toys for £20k. Reading some reviews, they get distinctly average ratings dynamically, are mostly under-powered, and don't exactly hold their value. A top spec Duster might be a good secondhand buy - I wonder if they actually sell many in Prestige trim?
I keep coming back to a Peugeot Rifter, in GT-Line trim with the 130 diesel. Can't find one with the auto box though.
I owned a Fiat Qubo 10 years ago, which was a similar van-based MPV, but the next size down. Quirky little thing, which I quite liked. Practical shape for carrying loads.
Also been looking at some of Kia's offerings, as I've been impressed with my Picanto turbo. Not sure I'd want the same 3-pot 1 litre engine in an SUV though. 7 year warranty is appealing.
Having spent nearly £2k getting the Superb fixed last month, maybe I'd be better off keeping it for a couple more years? What are the odds of getting another big bill?
Left field idea: Honda Jazz, the latest one in EX trim.
The rear bench and front seat both fold down and you will probably get a 2.4m load in there (but check this at a dealer).
High up driving position - check.
5 doors - check.
Automatic - check.
Quick enough to overtake - depends on what you mean by "quick", but it's hybrid with lots of torque, so might be good enough.
Satnav, keyless, heated seats, all-round parking sensors - check.
Reasonably comfortable - I haven't tried it, but the reviews have been very good.
Badge irrelevant - check
Plenty of warranty - check. You will get a nearly new one for £20k with nearly all the manufacturer warranty remaining. And they are super reliable.
It's basically a mini MPV which is small on the outside but massive on the inside.
And being a petrol hybrid, it's better for small mileages. No DPF etc.
The rear bench and front seat both fold down and you will probably get a 2.4m load in there (but check this at a dealer).
High up driving position - check.
5 doors - check.
Automatic - check.
Quick enough to overtake - depends on what you mean by "quick", but it's hybrid with lots of torque, so might be good enough.
Satnav, keyless, heated seats, all-round parking sensors - check.
Reasonably comfortable - I haven't tried it, but the reviews have been very good.
Badge irrelevant - check
Plenty of warranty - check. You will get a nearly new one for £20k with nearly all the manufacturer warranty remaining. And they are super reliable.
It's basically a mini MPV which is small on the outside but massive on the inside.
And being a petrol hybrid, it's better for small mileages. No DPF etc.
clockworks said:
Lexus looks good, although it might be a bit on the large side. I guess it's about the same size as a Touareg? I had one of those before the Superb, and found the width of it a bit intimidating away from A roads.
Kuga Vignale looks good too. How do they manage to make it so slow though?
I'd not considered a Volvo - have to have a closer look.
I've been looking at the cheaper (new) SUVs that are available in budget - Dacia, MG, Ssangyong (had no idea they were still going!), and you get plenty of metal and toys for £20k. Reading some reviews, they get distinctly average ratings dynamically, are mostly under-powered, and don't exactly hold their value. A top spec Duster might be a good secondhand buy - I wonder if they actually sell many in Prestige trim?
I keep coming back to a Peugeot Rifter, in GT-Line trim with the 130 diesel. Can't find one with the auto box though.
I owned a Fiat Qubo 10 years ago, which was a similar van-based MPV, but the next size down. Quirky little thing, which I quite liked. Practical shape for carrying loads.
Also been looking at some of Kia's offerings, as I've been impressed with my Picanto turbo. Not sure I'd want the same 3-pot 1 litre engine in an SUV though. 7 year warranty is appealing.
Having spent nearly £2k getting the Superb fixed last month, maybe I'd be better off keeping it for a couple more years? What are the odds of getting another big bill?
Keeping it would make sense, better the devil you know & all that.Kuga Vignale looks good too. How do they manage to make it so slow though?
I'd not considered a Volvo - have to have a closer look.
I've been looking at the cheaper (new) SUVs that are available in budget - Dacia, MG, Ssangyong (had no idea they were still going!), and you get plenty of metal and toys for £20k. Reading some reviews, they get distinctly average ratings dynamically, are mostly under-powered, and don't exactly hold their value. A top spec Duster might be a good secondhand buy - I wonder if they actually sell many in Prestige trim?
I keep coming back to a Peugeot Rifter, in GT-Line trim with the 130 diesel. Can't find one with the auto box though.
I owned a Fiat Qubo 10 years ago, which was a similar van-based MPV, but the next size down. Quirky little thing, which I quite liked. Practical shape for carrying loads.
Also been looking at some of Kia's offerings, as I've been impressed with my Picanto turbo. Not sure I'd want the same 3-pot 1 litre engine in an SUV though. 7 year warranty is appealing.
Having spent nearly £2k getting the Superb fixed last month, maybe I'd be better off keeping it for a couple more years? What are the odds of getting another big bill?
I may have missed this but what is the driver for getting rid of the Skoda? Won't the replacement still get used just as little and depreciate just as much?
The Superb 280 is a great car and there aren't loads of them on the market. What did the 2k go on?
The Superb 280 is a great car and there aren't loads of them on the market. What did the 2k go on?
Edited by ahenners on Monday 8th March 07:12
clockworks said:
CVT gearbox in the Jazz rules it out for me
The latest one doesn't have a CVT, in fact it doesn't have any gearbox at all being a hybrid. But it simulates fixed ratios so you don't get a rubber band effect like you do with an old-style CVT.As I said, a long shot, but seems to fit the brief...
ahenners said:
I may have missed this but what is the driver for getting rid of the Skoda? Won't the replacement still get used just as little and depreciate just as much?
The Superb 280 is a great car and there aren't loads of them on the market. What did the 2k go on?
The £2k bill was for diagnosis and repair of a turbo fault. The boost control valve actuator was sticking, putting the car into limp mode if it was driven briskly. It seems that this has become more common recently, with cars not getting used much.The Superb 280 is a great car and there aren't loads of them on the market. What did the 2k go on?
Edited by ahenners on Monday 8th March 07:12
All sorted now by the main dealer.
The Superb 280 is probably the best all-rounder that I've owned in 40 years of driving. I've just fallen out of love with it. I've had it 2 years, time to move on - possibly.
It's probably fair to say that I just don't enjoy driving as much as I did in the past. A sign of getting older I guess.
You are right about there not being many around. I had a look on Autotrader yesterday, just two 280 estates of similar age for sale.
Was that with goodwill contribution? A 280 wouldn't be much out of warranty right?
Apart from the high driving position I'm not sure what you gain from swapping it? I get it sometimes you fall out of love and want something else but a nice 280 is a great all rounder and hard to find. They aren't crazy expensive to run (breakage aside) and even then apart from turbos the rest of it seems fairly reliable. My Octavia VRS with mostly the same kit (turbo + haldex aside) has been rock solid in 5 years.
Apart from the high driving position I'm not sure what you gain from swapping it? I get it sometimes you fall out of love and want something else but a nice 280 is a great all rounder and hard to find. They aren't crazy expensive to run (breakage aside) and even then apart from turbos the rest of it seems fairly reliable. My Octavia VRS with mostly the same kit (turbo + haldex aside) has been rock solid in 5 years.
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