What car? AWD, decent ground clearance, decent to drive...

[elephantstone]

and gets 40mpg on a run..

My dads after a new car. Uses it to go to the caravan and drives on beaches which is the all wheel drive is needed and the ground clearance. He wants something that handles like a car and gets decent mpg. So far the volvo XC70 is winning..

£23k budget.

ETA He doesnt like VAG seats and hes a big bugger so has to have plenty of room.

[valiant]

Saab 9-3X.

Subaru Outback.

Even the likes of Vauxhall and Peugeot now do these 'country' estate type things and might be worth a look.

Volvo is a good shout though...

[OscarIndia]

Mitsubishi ASX, we have just got one and for the price it is a great car.

[redchina]

If 19 mpg is acceptable?!
Go a V8 holden adventra... There must be one in the UK!

Not much diff between 40 and 19 surely?

[GravelBen]

Outback or Forester

Might have to go for a diesel to get the 40mpg though, 30-35 is more normal from the petrol ones.

[velocemitch]

Skoda yeti perhaps ?.
Always rated well by the drivers mags. Looking for one myself for similar reasons.

[okie592]

A used x5? Don't they have praise for being the 4x4 that handles like a car?

[Bill]

Skoda Octavia Scout?

ETA Scratch that, just seen the bit about not liking VAG.

Personally I'd get a decent car and give up the beach trashing.

[MGZRod]

Foxbody mustang or a 70's Cadillac or sorts.

[iwaspiston]

I currently have a Mitsubishi ASX 2011 vintage. It fulfills all your criteria. It also comes with a great reversing camera. Whether it's great to drive is a subjective thing, and minor niggles include slightly hard rear seats and a fair bit of road noise at motorway speeds. But it's a good package for the money, reliable, great warranty good milage, everything you'd want. The 2011-12 models (haven't looked since) had iffy touchscreen controls, so I opted not to spend extra on this. But the ASX fulfills your criteria. Oh, and Mitsu actually understate the mileage. It does better than what they claim. 40 mpg is easy to get on the diesel engine.

[Dog Star]

I was going to suggest the Volvo. 40mpg you'll be needing a diesel though.

We've got the "normal" V70 AWD with the 2.5 turbo petrol, and although it's been as high as 28.5 driving very gently, you're looking at quite a bit less in reality. The OH is now working from home so all it's trips are now urban short runs (to get nails done, pilates, shops, to see Winston/Tyrone/Junior/Rufus etc) and it's showing an average 24.3mpg.

Goes well as long as you don't want to go round bends in a hurry.

[Basil Brush]

Has he actually tried a Touareg? I've done a lot of miles in mine and been very comfy.

[pigeonskirt]

Rav 4

[flatso]

Outback diesel

[TurboHatchback]

okie592 said:

A used x5? Don't they have praise for being the 4x4 that handles like a car?

No, they are a car that looks to the untrained eye like a 4x4. For off-roading and snow you'd be better off with an old hatchback.