Qashqai/Q5/x3/XC60 or something else

[Aiminghigh123]

Ok so my time has come.
I have had mostly hot hatches in the past 306gti, Clio 172, rover 200vi, civic type s, all great fun on B roads and until recently swore if I was going to get a 4x4 it would either be a Land Cruiser or a RR and I would use it for what it was built for, why do people buy these SUV 4x4 things and never take them off road blah blah.
I have an old Saab 9-3 aero I use for my 150 mile a day commute but using it as a family car it’s crap. Great sitting on motorway and can have a bit of fun on a B road but actually quite small inside and trying to get our 10 month in and out is hard, cumbersome and frustrating.
I recently drove an x3 on holiday and as a car to have fun in it’s crap. As a car to get from A-B with kids and everything, brilliant. My sister has a Qashqai and after laughing at her she was laughing at me after she had her baby strapped in, buggy away before I could even get my son halfway in the car.

There’s my life story now.....
£10k budget (but not strict on this) will mostly get used weekends.
I like the x3 but would like thoughts on the others or something else?

Ps I have thought about blowing the budget and getting an estate e63 or RS6 but trying to be sensible.

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Drive an X3 then a Qashquai. One is refined, quiet and feels well and the other is ridiculously agricultural sounding and looks cheap.

X3 every time and your budget will go to a 2010 model. The only drawback is the DPF’s are a pain. Clutches go to 150k + and engines twice that.

[Belle427]

Avoid the Gashqai, the boot is small and its very boring.

[Aiminghigh123]

DPFs do scare me. I do high mileage and still have a petrol. Everyone I know who had a diesel with a DPF has had to have it changed at least once.
It would be a second car so how are the petrol x3?

Edited by Aiminghigh123 on Friday 9th November 08:40

[Aiminghigh123]

What are thoughts on Lexus RX? Don’t know anyone who owns one but seem well put together apart from some Hybrid issues.

[ninjag]

Can you get the X3 petrol with X-Drive in your budget? I'm not sure.


Performance and off-road ability:

Porsche Cayenne GTS (the Turbo would be my choice though)
VW Touareg 4.2 V8 (they can have bearing failures though)
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (a little dated and 'bodykit' looking plus parts could be a pain to get)
Range Rover Sport 4.2 V8


Still decent enough performance, Less off-road, better economy:

XC60 3.0 T6 (still quite thirsty)
Renault, sorry Infinity FX 3.7 (I find them ugly though)
Q5 2.0 (I don't really like them)


Average performance, not much off-road, average economy, won't break down:

Honda CRV EX 2.0 (rear doors open almost 90 degrees for easy child loading. If you can squeeze to 12k you'll get the far better 4th gen)
Toyota Rav4 (smaller boot and not as premium inside but a reliable SUV. Quite old)


The Cayenne GTS or Turbo would be my choice and to hell with running costs!

[ninjag]

Aiminghigh123 said:

What are thoughts on Lexus RX? Don’t know anyone who owns one but seem well put together apart from some Hybrid issues.

Good cars but I'm not a fan of their looks.

[Aiminghigh123]

Didn’t think of Honda, never liked them looks wise but my old civic took a lot of abuse and never grumbled.
Yeah actually X3 doesn’t have many petrol options earlier gens yes and the latest gens.

[anonymous-user]

Mazda CX-5 is worth a look

[maxwellwd]

Aiminghigh123 said:

What are thoughts on Lexus RX? Don’t know anyone who owns one but seem well put together apart from some Hybrid issues.

Was after similar requirements but half your budget. Was looking more at Jap due to reliability, so the CRV & RAV-4. For not a lot more you can get a RX400h. They are pretty bomb proof, they do mega mileage and is reliable.

I really didn't want a diesel either. Pick mine up tomorrow, but in terms of issues with the hybrid technology, it doesn't really have any. Repairs can be done to individual cells anyway

[ALawson]

I believe that LEXUS will undertake a hybrid health check (one assumes for a fee).

I have a similar list of requirements as the OP, but an erring toward an Estate rather than a SUV. To me reliability is one of the more important factors hence also thinking about a CRV vs and E-Class. A Lexus RX400 or 450 could be on the cards.

[cj2013]

In a similar situation, so thought I'd add the Kuga to the mix.

Seem to be well regarded from previous owners. Good mix of economy and ability.


I've had to cross it off my list because the boot is only around the 350-400L mark, which is a bit small (smaller than a focus, apparently), but might be a good option if you can afford to carry less.

[S54Love]

CX5's are worth a look, but might need to stretch slightly.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[cj2013]

S54Love said:

CX5's are worth a look, but might need to stretch slightly.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That first one is an example of what does my nut in on cars. £10k price tag, and the dealer has taken time to show a photo of a ditchfinder tyre as the 2nd one in

[ZX10R NIN]

I vote for something else but they're hard to find but a worthy alternative to the X3/XC60:

Infiniti EX

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...