Used Car Buy Advice Sought - 25k 30k SUV

[OneTwo]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a replacement school bus for the Mrs.

Choice 1: Jaguar F-Pace Portfolio 2.0D, this is the preferred choice from a style and luxury perspective. Avg 67 plate with 20k.

Choice 2: Volvo XC90 2.0 D Momentum, not quite as lovely as the Jag inside at this trim level but more practical with the 7 seats and the bigger boot. Avg 66 plate with 30k

Choice 3: Volvo V90 Cross Country 2.0D, v.similar to above but same money buys a car 12 months newer with more kit on it. Avg 18 plate with 25k

Choice 4: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2.4 Petrol Hybrid, available nearly new for about the same amount of cash as all of the above. Avg 19 plate with 1k

Looked at X5, Disco Sport, Touareg, Mercs and older Cayenne/Q7s - all discounted.

She does about 12k per year, 14 miles round trip on country lanes twice a day for school and errands into town (10-40 miles round trip) 2 or 3 times a week. Can't go smaller really as we tend to take the car to Europe for holidays and have active teenagers who are getting closer to 6 ft tall every day.

We keep cars for about 5 years on average.

Running costs on the hybrid will be better value, but the spec/style is a league below and will it lose value quicker?

Between the Jag and the Volvos, which would you go for?

Is there anything similar we haven't considered?

If it was left up to me, I'd be getting a CLS/XF estate, but I can't win that argument!

Edited by OneTwo on Monday 27th January 22:56

[CJGreen247]

OneTwo said:

Hello all,

I'm looking for a replacement school bus for the Mrs.

Choice 1: Jaguar F-Pace Portfolio 2.0D, this is the preferred choice from a style and luxury perspective. Avg 67 plate with 20k.

Choice 2: Volvo XC90 2.0 D Momentum, not quite as lovely as the Jag inside at this trim level but more practical with the 7 seats and the bigger boot. Avg 66 plate with 30k

Choice 3: Volvo V90 Cross Country 2.0D, v.similar to above but same money buys a car 12 months newer with more kit on it. Avg 18 plate with 25k

Choice 4: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2.4 Petrol Hybrid, available nearly new for about the same amount of cash as all of the above. Avg 19 plate with 1k

Looked at X5, Disco Sport, Touareg, Mercs and older Cayenne/Q7s - all discounted.

She does about 12k per year, 14 miles round trip on country lanes twice a day for school and errands into town (10-40 miles round trip) 2 or 3 times a week. Can't go smaller really as we tend to take the car to Europe for holidays and have active teenagers who are getting closer to 6 ft tall every day.

We keep cars for about 5 years on average.

Running costs on the hybrid will be better value, but the spec/style is a league below and will it lose value quicker?

Between the Jag and the Volvos, which would you go for?

Is there anything similar we haven't considered?

If it was left up to me, I'd be getting a CLS/XF estate, but I can't win that argument!

Edited by OneTwo on Monday 27th January 22:56

Not personally a Jaguar Landrover fan as our X-type and Disco 3 were horribly unreliable over the years leaving us stranded multiple times. Air suspension compressor, autobox failure, electrical glitches, frequent limp mode, diff failures all occurring well before 100k miles and 8 years old. I believe JLR products are rated as some of the least dependable cars on sale (Near the bottom of JD Power surveys). No better in more modern versions taking my friend's Range Rover velar which had numerous issues within the first year with it eventually being bought back under the lemon law. They're nice cars sure inside and to drive but probs best to lease one if you must have one so at least any faults aren't your problem as they simply do not seem to hold up over time. Looks like for your budget you won't have much warranty remaining for buying one outright.

On the other hand, our 2014 XC60 has 100k on the clock now as has been totally reliable apart from needing a replacement haldex AWD pump (common weakness) at 60k. Still drives like new. Looking at replacing with another in a few months time - smaller XC40 SUV with a petrol engine this time. The Volvos are very nice cars and whilst not in the league of Japanese manufacturers for dependability are certainly way more reliable than JLR! Very safe place to put your family. I'd favour the V90 as you will benefit from another year of warranty and fewer miles. Should prove dependable for 5 years.

I don't have much knowledge of the Outlanders other than hearing that mpg is woeful once the limited (30 miles??) battery range is depleted and you are left with a heavy car and thirsty 2.4 petrol. However, could be just the ticket for her local town trips and school run which could be mostly done on electric power alone! Also a nearly new car with very low miles. Definitely would expect it to hold up better than JLR products from reliability index scores. Without having been in one hard so say but I doubt that the fit, finish and quality is up to the standards of the "proper" luxury brands.

I think on balance the V90 would be a great option and I believe would hold its value better than the Mitsubishi. Comfy, safe, reliable, modern car for your family with low miles and some warranty left. I would look at the petrol versions of the V90 first before going straight to diesel. You may be surprised that the real world difference in economy isn't much especially with frequent town trips and country lanes. Worth bearing in mind new emissions regulations in certain cities banning diesels which is already leading to them plummeting in value and being difficult to shift. If this trend continues you may find your volvo tough to sell (or at least worth less than you'd imagine wiping out fuel savings) in 5 years time as we move away increasingly towards petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles.