Which sporty SUV?

[churchie2856]

I'm coming under pressure from family to replace my Subaru Forester XT (its too embarasing and too old apparently).

My immediate response to my kids was "Well you can walk everywhere!"

But in the interest of fairness I thought I'd do some test drives.

Porsche Macan S and 2.0 - good drive, but boot not big enough.
Alpina XD3 - quick, bigger boot, but is it mad to buy a £60K diesel going forward what with emissions legislation etc.

Next-up is a Mercedes GLB AMG35. Sort of modern day Forester, with a bit more shiney st.

Any other suggestions (not Land Rover or Jaguar)?

Edited by churchie2856 on Wednesday 9th September 23:16

[RobDickinson]

churchie2856 said:

but is it mad to buy a £60K diesel going forward what with emissions legislation etc.

Yes.

Lease something or wait for one of the electric SUVs

[jrock78]

churchie2856 said:

I'm coming under pressure from family to replace my Subaru Forester XT (its too embarasing and too old).

My immediate response to my kids was "Well you can walk everywhere!"

But in the interest of fairness I thought I'd do some test drives.

Porsche Macan S and 2.0 - good drive, but boot not big enough.
Alpina XD3 - quick, bigger boot, but is it mad to buy a £60K diesel going forward what with emissions legislation etc.

Next-up is a Mercedes GLB AMG35. Sort of modern day Forester, with a bit more shiney st.

Any other suggestions (not Land Rover or Jaguar)?

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

[Walter Sobchak]

Used Model X?.

[esuuv]

You liked the Macan - but the boot isn’t big enough........so the answer is a Cayenne

[ZX10R NIN]

churchie2856 said:

I'm coming under pressure from family to replace my Subaru Forester XT (its too embarasing and too old).

My immediate response to my kids was "Well you can walk everywhere!"

But in the interest of fairness I thought I'd do some test drives.

Porsche Macan S and 2.0 - good drive, but boot not big enough.
Alpina XD3 - quick, bigger boot, but is it mad to buy a £60K diesel going forward what with emissions legislation etc.

Next-up is a Mercedes GLB AMG35. Sort of modern day Forester, with a bit more shiney st.

Any other suggestions (not Land Rover or Jaguar)?

It's not mad to spend that on an Alpina XD3 legislation won't affect this car or you could spend just under half on a used one:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008202...

Or a X3 M40d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006250...

[LeftLake]

For something bigger and sporty, take a look at the new X5 40e or 45e?

I've only driven the 40e, but compared to the most similar SUV's it had crazy performance for something so big (picks up incredibly at low speed), and also really economical with a real world 50 miles before the combustion engine kicks in (as long as you charge overnight).

I think the hybrid X3 has also just come out, and may be worth a look?

[churchie2856]

I've got a GLB (220d) for 48 hours. So far it has been surprisingly good. Lots of useable space; a fairly good steer and quite nimble given what it is. I'd even say it happens to drive similarly to my old Forester shed. The AMG35 variant could be serious contender. Only gripe with the AMG tis that here are no options except for colour and it only comes with black alloys (a personal hate of mine).

Thanks for the responses. Stelvio is a good call; I'll investigate. Cayanne is too big says Mrs.

Re: Alpina XD3. Interesting that one respondent confirmed I'd be mad to consider a £60K brand new diesel, and another thought it'll be fine. On a technical basis diesel is fine by me (in this type of vehicle). However, I worry about a future legislation change that could cause a significant drop in value or prohibite where it can be driven - I simply don't trust governments and legislators to be sensible in this regard.

[Nickbrapp]

Tiguan BITDI 240

Does it need to be a 4X4 what about a alpina B5


SQ5?
Audi e tron
RSq3

Skoda koqauri VRS

Edited by Nickbrapp on Wednesday 9th September 20:44

[RobDickinson]

In 3 years time the market will hate diesel suv's , its pretty abhorrent now, just see how fast the market share is dropping

Go test the iPace, etron, eqc etc and look at the other upcoming evs, heaps of them next year.

[PomBstard]

Newer Forester XT?

[ninepoint2]

Forget SUV and get an RS6 avant

[Baldchap]

The answer to the question you asked is indeed an estate.

However, the solution to your situation is to tell your family you will drive what YOU want to drive and if they don't like it they can ps off and walk.

Assuming it's mechanically sound, keep the Forester. bks to image.

ETA: I have made a point of doing lifts for the kids in the sheds. The boy is not bothered in the slightest, but the girl is WAAAY to cool to be seen in a MK1 Ka or K11 Micra, so the requests for transportation are at an all time low!

[dhutch]

ninepoint2 said:

Forget SUV and get an RS6 avant

Parents have an late C7 S-line 2ltr Diesel A6 Avant, it's a lovely place to be (even at 6ft2, sat in the back) and the boot is friggin huge.

Daniel

[Trevor555]

churchie2856 said:

Next-up is a Mercedes GLB AMG35. Sort of modern day Forester, with a bit more shiney st.

Edited by churchie2856 on Wednesday 9th September 23:16

I've been asking my local dealer about these.

He's said he's no idea when they'll be available here in the UK.

A plus for me is that the 35 gets real leather seats.

The lesser models are all man made leather.

My wifes last car was a Macan.

Apart from the boot being small for an SUV, it spilt water into the boot when the tailgate goes up when raining. Not good for a teacher who has books in the boot. Porsche just said "yes, they do that"

[churchie2856]

Baldchap said:

The answer to the question you asked is indeed an estate.

However, the solution to your situation is to tell your family you will drive what YOU want to drive and if they don't like it they can ps off and walk.

Assuming it's mechanically sound, keep the Forester. bks to image.

ETA: I have made a point of doing lifts for the kids in the sheds. The boy is not bothered in the slightest, but the girl is WAAAY to cool to be seen in a MK1 Ka or K11 Micra, so the requests for transportation are at an all time low!

My Forester is sound. Owes me nothing. Sounds great (H&S exhaust) and myself have no problem with the image - even wears a PH sticker proudly on the back!

The discussion here is causing me to reconsider the way forward i.e. Forester + sporting estate.

Edited by churchie2856 on Thursday 10th September 12:11

[MalcXFR]

F-Pace SVR

Sorry mis-read your original post.

Edited by MalcXFR on Thursday 10th September 11:26

[ITP]

jrock78 said:

churchie2856 said:

I'm coming under pressure from family to replace my Subaru Forester XT (its too embarasing and too old).

My immediate response to my kids was "Well you can walk everywhere!"

But in the interest of fairness I thought I'd do some test drives.

Porsche Macan S and 2.0 - good drive, but boot not big enough.
Alpina XD3 - quick, bigger boot, but is it mad to buy a £60K diesel going forward what with emissions legislation etc.

Next-up is a Mercedes GLB AMG35. Sort of modern day Forester, with a bit more shiney st.

Any other suggestions (not Land Rover or Jaguar)?

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

This is the correct answer, the 280bhp petrol one.

[culpz]

If boot space is an big factor, then an estate is where I'd look.

Tbh, i find sporty SUV's to be an oxymoron and just a bit pointless, regardless of their increasing popularity. You really don't get anything more than a higher seating position. Estates generally have huge boots and a lower centre of gravity, so fits it more with the whole sporty thing. I just think they look miles better too.

[Pothole]

Cupra Ateca?