what 7 seater 4x4?

[y2blade]

my sister is looking for a 7 seater 4x4
must be diesel
must have 4x4
must have good ground clearance (so no MPVs)
must have room in boot for their Dog when using all 7 seats

her short list is as follows

Discovery TdV6 (this would be 2nd choice)
Mercedes GL320CDI (this is her favourite)
Volvo XC90 D5 (I've only driven the V8 petrol variant)
Audi Q7 3.0TDI (I know nothing about these)

anything else worth considering?


thank you all in advance, all comments noted and passed on

[DanGPR]

Mitsubishi Delica!

It has an artificial horizon, what more do you need?

[Dick Seaman]

Would need to be a small and cooperative dog to fit in a Disco with all seven seats up.

That said, I've had one as a family hack for two years and it's been superb, especially last winter.

[ewenm]

The dog requirement is the tricky one. Depends how big the dog is and how far it regularly gets carried. Some massive US thing might fit the bill.

[edthedead]

Hyundai Santa Fe / Kia Sorento?

[Cyberprog]

Dick Seaman said:

Would need to be a small and cooperative dog to fit in a Disco with all seven seats up.

That said, I've had one as a family hack for two years and it's been superb, especially last winter.

I'd agree with this, but I'm not sure of any 7-seater that'll manage a big dog in addition to 7 people.

That said, the Disco would be my choice, they're amazing beasts - my D2 puts a big grin on my face every time I drive it...

[y2blade]

ewenm said:

The dog requirement is the tricky one. Depends how big the dog is and how far it regularly gets carried. Some massive US thing might fit the bill.

it is a small/medium sized dog..wheaten terrier

it is very well behaved and used to travelling in front the footwell of her Audi A8 4.2 at the moment (not ideal though when wet/muddy

[ewenm]

y2blade said:

ewenm said:

The dog requirement is the tricky one. Depends how big the dog is and how far it regularly gets carried. Some massive US thing might fit the bill.

it is a small/medium sized dog..wheaten terrier

it is very well behaved and used to travelling in front the footwell of her Audi A8 4.2 at the moment (not ideal though when wet/muddy

Disco or XC90 would be my choices in that case, depending just how "offroad" they need to be.

[GreatGranny]

XC90 for me. There is a decent amount of space behind the 3rd row.

It will be my next choice once the Alhambra packs up (but however badly I treat it it still keeps going costing me next to nothing).

[Chris Hinds]

From your choices:

1. Discovery
2. Mercedes
3. Volvo
4. Audi

In reality if you want a proper 4x4 then it's Discovery, Discovery or Discovery.

[edo]

budget? New or used?

[LC2]

LWB Isuzu Trooper - As long as you don't mind bench seats for the 6-9 people.

[Vytalis]

Another vote for XC90 here. I have one (a D5 Active Automatic) and it does everything I need it to - it is sure footed in muck (note: if you live in the country most people don't need an off roader, but something that copes with crap on the road, ice, potholes, hedges / trees blown onto small roads etc. I get 28mpg average and that includes driving a 1:4 hill at cold every morning and it has enough of a turn of speed to make do (a lot quicker than my last 1.6 megane)

(If you live in the town you need 2 prius and an au pair )

Plus people get out of your way very quickly because they assume you can't drive (Volvo)

I can get 7 adults in it with overnight bags for all 7 (although the rearmost seats are a bit squashed for the adults but the middle seats slide forward so it isn't too bad).

Best car I've had.

Edited by Vytalis on Tuesday 28th September 19:29

[kentmotorcompany]

Disco is a cracking car, I've had couple - have a HSE in stock from tomorrow! (sorry for shameless plug).

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon - Huge, really built to last, not normally bought the same pikeys that like the Shoguns, and the other smaller Jap 4x4's.
I don't have one to sell you, but still would highly recommend them.

[Egbert Nobacon]

kentmotorcompany said:

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon

Maybe not the most stylish if your image conscious, but the only family 4x4 I would choose.

[Jacob S]

kentmotorcompany said:

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon.

Another vote from me! Comfortably fits 7 and we get 3 labs in the boot too!

[cptsideways]

Landcruiser - the proper one has room for about 4 dogs & luggage & still seats 8. It also wont break down. You'd be looking at at 100 or 120 series I guess so from 8-10k upwards.

[Fleckers]

Nissan Patrol

[y2blade]

Thanks guys I will pass this info on to her
The ground clearance issue has raised its head due to her recently moving out to a very rural location, her driveway is basically a rocky track up a steep hill (enough to make you lean forwards to see what you are doing) that is pretty badly rutted, she has already bottomed out her A8 4.2 several times

when I visit her I have to have one set of wheels on the raised centre and the other to the side of a rut…yes it is doable in a normal type of car but IF I lived at her house I’d buy something slightly raised up too…..all be it something like a XC70, A6 allroad or Subaru Forester ( I have no need for lots of seats)

thanks again

[jbi]

Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol

Can't recommend the Discovery unless your a sadist or an enthusiast...

actually they are pretty much the same thing