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As above really, would like decent boot space, mpg and ideally car play but that might be pushing it.
Any suggestions/recommendations?
Cheers
Andy
Honda CRV
Ford Kuga, should get a 4ish year old one for that.
Yes it's ‘only’ a 1.0 but I find it’s quick enough for me.
DSG is a bit hesitant pulling off from a standing start but that’s something you get used to soon enough (and it’s a common thing across all VAG cars). Beats changing gears yourself though
I get on average 40mpg, better with a good motorway run. 50litre tank so range of about 400 miles
That Skoda is a great wee car, my wife is on her second Audi Q2 with same engine, though manual. Not sure if it’s an SUV mind you, the Audi, and they are basically the same, is a compact hatch with a little more height.
Well someone has to say it...
As above really, would like decent boot space, mpg
Then get an estate, you'll get better MPG and more boot space 🙂
Depends what sports and what utility you need it for really doesn't it. 🙂
That’s not mine btw, just same model. It’s front wheel drive, but you can get it with 4wd if you go for one of the bigger engines.
I’d say it’s a bit bigger than a standard hatch, but not as big as say a Kuga or X3. Boot is bigger than either of those though, and front & rear leg & headroom are excellent. I can comfortably get a 7-piece drum kit with 2 bags of stands in mine. And room for one passenger too
Focus Estate, they are apparently cavernous inside.
I opted for an estate. More room in the back and drives better.
Then get an estate, you’ll get better MPG and more boot space
I disagree there’s very little in the mpg, plus SUV boot space might be smaller in volume but more practical in height for use
Certainly don’t disregard an estate but we have an SUV and estate and I think the SUV is the more practical car and no less eco
I hear that the hot choice currently is anything by Land Rover!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60229619
New shape Pug 3008.
Berlingo-esque vehicle...
I disagree there’s very little in the mpg
There might not be in the two cars you've owned but in general, in real world there is enough in it to make a difference. We've done this before, SUVs are less aerodynamic because of the things that define SUVs.
I disagree with the mpg thing just checked my car skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel manual and it does 5 mpg more than the same drivetrain skoda Karoq (official figs)
In true STW style, recommend what you've got. Well, what the wife has actually. 1.4 petrol DSG VW Touran (current shape) fits all your requirements. Cavernous boot and easily does 40mpg pottering around. Much better on a long run. Nice tall driving position as well. Not exciting to drive, but pleasant enough and immensely practical.
Kia Sportage. Love ours.
Differences in MPG will be more on a long motorway trip because aerodynamics are more significant then.
Personally I’d suggest the Kuga, you get CarPlay, and a reversing camera, satnav, and best of all a heated screen. Plenty around with 4x4 spec, ST-Line is the option I’d go for. I’ve got an EcoSport, which is identical inside, with the 1.0 EcoBoost motor, which is a great engine, mine’s 125ps, I think the Kuga gets 140 from the same engine.
VAG DSG ‘boxes are better, but I couldn’t do without the heated screen on cold, frosty mornings. Mine’s got an auto-dimming rear view mirror,something I’d never given any thought to, but it’s and amazing extra when there’s drivers behind with stupidly bright lights, and you don’t have to keep flipping the mirror with a silly little lever underneath.
VAG DSG ‘boxes are better, but I couldn’t do without the heated screen on cold, frosty mornings.
My VAG car has a heated screen. I think they licensed it from Ford. It doesn't work though (cheapo replacement windscreen) and I don't miss it, because you still have to scrape all the other windows.
One of the very last Yetis. Skoda threw out a load of L&Ks with the 1.4tsi engine and 4wd. They’re a all 6sp manual but it’s a great box. Far more practical than a Karoq. Mum gets about 40mpg from hers. Spend the excess cash on a decent aftermarket head unit with carplay.
Ford Kuga 1.5 (182) is 25mpg average
Ford Foxus Estate 1.5 (182) is 34mpg average. Almost 40% better.
Kuga boot space 475l.
Focus estate boot space 575l.
Almost 20% better.
These are real world figures from fuelly/ honest John. Just saying.
Also - My now 18y old BMW 3.0l petrol estate car gets better MPG average than the Kuga and comes very close to the Focus.
There’s not a lot to be said for progress here.
IRL my wife’s Kuga (1.5L petrol) gets circa 38MPG. We would not have it if it only got 25MPG
I don’t miss it, because you still have to scrape all the other windows.
Considerably easier than the windscreen, no idea why but mine builds up layers that ends up making it an utter pain, I'd rather scrape the side windows whilst the screens clear and be gone.
So. For weekends away I do have a camper. For day to day I use company vehicles. On my second Skoda over the years now; in a Kodiaq at the moment ( 5 seater as I didn’t need 7).
It’s ok. But think I had more ‘useable’ space in a 2012 Superb Estate which, is possibly the most useful, reasonably frugal and relatively inexpensive ( compared to Saabs, LandRovers and VWs , I’ve also had) car I’ve used. Not convinced that ‘suv’ is necessarily either sporty or utilitarian in many cases. I also had a v6 RLine Touareg which was certainly sporty, but utterly ridiculous economically and not overly useful as a bike hauler.
bentandbroken
Full Member
IRL my wife’s Kuga (1.5L petrol) gets circa 38MPG. We would not have it if it only got 25MPG
Gets and displays are two different things. Also, it depends on the power. I deliberately compared 2018-2020 models with the exact same engine.
Peugeot 3008 (2017 onwards)
Gets and displays are two different things. Also, it depends on the power. I deliberately compared 2018-2020 models with the exact same engine.
+1. A similar comparison can be made with the Honda CRV/Civic with the 1.6l diesel engine. Both built on the same platform:
Civic touring, Boot - 624l, approx 70 MPG
CRV, Boot 589l, approx 50 MPG
Weight and aerodynamics are just fundamental physics. You can pretend they don't apply to your choice of vehicle (I own a CRV) if you like, but it doesn't change them.
we've got a 2018 ford kuga diesel, the 2 litre model, 180bhp, 4 wheel drive, the average mpg over the last 25000 miles of our use has been 34mpg. webuyanycar say they'd give me ~£18k for it, so probably in your budget just about.
Its decent enough, not too slow (but definitely not fast!) , seats are comfy, drives nicely enough, is very quiet, has a nice large glass roof, and the gadgets inside are fine (on the st line x model we have anyway) . Roof bars can take 3 bikes, maybe 4 at a push. Its been perfectly reliable over the last 3 years that we've owned it.
The boot is big enough with one side of the seats folded down to take my 29 inch full sus size large mountain bike , upright with just the front wheel removed.
Skoda Karoq - I had a 1,5 tsi and drove it 50k over a couple of years. Really liked it. Mine was just a SE (tech) spec but it had everything I wanted. The only option I paid for was the auto boot (only because I never wash cars and don't like getting my hands dirty!)
Regardless of the mpg, the extra weight of an SUV (roughly 200kg comparing a Kuga and Focus Estate) is the main factor in the environmental impact of these things. 200kg more material makes a huge environmental impact at the manufacturing stage, even before you take into account what it does to mpg. You can tell and scream about how eco your SUV is but a car on the same platform will always be better.
So, the answer to this is the same as it always is as we live through an environmental crisis - if you really must get a car, get the smallest car you can practically use. And that will almost never be an SUV.
My diesel CRV even has a green coloured 'econ' button with a picture of a leaf on it. It is supposed to dull the throttle response to force your driving style to be more economical. As I don't typically drive it hard anyway it makes no difference at all to MPG. But what it does do is make two green lines glow comfortingly on the instrument panel to remind me of how eco I am driving around in my oil burning lump.
and I don’t miss it, because you still have to scrape all the other windows.
I'll always have a heated screen where possible - front always tends to ice up more than the sides anyway.
Discovery has one, but if it's really cold (and I remember), I just remote start the car from my bedroom half hour before I leave the house, so don't really need it
Kia Sportage. Love ours.
My OH has a top-spec one, 2.0d and AWD. Needed this one as she tows a horse trailer and it's got a higher tow weight.
Does the job, very nice place to be and a strong engine - certainly as good a drive as my equivalent age BMW 3 series, and even more toys. They do a 1.6d 2WD version which we did test drive and I reckon is near as dammit as good (£10k less new).
Regardless of the mpg, the extra weight of an SUV (roughly 200kg comparing a Kuga and Focus Estate) is the main factor in the environmental impact of these things. 200kg more material makes a huge environmental impact at the manufacturing stage, even before you take into account what it does to mpg. You can tell and scream about how eco your SUV is but a car on the same platform will always be better.
Her SUV weighs less than my saloon - both 2.0d, AWD 5 seaters.
Her SUV weighs less than my saloon – both 2.0d, AWD 5 seaters.
What does that say about the relative materials and build quality I wonder?
Problem with a lot of current SUV's is the shape of the boot space. Big floor space but tiny roof with sloped back and sides.
A box shapped Estate or Van shaped car is more practical. My Berlingo has the same size wheelbase as a lot of SUV's but so much more space. 1.2 petrol and gets over 50mpg on a motorway.
I dont want to derail the thread so this is the last thing I will post on this tangents, Ref the comments about "what it gets and what is displayed" is frustrating. It gets circa 38MPG on it's daily duties, more on a motorway trip.
You can tell and scream about how eco your SUV is but a car on the same platform will always be better."
Suggests I am SHOUTING and screaming when I was just posting IRL anecdotal stuff that I thought might help the OP. Your comment also assumes that people would be deciding on the SUV v the standard version of the vehicle/chassis. This is not always the case (and was certainly not the case in our situation). I'm not SUV love-in type, this is our first and may well be our last as our circumstances are due to change again, but it seems you are 100% anti.
We looked at the KIA Sportage. I wanted something well built, decent warranty and a decent boot and was all set on the Sportage. Looked at loads, CRV, RAV4, Skoda, KUGA, Audi and eventually bought a Kia ProCeed. Lovely to drive, looks nice, loads of toys and great petrol engine. Plus the 7 yr warranty is a no brainer.
We looked at the KIA Sportage
Silly shape though. It's all bulk at the wheelbase with a small roof. From the back it looks like the wheels stick out from the body like a children's toy car.
Touran is a good off the wall shout, we had one (2 litre FSI 7 seater) for 10 years when the kids were young. Very spacey and very versatile, but not an SUV.
OP, your criteria is very wide. Can you narrow it down a bit by types of things you want to do/carry, any brands you like/dislike? Otherwise you might as well throw a dart at a copy of auto trader.
I just remote start the car from my bedroom half hour before I leave the house
If that's not a blatant waste of energy I'm not sure what is...
We had a newer 3008 as a courtesy car, the boot did seem small compared to that in our Leon ST, but the driving position is certainly something that can't be dismissed. You can see so much more and getting in and out of the car is different - I don't want to say easier as that makes me sound old!
If that’s not a blatant waste of energy I’m not sure what is…
Don't take the bait.
I’ll recommend what I have in true STW style, as you did mention decent boot space and suv. Can 18k stretch to a disco ?
My disco 4 can fit loads in the cavernous boot, carry 3 eBikes on the Towbar mounted rack, 2 bikes on the roof and roof box filled with stuff, surf boards etc and the car just drives like normal, you don’t notice that it’s loaded up to the gunnels.
Mpg isn’t quite so good, as it’s as aerodynamic as a small bungalow. CarPlay I’ve had in my previous disco and it is good, but I don’t miss it.
Silly shape though. It’s all bulk at the wheelbase with a small roof. From the back it looks like the wheels stick out from the body like a children’s toy car.
Fits an XL 29er with wheels on in the back or 5 folk and luggage (piled high).
I can't knock it, bought as the previous two Freelanders (both high spec) had gone pop far too early and we wanted an equivalent small-ish SUV and a 7-year warranty.
Civic touring, Boot – 624l, approx 70 MPG
CRV, Boot 589l, approx 50 MPG
Have you sat in / drove the civic touring?
A close family member has one - every time I get in & out I clatter my head off the A pillar/roof as the car is so low. It's also a very uncomfortable place for any adult sized passengers in the rear of vehicle. Furthermore when the seat is far enough back on the rails for me to drive comfortable, the top of the wheel obscures the speedo perfectly - I have to lean forward to read it!
I will however say that at 100,000 miles now on the clock, it is completely rattle & knock free and a nice drive and real world mpg is very impressive indeed. The fold up seats in the rear so you can have two boot spaces is clever indeed so it is a *good car* but the ergonomics of it are frankly quite poor. I certainly couldn't live with one.
We used to have a 14 reg Kuga 4x4 with the bigger diesel engine. Perfectly decent vehicle, had no trouble with it and it was big enough for our 2 child family + dog. It was the ultimate magnolia car, did the job, middle of the road, absolutely okay. Used to get high 30's to mid 40's mpg depending where driven.
Mate has a Sportage and likes it very much. Seems similar to the Kuga to me.
Not sure if they come in budget but we currently have a Land Rover Discovery Sport and that is superior in every way to the other two. It's a lovely thing and probably the vehicle I've enjoyed owning the most over my 25 years driving. Superb at long journeys too, very comfortable, the auto box is well worth considering. Unfortunately we want to build an extension so it has to go which leads us to........
The Berlingo. Looks like we are buying my sisters and are currently loaning it. It's very practical and I can see why they appeal but it's just not very pleasant to drive. Hard to put my finger on why and might be fine for many but I reckon most estates or SUV's will be a better option unless you are shifting a lot of stuff about regularly.
*Edit to say the newer Berlingo's might be better, ours is a 2010.
It’s very practical and I can see why they appeal but it’s just not very pleasant to drive.
It's not the best but then using that as a reason to buy a car that does half as good mileage seems the height of insanity to me.
Have you sat in / drove the civic touring?
The point was being made about SUVs vs estates, not a recommendation for that particular car.
Have you sat in / drove the civic touring?
Fair enough, I haven't actually. But I have no idea how tall you are. It just looks like a normal medium sized car to me.
I recently bought an SUV in the shape of a VW Tiguan. I swapped from an Octavia VRS so I could have a higher seating position and a more comfortable drive. So far I've not regretted it once. Sure the Tiguan is slower 150 bhp v 245 bhp but I don't care. The Octavia would get around an average of 35mpg whereas the Tiguan is doing 55mpg.
It's spacious, the rear seats move forward and backward. It's nice and airy with a big glass roof that also opens. The boot is big, not Octavia big but big enough to get an XL full Susser in with the seat down and the front wheel off.
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Qashqai or X-Trial if you want bigger, petrol.
Our 2012 Qashqai has been utterly reliable. Will take a kingsize mattress or divan easily.
Brother and BIL have Kuga's Titanium X and an ST-Line - both decent cars, although BIL got stung £500 for new discs and pads as the car hasn't moved much since Covid, just a few motorway miles.
Duster?
What is it in an SUV that creates a more comfortable drive? Any car I've driven that has a more upright driving position has been much less comfortable than one with a laid back position. I know softer suspension and bigger tyres create comfort but that doesn't seem to be a trait of many modern cars(it's seemingly all about 20" alloys). The most comfortable car I've sat in was my Civic type r with bucket seats fitted. My current Skoda Fabia has a better ride quality but I'd rather drive 10 hours in the Civic
I can appreciate wanting a higher car when you're old and arthritic for ease of acces but if you're used to a lower car then you won't notice what you're missing
What is it in an SUV that creates a more comfortable drive?
It's not about being more upright. It's about being higher up off the ground so you can see more. It's more relaxing when you can see more of the road ahead.
The point was being made about SUVs vs estates, not a recommendation for that particular car.
Fair enough, I haven’t actually. But I have no idea how tall you are. It just looks like a normal medium sized car to me.
That's just it though - the thing that makes it energy efficient, is it being low with small frontal area therefore lower wind resistance. That same thing, makes it unergonomic and uncomfortable to actually use and own.
It's lower, so you have to crouch far more than normal to get in/out, the footwell is shallower, which in turn means the seat has to be further back, which in turn means there is less space in the rear seats...
For anybody that has seen the film WALL-E I think we can see where this is heading. Giant humans being wafted about in huge armchairs on wheels.
What a bunch of princesses. 'I can't live without heated windscreen', 'I like to be able to see more of the road ahead', 'I like the car at a height where I can turn round and the seat is at the height of my arse so I can just flop into it'.
What a bunch of princesses. ‘I can’t live without heated windscreen’, ‘I like to be able to see more of the road ahead’, ‘I like the car at a height where I can turn round and the seat is at the height of my arse so I can just flop into it’.
So you have zero specific requirements when you buy a vehicle?
the thing that makes it energy efficient, is it being low with small frontal area therefore lower wind resistance. That same thing, makes it unergonomic and uncomfortable to actually use and own.
This isn't the case with all estates though. Most are perfectly ergonomic and good to drive.
It’s not the best but then using that as a reason to buy a car that does half as good mileage seems the height of insanity to me.
Which is why I said they'll suit some people, just not me. Nice that we're not all the same and all that but my main consideration when choosing a vehicle is not mpg.
What does half as good mileage btw? Certainly not the Berlingo compared to the Discovery.
That same thing, makes it unergonomic and uncomfortable to actually use and own.
Did he really just say that every non-SUV is unergonomic and uncomfortable?
Did he really just say that every non-SUV is unergonomic and uncomfortable?
My last estate certainly wasn't.
I was pointing out that the example used as how efficient estate cars could be (Honda Civic) was uncomfortable and unergonomic.
Don't let that get in the way of a good old pointless internet argument though
Don’t let that get in the way of a good old pointless internet argument though
It's not really pointless. We need everyone to make as many energy savings as they can, wherever possible. And IMO an estate vs an SUV is a small improvement with no real downsides, if all you want to do is carry people and stuff on roads.
Ergonomics in this regard......different people like different things, as is so often the case in these circular arguments.
A colleague of mine has replaced a Nissan Qashqai with a Seat Ateca because he likes the high seating position, ease of getting in & out etc.
I am not in the least fussed by that. My car is a Leon estate. The Nissan, the Ateca & the Leon all have decent ergonomics. But they are different.
Poor ergonomics to me would be things like the handbrake being so low in our old C3 picasso that when it was off, the lever sat so low you had to actually lean down to reach it. It wasn't 'just there'. That is poor ergonomics.
On the flip side, the higher rear seats & wide opening rear door meant getting my daughter's car seat in & out was dead easy when she was a baby, compared to getting it into the back of my 3 door Ibiza. Which was one of the reasons why the Ibiza was replaced by the Shitroen.
SUV's as for comfort, the springs on the Qashqai are much larger than my saloon (a big Nissan) so are more comfy on pot holed roads. That said, they don't go round corners like my saloon does. The higher driving position is easier for getting in and out - age/injury - certainly easier than my saloon, but my back isn't great after a bad fracture.
Down side, is a SUV might not be suitable for a 'very' restricted mobility relative (as passenger) - we used to have to edge MIL upto the normal cars in her wheel chair, so she could just stand and turn and flop into the seat. Getting out was a push/pull. She couldn't have sat down on the SUV seat at all (my wife made the mistake of calling her when we were buying it - blah blah I can't get in it - we stressed we've a bigger saloon car too).
Most SUV's aren't actually much bigger than their equivalent 'normal car' unless you are going for the mahoosive ones.
Pro's and cons
This thread is bizarre. What SUV for £18k, STW answer is you don't want an estate you want a small estate because it more economical.
Can you imagine the conversation on any other subject.
What kitchen? No mate, you don't want a kitchen you can store your beans in a cardboard box.
What full suss MTB, No mate, you can ride wherever you are going on a rigid.
What dog? No mate, you want goldfish, they are cheaper.
What wine? No mate, you want sparkling grape juice, its cheaper
To answer the question. Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage, Nissan Quasqai or Xtrail and the Skoda range are all worth a look.
Can you imagine the conversation on any other subject.
That is literally the conversation on every subject. Are you new here?
What does half as good mileage btw?
Someone was talking about a Kuga doing 25mpg. That is criminally bad for a modern car. My 2013 auto Berlingo claims 59 but is more like 50 IME.
What kitchen? No mate, you don’t want a kitchen you can store your beans in a cardboard box.
What full suss MTB, No mate, you can ride wherever you are going on a rigid.
What dog? No mate, you want goldfish, they are cheaper.
What wine? No mate, you want sparkling grape juice, its cheaper
Its this kind of lateral thinking that keeps us all here.
I can understand the comfort of SUV even if I have never had one. When my disc prolapse was at worst phase I was truly happy to have Scenic which I could get in and out of much easier than with regular car. Just too bad that there aren't really higher quality versions of those types of cars (MPV?) available. All the so called better ones are SUVs or huge US minivans. And Fords have had really crappy reliability here, must be something with cold climate.
Her SUV weighs less than my saloon – both 2.0d, AWD 5 seaters.
Are they based on the same platform? If they're not your comparison is pointless.
What a bunch of princesses. ‘I can’t live without heated windscreen’
Yeah, I have better things to be doing before or after a 12 hour shift than standing trying to chip frozen rain off the windscreen for 20 minutes in the freezing cold with the engine running. You might not, lucky you.
Someone was talking about a Kuga doing 25mpg. That is criminally bad for a modern car.
Oh, yeah, that is terrible. Petrol, 4x4, auto, right? Ford turbo petrol's are horrid on fuel if you boot them so sticking one in a heavy auto is bonkers.
Saying that, I've been disappointed with the Berlingo so far. Think it's the 1.6 and only getting low 40's combined. Was expecting 50+.
For anybody that has seen the film WALL-E I think we can see where this is heading. Giant humans being wafted about in huge armchairs on wheels.
What a bunch of princesses. ‘I can’t live without heated windscreen’, ‘I like to be able to see more of the road ahead’, ‘I like the car at a height where I can turn round and the seat is at the height of my arse so I can just flop into it’.
I’ll bite. Heated windscreen, not too fussed. Heated seats though yes all day long (but not in summer obviously), had them in every car since the old 1984 ford granada ESTATE 2.8 Gaia x, now that was a great estate car.
That said heated windscreen, heated seats front and rear, heated steering wheel are all lovely and make winter driving almost a pleasure.
For people who don't have heated windscreens, using RainX or similar seems to make ice less solid and easier to scrape off in my experience.
What SUV for £18k, STW answer is you don’t want an estate you want a small estate because it more economical.
He said his main criteria are boot space and economy though!
Also – My now 18y old BMW 3.0l petrol estate car gets better MPG average than the Kuga and comes very close to the Focus.
There’s not a lot to be said for progress here.
absolutely. i have the north american version of the Kuga with a 2 litre ecoboost. it is less economical than the 3 litre duratec that was in the previous version of the same car that we owned a decade ago. it is also less economical than the v6 mustang we used to own.
on a plus note, the 4 cylinder, 2 litre ecoboost is more economical than the 3 cylinder 1.5.
turbo engines are not economical, especially around town or on short stop/start trips. they are powerful for their size, however. if you want good mpg, buy a diesel or a non-turbo petrol.
i’ve found estate cars to be a more practical layout, but like/use the ground clearance of the suv-type cars.
Depends what sports and what utility you need it for really doesn’t it.
i’m pretty sure the sports referred to in SUV is hunting and the utility refers to the size of moose you can fit in the trunk. i may be wrong.
If someone comes along saying they want you to recommend a giant diamond encrusted broadsword to slice a loaf of bread with, you'd hope someone would tell them it might not be the best tool for the job and recommend something more suitable. 😉
Saying that, I’ve been disappointed with the Berlingo so far. Think it’s the 1.6 and only getting low 40’s combined. Was expecting 50+.
Is that petrol? Our diesel 1.6 auto is close to 50mpg, maybe a little less depending what we've been doing.
He said his main criteria are boot space and economy though!
But the thread title is which SUV!
And Fords have had really crappy reliability here, must be something with cold climate.
this is interesting. when you say “here”, where are you talking about? I’m not looking for an argument, just interested.
i’ve owned 2 fords in cold places and they’ve been fine. one place it regularly got down to -40 in the winter and the car would start first time after being outside all day. we took the same car to texas where it was regularly +40 and the car would also start first time. i found this utterly amazing.