Car recommendations - SUV/4X4

[Photosofplanets]

I am hoping to change my car in the next few months and would love to hear any recommendations. Currently have a Hyundai ix35 4wd, have 2 primary school aged DC and dog. Car also used for towing.

We live (very) rurally and my commute to work is a 60 mile round trip, on rural roads which aren't great and in the winter can be treacherous. I also have to drive for work so could be expected to drive anywhere. For that reason alone I want to keep 4wd or AWD.

I was thinking of:
Volvo xc60
VW Tiguan
Mitsubishi Outlander

Any suggestions? Pros and cons of the above? Something exciting I haven't thought of yet? fuel economy on my car isn't brilliant (but not completely awful either) so would love something that is efficient.

Any ideas or suggestions appreciated.

I have VW Tiguan Match and I don't think I'll ever get another car again (except when I'll upgrade to another Tiguan in a few years time!)

Dacia Duster? We’ve got the smaller, Stepway version and it’s a great car. We hired a Duster last summer and really wished we’d bought one of them instead, simply because of the space it gave us.

My in laws have a Rav4.... it is a lot smaller than a Tiguan/xc60/outlander. My dogs wouldn't fit in the boot

Maybe the UK version is different, but we test drove the new US RAV4 last weekend and it has lots of boot space. That was one thing we were specifically looking for.

We have just bought after searching for similar. Kia Sportage just didn’t feel like it drove nicely compared to others, but I loved its look. I liked Honda CRV but hubby said it was an old man’s car. Hyundai Tucson was great but we wanted the higher brake horsepower which was harder to get hold of. Finally settled on a Mazda CX-5. Very pleased, it was an older but higher spec model and lots of room in the boot for kiddy crap. It’s the 2.2 diesel so lots of poke and still only £140 tax per year.

I love my Jeep Renegade (although I would have gone for the Volvo if I could have afforded it)

We had a Q7 before and when it’s just a 5 seater the boot is massive

Toyota RAV4, Subura Outback, Mazda CX5, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tuscon, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Subaru XV, Suzuki Vitara - all well worthy candidates and far superior to the crap made by German/French/US car makers.

^^this.

I do similar mileage in similar conditions OP. I'm on my 3rd RAV4. Have had various Subaru in the past (Impreza and Forester). All fab.

They get a bad rep but I love my Discovery Sport.

The dpf on a disco is known to give some issues but if you can take it over 50mph most days for 20 mins it should be fine.

the dpf ( diesel particulate filter ) is an issue with most modern diesels that are only used for local runs unfortunately.

Range Rover Velar is next on my wish list though!

Don't get an Outlander if towing

@HoldMyLobster I have 2 large dogs. The rav4 boot is small compared to xc60 or outlander

No idea why someone says xc 60 is small?! It really isn't. It's one of the largest in that range of car. Having 2 large dogs size is the number 1 priority

It does come in a 4x4 and non 4x4 option

Maybe the UK version is different, but we test drove the new US RAV4

We had new model one in Australia. It's not small. It's not pretty either.

Great if you are a Star Wars fan though.

Just looked up new model, it does look bigger but boot space isn't the largest and annoying sloping! Sloping boots are a big dog nightmare 😂

I do't remember a sloping boot. Mind you, I never actually got in it.

We have an xc60 it Is tiny not a 4x4 or suv

It is literally an SUV!!

It's classed a "crossover" SUV. In other words; a small one.

I've also been testing autotrader to the limit lately looking for something similar. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Skoda Yeti?

We had a similar search recently but also needed something with 7 seats.

We went with the mitshubishi outlander and love it. Roomy, leather seats and doors which make it easily cleanable for mucky kids, usb ports in the back for them. Loooads of boot space if the boot seats are down but not very big with them up.

We tow our horsebox with it and with 2 ponies in (so up to its towing limit) it struggles with the hills but with 1 its fine, so should be fine for a caravan.

Just looking to replace my old Shogun, which has been fab.
Most cars I’ve looked at have been too small or boot too sloped for my large dogs.

I’m now down to a choice between Mitsubishi Shogun sport or Toyota Land Cruiser.
Land cruiser slightly bigger, but shogun slightly cheaper but tough.

We've got a volvo xc60, love it. We also tried the new toyota rav4 and wanted to like it due to the reliability but it sounded like a tractor compared to the xc60, although it wasn't a bad drive.

OP can you recommend the Hyundai ix35? I've been looking at the Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5 but just seen a lovely ix35 at a local garage which is a good deal. Was it a good car for you?
Apart from that I'd look at reviews for the Mazda CX-5 as it looks great.

Honestly an XC60 is just a basic car. It is more like a small estate car if anything. Cant imagine it going off road. Ours is new and maybe they have got smaller? The XC90 has got smaller with every relaunch.

I have a VW Atlas. I bloody love it but I don’t know if it’s available in UK. I’m short and the visibility is the best I’ve ever had in a car. I drive in snow and ice for 6 months of the year.

I ha e a SEAT Ateca, absolutely love it. It's basically the same as a VW Tiguan ( but a lot cheaper)

DH has a Audi Q5. Beautiful car, but I hate parking it...

I have a VW Atlas. I bloody love it but I don’t know if it’s available in UK. I’m short and the visibility is the best I’ve ever had in a car. I drive in snow and ice for 6 months of the year.
Sadly not available in the UK. Probably for the best though - I don’t think it would fit in most British parking spaces! Love ours and it’s ridiculous how many of our neighbours have them too. We’re in Chicago. I used to have a Tiguan, the older small style and it was ok but not massively comfortable for long drives.

Love my XC60!

@PhoneLock compared to the xc60 and outlander that boot is small. The glass on his slopes so the internal boot ceiling will be small which would cause the dogs issues

I have didn't many years walking into dealerships.... opening boots and walking straight out again because of boot doors or just generally boot space is lacking. With many modern cars they are making them smaller and smaller 😖