Which 4 x 4

[Wendy3]

Hi all. Were thinking of changing our car which is currently a VW passat estate (good tug) 2004 for a 4x4 or even a passat with 4 motion. We've been looking at VW Tiguan, Honda Crv (new shape) Ford Kuga. Has anyone got any thoughts on any of the cars mentioned or similar.

Thanks in advance for any info

 

[xtrailman]

wendy

I think you will find that those 4x4 on your list will have a much smaller boot than your passat.

 

[Wendy3]

I know the boot wil be smaller but we don't really need that much boot space anyway so would gladly give up boot space for four wheel drive!

 

[Bay343]

Hi, what weight is the caravan you are pulling?

 

[ProfJohnL]

What are the compelling reasons for moving to a 4x4?

 

[JohnGriffiths]

There is a general trend away from 4x4 so you may find unfavourable comments . As someone who has recently changed to an X-Trail from a C5/ and a C4, this is what I have found.

The X-Trail was a godsend during the snow and ice, and I hope it will prove it's worth on muddy/wet fields. Last year I almost didn't get off a very hilly muddy site in Dorset with a C4.

Generally 4x4 are not as refined as a saloon or estate, both engine noise or ride. Having said that the ones you mention are about as good as you get. It is nice to have an elevated driving position, but fuel economy suffers because of the greater weight, poor aerodynamics. The boot on the X-trail is a match I think for a Passat but it suffers in rear passenger space compared to the CRV.

You have to work out if the weight of your van really needs the extra weight and stability of a 4x4 to balance the disadvantages.

BTW we also went to look at the Passat 4motion and were advised by the saleman that he didn't think it was available except for a huge petrol engined, race tuned version. I didn't bother to check if he was right.

 

[Graham265]

We've got a VW Passat estate and was thinking to change to a 4x4 as we've done a couple of rallies on fields and though the Passat tows well on the road it's not very good when you get off the road. We were looking at a Kia Sportage or Sorento as these appear to have as much load space if not more than the Passat, and reading through a lot of posts they seem to be pretty reliable.

 

[Lutz]

Yes, I can't understand why VW have chosen not to offer the 2 litre 140PS TDI diesel Passat with 4 wheel drive on the UK market. I would have thought it'd be ideal for towing.

 

[Zafiral]

A great deal of the newer 4x4 models have very good co2 figures.

We have a Peugeot 4007 2.2 hdi & it tows our 1483kg mtplm caravan really well.

It has 7 seats & in 5 seat mode it has a large boot. The handling/ride and the refinement are more than a match for the 08 zafira we had previously. The car is built by Mitsubishi & the sister car the outlander is available with the vw 2.0 tdi engine.

 

[xtrailman]

Personally i will only buy a 4x4, be it another audi quattro, or part time 4 wheel drive, as the xtrail is.

now on my third 4x4, will never go back to 2 wheel drive, even if the caravan has to go.

Cars like the xtrail or perfect for my life style.

But apart from the xtrail which has a huge boot, alot of the 4.5m 4x4 only have, what i would call a disappointing boot space, many estate cars or bigger in the boot, and passenger space, have low co2, pay less VED, and sell on easier.

 

[David.R]

We tow with a Honda CR-V 2.2 ctd-i new shape. Bought new in 2007 and started towing in 2008 so have no comparison against other vehicles. The Honda has been totally reliable, my previoius vehicle was a Passat estate that had several problems including a new clutch at 20k miles. The Honda has more room in the back seats than the Passat has coped with 30cm snow drifts in Scotland (not towing) has covered 30k,8k towing. Mine has the reversing camera fitted as standard and makes hitching up solo very simple.Best of all is the nose weight @ 100kg.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Pat_374304630]

Wendy,

We tow with a hyundai Santa Fe 05 plate. My wife loves it and drives it to and from work every day. Superb towcar. We get 32.5 miles to the gallon when towing (Coachman Amare 520/4). If you get the opportunity to try one, give it a go.

 

[NigelHutson]

You can get the Passat in 4X4 with the 2.0 TDi engine. Indeed, it was that model which won the Practical Caravan overall title of Tow Car of the Year in 2007!

The Skoda Superb uses the same running gear also, and did very well in 4X4 guise last year.

I have driven them both, and apart from the awful VW diesel "buzz" (now corrected in common rail versions), both cars were excellent.

 

[Lutz]

A 4-wheel drive diesel Passat doesn't show up in the current VW price list though, Nigel.

 

[Susan_374302505]

We tow with a Honda CR-V 2.2 ctd-i new shape. Bought new in 2007 and started towing in 2008 so have no comparison against other vehicles. The Honda has been totally reliable, my previoius vehicle was a Passat estate that had several problems including a new clutch at 20k miles. The Honda has more room in the back seats than the Passat has coped with 30cm snow drifts in Scotland (not towing) has covered 30k,8k towing. Mine has the reversing camera fitted as standard and makes hitching up solo very simple.Best of all is the nose weight @ 100kg.

Good luck with your search.

I would agree with everything you have said David. We bought our caravan and Honda CRV in 2009, both new. The Honda has been great.I would not hesitate to recommend this as an excellent tow car.

There is only one little niggle about it- a noisy gearbox!

Oh and test drive one first as we bought it and then thought we had better take a trip in one!!! Not the best way to buy a car!

The boot is massive too!

Any other questions.

Just ask

Regards

Susan

 

[Wendy3]

Hi, what weight is the caravan you are pulling?

Our caravan is about 1350kg fully laden

 

[Wendy3]

What are the compelling reasons for moving to a 4x4?

Our reasons for wanting a 4 wheel drive are simply because we tend to go to sites that aresmall cl sites which 9 times out of 10 are grassy fields. Although our car is an excellent tug it sadly is not so good when it comes to wet or muddy fields, which has led us to be pulled out of some sites by the owners tractor! It's not that were after a large 4x4 just for the sake of it as were quite aware that it will not be as economical as what we currently have, but we do go away on a regular basis and needs must which is why the passat 4 motion is also an option

 

[Wendy3]

Thanks for all your fantastic comments. I know a lot of people are against 4x4 these days but they are much better with fuel and emissions than they ever have been . I feel for us a 4x4 would be perfect as it would make our regular caravan trips to these wonderful small cl sites a lot less worrying when the weather decides to take a turn for the worst (after all this is England!!)All that leaves is to find the right car for us.

See you later I've got a bit of shopping to do!

 

[Jeff_374555694]

We've been looking for a similar car and ended up with a sorrento. Looked at the Volvo XC70 and Audi A6 Allroad but couldn't find one in our price range or near to where we live. Went as far as Bradford from South Wales only to be disappointed. If you are buying a new CRV or X trail then a low mileage used XC70 or Allroad would be within reach

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

have a look at the new hyundai i35 looks like the new kuga and you get a 5 year warrenty. other than that a hyundai tucson or the santa fe which i own. good cars the the new hyundai i35 is beautifaul, great for the money so go and have a look.

jo

 

[NigelHutson]

A 4-wheel drive diesel Passat doesn't show up in the current VW price list though, Nigel.

Hi Lutz,

Only going on past experience. Strange that VW have seemingly stopped it then. I wonder whether the new one will be offered with 4X4?

Looks like the best option would be Skoda then.

Nigel.

 

[Pat_374304630]

Let us know what you choose. We are a nosey lot.

 

[DevonshireDave]

I think we considered practically every 4x4 vehicle going. We finally went for the 2010 MY Hyundai Santa Fe. Having looked long and hard we felt it offered the best value for money, with a fantastic 5 year unlimited mileage warranty.

I haven't read the review in this months PC magazine, but I'm sure it makes interesting reading.

 

[ChristineandAlan]

HI DEVONSHIRE DAVE, i have just come back from my travels,im very surprised nobody has mentioned kia sorento 4/4 its a really good tow car,big boot and the new ones have a 7 year warranty,and good value for money.all the best ALAN P/T

 

[AlanADS]

Perhaps I am biased as a Land Rover fan but my Freelander 2 is a superb car. Solo drive is great and with the van on the back it tows better than our previous Series 2 Disco. Just had the first service done for