Iced dream

I want to buy a new or nearly new 4x4 estate/SUV. Not to go off road but to use on skiing trips and the like. I need a good sized boot for largish dog cage and luggage and have identified the KIA Sportage, Skoda Octavia, SAAB 9-3X and Suzuki Grand Vitara, but the Skoda Yeti has really taken my fancy. Are there other makes I should be looking at and which would you recommend. I would like to keep the price below £20k and be as green as possible

Asked on 9 January 2010 by S.W., Falmouth

Answered by Honest John

Yes, a Yeti 4WD or an Octavia Scout 4WD. Not the SAAB (its 1.9 diesel engine is a disaster zone). The Suzuki is a bit old fashioned, but cheaper, the KIA Sportage is about to be replaced by a new model. Suzuki SX4 4WD and FIAT Sedici 4WD are also worth a look. See Yeti test at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=409 Winter tyres will make more of a difference than 4WD.

Tags: 4x4s

Similar questions

How to test if selectable four-wheel drive is working

I would like to buy a used Fiat Sedici with its switchable two and four-wheel drive system. Apart from finding a grassy hill to drive up (and assuming there is no snow on the ground) how can I test that...

Which 4x4 for winter driving in heavy snow?

My daughter who lives in rural Aberdeenshire is looking to replace her 10-year-old Subaru Forester with a smaller, newer 4x4 with a punchy engine suitable for snowy Scottish hills. She has test driven...

New 4x4s?

We have an old Suzuki Vitara for local and off-road use (which it does lots of) and we've been really pleased with it. We need another car for some commuting and longer runs but we live at the end of...

Related models