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Can you recommend an economical 4WD vehicle to replace our Jeep?
Our fantastic Jeep is sadly coming to the end of its life. We need to replace it with something equally good in the snow (we live in Scotland). The Jeep would take us through anything when other four-wheel drives failed. Can you recommend a suitable successor? In the current financial climate we are looking for as economical option as possible.
Asked on 5 February 2011 by KB, via email
Answered by
Honest John
The most economical answer is a front-wheel drive diesel-engined car a few years old that does not have a diesel particulate filter, fitted with winter tyres through the winter. They are more effective than four-wheel drive with summer tyres, though, of course, a 4WD fitted with winter tyres is even more effective.
A 2-year-old Honda CR-V 2.2iCDTI does not have a DPF, does have four wheel drive (but only when it needs it) and the one I had averaged 41mpg over six months, which is about as good as it gets for that size of 4WD. So a CR-V 2.2iCDTI fitted with winter tyres over the winter. Smaller, a Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.4 D-4D is the lowest CO2 4WD available under £20,000, narrowly beating the FIAT Panda 4x4 diesel. The MINI Countryman All4 diesel is the lowest CO2 4WD available over £20,000.
A 2-year-old Honda CR-V 2.2iCDTI does not have a DPF, does have four wheel drive (but only when it needs it) and the one I had averaged 41mpg over six months, which is about as good as it gets for that size of 4WD. So a CR-V 2.2iCDTI fitted with winter tyres over the winter. Smaller, a Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.4 D-4D is the lowest CO2 4WD available under £20,000, narrowly beating the FIAT Panda 4x4 diesel. The MINI Countryman All4 diesel is the lowest CO2 4WD available over £20,000.
Cold-snap snow-how: Advice on coping with the freezing weather, including videos, facts and winter driving advice.
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