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Should I buy a 4x4?

My needs are 1 person 1 small dog, long business travels, and the requirement to collect wood every now and then. Suggested is Jeep Cherokee, my budget is £20,000 plus a trade-in of a 2002/52 BMW 325Ci with 116,000 on the clock. I am used to the comfort of a BMW, but now fancy a 4x4.

Asked on 14 March 2010 by PW, via email

Answered by Honest John
After its launch, which involved towing a caravan though deep bogs on top of the Brecon Beacons, the Cherokee all but disappeared. It now seems to be replaced by the new Jeep Compass, which, with its chain cam 2.2 Mercedes diesel engine is actually quite good and reasonably priced.

The Mitsubishi Outlander has a different (and belt cam) 2.2 174 engine and I was pleasantly surprised by its ability to average 44.9mpg over 500 miles.

See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/mitsubishi/outland.../

The existing LandRover Freelander 2 and the forthcoming Range Rover Evoque have the same 2.2 engine as the Outlander. Readers insist that you should also consider the Subaru Forester 2.0 diesel. But if you can spend £31k + and can wait 9 months, the best SUV of the lot is the F25 BMW X3.

See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/bmw/bmw-x3-f25//

Then there's always the Hyundai Santa Fe:

www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/hyundai/hyundai-sa.../

And the KIA Sorento:

www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/kia/kia-sorento-20.../
Tags: buying advice

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