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I'm looking for a reliable five-door 4x4 - should I consider the Ford Maverick or Mazda Tribute?

I've got a 2005 Focus 1.6TDCI with 149,000 on the clock. It's been a great car, but is now feeling its age. The 90 mile round trip I do for work is about to end, reducing to a 25 miles round trip three times a week. It's our second car and I don't think it's going to cope with switching to that sort of change of use. Added to this I'm about to move up a very steep lane, where even the winter tyres I fit won't get me up in the winter. So, I was thinking of trading in the Focus and spending £3,000, including the Focus, on a used 4x4.

From looking around and at your website, a Ford Maverick or Mazda Tribute 3.0V6 auto seem a good idea, but I'm open to anything. Fuel economy is not an issue, but having five doors over three would be helpful. I'll keep it as long as it's reliable and will buy something small, economical and diesel if I ever start doing commutes again. Any advice on where to sell/ what to buy would be much appreciated.

Asked on 16 June 2011 by MD, Pontfadog, Llangollen

Answered by Honest John
If you can find either of those two, yes. They were quite good. The same engine is still used in Jaguar XJs for export to China. Their weakness is their automatic transmission.
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