Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » Recommend a four-wheel drive family hatchback or estate car?
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Recommend a four-wheel drive family hatchback or estate car?

Could you give me a list of family sized hatchbacks and estates which have 4WD? My Subaru Impreza Sport is due for replacement but my wife loves the security of 4WD in winter. She's not so keen on 'big' off roaders but we do have a dog and birds of prey, so space is important. I know the Legacy is one option and there is also the Skoda. Audi have 4WD versions of the A3 and A4 but they tend to be sports derived and therefore expensive on insurance. Whatever we choose, I would probably buy a set of spare wheels with winter tyres fitted. Your advice will be appreciated.

Asked on 28 May 2010 by mcredtail

Answered by David Ross
Here's a list of four-wheel drive cars to consider. They're mainly family-sized hatchbacks (similar to your existing Impreza) so they're not too big. Skoda Yeti (available with two or four-wheel drive), Skoda Octavia 4x4 (and the Octavia Scout which also has four-wheel drive and extra ground clearance), Nissan Qashqai (available with two- and four-wheel drive), Jeep Patriot (unusual choice but can be decent value secondhand, and the 2.0-litre diesel is a Volkswagen engine), Subaru Impreza (the latest version still has 4WD on all models), Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback.

Cold-snap snow-how: Advice on coping with the freezing weather, including videos, facts and winter driving advice.

Honest John's Guide To Winter Tyres

Choosing a child seat can be a quite baffling experience – there are so many sizes, types, brands and price points available that you might not know where to start.

How to choose the right child seat
Similar questions
Which four-wheel drive diesel hatchback or estate which returns 50+mpg and is suitable for a 120-mile round commute across northern hills would you recommend? I've seen the Audi A3 Sportback quattro, or...
My wife owns a 1971 Morris Minor Traveller with just over 100,000 miles on the clock, which she has enjoyed over many years. However, with ageing bones (mine too), she feels she needs something slightly...
Can you suggest an estate car that would accommodate two sets of golf clubs and trolleys? We are looking to spend no more than £20,000 plus whatever we can get for our current 2001 Focus estate. Our mileage...
Related models
Value for money. Plenty of kit. Decent drive on the road and very capable off it.
Very comfortable front seats with good ride. Feels well built. Strong Renault sourced dCi diesels. Elevated driving position and good visibility.
Well thought of by owners. Huge boot. Spacious and comfortable cabin. Reasonable to drive. Efficient Greenline TDI models.
Unique styling. Solid build. Excellent petrol engines including frugal yet peppy 1.2 TSI. Good space in the back. Frugal 1.6 TDI Greenline can return 60mpg+.