What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Which diesel SUV for motorway use offers good passenger comfort?
I have driven a SEAT Leon Cupra 1.8 20VT for the last 10 years. I can hardly fault it, but it's time to change cars because the SEAT is getting old, and also my wife finds any long journey in my car a painful experience due to its hard suspension and low profile tyres. I have a budget of around £20,000 and want to buy something that is comfortable for her, but is also reasonably interesting to drive. I'm currently doing a lot of motorway driving, so think that diesel is the way to go.
We've tested a Audi A5 Quattro S-Line, a Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX, a Skoda Yeti Elegance 4x4 170 and a Volvo V40 Cross Country. The only one she was happy with was the Honda, but it seems like an enormous car for mostly just me and occasionally her and others. And to be honest I find it a little staid. I'd be happy with any of the others.
We've tested a Audi A5 Quattro S-Line, a Honda CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX, a Skoda Yeti Elegance 4x4 170 and a Volvo V40 Cross Country. The only one she was happy with was the Honda, but it seems like an enormous car for mostly just me and occasionally her and others. And to be honest I find it a little staid. I'd be happy with any of the others.
Asked on 28 December 2013 by JC, Aldworth
Answered by
Honest John
The good news is that for the facelift Yeti the 1.8TSI is back, with four-wheel drive. That's by far the best Yeti, new or used. But new it’s £25,000. Unfortunately the Volvo V40 would not have Volvo’s very promising new 181PS 4-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel engine that gets under 100g/km in the EC tests in the S60 and V60. I will be running one of those for at least 6 months from March.
Similar questions
I wrote to you last year about driving 100 miles a day, 30 across hills on poor roads and 70 on the motorway. I wanted some 4x4 capability, excellent fuel consumption for motorway driving (I am filling...
We are in our eighties and our next car will probably be our last. What is most important is ride comfort and comfortable seats. We do about 11,000-12,000 miles a year in the UK, mainly on motorways. At...
We have a 2004 Audi A4 Avant Sport 1.9TDi 130PS with 55,000 miles on the clock which we were thinking of replacing with a 4x4, as we live in a semi-rural area and the Audi has struggled in the ice and...
Related models
Spacious boot. Solid build quality. Good to drive on the motorway. Good handling with quattro all-wheel drive.
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+.
1.6 i-DTEC is punchy and efficient, massive boot and a spacious cabin for five adults, superb build quality edges the CR-V into premium territory.
Comfortable and enjoyable to drive, a good (if rather confusing) range of engines, fabulous record on safety.