With your annual mileage dont think about Diesel

If you want reliability then Lexus, but dog size may require something else

I'll check for lexus here. I'm gonna scratch diesel for sure. What you think about a petrol hybrid?

I wouldn't bother with a 'self-charging' hybrid as you probably don't do enough of the right sort of miles to justify the cost.

A PHEV might work, but there is a very limited choice and they're probably not worth it either.

I would second a Subaru; XV, Forester or Outback depending on how much space you need.

I'll have a look online to see what people are doing with it off road. I don't want to take it to trails or anything, I just want to be able to use on gravel road in all weather when going from a to b (obviously gets pretty snowy here but that would be with studded tyres) and especially on our hill. But I'd be driving super carefully, I'm not looking to go off roading for fun.

The problem with a RAV4 is that it's not particularly capable off road.

Is there proof behind this?

I don't doubt that the RAV4 isn't a natural choice for off-roading, but is that due to an actual lack of ability or is it just because a nearly new SUV isn't really the kind of car you'd naturally choose to get properly off the beaten track?.

If you've ever watched any of the old Top Gear specials, you should be well aware that even a normal road car can get a lot further off road than most would expect or even consider trying. It also sounds like the OP isn't going to be doing anything extreme, just gravel tracks and the like. The OP also says that his Vitara managed fine, no doubt aided by its low kerbweight. But in terms of ground clearance and approach/departure angles, it is swings and roundabouts comparing Vitara and RAV4. The RAV4 has slightly more ground clearance, a slightly lower approach angle but a slightly higher departure angle. On suitable tyres I don't really see the Vitara being able to do much further off road than a RAV4. Another plus point for the Toyota is that being a hybrid, the electric motor will be able to provide hugely more torque (at 0 rpm) to help get a up steep hills.

I'm gathering Toyota is a byword for reliability :). Looking at a lot of statistics and anecdotally the recent Volvos don't seem to match up at all.

Yes, Volvo don't seem to fair as well as they once did, you could probably lay the blame for that with their Chinese owners Geely.

Honda too don't seem to be as reliable as they once were. Not sure about the CRV specifically, but the Jazz hybrid does seem to have some issues.

The problem with a RAV4 is that it's not particularly capable off road.

Is there proof behind this?

Yes, I once watched a long and fairly boring video where they tested a whole bunch of 4x4s next to each other and the Rav4 wasn't great. I could look for it if I really have to, or maybe I could say John Cadogan / Scotty Kilmer said it?

But what sort of conditions were they being tested on?. Also, did it actually get stuck or did it get though - just not as well as the cars it was being tested against?

I had a look for your video but couldn't find it. I did watch a couple of others in which a RAV4 was tested in some fairly demanding situations (including at high altitude up a mountain trail where the electric motor not being affected by lower oxygen levels was a major plus point), and while it wasn't a natural off-roader, it managed pretty well.

So unless what the OP plans to do with it involves major demands on ground clearance, cross-axle articulation, approach/departure/breakover angles, I'd still have no doubt that a RAV4 would manage absolutely fine.

One last thing in reference to the Subaru Forester I mentioned earlier. Having looked up the figures, it would seem (perhaps unsurprisingly) that the Forester has over an inch more ground clearance than the RAV4. So (again, assuming a dealer fairly close) maybe worth a look if you have concerns about the RAV4's ability off road.

Link to long and quite boring video here

youtu.be/aPYMHt1Kt8s?si=xmVNmiaqCDCGswwB

As I suggested before, and has since been reinforced, it's probably not relevant in this case, but still useful for those who are thinking of tackling some actual off-road use.

I'm assuming you were not meant to be linking to a lawn mower video?! :-)

Thanks! That looks fine tbh. Nice looking robot mower too.

I appreciate what you're saying re: a used XC70 but the experience I had with my last Volvo (V70) of a 2004 vintage was not great, it had just got to the point where everything needed to be replaced and was setting me back thousands a year, this was at 180,000 km. The climate can be harsh on cars up here and cars tend to accrue a high mileage because of the distances travelled (things are just further apart here), at least thats my experience (perhaps I just got unlucky!).