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Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - Tseb
Hello all.

I presently have a BMW X5 3litre diesel 2006, it has been a wonderful car, but it is starting to have problems, some quite expensive, so I am looking for suggestions for another car.
It is mainly for work (I am self employed) and I do quite a lot of miles. I need a big boot. I also have back problems, so need a good seating position. I like 4x4s, and prefer automatic.
I wonder if anyone has suggestions?

What I need:
High ride and good seat position as I do very long journeys (often5-6hours at a time)
The biggest boot space possible
Seats for 5 people as I have young kids - also I like a solid, 'safe' car - more important to me than price
Cruise control
Not slow!

Other things that would be good:
I prefer automatic because I often have sciatica in my left leg
Prefer diesel, but not fixed in stone
Xenon or led headlights

I am sure there are other things I haven't remembered...

I have the trade in price of this BMW plus a few thousand to spend, so not too much really.

I looked at the Volvo XC90 and xc70 - the latter is too small in the back, and the 90 seems to have other problems I have seen on forums. I had an xtrail several years ago - a good reliable car but found it slow, uncomfortable and not a nice ride. Any other suggestions like this?

Thanks

Tseb
Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - Smileyman

If you are so happy with your existing car why not look to getting another one, same make & model, perhaps just review the mix of toys?

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - daveyjp
Don't discount the Subaru Forester. Meets your cruise, xenons, diesel and auto needs. if you want fast go for an XT petrol. 5 year warranty too.

Edited by daveyjp on 29/06/2015 at 00:01

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - Happy Blue!

Regretfully the Subaru is way too small compared to the X5 or anything similar.

Alternatives could be the Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento.

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - gordonbennet

if you don't want another X5, the obvious altenative is a Mercedes ML or GL, plenty of engine choices.

Jeep whatever.

Landcruiser 200 (2008 on V8 Diesel) probably the most rugged you could buy, but it's probably not what you're looking for, they hold a very high used value so big outlay to buy.

edit, 200 not in budget, late 100 series Amazon still the durable choice but i don't think they came with anything other than traditional lights.

Most of the alternatives, apart from VAG stable offerings and Porshe's footballer special, will probably disappoint after the performance you're used to.

Edited by gordonbennet on 29/06/2015 at 06:33

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - HandCart

Do you mean NEW new, or second-hand new?

If your X5 is worth about £6.5-10.5k, and you have "a few thousand" extra, you're going to struggle to find something that's a direct replacement for a 3 litre X5.

At least the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento have 196 BHP (well, the newest models, anyway).

Jeep Grand Cherokee should depreciate relatively quickly, to bring new-ish ones within reach.

Talking of 'good' depreciators, what about the SsangYong Rexton? (though it might not be powerful enough for you).

Or what about a double-cab pickup with a hard-top: The Great Wall Steed starts at only about £15k brand new, and has a 6 year 125k mile warranty.

But do you really need 4WD? -Would something like a Ford S-Max suffice?

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - oldtoffee

A Santa Fe or Sorrento is bigger by a fair bit than the X5 in the boot. A 2011/12 model could be had for around £12k to £13k and both are decent cars, 2.2 litres, 194 bhp, proper auto box and they drive well. We have the Santa Fe and it is good to drive, great on the motorway, bit lumpy around town but the payback is an entertaining drive for a 2 tonne SUV. Some people on here slate its ride but its better package than the RAV4, Outlander, CRV, XTrail, Qashqai that I test drove prior to purchase and the 5 year unlimited mileage warranty helped with the decision.

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - xtrailman

The OP has a X5, a drivers car something the sata fe isnt, i drove one in 2013, compared to the drive of the X3 it was tripe.

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - HandCart

Quite possibly, but the OP wants a high seat, room for 5, big boot, various toys, reasonable oomph, doesn't want it to 'become expensive' repairs-wise, but doesn't have £30+k to spend..

Gonna have to be a bit of compromise somewhere, I fear!

Maybe just spend the money fettling the X5 ?

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - Tseb
Thank you all for the suggestions. As you all point out, it will cost me quite a lot to get another car like the X5. One of the problems with the one I have is that it is nearly £500 tax and expensive insurance. If I got a later one then the tax is less as the emissions are better. I am seriously thinking about a later model, or possibly the Mercedes suggestions. Any comments on the mercs? I will also look at the Kia and others - the space is appealing. But if I was looking at them I think I would also have to look at the Volvos again. I like the safety features of Volvo. Any comments on Volvo 90?

Thanks

Tseb.

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - xtrailman

The XC90 has just been replaced so lots of bargins now on the old model, which should filter down to the older models.

Suggestions of a good new car 4 x 4 - primus 1

How about a mazda cx5, ford kuga or freelander?