4x4 SUV under R600k...

[DJ...]

Current selection is the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Requirements:

Must be able to climb up the Drakensberg, but no need for serious off-roading. Mostly city car use.
Must be able to tow a caravan.
Must look great inside and out.
Must be reliable

To replace a Land Rover Discovery 3 which is having the usual air suspension issues.

Recommendations pretty please?

 

[creeper]

Do you want a 4x4 or a "soft" SUV?

Look at the fortuner if you want to go a bit more to the 4x4 side or perhaps the land rover

Otherwise. Top range ford kuga, the BMW x5. Audi q5. Kia sportage.

 

[d7e7r7]

As creeper said, you looking for a full time 4x4 or will a soft roader do? I don't know how the Drakensberg Mountain road is...

Also look at the Volvo XC60 and XC90.

 

[Sean008]

D3's are prone to all sorts of failures. I've got a Jeep WK2 hemi. Splendid car, great for towing. I tow a Conqueror Companion and don't even feel the van behind me. Have the air suspension as well, and no issues since new ( 2011). There might be some bargains to be had with the 2014 imminent. Alternatively, since you've already got a Landy, what about a second hand D4 with low mileage. Should come into the price bracket that you speak off !

 

[froot]

Also a +1 on a second-hand Disco 4, or maybe a Freelander2 if you like them. Both are solid. You can get a second-hand D4 for around 400-500k, depending on the specs.

You can look at a Fortuner, it's a solid performer, but personally it's too non-lux for me.

 

[biometrics]

 

[Ice2Cool]

bmw x3 2.0d. 499,000 base price.

 

[Ice2Cool]

or jeep grand cherokee

 

[ChocolateBadger]

Do you want a 4x4 or a "soft" SUV?

Look at the fortuner if you want to go a bit more to the 4x4 side or perhaps the land rover

Otherwise. Top range ford kuga, the BMW x5. Audi q5. Kia sportage.

+1

 

[Quantum Theory]

See Sean008 already mentioned the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The new-ish 3.0L CRD in the Grand is supposedly very good, but about R30k over your budget. The Pentastar 3.6L petrol is just within, but consumption is obviously slightly higher. So much better than the Santa Fe, in my opinion. Just go and try it...

 

[DJ...]

Do you want a 4x4 or a "soft" SUV?

Look at the fortuner if you want to go a bit more to the 4x4 side or perhaps the land rover

Otherwise. Top range ford kuga, the BMW x5. Audi q5. Kia sportage.

Need hill descent, diff lock and so on but really not a twin cab bakkie sort of thing.

Needs a little elegance and gadgets.

The x5 and q7 are too pricey, and preferably looking for a 7 seater so the sportage it's too small. Ford's? Not really a fan...

 

[OMB]

New or second hand?

 

[DJ...]

Lol. Nah not quite the styling I'm looking for...

 

[bwana]

I recently picked up a used Captiva (AWD, 2.0l diesel) and love it - if I had the cash, and desire to spend it on a car, I'd have a long hard look at Chevrolet Trailblazer.

The Captiva is like driving a laz-y-boy… anywhere.

 

[OMB]

Mitsubishi Pajero

 

[DJ...]

D3's are prone to all sorts of failures. I've got a Jeep WK2 hemi. Splendid car, great for towing. I tow a Conqueror Companion and don't even feel the van behind me. Have the air suspension as well, and no issues since new ( 2011). There might be some bargains to be had with the 2014 imminent. Alternatively, since you've already got a Landy, what about a second hand D4 with low mileage. Should come into the price bracket that you speak off !

Haven't considered the Jeep to be honest. Might have a look tomorrow.

Any reason not to go for the Santa Fe? So far it ticks all of the right boxes, except the ground clearance seems marginally low at 185...

 

[ChocolateBadger]

http://www.jeep.co.za/grand_cherokee/index.html

Jeep Grand Cherokee. Hope you like big petrol bills though.

 

[Quantum Theory]

http://www.jeep.co.za/grand_cherokee/index.html

Jeep Grand Cherokee. Hope you like big petrol bills though.

Actually, the 3.6L is much more economical than the previous 3.7L, which was way to heavy on the juice. Also, with a small discount, the 3.0L CRD might be in budget. Very economical. Claimed 8.3l/100km.

 

[HavocXphere]

For a softroader I reckon X5 or Q5...if you're going to be on the black stuff might aswell get something that handles decently.

For more hardcore...land cruiser if you can squeeze it into the budget. Recently got chauffeured around in a fully spec'd one and *omg*. Ridiculous tank size too...Like R1.5k+ fuel bill for empty > full.

 

[DJ...]

I recently picked up a used Captiva (AWD, 2.0l diesel) and love it - if I had the cash, and desire to spend it on a car, I'd have a long hard look at Chevrolet Trailblazer.

The Captiva is like driving a laz-y-boy… anywhere.

Saw the Trailblazer today and it is option #2, but it doesn't feel anywhere near as refined as the Hyundai and feels rather old in terms of what modern cars come with these days...