Medium SUVs.

[Dryad]

I'm also around 6 foot.

Hope its not smaller than the Suzuki Jimney.
I just couldn't sit in that one, and it sounds similar to your experience.

Never tried the Jimny, it looks too much like a bread bin to me Also a very small fuel thank considering it is a 4x4 but I suppose with those dimensions no space for something better.

Space wise for the driver the Jeep (Patriot and Compass) was the best in my opinion.

 

[Quantum Theory]

Space wise for the driver the Jeep (Patriot and Compass) was the best in my opinion.

The Patriot is the most comfortable car I have ever owned and a real bargain if you buy a demo model. Comes with proper maintenance plan, better than average ground clearance for this class, 10-11l/km real world consumption and a good 4x4 system.

Not everybody's cup of tea, but at least worth a test drive...

 

[cleask]

I picked up my new Kuga yesterday. Got an awesome trade-in deal on my 4 year old Sportage, which made the choice easier. I've got the 1.6l Ecoboost and its an awesome vehicle. Good power delivery, not much in the way of turbo lag. The tech in the car is fantastic, the only eye raiser is the radio and Ford Sync are all running Microsoft software...so hoping for no blue screens

Car drives and handles well, fuel consumption is listed as 6.6 l/100km combined but will see how it goes in the real world, it should be a bit less than the Sportage which was at 10l/100km.

 

[Joker]

There's also the ASX to check out;

 

[Brenden_E]

There's also the ASX to check out;
View attachment 46847

A lot of people think the ASX is ugly. They influenced me and now I'm not so sure about the looks either :>
They dropped the prices in this segment so much over the last couple of months. The honda CRV is really affordable now and excellent quality.

The Tiguan diesel can be had for just over R300K, whereas most diesels in this segment edge toward R400K. Kuga is a very good drive but I'm also not sure of the new look. Very competitive segment, it's awesome to be spoiled for choice!

 

[Dryad]

Car drives and handles well, fuel consumption is listed as 6.6 l/100km combined but will see how it goes in the real world, it should be a bit less than the Sportage which was at 10l/100km.

My Ford Fiesta listed fuel consumption is 5.9l/100km, and I am currently on 6l/100km average that is for the 3/4 of the tank, so you might still be surprised in the future. In the beginning the fuel consumption was higher and if hubby had the car these days ......

 

[Naks]

I picked up my new Kuga yesterday. Got an awesome trade-in deal on my 4 year old Sportage, which made the choice easier. I've got the 1.6l Ecoboost and its an awesome vehicle. Good power delivery, not much in the way of turbo lag. The tech in the car is fantastic, the only eye raiser is the radio and Ford Sync are all running Microsoft software...so hoping for no blue screens
Car drives and handles well, fuel consumption is listed as 6.6 l/100km combined but will see how it goes in the real world, it should be a bit less than the Sportage which was at 10l/100km.

Madness. Why anyone would buy a petrol-engined vehicle in this day and age is beyond me.

But enjoy the car, the more I read about them, the more I am tempted to propose this as an alternative to the A3 to SWAMBO

 

[Dryad]

There's also the ASX to check out;
View attachment 46847

Looks is a personal choice, however it was a really comfy car to drive and handled very nicely on the test trip, space was also not an issue for the driver. It was strange considering the Aircross is apparently based on the ASX and that was really not a nice trip, very plastic car. I would avoid the Aircross at all costs.

 

[Vegeta]

Madness. Why anyone would buy a petrol-engined vehicle in this day and age is beyond me.

But enjoy the car, the more I read about them, the more I am tempted to propose this as an alternative to the A3 to SWAMBO

Why not petrol? Its rated as lower fuel consumption than the 2L Diesel model. I don't understand what you mean? Are you talking about fuel consumption? Its more expensive. More expensive to maintain. Probably can't maintain it properly yourself. Shorter service intervals.

In this case the diesel has no advantage over the petrol its not even more fuel efficient.

 

[satanboy]

Madness. Why anyone would buy a petrol-engined vehicle in this day and age is beyond me.

But enjoy the car, the more I read about them, the more I am tempted to propose this as an alternative to the A3 to SWAMBO

Diesel vehicles need more regular services, cost more than the petrol version and diesel engines sound "crap".

edit:
and Hybrids cost too much

 

[Jinx10]

I picked up my new Kuga yesterday. Got an awesome trade-in deal on my 4 year old Sportage, which made the choice easier. I've got the 1.6l Ecoboost and its an awesome vehicle. Good power delivery, not much in the way of turbo lag. The tech in the car is fantastic, the only eye raiser is the radio and Ford Sync are all running Microsoft software...so hoping for no blue screens

Car drives and handles well, fuel consumption is listed as 6.6 l/100km combined but will see how it goes in the real world, it should be a bit less than the Sportage which was at 10l/100km.

must be the FWD? Trend or Ambiante?

 

[Jinx10]

Madness. Why anyone would buy a petrol-engined vehicle in this day and age is beyond me.

But enjoy the car, the more I read about them, the more I am tempted to propose this as an alternative to the A3 to SWAMBO

Your reasons for been so pro diesel, anti petrol?

 

[cleask]

Why not petrol? Its rated as lower fuel consumption than the 2L Diesel model. I don't understand what you mean? Are you talking about fuel consumption? Its more expensive. More expensive to maintain. Probably can't maintain it properly yourself. Shorter service intervals.

In this case the diesel has no advantage over the petrol its not even more fuel efficient.

Exactly that. Cheaper to maintain, uses less fuel, in the case of the Kuga.

must be the FWD? Trend or Ambiante?

FWD Ambiente, I didn't see the value in what was offered extra on the Trend for the price. Also I took the 1.6l AWD Auto for a drive and the auto gearbox was constantly hunting gears so I would stay away from that.

The diesel is great as well but at the price I reckon a Chev TrailBlazer 2.8 diesel would be the better buy.

 

[froot]

Diesel vehicles need more regular services, cost more than the petrol version and diesel engines sound "crap".

If I were to buy the X1 20d, I'd make the price difference between that and the X1 20i back in 7800km assuming a difference of 1.9 l/100km. In the long run the diesel saves you masses of money. And the diesel sounds amazing.
Off topic, but something I lolled at, I saw a Toyota GT86 floor it from a tollgate the other day. A few seconds later an Audi A6 3.0 TDI came out and whipped the crap out of the Toyota. So diesels have that advantage too

 

[FarligOpptreden]

The diesel is great as well but at the price I reckon a Chev TrailBlazer 2.8 diesel would be the better buy.

Exactly what I was trying to say. The 'Blazer looks good, performs well and is very versatile and comfortable.

 

[cleask]

If I were to buy the X1 20d, I'd make the price difference between that and the X1 20i back in 7800km assuming a difference of 1.9 l/100km. In the long run the diesel saves you masses of money. And the diesel sounds amazing.
Off topic, but something I lolled at, I saw a Toyota GT86 floor it from a tollgate the other day. A few seconds later an Audi A6 3.0 TDI came out and whipped the crap out of the Toyota. So diesels have that advantage too

Long term cheaper? Have you factored in the higher insurance premium. What about the higher servicing costs outside of maintenance plan? One set of injectors or a ignition coil will obliterate any perceived savings. What about the increased tyre and brake wear due to the engine being heavier.

Secondly you are saying that diesel is better because a 3.0 lt turbo diesel is faster than than 2.0 lt non-turbo petrol? :erm:
Wonder how that diesel would of faired against something petrol with a turbo say like a new GTi ( 2.0l ) or perhaps an 535i ( 3.0l twin turbo )

 

[froot]

Long term cheaper? Have you factored in the higher insurance premium. What about the higher servicing costs outside of maintenance plan? One set of injectors or a ignition coil will obliterate any perceived savings. What about the increased tyre and brake wear due to the engine being heavier.

Yes, yes and yes.
Any expense you may have on a diesel model you can just as easily get on a petrol model these days. Especially given that both have turbos. In the example of the X1, there is a 5kg difference between the x20i and x20d. No worries about increased tyre and brakepad wear there
Servicing costs out of the maintenance plan for the BMW is very much the same. It all comes down to how well you take care of your car.

And the second part was a lol, hence the off topic bit.

 

[cleask]

And the second part was a lol, hence the off topic bit.

Cool, the coffee hasn't kicked in yet on my side

 

[Quantum Theory]

Yes, yes and yes.
Any expense you may have on a diesel model you can just as easily get on a petrol model these days. Especially given that both have turbos. In the example of the X1, there is a 5kg difference between the x20i and x20d. No worries about increased tyre and brakepad wear there
Servicing costs out of the maintenance plan for the BMW is very much the same. It all comes down to how well you take care of your car.

And the second part was a lol, hence the off topic bit.

Tiff Needell tweeted recently about an Auto Express long term test. It's in their newest magazine and I cannot find it on the web yet. 10 pairs of equally powered diesel and petrol models. Over a three year period, the diesel was more expensive to run 8 out of 10 times.

 

[Naks]

Your reasons for been so pro diesel, anti petrol?

More fuel-efficient, and the massive amounts of torque in the low rev range.

Once you drive a TDi, esp an auto/DSG one, you never go back to petrol.