Help me choose a 4x4 for up to €7,000.
Which used 4x4 should I buy? I have between six and seven thousand euro to spend on an SUV not more than 2.0-litre diesel for medium tax. I had in mind a Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0-litre diesel 4x4, but I have heard mixed views on these - some good some bad.
What should I look out for in these cars? I have heard of diesel pump/injector trouble and gearbox/clutch problems. Have the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage 2.0 diesel 4x4s the same problems?
Also I have considered a Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D 4x4. Would these be underpowered in 2.0 D-4D form? I understand these are full-time 4x4 as opposed to part-time 4x4 in the Santa Fe. Would this make the RAV4 more expensive to mantain with regards to tyre wear, tracking, suspension wear etc? What are all of the above vehicles like to drive on poor roads? Would be open to your views on other 4x4s in this category.
Thank you for your time
Patrick Ryan (Tipperary)Feb 2012 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Patrick,
That's a lot of questions! Let's start with the Santa Fe. Your budget is likely to limit you to the last of the older generation. It's a tough piece of kit, but not great on the road in terms of comfort. It's reliable, though expensive enough to maintain. Early versions had clutch judder, but this should have been fixed in later versions with a new flywheel. We've not heard about diesel pump and injector trouble.
Given that budget we'd rather the Hyundai Tucson. There are plenty of them about and it's much nicer to drive on the road. Saying that, it's a good deal smaller than the Santa Fe. It's not as expensive to service however. It's the same story with the older Sportage, though we'd prefer the Tucson.
The RAV4 is a fine choice all-round. It's generally reliable and good on the road. I wouldn't be very worried about extra wear and tear in the driveline.
Don't forget about the Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V and Suzuki Grand Vitara. All worth a closer look.
Has that helped you create a shortlist?
Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser@Shane_O_D