Suzuki Vitara or similar?

[Ty Korrigan]

Jimny is soon to be withdrawn from sale in France due to an emissions tax which will be around half the price of the new car.

  Stuart

[NFG]

Hi

We have a 2006 2.2 Tdi X-Trail and its pretty good at everything we ask of it. Its done 265,000Kms now. Plenty of space, fuel economy seems good and 136 BHp sufficient, I would imagine they are very reasonable in UK.

 

Some have an issue with the Intercooler but its easy to change and there are plenty of aftermarket ones.

[penfold]

Our family car is a vitara and we are on our second one. The top of the range has 4wd as an optional extra. Can't fault ours. Nice to drive and fairly good on fuel.

[Guest Gimlet]

The older mkII Grand Vitaras are pretty good cars and a bit of a bargain. I've got a 2007 and it's been as good as gold. Superb off road for the price, if lacking in under-car protection, everything works and inside its comfortable, well put together and a nice place to sit.  

 

Drawbacks are they are in permanent 4WD so not economical for their engine size. Mine is the 1.9 diesel and it struggled to get much above 30 mpg until I had it remapped. Now it averages 35. Not bad as far as 4X4s go, but poor for a compact estate car with a 1.9 diesel engine.

The latest ones are much better. 

 

If it's on-road only it's not worth having the 4WD, which for the mkIIs means a short wheel base model. But they are absolutely tiny. Even the five door with the rear seats folded isn't that big. With the rear seats up, there's room for the shopping and that's about it. Fine for singles or couples but it would be cramped as a family car.

A Honda CRV is roomier and they're faster as well, but dearer.

Edited February 15, 2020 by Gimlet