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Want a new 4x4 but don't know where to start? We can help
The problem
"I’d appreciate your advice on which car I should buy next. I’m 69 and a pensioner and want to replace my 15-plate Kia Sportage with an SUV with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. I love everything about the Sportage, except the driver’s seat. I am six feet tall, with long legs, and the seat base doesn’t extend to behind my knees, making it very uncomfortable. Before the Sportage, I had an Audi A6 with the extending seat base, which was brilliant. Could you recommend an SUV with a tall driving position for around £25,000?" Russell
The brief: Small or family-sized SUV with a high seating position; Four-wheel drive; Automatic gearbox; Less than £25,000
So what are the options?
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Buying new: Hyundai Kona 1.6 T-GDi Blue Drive Premium GT 4WD DCT
Our recommended choice: Hyundai Kona 1.6 T-GDi Blue Drive Premium GT 4WD DCTList price: £25,445
What Car? Target Price: £23,988
It's best to think of the Kona as a jacked-up version of Hyundai's i20 hatchback, but in its transition into an SUV, the Kona has gained the high-set driving position and rufty-tufty looks that buyers in this market are looking for.
The only version of the Kona on which you can get four-wheel drive is the 1.6-litre petrol, but if you plan on venturing off road regularly, or perhaps even towing, its extra low-down grunt compared with the 1.0-litre petrol will be welcome. The good news, too, is that this engine comes with four-wheel drive and a smooth-shifting automatic gearbox as standard.
Getting your driving position spot on shouldn't be difficult, because there's a good amount of adjustment in the Kona's seat and steering wheel, and height adjustment is standard, so you can raise yourself up if need be.
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Buying new: Hyundai Kona 1.6 T-GDi Blue Drive Premium GT 4WD DCT
This Premium GT version of the Kona is loaded with kit, including automatic emergency braking, a head-up display and full LED headlights, as well as luxuries such as heated seats and keyless entry and start.
Prices for the Kona in 1.6 TGDi Blue Drive Premium 4WD DCT form start at £25,445 What Car? can help lower that price, and latest Target Price deals bring that down to a more palatable £23,988 – and you could save even more by going through the What Car? New Car Buying service.
What are the other ideas?
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Buying new: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 1.5 3 CVT 4WD
Also consider: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 1.5 3 CVT 4WD
List price: £25,920
What Car? Target Price: £24,794
The Eclipse Cross is spacious inside and comes well equipped, and you can choose from a refined range of petrol engines. It doesn't feel as agile as some family SUV rivals, though.
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Buying new: Ssangyong Tivoli 1.6D ELX 4x4 auto
Also consider: Ssangyong Tivoli 1.6D ELX 4x4 auto
List price: £21,695
What Car? Target Price: £21,288
The Tivoli is roomy inside and interior quality is decent. It's also well priced, but compromises include average handling and a fidgety ride.
What about used-car ideas?
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Our recommended choice: 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 190 TDI SE 4Motion Bluemotion Technology auto
Our recommended choice: 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 190 TDI SE 4Motion Bluemotion Technology auto
Price: £23,495
Mileage: 8883
Take this one-year-old Volkswagen Tiguan as an example of how far your budget stretches on the used car market. It’s still got the majority of its warranty left and comes in SE specification, which means three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and Car-Net – so you can connect your Apple or Android smartphone to the car’s 8.0in touchscreen.
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Our recommended choice: 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 190 TDI SE 4Motion Bluemotion Technology auto
What’s more, you get four-wheel drive and the swift-shifting DSG automatic gearbox for only £23,495. To put that into perspective, a similarly equipped new Tiguan has a Target price of around £30,500. It’s quite a bargain, and a lot of car for your money.
What are the other ideas?
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Also consider: 2017 Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI FR 4x4 DSG
Also consider: 2017 Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI FR 4x4 DSG
Price: £23,950
Mileage: 4587
This year-old Seat Ateca is near enough a Volkswagen Tiguan that’s good at sports. That’s because this FR version has firmer sports suspension that makes it less prone to body roll and more agile in corners. The ride won’t be as supple, though, but you get plenty of kit as standard, including a reversing camera.
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Also consider: 2017 BMW X1 xDrive20d Sport Step Auto
Also consider: 2017 BMW X1 xDrive20d Sport Step Auto
Price: £24,995
Mileage: 2101
Fancy your SUV with a blue-chip badge in it? This year-old BMW X1 with only 2101 miles on it comes in under budget and promises over 50mpg despite being equipped with four-wheel drive.
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Our choice: buy used - Volkswagen Tiguan
This one was a no-brainer: while our new car choices fill your needs, the used options, and especially the fully loaded VW Tiguan we found, will suit you down to the ground. It's a prime example of why buying used (and especially looking at nearly new options) is a wise use of your time when looking for a new car.
The Tiguan we sourced comes in SE specification, which adds three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and adaptive cruise control to the entry-level car. If you can afford to, we'd recommend looking at an SE Nav version too, because it adds integrated sat-nav into the mix as well.
The Tiguan has plenty of space inside, so getting yourself, family, friends and their luggage on board should be no problem. And because you've got 4Motion four-wheel drive, the car should be able to handle anything you can throw at it – no matter how adventurous.
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