Have been looking at the Rav 4 but am undecided, what else is similar in size?
tamarillo,
Oct 15, 8:09pm
What year you looking? New, old? Makes huge difference as to choices.
intrade,
Oct 15, 8:25pm
Post what your real needs are. Most people dont need a 4wd or tall vehicle or huge suv. They only think they do because of tv adds. Post The use of vehicle and what it will be used for. Like you dont need a 20 meter and 5 meter wide tank to go shopping once a week . if you know what i mean As to what and why.
stevexc,
Oct 15, 8:29pm
Even the newest ones aren't exactly a giant tank.
Direct competitor would be the CRV. Nice car if you don't mind shrapnel from the airbags.
intrade,
Oct 15, 8:40pm
Biggest problem i found is . New cars are getting bigger and bigger on outside and smaller on the inside. Like i purchased a 2007 passat vw just to name one random example. The passat was regarded as the huge mother of space. WAS. i then looked what toolbox fits in the back. So i take a tape mesure and its 1.04 meter . the holden 2004 astra is smaller on outside and has something lie 120cm wide boot space. The First car to be a huge mother on outside Was the new BMW mini when it did came out. And now they all do it no room inside twize the size on outside. There is a reason However if you crash the law of phisics dont change So to make more save car more room and material to crumble up and absorb energy is used - Hence these modern cars are huge mother things on outside with less room inside then ever.
player_smurf,
Oct 15, 8:54pm
I travel about 400kms to and from work each week. thinking 2015 upwards. dont want a huge SUV but wondering what my options are with a smaller SUV?
xs1100,
Oct 15, 9:14pm
nissan x trail
intrade,
Oct 15, 9:42pm
ok 400 looks not enough for a diesel. 57km without stopping is what diesel require as minimum. Now Why do you need a Suv? They are top heavy and dangerous. The stability control and other things only make you think you are save. Like i have a 2007 passat 4wd stability 100 tousend airbags its about 2 ton mass . I took it for a drive and when i looked at the odometer i was doing 80kph and it did not feel like that . I do know that normally the corner who comes up i usually only take with 60 in the older astra car . wth 0 gadgets and that 60 feels like about the limmit you would want to take it at. So the passat actuarly hides the danger it will make it round the corner no problem with 80 but how much more can it take when i know the 60 is what i normally think is all you should take that corner at. Now a Suv will drive similar to the passat Hide the fact that you drive way to close to where the car wont be able to save your ass . it clearly hides the danger by making you feel save when your actuarly real close to die . once the stability control and all the electronics need to kick in its only a tini bit more and you would crash and burn.
intrade,
Oct 15, 9:54pm
Like do you need to go off road drive gravel roads etc? if you would drive way to fast with a Suv with 2 tons you would crash and burn as where my passat would squeal its tyres and save me because its mass is way lowe and a passat is designed for hig speed and hard cornering as thats what german cars have to do unlimitted speed on german motorways.
intrade,
Oct 15, 10:02pm
So what we do know you want a 3 year old car maximum. You should give other facts that you definetly want . It has to be comfortable would be a other requirement i gather from your usage.
blondes1,
Oct 15, 10:25pm
I do 400 km`s a week , and love the Nissan Qashqai . Being a crossover and not a full SUV, so have the benefits of SUV ,sitting etc but cheaper to run.
kazbanz,
Oct 15, 10:45pm
Player smurf -what is it that is attracting you to the RAV4? Ie do you drive on unsealed roads etc so want awd ? Do you like the seat height/comfort.?
msigg,
Oct 16, 3:50am
The rav4 is an excellent choice, great to drive, not too big or small, it is the standard that most other manufacturers try to achieve, you need to buy what you like, no good buying a skateboard if you find it hard to bend down and get in or out, the rav4 has excellent forward vision, very useful space in the back, they will hold their price more than any other car, we have the 2010 model for my partner , she loves it, before that she had the older crv which she liked too, the rav4 is much better because newer, just got back from the states and noticed lots of taxi operator over there had the rav4, good room for putting your suit cases in the back, other suv to look at is the sportage. Good luck, do some test drives first make sure your happy.
thejazzpianoma,
Oct 16, 3:55am
VW Tiguan and Skoda Yeti are worth a look. Both are very hard to beat (same company, Tiguan is more upmarket version).
However. for your budget, you might find you can afford a new Yeti or SEAT (another VW Company) SEAT have just set up in NZ and are offering some very sharp deals.
The thing with the VW group cars is they have by far the biggest market share so can spend a fortune on developing their engines, transmissions etc. Then they just tack a different "party dress" on top to suit the market.
So parts pricing etc is fantastic. Likewise things are very well sorted due to the huge numbers produced. Try a couple and see.
tamarillo,
Oct 16, 5:02am
Kia Sportage, beaten japs in comparative testing. Honda CR-V or hr-v (smaller 2015 on). I'd be trying them and deciding which I prefer. Or, if you don't actually need the height, a good mid sized wagon.
ema1,
Oct 16, 8:22am
Rav 4 definitely , there are plenty here in NZ and for good reason, they hold their resale values good. I've had a fair bit to do with them over the years and would recommend them without hesitation. Nothing wrong with the Kia Sportage product either and their numbers are up there too also for a good reason.
db.price,
Oct 16, 11:44am
If you are looking at the RAV 4 then your should consider:
Mazda CX5 Kia Sportage Subaru Outback Nissan XTrail Ford Escape Skoda Kodiaq SEAT Alteca VW Tiguan Peugeot 3008 Honda CRV
Of the above list the nicest ones we drove was the CX5 (Which we bought) and the Subaru Outback. The others were a bit Meh, more body roll than the Mazda or Subaru. The RAV 4 is a solid car - but just so BORING!
The Outback had one of the best safety packages of any of the SUVs with the eye-sight system - shame about the CVT though.
The SEAT, Skoda and VW are basically the same car. Of them I think the Skoda was nicer than the VW. Cant comment of the SEAT as they only sell them in Auckland.
If you want a smaller car - then: Mazda CX3 Honda HRV Subaru XV Nissan Qashqai
saxman99,
Dec 23, 12:17am
BMW X3
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