75k SUV

[jozeff]

Hi All,

Okay its time to trade in the 130i for something more practical. What are your recommendations based on the following?

1) Around 75k on road
2) Preferably a diesel as it will be doing heaps of Kms and needs to be good with fuel
3) Relatively spacey back seat.
4) Have decent performance... yes its going to be a family car... but yes i will get frustrated if its just too damn slow. Also has to be fun to drive.

My shortlist:

Evoque SD4
Some sort of Audi Q5
New X3 20d (supposed to have a new diesel engine with 140kw)
Possibly an XC60 (dunno if I can get one for 75k)

What are your thoughts?

[Alpine*]

If you can wait, if you can stretch the finances to $96,500, then get a Macan.

[thezone135i]

Audi SQ5. 2nd hand $88k? This ones tuned to 300kw and 850NM! http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d.../?Cr=0&sdmvc=1

[aus135i]

x3 has been good to us! and faster then the Evoque (just by a little, 2.0D 11 spec) but the Land Rover's back seat and boot space is meh compared to the x3, if for a young family with baby then x3 for sure! not an Audi person but i think space is also an issue with it, as for the xc60 i know nothing about...

my2c

['fatboy']

Jeep Grand Cherokee - the full blown SRT might be over budget but the Overland model with the 5.7L Hemi V8 probably does the job.

By reading your initial vehicle list, it looks like you prefer something Euro?

[ItsHectic]

Dont get a Jeep, they have terrible reliability and poor service when things go wrong.

Are you going to take it off road? If so perhaps consider the 4WD system.

Also consider blind spot sensors, its not needed in smaller cars such as the 1 series or A class unless you are blind, but from what I have experienced 4WDs have blind spots.

The problem with the Macan is once you start optioning it out you go broke.

[Alpine*]

Originally Posted by ItsHectic

Dont get a Jeep, they have terrible reliability and poor service when things go wrong.

Are you going to take it off road? If so perhaps consider the 4WD system.

Also consider blind spot sensors, its not needed in smaller cars such as the 1 series or A class unless you are blind, but from what I have experienced 4WDs have blind spots.

The problem with the Macan is once you start optioning it out you go broke.

Same as any/many euros, don't option it.

There's also,the new GLA45 or the lesser models?

[david.orr]

Agree re: don't option.

GLA45 comes packed and has few options.

There's also the RSQ3.

Can't go wrong with either of them.

[ItsHectic]

Originally Posted by Alpine*

Same as any/many euros, don't option it.

For me its like taking an obese little kid to mcdonalds and telling him not to eat.

can confirm, obese as a kid

[MPoweRo]

I'll put in a vote for XC60. Can get the D5 with Polestar tune with 169kW and 470Nm. Some good deals on MY13s going around.

[Ninjaoz]

X3 and Q5 is not that big compared with a standard sedan.

have you considered a fully optioned E70 LCI 40d? you should be able to get decent used one for around $75k

[kaitan]

I'd say the X3 30d! or the SQ5. Depends how big of a SUV do you need.

[Moocow]

Wife recently got a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Diesel. I was dubious at first, but after driving it, I am very surprised. Got plenty of grunt, handles well and you get used to its enormous size very quickly. I have friends who have the 5.7L V8 and they have regretted it, they wish they'd gone for the diesel.

Plenty of room for the family and great luggage space etc. Plenty of leg room for adults in the back seats. The in-dash system is really good too.

The Evoke looks great, has shit performance and is just way too small. sitting in the back of it you get claustrophobic with its slanted roof.
Q5/SQ5 - too little room in the back imo, depends what you're after I suppose.

Take a GC for a drive, you wont be disappointed.

[Kiwi Peter]

Originally Posted by jozeff

Hi All,

Okay its time to trade in the 130i for something more practical. What are your recommendations based on the following?

1) Around 75k on road
2) Preferably a diesel as it will be doing heaps of Kms and needs to be good with fuel
3) Relatively spacey back seat.
4) Have decent performance... yes its going to be a family car... but yes i will get frustrated if its just too damn slow. Also has to be fun to drive.

My shortlist:

Evoque SD4
Some sort of Audi Q5
New X3 20d (supposed to have a new diesel engine with 140kw)
Possibly an XC60 (dunno if I can get one for 75k)

What are your thoughts?

From your list there is only one, the Audi Q5.
We see fair amount through the shop including the latest SQ5 all are Diesel and go hard i wouldn't mind one myself.

[_Ryan_]

Jeep SRT?
Cayenne?

[jozeff]

Hi Guys,

Is the Q5 75 on road? do you reckon the diesel engine is any good?

Regarding the Jeep, i dunno if its just too big to drive/park....?

GLA and SQ3 no way they would be 75k on road?

[micha3l]

We just bought a Q5, very happy with it. Build quality of the car seems so much nicer than the X3.

Can easily be had for $75k on road for the 2.0TDI (pretty much fully optioned) or even the 3.0TDI (non sport version) but you won't get the SQ5 for that money.

As much as I wanted the SQ5 I had to keep telling myself it was a car for the wife, and really she didn't need the extra power so saved the $15-$20k. We ended up with the 2.0TDI and fuel economy is great, not going to win drag races but definitely has the low end torque to be zippy around town. Awesome cruiser, nice to drive around in when I want to keep the M3 in the garage.

[Moocow]

Originally Posted by jozeff

Regarding the Jeep, i dunno if its just too big to drive/park....?

They are big, but you get used to it very quickly. With the front and rear parking sensors, rear camera and auto dipping mirrors, parking it isn't a drama.

Take one for a test drive, you will be pleasantly surprised.
With your budget, you could afford the one with all the bells and whistles.

Gives you a lot a flexability, as the 3.6L diesel could tow pretty much anything, its its quite capable offroad compared to a lot of the SUV's on the market.

Depends what you're after really.

[Nugget]

We just bought a petrol X3 for the wife, she loves it and I find it nice and relaxing to drive. Only option we got was leather.

Drove the Q5 and Q3, didn't like the interior and the steering wheel felt like it wasn't attached to anything, good engines though.
Drove the Evoque, was nice but she couldn't see out of it at all due to the tiny rear windows and massive wing mirrors. Also comes with nearly nothing standard, had to option everything which made it a lot more expensive.

[135i2]

I just cringe at the thought of actually "needing" an SUV.
That should read "want" given the excellent choice of family vehicles that have a low centre of gravity and great dynamics.

If you gotta go off road buy a Lada Niva, snow plough optional.

[dtcoff]

Why not a 3 series touring? Drives better than any SUV, less weight, better fuel economy and just as practical.