Hi Experts
Can you please advice me which SuV Sud I go for witthin a budget of 25k. I am looking a reliable model that I can drive for least next 5-6 years. Right now browsing for Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4.
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Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.
I have a 2016 Nissan Qashqui, which isn't quite an SUV, it's a crossover car / suv. It's only the size of a car inside, really. I like the Nissan though, it's a few years old and has been reliable and economical. You could consider Nissan.
Toyota tend to be very reliable. I have a 2003 Corolla which is still going strong with very few problems. I kindof want to replace it, partly because the crash ratings of older cars is pretty poor, but while it does what I need and it's only short trips on divided motorways it's fine.
Batman: Fastest one in the country if speed is your thing
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1964092969
Fastest SUV in the country?? Lol what.
Really need more info about what you are going to use it for. 2Wd or AWD? #Seats? Diesel or petrol? Towing? Town shopping cart only?
You can pick up a new Sportage base model for 30K right now, 2,0L front wheel drive with a free 3 year service plan. We have just purchased a diesel model AWD but that's well above your budget. Not sure what the second hand market offers in those but they are a damn nice vehicle.
We have some RAV's at work. They do OK, Toyota obviously has a good name but found you pay extra for that so your money may not go as far, or not get as many extras.
Nissan XTrail is another possible option, at that price point you should easily get a moderate km one 3 - 4 years old.
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There's so many options at that price...if you're looking at a Sportage or a Rav4, then you'll also be in the same market as a Captiva, Honda CRV, older Euro SUV (Volvo, older BMW etc).
The pertinent questions have all been asked above - age, seats, usage and fuel type, plus whether you want all the bells and whistles or just a simple model with enough airbags to go around.
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Coil:
Batman: Fastest one in the country if speed is your thing
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1964092969
Fastest SUV in the country?? Lol what.
budget 25k
also has eyesight, better fuel economy and rav4 and nearly twice the power.
Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.
Batman:
Coil:
Batman: Fastest one in the country if speed is your thing
https://www.trademe.co.nz/1964092969
Fastest SUV in the country?? Lol what.
budget 25k
also has eyesight, better fuel economy and rav4 and nearly twice the power.
Ahh fair enough if we include budget.
BTW, No on ever buy an old Q7/Towrag/Cayenne, A brake service will write them off lol...
Fuel usage will also make an Arab Sultan grin.
As others have suggested you may want to stretch the budget to buy one of the smaller and more value orientated offerings on the market. Otherwise with your budget you will be buying second hand in which case all the usual rules with second hand cars apply:
Make sure you check out a Mazda CX5 - there is a reason why they are so popular.
If $25k is your maximum, I'd be looking for a decent second hand CX-5, but they seem to hold their value really well and finding a low-k model under $25k will be hard (by low-k I mean under 50l on clock).
If you can stretch to $30k, the LX Urban Petrol 2WD Sportage is a pretty decent car brand new. I got a Diesel AWD one, and am happy with it - got a current model demo (1000 k on clock for $32k).
You could look at the Haval brand new too. I have no idea what they are like, and I suspect their resale values would be pretty low.
We purchased a brand new 2019 white Kia Sportage EX 6 weeks ago for $36,535 with accessories of; weather shields, mats & rear bumper protector. With trade-in of a 2005 Suzki Aerio $4,285 ended up with a change over $32,250.
My partner and I initially made a list of 20 SUV's small to large. Knocked out 50% due to price. (Merc, Jag etc) Then went around the car yards with a clip board where we had spread sheeted what; we wanted, must have, it would be nice to have, don't want & what can you give me and let the sales people do their pitch.
We whittled it down to 3: Mitsubishi ASX, Hyundai Kona & Kia Sportage EX and took them for an hour test drive each up the Kaimi's, a gravel road, highway & around town. Mid test we stopped and had a really good poke around without the salesman hanging over our shoulder. We also had a back seat passenger testing that area out and as a third opinion.
It ended up being a close run thing between all 3. In the end the ASX lost due to its ride was to hard, which surprised us, so could have been the struts weren't set right. The Kona's big loss was its seats (front & back). The front seats were too narrow & short and the wrap around edges (seat & back) where very hard. You had to sit in them dead straight, not even on the slightest angle, otherwise they became quite uncomfortable due to them digging into your sides. Plus it had a very gimmicky HUD which was more annoying than helpful when activated. Of course we made compromises e.g. we would of preferred a back parcel tray as opposed to a pull out curtain to cover the boot space.
But we are very happy with our purchase of the Kia Sportage EX. We have had 8 brand new vehicles in 38 years; sedans, hatches & a Suzuki 1990 Vitara soft top (our toy for 2 years) and this is the best of the lot. Of course being technology lovers, the Kia fore fills that urge a well. This car was my retirement present and has to last for 8 to 10 years till my partner retires and we will do the entire exercise again and that will be the longest we will have ever kept a car for.
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