Need a new diesel 4x4, but only cover short trips

I live in Jersey, and our Discovery 2 TD5 Auto is about to die. I am looking to replace it with similar, but a bit smaller, with a £20k budget.

The car will do around 7000 miles a year, which includes at least one 2000 mile trip to Spain & back. My main requirements are reliability,economy,& comfort for the long trip, and no DPF problems.

Asked on 6 May 2015 by AndyJersey

Answered by Honest John
Your problem is diesel, DPFs and Jersey. A diesel with a DPF is totally unsuitable for an island nine miles x five with a maximum 40mph speed limit. About the only petrol auto contender I can think of is the Toyota RAV-4 2.0i Valvematic Multidrive S, but these are rare. The equivalent Honda CR-V 2.0i 5-speed auto is underpowered and a bit annoying to drive. Pity Mazda does not do a CX-5 petrol auto.
Similar questions
We are looking to buy a 4x4 for our two mile school run. We are keen on a BMW X3, but have heard that short trips are not good for diesels due to the DPF blocking. Is two miles too short a journey for...
I read in a recent 4x4 review that the engine oil is quickly contaminated by the DPF. Is this the case on all diesel engines with a DPF, and can it affect the life of the engine?
I cover about 10,000 miles per year, mostly journeys of 50+ miles. I need a 4x4 to negotiate muddy/slippery tracks and to tow a trailer. I'm looking at the 2007 diesel Honda CR-V with 70,000 recorded miles...
Related models
Bigger and now 5-door only. More luxurious but not as practical as previous RAV-4. Car-like road manners. Petrol and diesel automatics. Facelifted 2010.