I'd second the Kia and Hyundai recommendations and would add Nissan X Trail and maybe a petrol Subaru Forester or Outback if you're not planning on doing lots of miles as they like a drink but have a good reputation.

The X-Trail is good off-road but suffers from more known (particularly engine) problems than the KIA or the Hyundai equivilant. If you get a good one - great - if you don't then your wallet will take a battering.

If you take any pleasure in driving dont buy the Korean cars mentioned.

Also the latest versions are pretty poor as towcars, noted for instability, trust me i tow a caravan.

Xtrail would be fine in 171bhp version with manual box. I towed with both versions from 2004, only changing last year to a Mazda CX-5. The xtrail has a very advanced auto 4x4 system it will not let you down off road or on.

Better than Mazda or the Koreans.

I only run one car so reliability is important.

Edited by xtrailman on 19/06/2014 at 23:21

The number of a particular car on the road on no bearing on wether they are any good, after all you dont see many Subaru.

The xtrail is normally FWD but will go AWD when slip is detected in less than one revolution of the wheel, its that good you will never know its activated, not in the T31 model.

Its great on wet roads setting of at roundabouts etc, gives great traction, and has the option of selecting FWD,AUTO, or LOCK.

Its not permanent 4x4 so doent gobble fuel, i use to get just short of 40mpg locally from mine, thats only 2-4mpg less than the MAZDA CX-5.

And it has a huge boot. My last xtrail was 100% reliable over the 4.5 years i owned it.

Thanks all, certainly gives me a few to consider. I've heard good things about the Subaru Outback and Forester. Had dismissed them as I dad a skoda octavia that put me off estates ... but perhaps that was too hasty! Will also do some research I'm to the Santa fe and X Trail.