OK not an Octavia MkI post but not sure where to put such a thread (mods please feel free to relocate if needed)

SWMBO suffers with a bad back so is looking to trade the Passat Estate in for something taller. I would like her to have 4x4 for safety more than anything else. Boot would be the domain of the dog with occasional trips away.

She has always liked the look of an X-Trail and I quite like the Honda CR-V but what other alternatives are there and what are the good/bad points of each? Would probably end up being a petrol version so that it can be converted to LPG so v6's and the like OK but obviously the more economical to start with the better.

Budget likely to be up to 5K and no BIG 4x4's

I'm a Suzuki 4x4 fan myself. I've had a SJ413, and still have a Samurai.

My Dad's had a Grand Vitara 2.5 V6 for almost 12 years now (from new), and it's been great. With 142bhp it isn't exactly a beast, but the engine is incredibly reliable. Literally nothing has ever gone wrong with the engine, and it's never needed anything else serious doing to it. Bullet proof cars.

It's a proper 4x4 too, with a transfer box. So for normal road use you run it in RWD (2H), then you have the options of high (4H) or low (4L) ratio 4WD.

Subaru Foresters

Very reliable vs not great fuel economy. Good on the comfort front

Lots of cheap ones around, so 5K budget could include LPG

SWMBO loves her Rav4 and I'm very impressed with it too

Spec,

Power Steering

Electric Front & Rear Windows

Remote Central Locking

Electric Sunroof

Climate Control

Passenger Airbag De-Activation switch

Cruise Control

Permanent 4wd

Factory Fit Satellite Navigation

Heated Seats

Full Leather Interior

Fog Lights

Rear Seats are independent of each other and Slide forwards/Backwards.

X3 3point rear seat belts

Rear Parking Sensors

Since owning the car we have an Average MPG of

These can be had for around £5k and the only thing that has broken in the last 2 years of ownership is the rear door switch and that was fixed by cleaning it and re-greasing it.

Its shorter than the Octavia but a touch wider