Most economical 4x4???

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Hollie15

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Hi all,

I am looking to buy a 4x4 with the aim of taking my trailer test. I want to carry around 2000kg - 2500kg depending who I am taking with me, so needs to have a quite large towing capacity.

I would be using it as an everyday which at the moment means a 50mile round trip to work and a 30mile round trip to the neddies.

I don't want anything more than 7 or 8 years old and with as low a mileage as I can.

I did have my heart set on a kia sorento....how do people find these on fuel economy?

I looked at disco's but for my price range seem to be able to get better vehicles of a different make.

Other's I am considering are

Jeep cheroke

Mistibushi SWB Shogun

Mercedes ML270

Of course any other suggestions welcome too. But my main question is what 4x4 is best on fuel due to the amount of miles I will be covering each week.

Thanks all!! :)
 
Yea that is fine, looking at a bigger capacity so am always well within the limits. All the ones I am looking at have capacity of 2600+

Just want to know which people find best to run....
 
Not exactly a direct comparison but might help? I drive a mitsubishi sport shogun 2.5l or a merc ML280 CDI Auto (which has just been swapped for a rangerover sport which will be less economical than the merc). Merc has been better on fuel than Mitsi when using it for my standard 100mile round trip 3x a week - mix of stop start town driving, country lane driving and motorway driving. But tbh theres not loads to choose between them in terms of fuel.

The Merc however has been MUCH nicer to drive - I have the option to accelerate as well as brake if for e.g. starting to get boxed in on the motorway, where as in the Mitsi I just have to brake because the power won't come through for another 5 minutes :p. I quite like the auto on the merc actually as its just one thing less to do.

Small things as well like the radio is MUCH better in the merc, and having parking sensors is a godsend in tight university car park. No parking sensors is admittedly a bigger pain on the mitsi because its so long wheel based (+ the tow bar) that I have to keep getting out and checking as I reverse park, this might not be such an issue with the shorter wheelbase Mitsi you are considering. Oh and the noise! Its pretty much quiet inside the merc, but inside the mitsi going down the motorway it is incredibly noisy, the engine is so ridiculously loud! things also rattle. If Ive been driving the merc for a bit and then get back in the mitsi I find myself instinctively checking that Im not in fourth gear when I first start off down the motorway because its so blinking loud! I know these seem like really little things but when you use the car so often/ for so long a journey they really make a difference longterm :o.


The merc is also hugely better at cornering and hugs the corners a treat where as the mitsi you have to back off the corners, and wet roundabouts are really NOT your friend. Again a lot of this is probably due to the long wheel base so this may be better in a different model. The turning circle on the merc is also incredibly good for a big 4x4 unlike the mitsi which takes about as much room as a bus to turn, things like very tight car parks often require at least a 1 point turn to get around corners (again not helped by the long wheel base).

I have my HGV licence and have never towed a horse trailer, but as a passenger in earlier years I would say the merc is easier to tow with, but this is predominantly because it is an auto so there is one less thing to think about, and no concern over dropping back on hill starts/ jerky pull offs. The extra power is also handy as when towing 2 550kg horses in 1 full size ifor uphill you would have your foot to the floor of the mitsi, though we never felt any concerns over whether it would make it or not, it was just slow. The turning circle on the merc also makes getting in and out of parking at a competition etc easier. However, the mitsi copes better with muddy/ wet conditions and just offroading in general (it does have half off road tyres on) and has a special Low 4wheel drive option. I run a hunter trial for my PC each year and I always choose the mitsi for all the set up work and course driving, admittedly mainly because I wouldn't want to lump flags and stuff into the merc, but also because I can get things done at a much faster pace in the mitsi as it handles offroading beautifully.

wow that was long, forgive my ramble! to conclude, I guess it depends what you will be using it most for and what your priorities are. :) hope that helps a little.
 
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Thanks for replies so far. Looked at a jeep cheroke earlier, loved it but then found out the price of tax on it!!!!

Also saw a Shogun SWB and again really liked it. Too many choices now, I get confused and can't choose!!

Keep coming with the comments on fuel please people!!!
 
we have an oldish range rover and have had it converted to LPG.... at 69p per litre its fab!!!!!

tows like a dream too :-)
 
justjaz said:
Try this page:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/

I have an old SWB Mitsi- & at it's most economical when it's parked on the drive ;).
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly, I've been a bit of a pajero enthusiast it's fair to say, however after 2 years with my last one constantly breaking down and drinking fuel like it was pop, enough was enough and I chucked it on eBay. Terrible on fuel consumption, avoid
 
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