most RELIABLE small 4x4 (x-trail or sorrento?) - also in NL

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Mel1

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sorry if that has been done before but my previous car, which was renowned for being the most reliable car on the planet has been broken so many times (always seems to be more or less same problem), I think I have just been very unlucky and got a bad one so just want to get something else now.

basically have about 4k to spend (so it is going to be either old-ish or with high mileage).

Considering tax, mpg, insurance, car parking charges at work (which depends on my emission), extended warranty etc, I've been considering an X-trail or maybe a Kia (to tow one small horse in i for williams HB505).

I know you can always be unlucky and get a bad one, but have you had any good/bad experience with persistent breakdowns or problems, or expensive repair bills that would put you off getting another one ever again. I read a few reviews on autotrader and got mixed opinion, Nissan have a good reputation, but I don't know about older cars...

I don't do that much towing anyway, and never go very far, so it is going to be mainly my main driving car. I just want something that I trust to start in the morning!

those that are going to tell me I can only tow a horse safely with a disco or defender, thank you, but I do not wish to hear from you.
 
X trails have very poor towing capacity - you would never be able to take a second horse. I was quite shocked when I looked into it as I had also thought they would tow well. The next size up (Pathfinder?) has better capacity but is a bigger beast altogether.

Kia Sorrento's have excellent towing capacity (nearly the same as a Discovery) and all the ones I know are reliable (one of our liveries tows with one, two large ponies and a heavy Rice Richardson Trailer). I liked the fact they weren't huge too, and feel more like a car to drive than my Mum's Disco.

Nissan Terrano's are supposed to be realiable, but aren't made any more, so I'm not sure how new they go and what your 4k would get you...

I hear poor things about Jeep Cherokee's by the way, the one's I know are not very reliable.

My bet would be a Sorrento, I was going to get one but in the end decided I'd rather not tow and bought a 3.5 tonne lorry instead. I found they had the best MPG too - about 35 when I was looking, and that was a few years ago so may have improved again.
 
The parents have just bought a new nissan xtrail, and its lush and tows fab, the max tow weight is just under 3 tonnes(thats what it says in book) so can easily tow two horses. Havent towed ponies yet but have towed various farm machinery things on the back of low loader and if anything it tows too well, for horses ie its bit quick.
 
I have an 2006 X-trail, I tow one very large horse and I feel it struggles a lot compared to my old Shogun Sport although it should easily be able to tow the weight. In general I hate the car, I've had so many issues with it its ridiculous. Saying that, for living in London (lots of restrictions on older diesel engines) and driving a lot, it is pretty economical in terms of fuel consumption.
 
Kiribati_uk said:
The parents have just bought a new nissan xtrail, and its lush and tows fab, the max tow weight is just under 3 tonnes(thats what it says in book) so can easily tow two horses. Havent towed ponies yet but have towed various farm machinery things on the back of low loader and if anything it tows too well, for horses ie its bit quick.
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Unless the new ones have a VERY different spec to the old ones I doubt these weights you give. It may be physically able to tow this, but not legally able to...?

This is because the kerb weight of an X Trail is 1650kgs, and the Maximum Allowable Weight for towing by law is 85% of this.. thus the MAW for towing with an X trail is 1402.5kgs...

The reason Disco's are so recommended for towing is their Kerb weight is about 3 tonne so 85% of that is 2.5 tonne...

This is my understanding anyway, there may be people out there who know better! ;0)
 
I also have a sorrento and (touch wood)no problems in 4 years (it is 7 years old). Just the usual servicing costs and general wear and tear. Starts first time everytime and tows well :)
 
Polotash said:
Unless the new ones have a VERY different spec to the old ones I doubt these weights you give. It may be physically able to tow this, but not legally able to...?

This is because the kerb weight of an X Trail is 1650kgs, and the Maximum Allowable Weight for towing by law is 85% of this.. thus the MAW for towing with an X trail is 1402.5kgs...

The reason Disco's are so recommended for towing is their Kerb weight is about 3 tonne so 85% of that is 2.5 tonne...

This is my understanding anyway, there may be people out there who know better! ;0)
Click to expand...

Oh well the garage they bought it from must be liars and so must the manual!
 
I am on my 2nd Sorrento & find them great towing vehicles as well as being perfectly pleasant to drive when not towing. Not entirely sure I would class them as a 'small' 4x4 they arent that small but I guess they are smaller than the huge beasts that are Pathfinders, new type Discos etc. However, dont buy one that is too ancient or massive milage my old one started to have gear box issues around the 80,000 mile mark & I was told this was quite common.

My Mother has an X-trail that she has loved, it would be more than capable of pulling a 505 with one horse in & also pulls a caravan very easily. I agree that its not heavy enough for bigger trailers or multiple horses but if this isnt in your remit then shouldnt be a problem. Certainly find the x-trail to feel more 'car-like' to drive than the Sorrento & fits into multi-storey car parks easier!! Do try to buy from a dealer if you can so you get a bit of warranty even on a used car much less likely to buy other people's problems. I wouldn't like to be the recipent of any of the cars I have sold on, not much life in them after a hard life of towing!!!
 
Polotash- hopelessly wrong sorry. The 85% comes from the Caravan Club recommendation. The legal capacity is that stated in the plate and in the manual.
 
Im on my 2nd X-Trail and love them. Have never had any problems! I usually tow one horse or two ponies in an Ifor 505 very easily.
 
Onto my second Sorento as the first one did such a good job. Only updated as the first one had done 90.000 and i knew i'd have to change it one day. Never had a problem with the first one-great to tow with and to drive in general.
 
Polotash said:
Unless the new ones have a VERY different spec to the old ones I doubt these weights you give. It may be physically able to tow this, but not legally able to...?

This is because the kerb weight of an X Trail is 1650kgs, and the Maximum Allowable Weight for towing by law is 85% of this.. thus the MAW for towing with an X trail is 1402.5kgs...

The reason Disco's are so recommended for towing is their Kerb weight is about 3 tonne so 85% of that is 2.5 tonne...

This is my understanding anyway, there may be people out there who know better! ;0)
Click to expand...
Yes you just posted 3 paragraghs of rubish!! sorry if that sounds harsh, There is a towing sticky thread
on this forum with the law and answers for most towing and legal matters relating to RTL.
 
Mel1 said:
sorry if that has been done before but my previous car, which was renowned for being the most reliable car on the planet has been broken so many times (always seems to be more or less same problem), I think I have just been very unlucky and got a bad one so just want to get something else now.

basically have about 4k to spend (so it is going to be either old-ish or with high mileage).

Considering tax, mpg, insurance, car parking charges at work (which depends on my emission), extended warranty etc, I've been considering an X-trail or maybe a Kia (to tow one small horse in i for williams HB505).

I know you can always be unlucky and get a bad one, but have you had any good/bad experience with persistent breakdowns or problems, or expensive repair bills that would put you off getting another one ever again. I read a few reviews on autotrader and got mixed opinion, Nissan have a good reputation, but I don't know about older cars...

I don't do that much towing anyway, and never go very far, so it is going to be mainly my main driving car. I just want something that I trust to start in the morning!

those that are going to tell me I can only tow a horse safely with a disco or defender, thank you, but I do not wish to hear from you.
Click to expand...
Sorry but its not very easy to give a view point on your needs without some details, ie how much weight and how far will you be towing it ...
 
Polotash said:
Unless the new ones have a VERY different spec to the old ones I doubt these weights you give. It may be physically able to tow this, but not legally able to...?

This is because the kerb weight of an X Trail is 1650kgs, and the Maximum Allowable Weight for towing by law is 85% of this.. thus the MAW for towing with an X trail is 1402.5kgs...

The reason Disco's are so recommended for towing is their Kerb weight is about 3 tonne so 85% of that is 2.5 tonne...

This is my understanding anyway, there may be people out there who know better! ;0)
Click to expand...
YES. I do know better :D

The 85% Caravan club ADVICE (not law) is for the towing of caravans by newbies to caravanning - It does not apply to any other sorts of towing

The 85% advice uses the vehicle kerb weight against the caravan MPTLM or MAM weight as a worse case senario but in reality it is the actual weight of the vehicle compared to the actual weight of the caravan at the time of towing it
 
Xtrails are brill tow cars I think :)

I've been using one for four years now and its cheap to run and tax and also I have had no issues with towing two 500kg (max) horses in a 505.

We will be getting one of the new ones next year :)
 
I am in the process of selling my x-trail at the moment as I need a car with more towing capacity for 2 horses, all in all was a really good and reliable car.

I heard after 2003 models that the DCI models were prone to turbos blowing etc so I bought the last of the old style model to avoid the problem.

Engine has been great in my car, only had to replace mechanical parts as with most cars.

I'm moving onto a pathfinder (hopefully) as I like Nissan so much.

I towed one horse with my car and a heavy caravan and it coped fine, I think the diesels allow you to tow alot more than the petrol models.
 
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I wouldnt touch a X Trail with a Barge Pole or better still a Cruise liner Pole one of our employees had one it was Off road (IN Garage) more than it was on the road., Total Rubbish as was my last Nissan Navara Adventura which was the most unreliable vehicle I have had the misfortune of having as my Company car.
 
I have one -----it tows ok for a medium sized horse and smaller IW trailer. It is also relatively economical. They claim it can tow 2 tons but I certainly wouldnt want to go up hills with 2 horses or a bigger trailer. I also experience sway on motorways etc which can be tricky !
Its the only car ive had so far that has broken down on the motorway and it was only 4 years old then !
The early x trails could only tow 1500 so prob best avoided.:D
 
I've had both the xtrail and the sorento - would never have another xtrail - they feel cheap and tacky compared to the sorento and have a lower towing capacity.

It depends what you need - an xtrail is fine if you only tow on horse but if you want to tow two then definitely go for a sorento esp an automatic - lovely, smooth tow car!
 
Someone mentioned the Terrano, I have one. I wouldn't class it as small though, I parked next to an XC90 the other day, and it was taller & longer!!

You would get one in budget, mine was £2,500 about 4 weeks ago...However, it isn't overly econmoical. Fab for towing though
 
Just another vote for the Kia sorrento. I have had one for 4 years and love it. Tows very well. Quite a refined drive and not too gutsy for a full size 4x4. Legal to tow 2.8t. Would recommend the xs models.
 
I'm in exactly the same situation Mel, with the same budget and am going for a Sorento :) I would like the option of towing 2, which this gives, and it is an economical 4x4 for every day use for my OH.

we're looking at 03-05 plates for that budget :)
 
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