Expert answer

Hi Dave,

Well, it's been a few years since we drove one... The RX4 was Renault's idea of an SUV based on the practical family friendly Scenic. It had higher ride height, plastic bash-panels and permanent four-wheel drive. 

If you're thinking of buying one check the electrical systems very carefully and also check the suspension, as it could be very fragile. The cabin is a weak point too with disintegrating trim. Also, as it's a practical 4x4, check for abuse at the hands of builders and the like using them on sites.

Expert answer

Hi Irene,

You know what? Just don't... The actual build quality and solidity aren't so bad, but the Koleos is dull to look at, dull to drive (and thirsty for what it is) and has a really cheap and nasty interior. If you really want a Renault SUV, then why not have a look at the current Captur? It's smaller than the Koleos but a lot nicer. Or wait until later this year when Renault brings out its long-awaited Qashqai rival.

Expert answer

Hi Tommy,

That depends on which Sorento you mean, as there's a model year crossover for those years. If you mean the current-shape Sorento, which is just about to be replaced, then it's a fine big SUV but you need to be aware that it still feels a little clunky and unrefined compared to the best of its opposition. Pricey to run too, thanks to high CO₂ emissions.

If you mean the last of the old-shape Sorentos, the model that was introduced in 2003, then you really are looking at a very old school SUV. In fact, it's more of a 'UV'. Big, chunky and very, very clunky. If you're looking for something to use as a towing hack or for some off-road work, then it's grand. If you're looking for something that will be smooth and comfy on-road then look elsewhere. They are very reliable though - hardly anything goes wrong.

Expert answer

Hi Gavin,

I'd have to say nope. It's not very big inside and it has needlessly heavy steering that makes manoeuvring in town a chore. 

Do you really need an SUV? Why not consider a nice estate? BMW's own 3 Series Touring is a belter. Or, for your budget, you could probably stretch to an Audi A6 Avant. Track down one with quattro four-wheel drive and leave all the front-drive SUVs standing when it snows. 

Or, if you're determined on the SUV front, consider one of the following: Honda CR-V, Volvo XC60, Hyundai Santa Fe or Mazda CX-5.

What do you think?

Expert answer

Hi Rosemarie,

OK, good news - if it's coming in with a transfer of residence, and you can show that you've been the owner and user of the vehicle for at least six months prior, then it's basically free. There may still be a small fee payable for re-registering the vehicle (Revenue seems to be oddly coy about this fact), but basically once you can show it's yours and you're moving home, then you can bring it in for nothing. Just make sure you alert Revenue to the presence of the vehicle within seven days and then get the re-registering done within 30 days.

Road tax, I'm afraid though, will be payable at the top rate of €2,350 per annum, which is a nasty bill to have to foot every year. Insurance costs are likewise probably going to be hefty, as it's a vehicle most Irish insurers won't know even exists. Your best bet, in terms of running costs, may be to sell it before you leave and use the cash to get yourself something a bit more tax and insurance friendly when you get here.

Let us know how you get on

Expert answer

Hi Sunil,

I'd say the Audi Q5. The GLK is still left-hand drive only (or did you mean the smaller GLA?) and pretty ugly. While the BMW X3 has evolved into a really nice car, for my money, the latest round of updates to the Q5 have just nudged it in front. Slick to look at, slick to drive and very comfy inside. It's a belter.

Expert answer

Hi Adrienne,

I think the best balance of what you need is a Kia Sportage. It is good looking, comfy, spacious, decent value and has a seven-year warranty.

Expert answer

Hi Lynda,

Yup, by and large Suzukis are very reliable and if you're going to get a Vitara, then the petrol model is the one to go for - Suzuki's record with diesels is patchy at best until quite recently. There are no major reported recurring problems but just make sure that the previous owner has had it serviced properly - the service intervals are quite short and many owners have been tempted to skip scheduled services. Walk away from anything that doesn't have a full and complete history.

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

As I guess you already know, Shane, Dave, Paul and myself from CompleteCar.ie are all on the APMP voting jury for Car of the Year, so we'll take this point by point if that's OK.

The Audi A3 Saloon was the model specifically being looked at, and while it's certainly at the pricey end of things for many families, more and more family buyers are being tempted in by the attractive repayments and resale figures offered by the German 'Big Three' premium brands. As for cabin and boot space, the A3 sits roughly between, for instance, a Golf and a Passat in this instance, and isn't far off the cabin space of  the current Audi A4. As a father of two, I've had my family out and about in various A3 models and can confirm that they're perfectly acceptably spacious.

It's a similar case for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Size-wise, it's pretty much spot on a rival for the Passat or Mondeo. Perhaps it's a little tighter inside, but not by much, and that's the price paid for a less space-efficient rear-wheel drive platform. Again, while it's at the expensive end of things for a family purchase, there are plenty out there defecting from the more traditional 'mass-market' brands such as Ford, Opel and Toyota to get themselves a slice of the premium action. Once again, it's often down to the tempting finance packages on offer.

As for the Outlander, it is, strictly in size terms, somewhat in-between things. Taking the BMW X5 as an example, it's slightly shorter (200mm) overall, but has a similar wheelbase measurement and it's slightly larger than the next BMW down, the X3. We judged that, given its overall exterior dimensions, its large boot space and the availability of a seven-seat version when specified with the diesel engine, that Large SUV was the best fit. A perfect fit? Perhaps not, but given the continual fracturing of the car market into ever smaller and more narrowly defined niches, it is close to impossible to find a perfect market segment for every car on sale without having an award 'for everyone on the audience'. We put the Outlander PHEV into the Large SUV category because we felt it would compete strongly there. Seeing as it took two awards home on the night (its PHEV drivetrain took the APMP Innovation Award) it looks like we were right.

The categorisation was discussed long and hard by the membership and somebody somewhere will always disagree.

Expert answer

Hi Sharon,

The price gap between the RAV4 and the Vitara is simply explained by the fact that the Toyota is a more popular model. There's nothing much wrong with the Suzuki - I guess you could say it's a bit less sophisticated than the RAV, but it's a decent, reliable 4x4. 

However, I'm going to throw my lot in with the CR-V. Of all the compact 4x4s, it's the most spacious, smoothest to drive, is hugely reliable and really comfy.

A cracking car.