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Showing 81 - 90 results (out of a total of 252) found for "SUV" in Ask Us Anything

Can I change my Peugeot 3008's speedo?

Can the speedo on the new Peugeot 3008 SUV be changed from mph to kph and back?

John Freeman (Newry)

Aug 2017 Filed under: miscellaneous

Expert answer

Hi John,

Yes, just go to the system settings menu (have a look at your owner's manual) and change the selection from Metric to Imperial. It takes a couple of seconds, but best to do it when you’re stopped rather than driving.


Kia Optima or Volkswagen Passat?

Considering buying a 2016 Kia Optima, but am sceptical of its resale value or trade in value. Other options being considered are a 2015/16 Passat, which will be more expensive now, but would it be better in the long run from a trade in value perspective in the future?

Daithi Glynn (Limerick)

Aug 2017 Filed under: resale value

Expert answer

Hi Daithi,

Well, the best brands for residual values are generally held to be Toyota, Skoda or the premium German car brands. That said, Kia tends to perform quite well in residual terms right now, not least because of that impressive seven-year warranty. An Optima should make a good choice, then, as would a Toyota Avensis. That said, it’s very clear right now that the market is moving, rapidly, to being centred around SUVs and crossovers, not traditional four-door saloons, so you might be well advised to have a look at one of those — a Kia Sportage, perhaps, or Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai or Volkswagen Tiguan.


Which new seven-seat SUV for 2018?

Hi,

I currently drive a Land Rover Discovery Sport, five-seater diesel and I am thinking about changing in 2018. We would ideally like to stay in the SUV market, but our new car will need to have seven seats. The Discovery Sport does come as a seven-seater, but  wondering what other options are out there for a total budget of €50k approx either in or out of the SUV bracket?

Thanks

Enda Daly (Galway)

Jul 2017 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Enda,

There's a growing number of options for seven-seat SUVs. The new Skoda Kodiaq is excellent and €50k would buy you one with a lot of toys. The Kia Sorento is also in that price bracket and is big, roomy and hugely comfortable. Ditto the Hyundai Santa Fe. Peugeot's incoming new 5008 is worth a look too. Here are our reviews of them all to help you out:

Skoda Kodiaq review

Kia Sorento review

Hyundai Santa Fe review

Peugeot 5008 review


Thoughts on the Jeep Renegade diesel?

I am wondering about the Jeep Renegade Limited Edition model 1.6 diesel: how good on mpg and handling mainly? What out of 100 marks would you rate it compared to other SUVs of the same size?

Amylee Curran Curran (Dublin)

Jun 2017 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Amylee,

We really like the Renegade - true, the looks won't please all, but it's decent to drive, that 1.6 diesel is frugal and has good power (bit noisy though) and there's decent space in the cabin. Quality levels seem good too, although the boot could be bigger. Out of 100? 65-70 I'd say. 

Read our Jeep Renegade review here


Five best estate cars in Ireland?

Hi,

Hope you're well, Have you done a '5 best estate cars in Ireland?' I did search but couldn't see anything.

Martin Smith (Dublin)

Jun 2017 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

We haven’t actually done that, as yet, but here’s a quick rundown of our favourites:

1. Skoda Superb Combi: massive, roomy, cavernous, spacious, replete with space — whatever way you want to put it, the Superb is the best estate around simply because you can fit the most amount of stuff into one. Looks good too, and is exceptionally comfortable. Not the sharpest thing to drive, but you won’t really care.

2. Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate: really good looking, massive boot, staggeringly high quality cabin, comfortable, smooth 2.0-litre diesel and surprisingly good to drive.

3. Volvo V90: another one that’s surprisingly good to drive, with sharper steering than you’d expect. Gorgeous interior, exceptionally comfy seats and the only problem is that the boot isn’t quite as big as it should be. Exterior styling does kind of make up for that, a little.

4. Volkswagen Golf Estate: not the obvious choice perhaps, but adds extra space (lots of it — a 605-litre boot) to the Golf’s usual other qualities of quality and classiness. An ideal family car and more affordable to buy and run than an average SUV.

5. Mazda6 Estate: handsome and very enjoyable to drive, with an excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine and lots of space out the back. Better looking than the saloon, too.


Keep or sell our diesel BMW X1?

I have a 2011 BMW X1 xDrive automatic with 85k kilometres on the clock. When purchased it was for longer drives but now journeys are short and local, less than 10 miles, with the occasional 50-mile motorway trip. We are trying to decide if we keep it and take the hit on preventive maintenance on timing chain, EGR and maybe DPF or trade in on a petrol or hybrid SUV. Trade in values seem low - €13k. What would be your opinion - keep or sell?

Thanks!

Ciara Collins (Dublin)

May 2017 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel

Expert answer

Hi Ciara,

It’s always tempting to trade in a car that’s starting to look expensive, but for the most part, it’s almost always more economical to keep an existing car going, even if it does need regular servicing. In fact, that regular servicing is the key to all of this — keep it looked after and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t provide years of service yet. As you point out, the diesel filter needs longer journeys to keep it from clogging up, but a regular circa 20-30km run at motorway or main road speeds should be enough.


Which SUV for kids with €30k to go for?

Good morning guys,

I need some advice on cars or SUVs! I am looking for a family vehicle as I have three kids under five. So that means car seats. I have a bad back so I need height and I need boot space for a buggy. My budget is €30k and I already have a Renault Grand Scenic that does the job, but is ugly to be honest. I live in Kildare and do drive on bad roads. I do have an option to buy in the UK and bring the car over, as well.

Can you recommend anything?

Thank you

Donna

Donna Phelan (Maynooth )

Apr 2017 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Donna,

The current Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are both just about wide enough to take three child seats across the back, or you could try the SEAT Ateca or Volkswagen Tiguan too (this has the widest back seat of all those). The Skoda Kodiaq is brilliant, but it’ll be outside your budget if you want a diesel, or, if you can hang on until the summer, the new Peugeot 5008 is coming, which has three ISOFIX points in the back, and should come in for under €30k.

Relevant reviews:

Hyundai Tucson review

Kia Sportage review

SEAT Ateca review

Volkswagen Tiguan review

Skoda Kodiaq review

Peugeot 5008 review


Nissan Qashqai or SEAT Ateca petrol?

Hi guys,

My wife drives a Volkswagen Golf 1.4 petrol with 80,000km on the clock. Her work will be based in Naas from August this year. We're looking to upgrade her car, we don't reckon she warrants diesel and have narrowed it down to the Nissan Qashqai or SEAT Ateca (1.2 and 1.4). We have about €20k to put towards it (including what she'd get for the Golf). Reliability and running costs are important. We've had two kids since she bought the Golf so she's looking for something a bit roomier.

Which of the above would you say is the better option and is there anything else we should consider (she doesn't like the Golf SV)?

Much appreciated

Brendan Cullen (Knocklyon)

Apr 2017 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

We really like the Ateca, and the 1.4 turbo petrol engine really suits it, so that’s the one we’d advise you to go for. There’s an updated version of the Qashqai coming very shortly, so bear that in mind if you’re looking at the Nissan — you might be able to get a better bargain on a run-out model.

SEAT Ateca 1.4 TSI review

Nissan Qashqai review

Facelifted Nissan Qashqai preview

Five best mid-sized SUVs and crossovers in Ireland


I have €20,000 to spend on an SUV...

Hi,

I have €20,000 to spend on a manual five-seat SUV. I have narrowed my choice down to a used 141 Volkswagen Tiguan Sport & Style with 95,000km (2.0 diesel manual), which I really like or a brand new Dacia Duster Signature. I have also considered the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. I live in a town and only do about 10,000km a year and I don't want to go below 141.

Also bear in mind my 17-year-old son is going to start to drive in October and he will be driving this car. And that I will occasionally need to transport large items, which both the Tiguan and Duster would be able to handle. I would greatly appreciate if you could recommend which of the two to go for and if you could recommend other alternatives that may be better.

Kind regards

Liam Fagan

Liam Fagan (Navan, Co.Meath. )

Mar 2017 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Liam,

OK, first off you don’t need and shouldn’t be buying a diesel. With that kind of mileage, and doing most of it in town, you’ll never get enough efficiency out of the engine and you’ll run into trouble with the particulate filter and more potentially.

Of the three cars you’ve mentioned, I think that the Mercedes B-Class might actually be the most sensible, and it’s certainly the roomiest if you’re concerned about carrying big loads. Worth remembering that for similar money you could probably get yourself into a nice C-Class Estate too, which is only a little smaller inside and a whole lot nicer to drive. I’d be tempted to stick with the Mercedes, too, for safety reasons, if your son is going to start learning to drive.

The Tiguan is another very good option, and there are versions with Volkswagen’s excellent 1.4 turbo petrol engine if you shop around. Again, safe and good to drive, if not quite as roomy as the B-Class. I’d avoid the Duster at this point — it’s diesel only, and not as safe as the Merc or Volkswagen.


We'd like an SUV with three ISOFIX points.

Hi,

We are looking for a car, ideally an SUV that will have three ISOFIX seats for three children under the age of three. This is proving hard to find; do you know of any?

If not, can you suggest a suitable MPV with an SUV look?

Thank you

Jacinta, Cork

Jacinta O'Mahony (Cork)

Feb 2017 Filed under: child or baby seats

Expert answer

Hi Jacinta,

Mostly, SUVs with three ISOFIX points in the middle row are the really big ones - Land Rover Discovery, Audi Q7 and so on. The good news is that Peugeot is about to launch the new 5008 and that has three ISOFIX points in the middle row, but it won't be on sale until July in Ireland. 


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