Best 4WD Under $40,000
The winner is:
Renault Koleos Dynamique 4x4
The Renault Koleos, just pipped the Nissan X-Trail for the title. The Koleos shares the same underpinnings as the X-Trail, but is a very different car. It got the nod from most judges because its cabin is a step up in quality and ambience over the Nissan. It is not the sharpest thing to drive, but it is comfortable, has a five-star safety package and has some clever, family-friendly touches in the cabin. The diesel engine is also frugal and willing - the ideal companion for a family freighter.
Read what the judges had to say here.
The contenders were:
Nissan X-Trail ST The Nissan may not look as sleek and modern as the Koleos, but it has loads of room and a very practical cabin. Unfortunately, it shares the Koleos's average on-road manners, sacrificing sharpness on the bitumen for off-road ability. The Nissan's 2.5-litre petrol engine was willing and reasonably refined, but its cabin lacked the appeal of its French and German rivals.
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Volkswagen Tiguan 103TDI The Tiguan has by far the sharpest on-road manners, backed up by a classy cabin. But it doesn't have enough luggage room in the rear load area and it carries a space-saver spare tyre, handicapping its off-road ability.
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Subaru Forester X The Forester's cabin is spacious and practical, but the dash plastics are below-par, especially when compared to the VW and Renault. Its on-road dynamics, usually a Subaru strong point, were also disappointing, while the engine-transmission combination is beginning to show its age.
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