We are thinking of chopping in the Audi and getting something a little more practical since moving to the country. The Audi is very frugal (2.0 TDI) and pretty decent car for what it is intended, but with the recent cold snap and very icy / muddy lanes my wife drives down every day, perhaps time to think of something 4x4 and bit more rugged.

I dont want to spend a fortune and could go up to about £10k.

I dont want a Discovery / X5 sized 4x4 (way too big), but something for freelander(ish).

What is out there that I should consider? Does not have to be SUV, but does need to be 4x4 and get 4 adults in comfortably.

I want a Defender but my wife does not think it is suitable to taking to school (teacher).

min 30 mpg and not too old. (5 years ish)

 

Mini 4x4 Countryman......the bigger Mini!

Not sure if available in the UK but have just seen an advert for it on a US channel in Barbados. The world is going mad!

 

I saw a mini countryman behind a normal mini .... it didn't look bad (well, not as bad as I thought) but just looked wrong - and just like a normal mini on steroids ...

Was going to say Skoda Yeti or VW Tiguan .... but then saw the 10K bit ...

Older Freelander or Honda CRV ?

 

Ah darn it, I was going to say Tiguan as well, my Mum has the 2ltr TDi (same engine as your Audi) and we live in the middle of nowhere and the Tiguan has performed tremendously well. Even on Goodyear F1s which are hardly chunky tyres!


The Audi A4 Estate Allroad (quattro, or whatever it is!) or Volvo V70 All wheel drive are meant to be very good as well, and will probably be more practical than the Tiguan as well. They will be in your budget, second hand.

 

If you can ignore the chav factor, my Subaru Impreza has got me everywhere in the bad weather and it has been very reliable. I have the sport model (non-turbo). I get 30mpg out of it and it seats 4 people comfortably.

Alternatively the Subaru Legacy saloon is a bigger car, similar mpg, may be more comfortable.

I've owned both of the above but would be interested to see how an Evo compares.

 

Subaru Legacy Spec-B estate.

There's your car, drive it carefully and it'll get 30ish but put the foot down and it is seriously quick.

Extremely capable on slippery stuff, comfortable for 4 adults, huge boot, doesn't paint an "I'm a prat" sign on you like a pointless off-roader will and isn't as chavvy as the Impreza.

The Evo meets all the points you wanted but is a lot more hardcore than the Legacy.
There is the matter of the 4500 mile AYC service to consider, if you get an RS you don't have to do it but the RS models are even more hardcore.


As an alternative you could look for an Octavia 4x4, Passat 4x4 (if you can find one) or an Audi A4 Quattro or similar.

Legacy is brilliant though.

 

I am on my second CRV ...... but that is only beacuse I couldn't find a suitable Subaru Forester at the time.

CRV is a good size and not to heavy at around 1500kg, however my wife only manages to get around 20miles to the gallon from it.

 

I can't recommend the Legacy enough but you will not get 30mpg out of a Spec B unless all your journeys are 200 miles and on empty motorways.

Low 20s is more realistic.

Also the servicing on the 3.0 litre isn't the cheapest, especially the 60k one.

I'm not sure if you'd get a diesel one for under £10k yet so one of the smaller engined petrol models might be an idea.

 

Father's diesel CRV is 5 years old, gets in the 40's mpg - c 70k miles now, and feels solid as a rock - nothing has gone wrong on it that has not been self-inflicted.

Used ones are pricey though.

My mother has a 5 year old XC70 which gets low to mid 30's MPG - again, seems bulletproof. Comfy slushmatic, but slower than the Honda.

Both happily cope with snow and towing boats up and down beaches - muddy country lanes would be a doddle.

 

Get the RAV4.

You wont regret it.