I don't like my xtrail - looking for a new car

ELH05 on 01/10/2016 - 00:09

So I have a 2014 xtrail, I've had it for about 17 months now. I really don't like the CVT engine - combined with a Diesel engine I just can't get used to the noisy clunky sounds. (Don't get me wrong it's not really bad that i have to get it checked but …. It's definitely not a smooth clean feeling ride if that can be the best way to describe it ?)
Anyway….
So I need a small to mid size car for 2 kids in tow (in car seats) - looking for a deceptively roomy small car if that exists
I like the size of my boot but am also happy to go back to a sedan or hatch rather than an SUV.
Good on fuel
Good on servicing prices and parts/tyres cost
Don't care if it's aged a few years old
Unleaded (over having diesels)
Max budget $20000

What should I be looking at ?

Automotive

Comments

  • modsec802 on 01/10/2016 - 05:59
    +1

    i30 or Mazda3

    • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2016 - 06:22
      +1

      Not Mazda 3 if OP is tall, I am 185cm and tried putting a baby seat in middle of back row of mine and felt like mister bean in his mini, had to move it behind the front passenger seat. Which would be ok for one baby seat but two could be a problem.

      An older petrol CX5 in 2.5L petrol guise could be the go, but it doesn't handle as dynamically as a hatch.

    • ELH05 on 01/10/2016 - 08:34

      I've always had my eye on an i30. Might actually have to look at this car properly !

  • Euphemistic on 01/10/2016 - 07:41
    +1

    SUVS can be an advantage when putting kids into kid seats. My 2003 forester was a real bend over to get the littlest buckled up, our 4wd is so much easier at waist height. I found I was either ducking my head in at risk of banging it, or stretching out my arms with head outside the door increasing the load on my back. I'm 180cm tall, so I'd hate to have to buckle into a seat in a low hatchback.

  • apple2016 on 01/10/2016 - 07:52
    +1

    Have you looked at forester or rav4?
    Diesels however refined will be more clunky than petrols.

  • oscargamer on 01/10/2016 - 08:05

    it's the CVT you dislike, they are abysmal

    most modern diesels (manual or proper auto) are a pleasure to drive

    is your $20k on top of the trade in, or in addition to the trade in? (if you're trading in the Xtrail)

  • StewBalls on 01/10/2016 - 08:43

    We had these things in our work fleet at one point, deceptively poor luggage space for such a large body…you'll find that almost every sedan or hatch (excluding Mazda 3, which apparently only has a rear glove compartment :P) has equivalent or better boot space. The notion of more space in these little faux wheel drives is a cognitive distortion.

    Good on servicing prices and parts

    That certainly rules out any Honda, Subaru, Euro & Korean cars outside of manufacturer's warranty & capped price servicing…

    Good call on ditching diesel in a passenger car, utterly pointless given the additional upfront & ongoing costs compared to modern petrol engines; and require a very different driving style unless you flog them like most neo-diesel owning idiots today. My diesel mechanic mates reckon we're gonna have a glut of diesel passenger cars with stuffed engines in a few years for this very reason.

    I'd be leaning towards a Corolla or Camry personally; I don't currently own a Toyota but every one that I have owned has been rock solid, and the resale value has been second to none. We have zero issues with our fleet Toyotas too, unlike our i20s & i30s!

    • ELH05 on 01/10/2016 - 13:12

      Really - you have issues with the i30s ?
      I wouldn't of thought a Camry would be good on fuel though
      And I thought Corollas have CVT engines ?

    • PVA on 03/10/2016 - 19:23

      Is the storage that bad for the new shape? We have the previous model and its fantastic for luggage space - huge and has a drawer that runs the full length of the boot.

      • ELH05 on 04/10/2016 - 10:19
        +1

        Storage in the new xrrail isn't too bad, but I know the old shape has definitely got more, or feels like more

        • tonyjzx on 05/10/2016 - 12:37

          Let me counterpoint this… we had the old Xtrail and now the new one… 2.5 cvt

          The new one definitely has less room in the back than the old one… be that as it may, the thing moves lawnmowers and building equipment like doors with the seat moved down… it definitely has more room than your avg. hatchback but its still not good. But it is a sub $35,000 SUV so this is what I'd expect.

          It has more room than our old CX5 but less room than our old CRV.

          I also dont have issues with the power, it is surprisingly quick with the 2.5 four and this is coming from someoone who daily drives a 300kW V8.

          Going by the book it has 125kW pushing 1.45 to 1.6 tons. Its not that bad and by far better driving than many hatches.

          I truly wanted to be disappointed by the Xtrail but its not terrible.

          Oh yeah the ride isnt great but none of the Jappo Korean CUVs ride well.

          Ours has been 100% reliable. Fuel econ isnt super but it will do 10-11/100 around town which is fine.

          This is a good CUV for the money. The diesel 1.6 is crap though.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2016 - 08:47
    -1

    Get a Golf

  • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2016 - 09:47

    Suburb XV

    Don't look past it

    • oscargamer on 01/10/2016 - 10:32

      Suburb XV….is that like a Subaru? but autocorrected?

      OP asks "Good on servicing prices and parts/tyres cost"

      I love Subarus, but they don't meet that requirement of the OP

  • lenny on 02/10/2016 - 23:20

    Skoda Octavia

  • PVA on 03/10/2016 - 19:27

    do you want to pay $20k total? (I am betting the Nissan was at least double that)

    Base model Hyundai i30 is around $20k new. Or new Corolla mid range for a few thousand more.

    • ELH05 on 04/10/2016 - 10:18

      Yeah $20k total. No I only paid $28k 18months ago for my car - it was only approx 6months old (2014 model)

      • PVA on 04/10/2016 - 17:19

        I thought I wrote this but must have been on another post.
        My sister has just bought an i30 about 3 weeks ago, she tried the i30 and Kia Cerato, both were about $20k new. She said the i30 was just a little better but both were very similar.

        My dad was also looking (still is), took a used Ford Focus for a test. It was really good and a bit bigger than the i30. You'll get one that's a year or two old for well under $20k, maybe even a demo model. Trend model has a lot of features compared to the base model. Car looks nice too.

        We had a Honda Civic a few years back, one young kid. seemed roomy enough for us.

  • ozeebee on 06/10/2016 - 23:25

    Renault Megane GT220 or GT
    Skoda Octavia wagon or sedan
    Honda HRV
    Suzuki Vitara
    Subaru XV

    I would personally got for a Megane GT220 over all others. It's a detuned RS 265 engine in a wagon shape which is very roomy. A used one should be roughly in your price range.

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