Your questions answered: What’s the best SUV for me?
Like many, many Australian new and used car buyers, Cathy is looking for SUV advice. We’re here to help…Love them or loathe them, SUVs are here to stay.
Buyers mostly love them, but their rise in popularity has led to a diverse market with many different offerings.
How do you choose the right SUV for you? You could start by asking…
Answer: People fall for the SUV myth when people like your husband should also consider great cars like the Skoda Superb, which is brilliant for space and great in so many ways. He needs to do a ‘test fit’ for SUVs and should probably start with the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Tucson. For you, a Suzuki Swift will do the job at a great price, and perhaps also take a look at the Hyundai Venue as a baby SUV.
Answer: The Kluger trades on past glories, the Mazda CX-9 is good, but the benchmark for him are the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento – truly excellent seven-seaters, with the Kia ahead on value. After all, carsales has just named it as our Car of the Year.
Answer: Not to get too technical, but I’m not a fan of the automatic transmission system in the Subaru models – it’s called CVT and many people think it sounds like old-fashioned clutch slip. So I would steer towards the Mazda CX-5. The Mazda also has a chunkier look and feel. You should also consider that your caravan could end up weighing substantially more than 1000kg when loaded, so double-check on that before you commit to your vehicle choice.
Answer: As a new car, the RAV4 is superior even though the CR-V is good, but there is a very long waiting list for the Toyota. Second-hand, the CR-V is a better choice because it is almost as good as the RAV but noticeably cheaper because you don’t pay the premium for something with a Toyota badge.
Answer: Nothing major coming from Toyota until trickle-down from the new 300 Series Toyota LandCruiser, and, in comparison, the Jeep Grand Cherokee definitely feels special. A few years back Jeep’s customer service was woeful but things are much improved now.
Answer: The news from Hyundai Australia is that the car you crave, the new i30 N, is due in May-June, so probably worth the wait. If not, I’d go for the Audi.
Answer: You don’t need to rush. Wait until the R version of Golf 8, which is not arriving until the very back end of 2021 [Ed: More likely 2022].
Answer: I’m not a huge fan of the Q2, which is basically a cosmetic small-car tweak for people who crave the SUV style. The 2021 model is only a minor update, not a full model change, so you might get a good deal on a superseded car. The update should arrive in May.
Answer: Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water over time. That reduces the boiling point of the fluid and the efficiency of the brakes. After six years, regardless of distance covered, a fluid change is definitely a good idea. And it’s probably in the factory service schedule for your car, not just a suggestion from a mechanic.
Answer: Avoid the Cruze, please. Quality is patchy. With your budget, get a Hyundai i30.
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