I needed a comfortable station wagon capable of carrying a lot of gear, with good ground clearance and four wheel drive, and able to tow a large car trailer. I also needed it to be low enough to make loading and unloading a roof rack easy. It has proven to be good for all of these things and I have done over 220000 km in it since I bought it.
I had decided the model was the best fit with what I needed and had looked at a number of them. This was the first six cylinder one I had tried, and I found it smooth and quiet to drive and more powerful than anything I had previously test driven. Being able to use 91 petrol was a big factor.
The costs of running and maintenance are no more than another petrol car. It has needed a new radiator at about 250000 km, brakes have had new pads once, and the serpentine belt on the engine has been replaced. The gas struts for the tailgate were replaced at about 120000 and the new ones are lasting well. Very little else has been needed. It has a cam chain instead of belt.
The back doors close on you when you are getting goods out of the back seats. This is annoying. Most cars have stays to hold the doors.
For its age it is highly reliable and comfortable. The bluetooth connection for the phone works only some of the time, but I can live with that. The fuel economy matches the advertised rate of 10.5l/100km. It has always used oil, but not as much as the Forester which we also have.
Star ratings:
- Reliability - 5/5
- Features/technology - 4/5
- Performance/economy - 5/5
- Value for money - 5/5
- Overall rating - 5/5
Lastly, would you buy this vehicle again?
Yes
Why would/wouldn't you buy it again?
I have had this car for 8 years, and it has suited my purposes well. The only reasons for considering a change would be that I may need a smaller car in the future, and I may consider an electric or hybrid at that time.