I quite like the idea of a 2-3 year old Ford Escape but anyone got any recommendations? Maybe Hyundai / Kia / Subaru...?
My first thought was the Ford as they should be cheaper to service and repair as they are N American but not really sure if the others would be more expensive or not...

Where are you going in your 4 x 4?

An Escape would be the last 4x4 my husband would buy, he's a Ford Mechanic. (I have no idea why he dislikes them so much but seriously he wouldn't have one if you gave it to him).

I really really liked the Jeep Liberty we had one year. Really liked it.

Do you NEED a 4 x 4, will use use it like a 4 x 4? I have had a couple in the past, a little Suzuki and a bigger Toyota job, but never in Canada. Since I have arrived here, I bought a two year old Hyundai Accent on my first day, with no electric windows (that got my son in a state, he'd never seen a window with a handle) and and have had the intention of buying a new Suzuki SX4 in the Spring. I am now abondoning the SX4 thoughts, because I think the Hyundai is bloody brilliant. Cheap to run, works well, and I'm now planning to get a new one in the spring with all the heaty bits and AC. Best of luck.

p.s. My husband likes the idea of a 4 x 4, but even he is getting a sneeking feeling of having hit pay dirt with the Hyundai.

Honda CR-V possibly?

i'm on the biased side because i love Hondas i've got a Ridgeline just now and its pretty good...just lacks power!

Me too. Our CRV is a '99. We've had it from new and 300k is rapidly approaching. It has never needed more than routine servicing.

You'll need those heaty bits before spring, Millie.

lol I'd say - unless you fancy carrying a portable heater around with you!!!!

I don't think the Escapes are that bad - do what they say on the tin.

You could get an Edge thats 3 or so years old, way more room then the Escape inside believe it or not. Both my sis in laws have one of each. The one with the edge is a hockey mom so borrowed the other sisters Escape for the day to see if it would get all the hockey bags in for two kids (one a goalie) plus a baby in a car seat.

You could squeeze the stuff in the Escape but only just, she eventually bought an Edge and theres even room for more hockey kit when child number 3 grows up!

When we came over I was quite keen on checking out the Ford Escapes. However when I got close to them it struck me how old fashioned they looked. It looked to me that it was 20 years behind the times. So we looked at the Chevy Equinox, the CRV, the Hyundai and Kia Sorento. We plumped for the Kia cause of the price plus the 5 year full warrenty. We have since bought a larger truck but the Kia is great if were just doing a shopping/local run.

Avoid the Jeep Liberty at all costs. I had a couple from new and both required extensive warranty work. The only saving grace of the second one was that it was a diesel so relatively economical to run. Sadly, no longer available.

If you want a small SUV then I'd take a look at the Suzuki Vitara. I run a 7 year old Vitara XL7 which I'm struggling to find something to replace it with. It has the room I need, the towing capacity I need, is an old fashioned body-on-frame 4x4, yet has a modest 2.7l engine with acceptable fuel economy in the low 20's mpg. Yes, it's rusting from the inside out (salty footwells) but so far it's not cost me a lot and has performed OK.

I drove the UK spec version of the Hyundai Tucson earlier this year in the UK. I thought it was a decent vehicle but again it was a small diesel & here it's a petrol. Might be worth checking out.

I spent a few months mulling over which 4x4. It depends on your budget.

I bought a 2002 Honda CRV(Manual too!) the other month. Its rock solid. I don't like Japanese vehicles, but in terms of engineering, simplicity and reliability its rock solid. If I had a choice again I would buy CRV again.

Hyundais and Kias are good options but watch out, not all of them are 4wheel or all wheel drive.

My Liberty was an older one and a manual too, it was amazing in the snow, cheap on gas and absolutely no trouble at all.

I leased a series of Escapes, three years each one, for the use of a woman who didn't like me. Had there been any sort of failing from any of the Escapes I would have heard about it. There wasn't. They were reliable and reasonably cheap to operate.

I can't imagine ever wanting a vehicle of that type but, if I did, I'd get another Escape.

Subaru Forester...

Very Reliable.
2.5l engine is realatively easy on gas, but the main reason to get one is the drive train is excellent, and its not like a truck to drive or in handling and ride quality.

Also, the old people that seem (exclusively) to drive them are dying all the time, so you can get them cheap at estate sales?

CRV is also a good choice, but the AWD is perhaps not quite as capable, not all AWD is created equal.

If i was buying a a small 4x4 i would go for a jeep..more to choose from..Patriot/Compass/Liberty/Wrangler and they are cheaper than the Escape..

I am still thinking of Changing my Edge maybe for the Grand Cherokee any thoughts on that?