Car choice: Suzuki vs Honda – which small SUV would you choose?

Martin Simon has £3,000 to spend on a four-wheel drive vehicle that is practical, sturdy and comfortable enough for long journeys

Room for manoeuvre: the Honda CR-V is the practical option for families who want a vehicle that can go off-road (Honda)

A car for the head

Without any hesitation, the best compact 4x4 would be the Honda CR-V. These are excellent vehicles, which are great to drive, spacious and well equipped. Essentially the CR-V comes across as a comfortable and practical family estate car with that all important off-road ability. Unlike so many 4x4s it is never in ‘anyone’s face’, just a stylish and refined way to travel – which I think would be perfect for Martin. We found an automatic 2004 2.0i-VTEC SE with 86,000 miles for £2,690. This one we discovered at a dealer with full history and warranty.

Turning Japanese: stick with the Grand Vitara for a bit of extra comfort (Suzuki)

A car for the heart

Simon should stick with Japanese models, and as he specified ‘small’ then the Suzuki Grand Vitara would be ideal. This is a rugged and quite stylish vehicle, which is well built and also well equipped. There is the option of three or five doors, however the diesel engine is only available with the extra doors. Certainly, the standard specification is good with electric front windows, automatic air conditioning and even reclining rear seats. The 1.9DDiS engine is expected to return around 40mpg. There was also a revised model from 2007 with 92,000 miles on the clock for £2,995.

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@bangernomics.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com