best sub 5k 4x4

[WDB124066]

You shouldn't be able to go wrong with a Toyota. Every construction site I have been to globally there are Toyota's and not much else at all.
I don’t know if you have them in the UK but if you do, get a Troopy Land Cruiser, that’s my 5p worth.

 

[219]

Since this is a Mercedes forum , I'd suggest either a G Wagen ( There's been a 230GE on Gumtree asking price of £3K and not the usual rustbucket many are ) , or a W124 300TE 4 Matic ( not for serious off roading , but will cope with snow covered roads and tow reasonable sized trailers , not so easy to find though ) .

There are other 4 wheel drive estate cars from Volvo , Audi , Jaguar etc which may do what you need and not be as costly to run as some of the larger outright 4x4 vehicles .

Oh , don't overlook the VW syncro which can come as a van , camper van or minibus .

As already mentioned , Land Rover or Freelander . Landies tend to be thirsty , I have heard colleagues at work with Freelanders having catalogues of faults .

 

[Sparky 371]

looking around it look like an early mk 2 rav4 or a hyundai tucson- both returning @40 mpg average on the diesel engines- and while the rav 4 isnt the biggest it has flat fold rear seats to make a decent luggage area.

 

[chris846]

Have run a CR-V honda diesel for a year now by default. 56 plate, now got 150k on the clock. Interior like new, underneath like new, runs like new. Never lift bonnet. 40mpg no matter how you drive it around town. 50mpg easy on a motorway run.
The car will run forever. Honda's do not break. makes my cosseted, less mileage, pampered, polished, forever mended, fix-me-please Merc CLK seem like an abosulute pile of poo.
Daft really

 

[grober]

ONE OF THE CHEAP AND CHEERFUL KOREANS WITH A LADDER CHASSIS. Preferably one that has never been off road in its life! Apart from all the usual checks pay extra attention to the transmission --gearbox differentials [3] and half shafts U/J s vehicles used on the road can knock these out ironically due to a lack of wheelspinning type surfaces stressing all those gears.