Small Auto 4x4s | News & FAQs

We recently moved to a house outside of Exeter with winding and hilly country lanes. For those thankfully rare occaisions when the snow or ice make driving more difficult we want to change my wife's car to something that will help in these circumstances. Small 4x4 cars seem to be multiplying and the choice is baffling so can you help? She wants a car that is not much bigger than her current Vauxhall Corsa but to cope with the terrain we think the car should be higher off the road with bigger wheels and 4WD. And, by the way, she only has a licence for an automatic! What do you think should be on our short list?
Derek Hathaway, Exeter, UK
 

Derek,

You had me worried for a minute, because small 4x4 automatics are not common. I knew your request was going to lead to a trawl of Far Eastern models, which I didn’t really believe anyone had actually bought. Let alone in automatic.

So it is with surprise and relief that I report on your many options. You can take your pick from a Suzuki Jimny, an old-shape Toyota Rav-4 (newer ones will feel a lot bigger), a 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara, a Honda HR-V or a Daihatsu Terios.

The Hondas and Toyotas will cost you the most and are a bit bigger than I think you really want. But they are the quality choice. If you want something quirky and fun, go for the Jimny. But the Terios is the most small–car-like and I think if your wife drives one she might like it. Neither of these are around in huge used numbers, perhaps 10 in each region, so buy the first good one that you like.