Kuga (2013) vs Fortuner (2011) vs other

[Jacques_R]

A softroader is not a great idea for Chobe. Been there, got the t-shirt.

You really want low range at least and some decent ground clearance for the middel-mannetjies.

[Xtrail]

You know the best advice, is the advice thats often the most difficult to take on board...

Where can I buy one of those T Shirts?

[Jacques_R]

Where can I buy one of those T Shirts?

LOL *like*

[ErichV]

Any reason you don't have the GV 2.4 summit manual on your list. You will be towing a trailer so space would not realy be a problem and you have low range available on it.

[Mr.G]

Any reason you don't have the GV 2.4 summit manual on your list. You will be towing a trailer so space would not realy be a problem and you have low range available on it.

Very good option...Always forget about the GV...

[Andrew5336]

A Jimny goes for R210 000

Speak to the Duster guys here, when we had the Jimny / Duster day, the Dusters proofed to be not bad off road. Really not bad for a soft roader. And it got plenty of space, power, good fuel consumption and luxury.

I wish you guys would read the OP instead of just punting your own cars.

Please show me a Jimny that will safely and comfortable tow a decent sized caravan

Back on topic. For everything except Botswana the Kuga will be great. For Chobe / Moremi / Savuti likely too low unless there's only two people, nothing towed behind and you pack light. Same goes for X Trail.

But to buy the bigger, heavier, more expensive car for one trip is a bit silly - tough one. Maybe look at hiring when you go to Bots?

[RANDYTD5]

What about the KIA SORENTO ?

Very good all-round package for your needs.

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-car.../model/sorento

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-car.../model/sorento

Lots on Auto Trader to check out in your price range.

[riyadh]

The fortuner is the pick of the bunch for sure. With all its good points etc, bear in mind the interior is very plastic incl parts of the fake leather on the seats. Alot of the stuff seems as if it was just put in to keepup with the market trend as apposed to perfecting function in alot of other cars.
This you wont get with alot of other brands. Also when you own a fortuner, you will have to keep an eye for constant theft of various parts or even the whole vehicle.
However with all those its not a bad car at all, the service department cannot be faulted but I have had better!!

[Samaya]

Some really great comments. THANKS!

Will seriously consider the Fortuner. - Yes Fortuner is the one to get for your needs it seems
It sounds like the best 'tough' softroader is the FL - No its not. The Suzuki Grand Vitara is tougher. Not as refined. But has low range and with a lift kit installed, will be MUCH more capable than FL. The services at the dealers after the motor plan runs out is about a quarter of the FL's cost. My previous service for my GV (120000km which is a minor service was R1500)

I started with the 4x4 diesel Xtrail as my obvious option, since I currently own a 4x2 version. After plenty of reading, it seemed as though the Kuga was far ahead of the Xtrail. Maybe I need to rethink that...

PLEASE DONT STOP THE COMMENTS. These are so helpful.

Look at the Suzuki Grand Vitara as well. Their off-road ability is good for what it is. A while ago I read on this forum that a modified GV is comparable off-road to a standard Fortuner. I think that holds very true.

[ErichV]

What about the KIA SORENTO ?

Very good all-round package for your needs.

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-car.../model/sorento

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-car.../model/sorento

Lots on Auto Trader to check out in your price range.

Very nice vehicle but ground clearance is only 185mm.

[Xtrail]

Has there been an accurate compilation of the ground clearance of the major softroaders? I think my needs, along with great feedback, are pointing at a softroader (until I get paid more). So now it's a case of which one would be best of the softroaders....

[Lou07]

Has there been an accurate compilation of the ground clearance of the major softroaders? I think my needs, along with great feedback, are pointing at a softroader (until I get paid more). So now it's a case of which one would be best of the softroaders....

You can look at a 2008 to 2011 Pajero for that money...

Decent ground clearance, the diesel is not too heavy on fuel and they are reliable.


But if you have your heart set on a softroader I would say look at the Grand Vitara or the Mitsu Pajero Sport.

Really wouldn't waste my time with a Kuga or similar if Botswana is where you want to go with it

[JacquesD4D]

If running costs are a concern to you then I would suggest the Fortuner as mine has barely cost me a 10th of what my previous bmw cost to maintain. It really is that cheap to keep on the road. The only expensive thing will be the diesel you put in every now and then:-) BUT, driving comfort is exactly like a hilux so don't expect the comfort of a soft roader. Enjoy the vehicle hunting!!!

[James-Black]

Why not the subaru forester? Good engine, great clearance and permanent 4x4.

[Xtrail]

I have also seen a few Trailblazers in that same price range. Any feedback on those?

[Mr.G]

Also not a bad option as a softroader :-)
I guess it will be the 2.5 motor.SHould be super reliable.I like the exterior styling and the interior is not as bad as many make it out,although a touch plasticy.

[Mike Nel GX]

Go for the Tuna or the Blazer. You raised concerns of getting stuck, not enough ground clearance etc.
Personally, I would go for either but if at all possible, get a 4x4.

[JacoE]

Keep 50 and 500ppm in mind....

[Noel Arbuthnot]

I second the forester....great soft roader with good ground clearance and very reliable

[JonnyAfrikaans]

Did you get round to buying a vehicle? I would definitely consider a Forester if I was you.

Ground clearance is actually better than a Fortuner @ 220mm. They're nice and spacious, 3rd Gen interiors are a bit "Pick n Pay", but better quality (fit and finish) than a Fortuner's tupperware interior, and then you've got Subaru's legendary Symmetrical all wheel Drive system.

For this reason, the Forester cannot be compared to other softies, its in a class of its own w.r.t off road ability and tar/gravel road handling. A Kuga will NOT be able to go any where near where a Fozzie can go!

The services are comparable to Toyotas in cost, they are super reliable and fun to drive.

Do yourself a favour and youtube some Forester vs competition clips.

The Car mag team took a 2014 model Forester up the Matroosberg 4x4 route last month!!! If thats not impressive I don't know what is? (Given it is the 4th Gen with X-Mode).

I just sold my 2009 Fortuner 4x4 last week. There are many reasons for me selling it, mainly because I just started my own company and needed the cash for initial investment, but even if I didn't need the cash I would have sold it.

It was built on a early morning Monday by a man with a hectic babbelas!

It gave me endless issues. The front doors rattled and weren't properly aligned (wind would penetrate the cabin through the door seals and whistle ), and the dash had deafening rattles.

I had to replace all the door rubbers a year ago, the new rubbers were perished within a year.

The drivers window took considerably longer than any other window to wind up/down and sounded terribly strained, the gearbox had to be rebuilt 3 times due to gearbox whine. 3 TIMES!

Something in the clutch failed and had to be replaced (This didn't fix the fact that when releasing the clutch peddle sounded like stepping on a cat.).

A horrible squeek emanated from the motor intermittently that baffled the mechs at Toyota (Could not be fixed), and I started to suspect that the alternator was starting to go as well. I don't know what the squeak from the motor was but it sounded serious!

All this in the timeframe of 2 years, receiving what can only be described as service from a school yard bully. (Only had 125000km when I sold it).

Spoke to mechs at both Ceres Toyota and Toyota Tygervalley and both conceded to having to rebuild many Hilux/Fortuner gearboxes a month!!!

Don't get me wrong, I loved the Fortuner, we had awesome trips up to Nam, Richters and Baviaans etc. When it comes to off roading it is an amazing machine. That and with carefull planning you could fit a baby elephant in the back!! Packing space is cavernous.

But...all the places we've been with the Fortuner I could have done in my parents Fozzie (2008 3rd Gen 2.5XS Auto). That thing is insanely capable! And as mentioned more rock gap clearance than the Tuna! I've seen Foresters with lift kits installed, I would take that up to Moremi any day. One has to experience the Symmetrical All Wheel Drive System in a Scooby for ones self to fully comprehend, believe and appreciate it!

My parents are getting a 2014 Forester XS Premium next week! The 2008 has never had a single issue in its entire life time and Subaru Service is really really good. (Subaru Somerset West needs particular praise!).

See the thing is, Subaru customers are important to Subaru, they're a niche/quirky brand and retaining customers is important to their existence. At Toyota on the other hand it felt as if they didn't care much for me, and why should they? So what if they loose my business? People line the streets in droves to purchase Toyotas! They don't need to look after you?

It is mainly because of the above reason that I will look elsewhere when purchasing my next vehicle and by the looks of it, it'll probably be a Forester or Outback too!

Reasons why I love me a Fozzie:
1. Breaking the sheeple mould (its different to almost anything else everyone else drives).
2. Safest car in its category (5 Star Ncap and safest car in small overlap accident test).
3. Super awesome traction on both tar and gravel.
4. Alot more capable than most would expect off-road
5. Nice and spacious
6. If your'e in the MTB Trail Biking/Trail Running kinda scene there is alot of cool cred associated with owning a Fozzie/Outback!
7. Great dealership service!
8. Hard wearing, can take a battering and super reliable.

Reasons not to get a Fozzie:
1. If your'e towing, the 4 speed auto box in the 3rd Gen models is probably not the best kit for the job. But the same can be said for the Fortuner's 4 speed auto box.
2. You are planning to do proper rock crawling stuff.
3. You need more than 5 seats
4. Subaru's have a bit of a unleaded drinking problem (Mainly thanks to the 4 speed gearbox).
5. The cam-belt engine 100 000km service is going to take a big bite out of your wallet. approx. R12 500. (The newer chain engines have done away with the expensive 100 000km service).

In a nutshell,

You wont go wrong with a Fortuner, I think my ownership experience was extreme and even in light of that we enjoyed the vehicle and its capabilities immensely.

In hindsight, I would have been better off had I purchased a Forester. It would suit our requirements perfectly and will probably be my next purchase. That and the fact that one of the most important things to me in life as a customer is service. If you are someone like me who values service highly, I would recommend looking elsewhere than Toyota. This was single handedly the worst part of my Fortuner ownership experience and am quite frankly surprised that this isn't a deterrent for more people from the Toyota brand.

If the Forester isn't your cup of tea (As said its quirky), the Freelander 2 is pretty awesome too! Good Off Road (Not as capable as the Fozzies symmetrical AWD to my mind), and I would be weary of the out of plan service costs but definitely much more luxurious than either the Fozzie or Tuna by quite a margin.