I am looking to replace my X-Trail dCi with some thing that has a lower boot/opens lower to the ground.
This is simply due to the fact that we have 2 large dogs (a rottweiler and a german shepherd) that are getting on a bit and find it a struggle to jump up in to the boot any more and my back is beginning to hurt from lifting them in and out of the boot every time that we go out

We have tried things like dog ramps, etc, but they are frightened by them when they walk on them so it's probably easier to change the car.

So, requirements are as follows:
1. Must have a boot low to the ground or opening low to the ground.
2. Must have height/room for the dogs to sit up right in the boot so needs to be fairly square at the rear.
3. Must be a diesel & return 40mpg or greater.
4. Not a people carrier & preferably another SUV type vehicle with 4 wheel drive.
5. Nothing any bigger than the X-Trail, so no Disco's, ML's, XC90's, Pathfinders, X5's, etc.
6. Looking to match the X-Trail Aventura spec so leather, satnav, cruise, etc.
7. Our X-Trail is a 56 plate with 27k on the clock so ideally looking for some thing newer with similar or less mileage.

We have already looked at the following estates VW Passat, Audi A4 & A6, BMW 3 series and the Volvo C70. The only one of those that had the boot space we need was the Volvo C70 but it is quite a large car.

My wife is not keen on the CRV so we have found ourselves looking at & quite liking the Toyota RAV4 - inparticular the SR180 which is specced to the hilt, goes like shit off a stick for a SUV and still returns 40+mpg.

Can any one suggest any thing else as we are now bored of going around dealerships?

 

I was going to suggest the RAV4. It seems you have already considered it.

Another nice 4x4 is the Euro5 Freelander.

 

We looked at the Freelander but the boot height/level is the same as the X-Trail so we would be no better off.

I really didn't think that it would be this hard to find some thing suitable

 

Subaru Legacy Estate or Subaru Forester?

 

Unless you get the Disco, you will more or less remain in the same boat.

 

The RAV4 has a much lower boot line/level than the X-Trail hence it seems to be the clear choice at the moment.

Matlad - Not overly keen on the Subaru's but good suggestion

 

Why's your wife not keen on a CR-V?

For what it is, it's a great car.

Chris.

 

I know the CRV is a great motor but unfortunately the wife does not like the shape of the car.
Given that she will be driving it most of the time then it's probably fair to let her have some input

 

Watch out for headgasket problems with Rav4 diesels especially the Dcat ones.

 

I will keep looking but am going to take a look at a RAV4 T180 this weekend from a Toyota main dealer & if we buy from them they all come with a comprehensive 1 year warranty.

Currently trying to find out from the Toyota forum what head gasket issues there are & what models it impacted as majority of the recent diesels are the 2.2 D4D variant.