Not convinced by the Fiat 500l trekking?
HERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES:
Mini Countryman Cooper D AII4, £20,570
The entry-level diesel Mini Countryman One D doesn’t have off-road ability so if you’re after four-wheel drive, prepare to stump up £20,570 for the Cooper D All4, a hike of at least £1,000. That aside, the car is refined and has bags of grip on-road. It’s slightly quicker than the Fiat with a zero to 62mph speed of 11.6 seconds but fuel economy and emissions aren’t as good (57.6mpg, 129g/km of CO2). The boot is considerably smaller than the 500L Trekking at 350-litres but, all in all, the Mini Countryman is a better option.
Nissan Qashqai, £18,590
This 1.5-litre diesel Qashqai has sold well because it offers good value for money but isn’t as stylish as the Fiat. The smaller Juke crossover model could have been included here but its boot space is compromised by its coupe-like styling. The Qashqai is not as efficient as the 500L Trekking (54.3 mpg, 129g/km of CO2), is slower (0-62mph takes 12.4 seconds) and has a smaller at 410 litres, but what you do get is a proper 4×4 drive system that should stand you in good stead whatever the weather. The 1.6-litre diesel version is better but costs £5,000 more.
Skoda Yeti, £20,390
Skoda is becoming a popular choice with buyers thanks to quirky styling like that seen in the Yeti model. The SE 2.0 TDI turbodiesel car is the cheapest in the Yeti range with off-road capability. Zero to 62mph takes a 12.2 seconds but economy and emissions are the worst on this list (46.3mpg, 159g/km of CO2). Boot space isn’t bad though at 416 litres and its boxy shape at the rear means 1760 litres is possible with the rear seats down. While it is certainly good value, that fuel economy figure lets it down.