Looking to buy a 4x4 AWD SUV with a manual transmission

Have a few options, including the Jeep Compass, Toyota Fortuner & even a used Renault Duster AWD.

BHPian airguitar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I'm looking for an SUV/MUV with the following criteria. While it might be a laughable set of requirements for a single-vehicle - I would like to point out that there have been cars that tick all these boxes ( Jeep 2.0 Limited edition, Duster AWD etc ).

Primary Constraints:

• Manual transmission
• AWD or 4WD
• Smaller turning radius of closer to 5.3 m or lesser
• Comfortable car for long drives too of 500+ km, good thigh support
• Comfortable for at least 3 people
• Good GC - of 190 mm or more.
• FE of at least 14 km/l.
• Good high seating

Secondary constraints, but ok if they are not met:

• Diesel fuel type
• Acceptable boot space of at least 350-litres

Options:

1. Jeep Compass Limited edition - used car - as Compass is not offered in manual trans with AWD currently. Not keen on used cars
2. Used Renault Duster - same as above. But not keen.
3. Toyota Fortuner - steep budget, but perhaps ok. But FE falls way short as does turning radius. Ok to compromise on FE but not TR.
4. If I switch to automatic - I have quite a few options - but want to make sure that there is no upcoming car or existing car that checks the criteria that I need.

Help?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Go for the Compass, man. If you are looking at MT & 4x4, it is one of the best packages available. Don't worry about pre-owned, follow our used car checklist (including service history, checking past insurance claims etc.) and you'll be 99% safe, and also save a whole lot of money.

The Compass MT offers a stellar, satisfying driving experience that is equal to a Mercedes C-Class on the open road. No.2 would be the Duster AWD - great suspension and AWD, but terribly old & outdated. You clearly don't have a budget restriction, hence the Compass MT 4x4 is your new best friend.

Another option worth considering would be a pre-owned Hexa MT 4x4, but it's way better in AT than MT form.

Here's what BHPian cool_dube had to say on the matter:

What's with the small turning radius? A trip to the narrow and treacherous roads of the Himalayas on the cards, eh? The cliffhanger route, perhaps?

If not for this constraint, your best bet is a Fortuner 4x4 MT, new or pre-owned depending on your budget. If you need a smaller vehicle then I'd agree with GTO that a Compass 4x4 MT is the only good option. Pre-owned is the only option here, as you have rightly pointed out.

You might also want to give a thought to the Thar 2020 MT - compact dimensions, just perfect for those narrow Himalayan roads and tough as nails with proper 4x4 mechanism, albeit at the cost of non-existent boot space. If you can manage with one rear seat folded down for additional luggage space then this is an excellent option.

As I see it, here are your options:

• Keep the Creta and buy a new Thar D MT HT, if you are okay with the latter's shortcomings, as mentioned by you above. It is not one of the best highway cruisers out there but does the job if your expectations are not too high, with the added advantage of being literally invincible on those rough terrains that will be your destination post these cross-country drives. You also get the option to go for the lovely petrol engine (if you want to avoid DPF issues) along with HT and proper 4x4, which is not the case with any other off-roader available in the market today.
• Keep the Creta for city runs and buy a pre-owned Toyota Fortuner 4x4 MT. Go with Toyota UTrust and get a moderately run pre-facelift model (2016 and prior), the key advantage being full-time 4WD and no DPF hassles. You can get good examples within 20-22 lakh.
• If budget is not a constraint, keep the Creta for city runs and buy a new Toyota Fortuner 4x4 MT. Just for records, the turning radius of a Jeep Compass is 5.7 m whereas that of the Fortuner is 5.8 m
• Sell the Creta and get a new Jeep Compass 4x4 AT as your all-rounder car, for both city and highway runs. I know you want an MT, but used Compass 4x4 MT is very rare to come by, as very few were sold. A Compass is probably the only car in the 4x4 avatar that can serve as a city and highway runner with equal ease. For that matter, you can also consider a used Compass FWD, which is quite a capable machine unless you want to indulge in some serious stuff. These will be available aplenty in the used car market.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

I can think of Thar, Fortuner or Compass as obvious options but from that list, and as an only car, the Compass 4x4 MT is probably your best bet (particularly given your turning radius/footprint preference).

It has the sophistication of a daily driver, it's compact without being too small, with proper 4x4 pedigree. If you want the latest and “best” the new one looks like a million bucks inside out - if you want to save some money then you should be able to get some pre-facelift used ones which will save you a million bucks, give or take, at the expense of a slightly underwhelming interior.

My top pick would be the Compass. The advantage of Fortuner of course is that it will last forever and will also get you the best resale price at whichever point in its lifecycle you would like to sell it. But if you’re in it for the really long haul on ownership then that last point shouldn’t weigh too much.

Here's what BHPian Bibendum90949 had to say on the matter:

If you've enough risk appetite, let me throw a Skoda Yeti 4x4 (only MT anyways) into the ring. It ticks every single box you've listed above. A well-maintained car can give you many more trouble-free miles. It's good for the city, can munch highway miles effortlessly and can also tackle the broken hilly roads. It's very similar to the Compass proposition but at one-third of the price. The risk quotient is the same for both I would say. Yeti scores better on the reliability front though.

Sadly, Yeti was way ahead of its time and the quirky styling didn't find many takers. It was such a capable and brilliant car as a package.

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