X-Trail vs CRV - service/maintenance/parts issue for X-trail???

[raysunshineray]

I'm planning to buy either a Honda CRV or a Nissan X-trail – no other choices, that's final.

I have just over £10,000 – up to say 440,000 Baht. Approx.

That can get me either a 2008 Honda or a 2011 Nissan.

A newer model is clearly preferable, and I always fancied the X-trail back in UK – (unaffordable!)

I've lined up a Honda CRV 2.4 (bigger engine) with LPG installed, 2008 and only 115,000 kms.

The Nissan choices have slightly higher mileage but are 3 years newer than the Honda.

Thai advice is unanimous – Honda. The X-trail never took off here.

The issues:

The 1^st & 2^nd generation X-trails were manufactured in Indonesia, seen as a disadvantage...

Because of this – and their relative rarity here - there is a huge question mark over maintenance and servicing costs, as well as availability of parts.

IT'S THESE DOUBTS I NEED SOME ANSWERS TO – and so far have been unable to get any answers. If you have first hand experience/knowledge, please offer it.

The last thing to say is this:

The Honda is undoubtedly beautiful, whereas the Nissan considered 'ugly', - too 'boxy'.

The Honda is less basic.

But the Nissan X-trail has been the best-selling SUV in Japan for the last 8 years – and that fact tells me everything I need to know. It's also come out top in professional off-road comparison tests with its rivals – so it has the ruggedness to withstand the absolutely terrible state of my local rural roads.

Constructive thoughts please.... but pointless to stray from these two choices.

Oh.... and though not vain, I do quite like the idea of having something that not too many people have, rather than something that's so ubiquitous that it's everywhere you look on any road....

[cms22]

I've had an X-Trail for five years. It has been - and is - used for school trips, shopping trips in BKK, holidays to Hua Hin and further, trips up country to see the family, a bit of work up country (in the fields of Petchabhun), and pretty much everything else.

Depends what you want your SUV for... but I wouldn't change our X-Trail for a CRV.

I will add here that the CRV is seen as a more beautiful car in BKK, especially for wives doing school trips. But, for me, while the X-Trail is more boxy and less sexy, it's a bloody good all-rounder while the CRV is seen more (at least my eyes and wife's) as more of a school-run kind of car that we wouldn't be so sure about regular trips up to Petchabhun and all the work we've done up there with our X-Trail... Hope all this helps...

Edited September 10, 2017 by cms22

[Ombra]

I bought a new CRV in 2014 and I drive from Nakhon Phanom to Prachuap KhiriKhan a few times a year, and that's about 1,200 kms. The car is very solid, spacious, comfortable, and easy to drive. I am over 70, but I no longer have the back or shoulder pain that I used to experience after long drives in other cars. I am astonished to learn that cms22 thinks that a CRV is most suitable for school runs. Is he perhaps thinking of the HRV or the even smaller one?

[chiman]

My CRV is probably 6 or 7 years old now?  Been a great car, zero issues.  Low miles, city driving, PM and I'll give you more details and consider selling.. its 2.4 Nav.   

[fullcave]

The new CRV is extremely fuel efficient and of course, Honda is known for having excellent customer service and high resale value. Thai Nissan not so much. 

[Lt Frank Bullitt]

Had/have a CRV for 7 years, only issue has been a faulty side mirror, and just the usual maintenance, always serviced by Honda, no complaints!

Watched one of those top 10 shows on the worst SUV braking distances, X-Trail was ranked 2nd, the thing just didn't want to stick to the road, CRV didn't make the list!

[xen]

My ex  has had both vehicles  whilst she has been in Australia . The servicing and parts on the Honda were incredibly expensive . As a SUV it was pleasant, nothing out of the ordinary but nothing bad. She then bought a X Trial ( the first model)  and now has upgraded three times since . She loves them. My son has one and is thinking of buying another one. The X Trial was far more able as a vehicle to take down bush tracks and into the wilder areas  as well as long interstate trips and city driving. It carries more payload and is roomier inside . The X Trial was also less thirsty for fuel and there are diesel versions available if you are lucky enough to find one second hand. I also judge the quality of a vehicle by how many of the earlier models are still being driven and there are not a lot of the older CRVs around but many of the X Trials particularly the first models with the speedo cluster in the middle of the dash..Incidentally they feel much more stable and comfortable than a Fortuner on the road if that is an appropriate comment.  Yes , i would endorse the X Trial .

[Oztruckie]

One advantage of the Nissan over the Honda is timing belts,the Nissan engines use timing chains which never need replacing,where the Honda use a timing belt which have to changed about every 70,000 kms or thereabouts.

[Ace of Pop]

Honda have not used Belts for many years now.