I've spent the last year researching 4wds. I drove the Rav4, ford escape, toyota kluger. Mazda cx7 and cx9, subaru forester and outback, Holden craptiva (and that's not a spelling mistake) mitsubishi outlander and the other one that they sell that the name escapes me, lexus 350, Audi a7, and Volvo xc90 and xc60.

I ended up with a kluger as the best value for money. The mazdas both chew through the petrol something chronic. I also wanted a proper 7 seats which the cx9 had but the cx7 didn't.

If money was no object I would have ended up with one of the volvos but I just couldn't justify the $$. I'm such a volvo driver lol.

Rav4 is nice but small. Could get a station wagon with same boot space for a lot less money. If you're not sold on a 4wd then look at the mazda6 station wagon. Lots and lots of room.

Craptiva? Enough said.