TRAVEL PLANS

We’re looking for a second-hand SUV and our budget is $15-$20,000. We’re a couple in our early 70s. It needs to tow a small 12-foot caravan, launch and retrieve a tinnie and have some ground clearance to enter gold field tracks. Any ideas?

Kevin and Coll, email

Demand is very high for lifestyle/adventuring SUVs in that price range – no overseas holidays means plenty want to go exploring locally. If your van is about 1000kg, and it’ll just be the two of you travelling, look at a 2011-15 Subaru XV. Its 1400kg towing capacity, all-wheel-drive and ground clearance of 220mm (more than a Toyota Prado) will suit your needs, although it’s small inside. Need more space and up to 1800kg towing? Try a Subaru Forester of similar vintage and it should just sneak in budget.