Avoid RAV4 if u are tall. Cramped passenger compartment. Found it uncomfortable during long drives.

Gathige its very good that you have already determined your budget and that you want to move away from the saloons whose off road ability you seem to question.
I have tried the RAV 4, the X Trail, the Pajero and the Forester. I would advice you to get a Forester as it will cost you much less than the other 3 especially if you self import. Much has been said about its fuel consumption but I find it just slightly more than the 1.8 l class of saloons which is fine since its a 2.0 L. Its off road ability especially the manual transmission variety is quite good as I have seen it leave some poorly driven Prados and the odd Navarra stuck in mud. The XTrail, especially auto scores poorly on handling, muddy terrain and loose dirt. The Forester is a safe overtaking car as its acceleration beats the RAV and the X Trail hands down.

When a litre retailed at Sh 85, a manual forester would do Mombasa on Sh 5,000 at speeds ranging from 100 KPH to 180 KPH. A RAV 4 driven at btn 100 KPH- 160 KPH (tailspin prevents crazy speeds) would spent Sh 8,000 when a litre cost 78-82 bob.

Thanks all,

I have narrowed my choice to two based on the comments i have received- Nissan X-Trail and Subaru Forester. I will shop around for either of the two and buy one.

Thanks a million

The flip side of the Xtrail is that the body seems to be made of fibre glass or some plastic. I saw one that had been touched by a lorry door and the thing broke off like a Chinese phone! Quite scary I must say.

It's true Xtrail body is made of fibre kind of plastic, have a friend of mine bought one recently and now trying to disposal it.