Hey all!

Have to start this with - I love my Focus. It will take a lot of me to change car, but unfortunately it is getting to the age where I think stuff is going to just go downhill (suspension needing replacing, and just general old age). I do approx 12k miles per year commuting and visiting family. It's 10 years old this September.

I have been thinking about the snow and issues we face here during winter time, and have been seriously thinking about 4wd/4x4 fitted vehicles. I have driven Skoda Octavia Scouts (amazing), and BMW x3's in harsh winter conditions and much preferred the Skoda in all honesty. I know we don't get much harsh weather, but when we do, it tends to bring things to a standstill - aside from getting stuck once and needing a push in the snow of 2018 - my Focus got me everywhere I needed to go (on winter tyres). There is no way I am being stopped by some soft white fluffy stuff. I do also sometimes drive on country roads/lanes where mud and loose road surfaces cause traction issues.

Have looked at the Kuga, Octavia Scouts, Suzuki SX4, and also the Subaru Impreza, and of all of them the Impreza seems to fit my needs and requirements more than anything - except for fuel economy. They appear to be stuck at 42mpg (so in reality, 36mpg) vs some of the Skodas (and VW All Tracks). Skodas and VWs attract a high price tag (maybe for a reason), you can get a 3 year old Impreza with 25000 miles for £9k. Looked at an 8 year old 4x4 Kuga which the dealer was asking for £12k with 30k miles.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to a decent 4wd hatchback, that won't break the bank, and with fairly decent real world fuel economy (>40mpg)?

Very few 4wd hatches,  pretty much everything 4wd is SUV.  Audi are about the only ones to put 4wd in their sporty hatches.

There are though the 4wd saloons from BMW/Merc.

Or a focus RS 😃

4wd by its nature = poor fuel economy. Extra weight, extra drivetrain components , transfer box , propshaft, etc sapping up the fuel to drive them . 

And 95% of the year not required

As you just said, you only got stuck once in your focus. I would stick with front wheel drive and decent snow tyres. 

Experience driving in slippery conditions with fwd is better than some of the idiots who have none in a 4wd ( Chelsea tractor brigade) 

 

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Aye, this is true, we live overlooking an roundabout and in winter it's hilarious watching SUV drivers start to realise that 4wd is not a magic wand.  If you barrel your top-heavy brick into snow too fast it will slide.

That said I couldn't even get off my road in my RWD Merc, combination of having to go uphill round a corner that you couldn't see around so you couldnt barrel into meant I was stuck.

I agree with @iantt - tyres make the biggest difference. The recent trend to wide, low profile tyres does not help in snow, even with something as small as the Fiesta - when it snows now I use my Mrs's skinny tyred SEAT Mii. Best car I ever had in snow was a Citroen ZX diesel on 175/65 tyres - never got stuck once in 100,000 miles.

Other thing people often forget is a 4x4 might get you going on snow but it won't stop any better!