Try a Toyota Highlander, even a used one is OK. One nice feature is that the rear seats fold down flush thus creating a huge space, one can literaly sleep there.
Highlanders are of course more expensive then RAV4s

Has anyone tried the NIssan Patrol ?

How are you going to use it? Will it just be a street queen, off road means shopping mall parking lot, I'm sure it will do fine for that. But if your an outdoors type and will be going in the dirt and mud then your going to cry every time you have to get it detailed or buff the scratches out of the paint and you will be better off getting something a little more off road friendly like a jeep, or Chevy or Ford. At least in the USA most of your SUV's like the Landrover are $$$ Luxery cars.

It is a bright shinny object. Reliability is much more important!

I looked at all the 4x4 for several years and bought a 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4-door, 4x4, TRD. We put a cab top camper shell on it. I've had it for 6 month so far and am very impressed. It seems to do everything well. Great on long trips with 5 adults/teens, great off road, great for camping, etc. You don't have to cram your camping gear around your feet.

Something that stuck in my mind was that someone said that they mostly buy Toyota in third world countries because there are no parts stores or repair shops.

I also really like the 2007, 4-door Jeep Wrangler.

wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover#Quality_problems

land rover doesn't get the best reliability ratings. that would worry me.

I'll pass that info on to all those guys I know who manufacture Nissan SUVs here in Tennessee. NOISY NOISY NOISY

Unfortunately I don't think they sell the Nissan Patrol in the USA. Just like the LR Defender, it is not "plush" enough for the US market. The powers-that-be think that all we want in the USA is leather/wood trimmed luxury, high-ride station wagons. There are a few more choices today from what I had in 2004, like now there is the Hummer 3 and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-door. Most every other SUV available here is not much for off road use. Too low to the ground.
I am seriously considering a Jeep Unlimited 4-door soon, although the test vehicle used by Edmonds.com got only 14.5 mpg in combined driving:( They also say it is way under powered for it's weight. Then again, I am not looking for a rocket, just a good all around outdoor vehicle. Not sure I can live with 15 mpg if the gas prices go back up again, ya know they will!!
Meanwhile, I have an '04 Chevy Trailblazer that is a great highway wagon, gets 21 mpg and has 4wd for winter use. Not too good off road. I also have a '98 Isuzu Trooper for tearing around on the back roads, it does alright, it is paid for and it is semi-expendable. Lots of room inside. Mechanically it is a nightmare and expensive to repair. Engine is way too complicated and all aluminum to boot.
Sure hope you can find a SUV that suits your needs and is a good, reliable ride. Cheers!

Despite the over-deployment globally, they are way over-rated. I will stick with a Ford Bronco or a good CJ-7 if I can find one, then take it to my mechanic if need be and beef it up properly, and still be money ahead.

Now if you want a real SUV, for the money this'd be my recommendation:

Big Ben's SUV

Okay, maybe it costs a bit more than your fully loaded Land Rover, but it will get the job done...

I like the Toyota Hilux <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I am not pro Land Rover in particular, however the not-so-positive comments trigger a question . Land Rovers are used by British, Australian and other special forces

http://www.military-page.de/einheit/sas/sas_03.htm

My question is : If Land Rovers arent that reliable, would these countries use them in such life-or-death situations ?