Big(ish) 2-row SUVs

[Morris Minor]

You want to buy an SUV. You want a bit of space, a bit of elbow room, a center console with a bit of width.
But you don't want any interior space wasted by a vestigial third row of seats, that you will never, ever use.
CX-5s are too cramped. CX-9s lug around the third-row appendage
CR-Vs are too cramped. Pilots lug around the third-row appendage

It's probably ignorance but I don't see too many mainstream two-row SUVs that are in the Goldilocks middle-sized zone. There are any number above & below... but the choice is limited in this niche.
Lots of blurred lines here but, off the top of my head:
Honda Passport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Ford Edge (Lincoln Nautilus)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Chevy Blazer

[Speed_Racer]

Not technically an SUV, but Outback?

[r0tor]

Why do you want to buy an SUV?  That sort of helps narrow down the small list

[MX793]

Toyota Venza / Lexus RX?

[FoMoJo]

You want to buy an SUV. You want a bit of space, a bit of elbow room, a center console with a bit of width.
But you don't want any interior space wasted by a vestigial third row of seats, that you will never, ever use.
CX-5s are too cramped. CX-9s lug around the third-row appendage
CR-Vs are too cramped. Pilots lug around the third-row appendage

It's probably ignorance but I don't see too many mainstream two-row SUVs that are in the Goldilocks middle-sized zone. There are any number above & below... but the choice is limited in this niche.
Lots of blurred lines here but, off the top of my head:
Honda Passport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Ford Edge (Lincoln Nautilus)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Chevy Blazer

Mid-size is definitely the way to go for a SUV.  The extra width, compared to CR-V and Escape sizes makes a big difference, especially for old codgers like us.

I would add Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE to your list if you might be considering something with a hint of luxury.  Ours has been flawless approaching 4 years. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Kia SorentoNiroSportage

[Morris Minor]

Why do you want to buy an SUV?  That sort of helps narrow down the small list

My CR-V is coming up to three years. It's uncomfortable enough and has enough design issues, principal of which is the 1.5T oil dilution thing, to prompt a replacement. So I'm sniffing around for something with a bit more width & refinement.

The Edge and the Grand Cherokee are ideal for the size segment & it occurred to me that there aren't to many others in that slot.

[Morris Minor]

Mid-size is definitely the way to go for a SUV.  The extra width, compared to CR-V and Escape sizes makes a big difference, especially for old codgers like us.

This... exactly.

I would add Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE to your list if you might be considering something with a hint of luxury.  Ours has been flawless approaching 4 years. 

Thanks I add it to my list.

[Laconian]

You might want to look at the CX-30? It might be "below" the CX-5 in terms of size, but a car's feeling of spaciousness/crampedness is only loosely coupled to its exterior footprint (see Hummer as a pathological example.) Reviews on it have been pretty effusive.

https://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/cx-30

[Eye of the Tiger]

Brawn
Co

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1983/chevrolet/blazer/101349130

[r0tor]

My CR-V is coming up to three years. It's uncomfortable enough and has enough design issues, principal of which is the 1.5T oil dilution thing, to prompt a replacement. So I'm sniffing around for something with a bit more width & refinement.

The Edge and the Grand Cherokee are ideal for the size segment & it occurred to me that there aren't to many others in that slot.

Grand Cherokee is great if you want to do some offroading and driving in lots of snow/ice.  The Edge is probably better if you never go off paved roads and can skip a blizzard - it rides and handles just a bit better than the Jeep... But will never really be fun as it's FWD based.

If you want to have fun, test drive a Stelvio.  9/10th the fun of a proper sports sedan.  RWD most of the time.  Alfa is also conservative on how they do interior luggage space so it is a lot better in that aspect than the specs suggest.

[AutobahnSHO]

Saw a Stelvio in person yesterday, white, in SC of all places (LOL). Very handsome!

[MrH]

My CR-V is coming up to three years. It's uncomfortable enough and has enough design issues, principal of which is the 1.5T oil dilution thing, to prompt a replacement. So I'm sniffing around for something with a bit more width & refinement.

The Edge and the Grand Cherokee are ideal for the size segment & it occurred to me that there aren't to many others in that slot.

I'm finding the Outback is the perfect size.  Doesn't feel massive to drive around, but very comfortable for 4 people plus tons of luggage.  I prefer the cargo area shape vs the others you're listing.  It's not as tall, same width, but much longer.  Just a much more usable shape.

CVT sucks, infotainment is much improved with the latest update.  NVH and ride comfort is pretty unmatched right now.

[CaminoRacer]

I'm finding the Outback is the perfect size.  Doesn't feel massive to drive around, but very comfortable for 4 people plus tons of luggage.  I prefer the cargo area shape vs the others you're listing.  It's not as tall, same width, but much longer.  Just a much more usable shape.

CVT sucks, infotainment is much improved with the latest update.  NVH and ride comfort is pretty unmatched right now.

+1

Subaru just needs to put a 10 speed auto in it. That'd be a sweet ride with a 6 cylinder and 8/10 speed auto.

[MrH]

+1

Subaru just needs to put a 10 speed auto in it. That'd be a sweet ride with a 6 cylinder and 8/10 speed auto.

You're in Utah now!  You should appreciate the switch to the 2.4 turbo.

CVT isn't great.  The groan under acceleration sounds like the car is in agony, but for the 99% of the time that I'm just cruising on a highway or putt putting around town, it's fine.  The manual mode is laughably bad.  It just makes everything worse

[CaminoRacer]

You're in Utah now!  You should appreciate the switch to the 2.4 turbo.

CVT isn't great.  The groan under acceleration sounds like the car is in agony, but for the 99% of the time that I'm just cruising on a highway or putt putting around town, it's fine.  The manual mode is laughably bad.  It just makes everything worse

Oh, yeah the turbo 4 cylinder is good. The base 4 cylinder? No thx.

I'd be interested in a Crosstrek if they put the turbo 4 in it.

[AutobahnSHO]

Forester too? Not sure how it compares size wise.

[Laconian]

Foresters are comparable from a size and utility POV, but the extra money you spend on Outbacks goes toward refinement.

+1 on the Outback too. They're kind of a Goldilocks SUV. They're not quite as tall, but they're longer, and length is a dimension that's more useful for people and cargo.

[r0tor]

I could never buy an automobile with a CVT

[Eye of the Tiger]

I could never buy an automobile with a CVT

CVTs are for scooters and snowmobiles.

[Laconian]

CVTs are fine for SUVs. They will barrel roll when you have too much fun, anyway.

[Eye of the Tiger]

CVTs are fine for SUVs. They will barrel roll when you have too much fun, anyway.

Except they are too heavy and CVTs burn up because they are always slipping.

[Laconian]

Except they are too heavy and CVTs burn up because they are always slipping.

There are fewer friction parts in a CVT than an AT, no?

[FoMoJo]

There are fewer friction parts in a CVT than an AT, no?

Aren't CVTa basically one long pair of friction parts (cones)?

[Laconian]

Aren't CVTa basically one long pair of friction parts (cones)?

They slip laterally, but there aren't any clutches.

[r0tor]

There are fewer friction parts in a CVT than an AT, no?

CTVs generate tons of heat.  An AT gearbox does not (except for the torque converter when not locked and slipping)

[Laconian]

CTVs generate tons of heat.  An AT gearbox does not (except for the torque converter when not locked and slipping)

Well, heat's a dead ringer for friction...

[Morris Minor]

Foresters are comparable from a size and utility POV, but the extra money you spend on Outbacks goes toward refinement.

+1 on the Outback too. They're kind of a Goldilocks SUV. They're not quite as tall, but they're longer, and length is a dimension that's more useful for people and cargo.

You told me to get an Outback way back. I went with the CR-V. Shoulda listened to Laconian.

I'm pretty sure CVT heat was the root cause of the Honda's cascading error messages when I was climbing one of the mountains here a few weeks back.

[Laconian]

The CR-V WOULD have been a really nice vehicle if it weren't for the Earth Nightmares engine.