RDX V6, Murano o Venza

[ifcar]

Why isn't the Outback on this list? IMO it's one of the perfect cars. Great road manners, great fuel economy (for what it is), with the lowest TCO of all the SUVs according to CR.

^Because it's slow

Not with the six-cylinder!

[Raza]

Since when are Volvos unreliable?

[Raza]

Not with the six-cylinder!

Yeah, just get the Outback.  Or the Forester, which I think is just the same car, but boxier.

[68_427]

Yeah, just get the Outback.  Or the Forester, which I think is just the same car, but boxier.

No the Outback is on a larger/more refined platform.  The interior on the Outback is now legitimately nice for a mainstream vehicle.

[2o6]

Since when are Volvos unreliable?

Since always

[MX793]

Since always

Older Volvo's had a solid reliability reputation.  I'm talking the old, RWD ones like the 240, that would run forever.

[BimmerM3]

Older Volvo's had a solid reliability reputation.  I'm talking the old, RWD ones like the 240, that would run forever.

I assume that pretty much correlates to the pre-Ford Volvos?

[MX793]

I assume that pretty much correlates to the pre-Ford Volvos?

No.  There was a period before Ford ownership where they were average at best.  90s, basically.

[12,000 RPM]

Since when are Volvos unreliable?

Hmm Consumer Reports doesn't seem to down on them.... but I just don't like modern Volvos anyway.

[Tave]

Can you get more Highlander for your money than the Acura? I always thought they were a huge step up from the Rav4 and CRV on exterior and interior style (although the Honda isn't terrible on the nicer trims). As much as I hate my friend's Rav4, it feels like a solid hunk of granite.

[12,000 RPM]

Highlander is way too big. Talking more with her it seems wifey wants something like the Rabbit but higher up and a little bigger. I think our first looks will be the Tuscon/Sportage.... then we will try the Murano... and see which extreme she is more fond of.

[Tave]

Also have the Tiguan, HR-V, Equinox, Encore, and Terrain in that range, didn't see them mentioned.

Edit: someone else said Equinox too; my buddy bought one for his wife last fall, I like it.

[68_427]

Equinox is not nearly as nice as the others.


Sporty put her on some deuce deuces





Rear facing seat will not be an issue for passengers at all.  The Venza is probably the Roomiest besides the Ford




Also I know this isn't the same as actually having a seat to try in each vehicle but cars.com grades vehicles on how well they accommodate car seats.

https://www.cars.com/articles/2013/06/2013-toyota-venza-car-seat-check/

https://www.cars.com/articles/2016-nissan-murano-car-seat-check-1420684492118/

https://www.cars.com/articles/2016-acura-rdx-car-seat-check-1420680932037/

https://www.cars.com/articles/2016-ford-edge-car-seat-check-1420690450625/

[ifcar]

Highlander is way too big. Talking more with her it seems wifey wants something like the Rabbit but higher up and a little bigger. I think our first looks will be the Tuscon/Sportage.... then we will try the Murano... and see which extreme she is more fond of.

An Escape 2.0-liter could be another option as a compact crossover that's still more powerful than a RAV4/CR-V/Rogue.

[12,000 RPM]

Tiguan is too small and I'm a little weary on VW right now. Hrv and Encore are too small AND to slow. Equinox just looks cheap. Escape 2.0t is not as fast as specs or fuel consumption suggest... Tuscon 1.6t is as fast with 3-5 more MPGs, Sportage SX guzzles more but is a good clip faster. I think in that class the Tuscon is probably the pick of the litter. If we went Ford it would be the Edge

[ifcar]

Tiguan is too small and I'm a little weary on VW right now. Hrv and Encore are too small AND to slow. Equinox just looks cheap. Escape 2.0t is not as fast as specs or fuel consumption suggest... Tuscon 1.6t is as fast with 3-5 more MPGs, Sportage SX guzzles more but is a good clip faster. I think in that class the Tuscon is probably the pick of the litter. If we went Ford it would be the Edge

The Encore does have the optional larger engine, but it's definitely small inside. The Escape 2.0 felt respectably quick to me (I had a front-wheel-drive one to test recently), but the Edge is definitely cushier. I wasn't a fan of the Tucson's ride quality or steering, but it's not bad overall, especially now that they've apparently fixed a bug in the transmission software.

[CaminoRacer]

Venza on dubs

[12,000 RPM]

I like the Venza too;I feel like wifey will feel it's too big

[SJ_GTI]

Venza on dubs and coilovers.

[CaminoRacer]

thank you

[Raza]

Hmm Consumer Reports doesn't seem to down on them.... but I just don't like modern Volvos anyway.

Hmm, I really like XC90s.  They were one of the first SUVs that started to turn me around on them. 

[Raza]

What about a Discovery Sport?  FoMoJo seems to love his. 

[12,000 RPM]

What about a Discovery Sport?  FoMoJo seems to love his.

Out of budget in warranty. Out of warranty Land Rover product = starting a land war in Asia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvJCCoLoKRA&t=0s

[FoMoJo]

What about a Discovery Sport?  FoMoJo seems to love his. 

So far, so good.  We've had it for 4 months and it's been a very good experience.

Money wise, it's fairly cheap.  We've leased it for 42 months at 464 $CAD rather than purchase which suits me because, other than being a bit leery of reliability, I wouldn't want to pay for any repairs.  Warranty is 4 years, so it should cover anything that goes wrong.  As well, it shouldn't need any major service within that period, tires, brakes, etc. with the usage we have.

As for construction, it's really just a made over Ford as it uses their CD platform, highly modified they claim, as well as the EcoBoost 2.0 I4 motor; likely with no modification other than logos.  The transmission is a ZF-9 that works nicely with the engine.  It also has more technical features than I care for.

Seems very solid, runs quiet, has a nice sound system.  Love the navigation system; though it's very much a nagivation system; tells me all about the current traffic situations.

What impressed me the most is mileage.  Gets amazingly good mileage for a fairly heavy vehicle if you are gentle with it.  Of course, it can be terrible if you push it really hard.

[12,000 RPM]

I do really love the looks of the whole Land Rover lineup. Just can't stomach the risk. And even with free loaners and maintenance there's still the time cost.

[2o6]

Ya'll stay recommending shit that does not stay together

[12,000 RPM]

Raza needs to play the lotto with all the luck he's had.

[FoMoJo]

I do really love the looks of the whole Land Rover lineup. Just can't stomach the risk. And even with free loaners and maintenance there's still the time cost.

I suspect that you can negotiate a cheaper monthly lease rate down there if you bargain hard enough. 36 to 42 months is a fairly safe length; as long as you don't abuse it.

Lease rate first presented to us was well over $500 CAD per month.  After some serious bargaining, they dropped about $80 CAD.  This is on a well eguipped model. 

[Raza]

Ya'll stay recommending shit that does not stay together

According to people on this forum, the only reliable cars are a small percentage of Japanese snoozeboxes.

[MrH]

For something like a crossover for your wife who ammittedly doesn't care about driving dynamics, you should 100% be getting a Japanese snooze box.