Any SUVs with updated interiors AND good reliability?

[Tweak155]

Sure rates are awful. Residuals on American SUVs are terrible. Ask me how I know.....

How do you know?

 

[NutBucket]

Bought an Acadia. Enough said.

 

[gorcorps]

trade it in for a 2015 Grand Cherokee? I've heard they fixed most of the issues in 2015...or wait 6 more months or so for the 2016 Honda Pilot, which should be like the MDX, but I have a feeling Honda will screw up the interior.

Not falling for that again. Every year Chrysler tries to get us to believe they "fixed it this time". They may have fixed some issues, but they also introduce new ones.

 

[NutBucket]

Why not just get an MDX then?

 

[maddogchen]

Lots of Lexus RX350s driving around my area. Even the Google Self-Driving cars use the Lexus. People apparently love them!

 

[Zivic]

They're really expensive, but..yeah. Toyota/Lexus ftw.

you don't necessarily have to get a monster lexus. a nice 4runner would in the mid 30's or a sequoia in the mid to upper 40's.

Lexus RX can be had in the 40's new as well as. Heck the GX 460 starts at just under 50.

There are 4 good choices within budget.

 

[Scarpozzi]

you don't necessarily have to get a monster lexus. a nice 4runner would in the mid 30's or a sequoia in the mid to upper 40's.

Lexus RX can be had in the 40's new as well as. Heck the GX 460 starts at just under 50.

There are 4 good choices within budget.

I'm not really keen on the new 4Runner headlights/park lights...but they're trying to keep it modern looking. I do think the 4Runner looks better with running boards and my wife actually uses them, though they don't have a lot of surface to step on.

With Running Boards:

Without Running Boards:

 

[thomsbrain]

A used MDX should have the tech you want and will likely last longer than a new Grand Cherokee, not to mention it will drive approximately 10,000x better.

I rode in a current-gen 4Runner and I was impressed with the overall fit and finish, but the fact that it was bottoming out on paved roads with only passengers and no cargo made me wonder how "rugged" it really is. Why Toyota can't use anything other than wet noodles for springs on any of their vehicles, even the trucks, just boggles me.

 

[jlee]

A used MDX should have the tech you want and will likely last longer than a new Grand Cherokee, not to mention it will drive approximately 10,000x better.

I rode in a current-gen 4Runner and I was impressed with the overall fit and finish, but the fact that it was bottoming out on paved roads with only passengers and no cargo made me wonder how "rugged" it really is. Why Toyota can't use anything other than wet noodles for springs on any of their vehicles, even the trucks, just boggles me.

Bottoming out? Srsly?

I don't have much experience with new Toyotas, just a 2012 4Runner that I've gone wheeling with. It did fine, but it wasn't stock either.

 

[Tuanies]

I love the TRD Pro, the old school Toyota script just does it for me.

DSC00706 by tuanies, on Flickr

 

[iamwiz82]

I love the TRD Pro, the old school Toyota script just does it for me.

DSC00706 by tuanies, on Flickr

Christ, that makes the Veloster front end look beautiful. Were they aiming to make it look like an unmasked Predator?

 

[Zivic]

Christ, that makes the Veloster front end look beautiful. Were they aiming to make it look like an unmasked Predator?

it's definitely different, but still a good vehicle

 

[leper84]

I'd stay away from newer GM SUVs. The gen IV engines in the trucks Tahoe/Suburban sized SUVs are having a really bad time with the camshafts pitting, lifters going bad and even getting bent valves. We saw 3 this week alone. The camshaft/lifter issue pretty much leads to a new engine, on trucks with only 100-120k miles. Also have seen some strange electrical problems with the fuse boxes and the interior quality is crap- dash pads constantly cracking, paint wearing of stereo and hvac controls, ect.

Would stay away from the Traverse/Acadia/whatever Buick calls them too. The 3.6 they use in those burns oil like nobodies business, as well as chronic issues with the timing cover puking oil out. About 15 hours labor to lift the car off the engine & subframe to re-seal it. The transmissions aren't that great either, seen more than a few bad at 70-80k miles. Those are about 10 hours labor plus a couple grand for a rebuild.

I'd stay away, or not. They make me a crap ton of money, so whatever.

Someone mentioned the MDX, which I have not a single bad thing to say about. Never see them for more than scheduled maintenance, they're amazing inside and a blast to drive.

 

[CombatChuk]

I just picked up an 2015 Audi Q5 TDI for the Wife last Friday. It's such a solid car. The interior is very luxurious and quiet. The motor pulls like a freight train

 

[NutBucket]

At least a GM is cheaper to fix when it breaks...I'm just sayin'

 

[gorcorps]

I'd stay away from newer GM SUVs. The gen IV engines in the trucks Tahoe/Suburban sized SUVs are having a really bad time with the camshafts pitting, lifters going bad and even getting bent valves. We saw 3 this week alone. The camshaft/lifter issue pretty much leads to a new engine, on trucks with only 100-120k miles. Also have seen some strange electrical problems with the fuse boxes and the interior quality is crap- dash pads constantly cracking, paint wearing of stereo and hvac controls, ect.

Would stay away from the Traverse/Acadia/whatever Buick calls them too. The 3.6 they use in those burns oil like nobodies business, as well as chronic issues with the timing cover puking oil out. About 15 hours labor to lift the car off the engine & subframe to re-seal it. The transmissions aren't that great either, seen more than a few bad at 70-80k miles. Those are about 10 hours labor plus a couple grand for a rebuild.

I'd stay away, or not. They make me a crap ton of money, so whatever.

Someone mentioned the MDX, which I have not a single bad thing to say about. Never see them for more than scheduled maintenance, they're amazing inside and a blast to drive.

My buddy recently had lifter problems in his Silverado, so that pretty much steered me away from GM.

 

[CropDuster]

I'd stay away from newer GM SUVs. The gen IV engines in the trucks Tahoe/Suburban sized SUVs are having a really bad time with the camshafts pitting, lifters going bad and even getting bent valves. We saw 3 this week alone. The camshaft/lifter issue pretty much leads to a new engine, on trucks with only 100-120k miles. Also have seen some strange electrical problems with the fuse boxes and the interior quality is crap- dash pads constantly cracking, paint wearing of stereo and hvac controls, ect.

Would stay away from the Traverse/Acadia/whatever Buick calls them too. The 3.6 they use in those burns oil like nobodies business, as well as chronic issues with the timing cover puking oil out. About 15 hours labor to lift the car off the engine & subframe to re-seal it. The transmissions aren't that great either, seen more than a few bad at 70-80k miles. Those are about 10 hours labor plus a couple grand for a rebuild.

I'd stay away, or not. They make me a crap ton of money, so whatever.

Someone mentioned the MDX, which I have not a single bad thing to say about. Never see them for more than scheduled maintenance, they're amazing inside and a blast to drive.

What about the Gen Vs in the new Silverados and Tahoes? Any word on those? Of course they may be out of the budget for the OP. I bought a 2014 Jeep GC in July also since the prices for loaded up full size trucks and SUVs are absurd now.

Personally though, you'd never buy anything if you accounted for all of the problems that all of the brands have. When I bought my 335i you would think it was going to spontaneously combust at some point with all of the horror stories online, but it has been trouble free except for the early fuel pump issue.

 

[gorcorps]

What about the Gen Vs in the new Silverados and Tahoes? Any word on those? Of course they may be out of the budget for the OP. I bought a 2014 Jeep GC in July also since the prices for loaded up full size trucks and SUVs are absurd now.

Personally though, you'd never buy anything if you accounted for all of the problems that all of the brands have. When I bought my 335i you would think it was going to spontaneously combust at some point with all of the horror stories online, but it has been trouble free except for the early fuel pump issue.

I know, and the fact that I can't find a whole lot of evidence about my exact problem means it's probably not a widespread issue and I'm just unlucky. But that also means they can't fix the issue, and don't seem to be willing to try too hard.

 

[RPD]

This.

You can expect 200k+ easily, out of a Tahoe/Yukon. They are the best SUV you can buy, IMO. But yeah, they are pricey.

Personally, I'd buy one that was 2-3 years old with under 100k. You'll get a HUGE price break, and it'll still last you a decade or more if you keep them that long.

Except for the last gen 07-13? you will be burning a lot of oil, that engine has very well known, documented problems (atleast the Flexfuel type, which is standard on all 4x4, the 5.3L) for burning oil.

 

[gorcorps]

Just for the sake of finishing the story, they eventually tracked down my problem to the "body control module" which also seemed to be the issue with a lot of other little annoyances I was having. Now I'm back to actually enjoying the Jeep instead of longing for the day when the lease is up.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I'd stay away from newer GM SUVs. The gen IV engines in the trucks Tahoe/Suburban sized SUVs are having a really bad time with the camshafts pitting, lifters going bad and even getting bent valves. We saw 3 this week alone. The camshaft/lifter issue pretty much leads to a new engine, on trucks with only 100-120k miles. Also have seen some strange electrical problems with the fuse boxes and the interior quality is crap- dash pads constantly cracking, paint wearing of stereo and hvac controls, ect.

You only see the broken ones.

You can find hundreds of Tahoes/Suburbans/Yukons with 150-250k+ miles on them for sale. There's a reason for that.

All makes of cars have their issues. That's the reason the sales department isn't the biggest building on the lot. Service department everywhere are full of whatever cars they sell that are broken.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Except for the last gen 07-13? you will be burning a lot of oil, that engine has very well known, documented problems (atleast the Flexfuel type, which is standard on all 4x4, the 5.3L) for burning oil.

And yet you can find them all day long with 150-200k+ on them, still running fine.

Some do have issues, as do engines in pretty much anything else comparable you can buy, too.

Ford Expeditions have engine issues like crazy. That's really the only other comparable vehicle.

 

[NutBucket]

There's fix for the 3 valve head...just a pain. But I'd rather push a Chevy than drive a Ford.

Wait, how is a Toyota Sequoia or Nissan Pathfinder Armada not comparable? If you stretch the budget a Land Cruiser works too.

 

[richardycc]

trade it in for a 2015 Grand Cherokee? I've heard they fixed most of the issues in 2015...or wait 6 more months or so for the 2016 Honda Pilot, which should be like the MDX, but I have a feeling Honda will screw up the interior.

Honda unveiled the 2016 Pilot few days ago, looks like a boring version of MDX. If they don't price it too high (top of the line loaded 2015 Pilot can be had for under $40k vs a base MDX starts at $42k, fully loaded is $55k+), it could be my next car.