Looking for an SUV around $40K.. Which one would you get?

[uclabachelor]

I've been looking for a new car lately and will most likely be getting a CUV/SUV. Which one would you get for $40k?

Some of vehicles I've looked at are:

1. Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (ugly in pictures, but not too bad in person).

2. Toyota 4Runner - a little too bulky and not enough gadgets/tech in the car.

3. Infiniti QX50 - too boring.

4. Nissan Rogue - again too boring.

5. Nissan Pathfinder - not too bad, but is more of a minivan marketed as an SUV.

Are there any other contenders I should be looking at? There's no particular brand that I like but some considerations are (in order of importance):

1. Tech - it has to have all the bells & whistles
2. Leather seats
3. balance of power and gas mileage, something around 250HP/250TQ and 18/26MPG is expected.

 

[halik]

Cayenne with a 6 speed manual?

 

[NutBucket]

Up the budget a bit - Acura MDX. It was the one my wife wishes we bought. We bought a GMC Acadia instead because of better 3rd row/cargo room.

Along the same lines Acura RDX.

Oh yeah, for $40k you'd better be looking at a Grand Cherokee. Completely different (and much nicer) than what you tried.

 

[Jumpem]

Forester XT for a little less or a Q5 TDI for a little more.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Easy Answer:

Dodge Durango - Available Hemi V8
or
Ford Explorer - Available 360HP Turbo AWD
or
up your Budget - Acura MDX

Pathfinder is terrible.

If you want smaller - Volvo XC60

 

[CraigRT]

Infiniti EX37

 

[vi edit]

I dig the Lincoln MKX's.

 

[DominionSeraph]

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[alpineranger]

land rover evoque if you want to be different - I would probably lease this
jeep grand cherokee, great interior and a lot of room inside although the fuel economy will be worse than your target
acura rdx if you can get over the styling
I'd personally go for the turbo forester, if you can deal with the smaller size but it's probably a little light on the tech gadgets side too.

Given you're looking at the rogue, there's a bunch of vehicles in that price range that might appeal to you (forester included). I like the mazda cx5, but I've heard interesting things about the new escape.

I went CUV shopping a year ago with a 25k target, minimum interior space requirement and awd requirement. Looked at a several dozen models. There are a ton of choices, and you're wise not to limit yourself too early. I ended up buying something that I initially discounted and wouldn't have imagined buying at first.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think the only thing that fits most requirements is the new Cherokee.

 

[lakedude]

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid

 

[LTC8K6]

The Trailhawk is the lowest mileage Cherokee,though.

19/22/27 V6 4X4
19/21/26 V6 AD2 4X4
18/20/25 Trailhawk V6

 

[Demo24]

The grand Cherokee in diesel form gets close to everything you're looking for with 30mpg. I'd take that any day over the regular Cherokee.

 

[LTC8K6]

The grand Cherokee in diesel form gets close to everything you're looking for with 30mpg. I'd take that any day over the regular Cherokee.

A loaded 4X4 GC diesel will be way past $40K.

They start at $41K for RWD and $46K for a 4X4.

A Summit 4X4 diesel begins at $57K

 

[Tweak155]

A loaded 4X4 GC diesel will be way past $40K.

They start at $41K for RWD and $46K for a 4X4.

A Summit 4X4 diesel begins at $57K

Yeah this... it amazes me how expensive some Jeeps can get. I remember back when the economy was tanking (this was maybe early 2008?) I bought a used 2006 JGC for ~$15,500 w/26k mi from a dealer. I sold it almost 2 years later for $13200 as trade in to a dealer (I didn't even have to haggle). I could not believe it. That indicated to me they were probably going to list it for a similar price as for what I bought it for.

 

[halik]

The grand Cherokee in diesel form gets close to everything you're looking for with 30mpg. I'd take that any day over the regular Cherokee.

Second. Wish they had those in manual.

 

[Mermaidman]

Wait a few weeks and check out the 2015 Chevy Tahoe:

 

[Tweak155]

Wait a few weeks and check out the 2015 Chevy Tahoe:

Dang that looks sharp.

 

[NutBucket]

I doubt it will get 26mpg and I doubt you will get one for $40k. The current Tahoe is far from cheap.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm not sure how some of these suggestions are going to be $40K with all the bells and whistles as the OP requested?

Many will be way over...

Even the Cherokee will probably pass $40K if you load it up, as requested.

 

[NutBucket]

Cayenne with a 6 speed manual?

Have you every actually seen one? I know I haven't. Also, by the time you add a few options you're looking at $60k.

 

[Kaido]

Have you looked at the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid?

http://www.nissanusa.com/electric-hybrid/pathfinder/

 

[KeithP]

Santa Fe Sport/Kia Sorento? What do you plan to do with the vehicle?

-KeithP

 

[thegimp03]

Wait a few weeks and check out the 2015 Chevy Tahoe:

I saw one at the SF auto show in November and it was pretty sweet looking. With any options though, I'm betting that thing will approach $60k.

 

[theeedude]

Have you looked at the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid?

http://www.nissanusa.com/electric-hybrid/pathfinder/

That looks really good. Nice mileage too.:thumbsup: