Need suggestion on a family car with AWD/4WD

[cronos]

Disclaimer: Not only I know pretty much nothing about cars, I've also been pretty ignorant about them. I read up over the weekend on things I could find, but I'm quite sure that what I have figured out is barely the surface. So please bear with me.

So here's the deal:
We're planning to get a car. It has to be at least a five seater that's comfortable enough for 4 adults + a child car-seat/booster going on a long trip (holiday trip across the country type of thing). Note that the intended passengers for this car are no giant football/basketball players (I'm only 5'7" and I'm the tallest ), so it's possible that any 5-seater is good enough for us.

The other thing that we would like to have in this car is AWD/4WD. We live in Wisconsin and the winter is pretty bad here at times (like the last couple of days). I don't think it's an absolute necessity, especially with the features they now have on newer cars like traction control, etc. I just think it's worth it to add for a little bit peace of mind.

Our budget has a soft cap of say $22k. We can probably go up to $25k but I'm most interested in a budget friendly 'bang for the buck' solution.

We (mostly my wife, really) have been looking at the standard solution CR-V or RAV4. I said 'standard' because everyone in town seems to have one of these (not sure if this is good or bad ^_^). We then wondered whether these are too small for what we needed it to do (see above).

Another option that my wife seems to like a lot is the Mazda CX-7. It looks good and seems more roomy and has an AWD option. The AWD option however will get the price up out of our budget.

I've also been looking at the Subaru Outback, Nissan Murano, and Ford Escape. My wife wasn't crazy about the looks of these though

Any kinds of comments/suggestion will be really appreciated!

 

[LennyZ]

Suzuki Kizashi?
http://www.edmunds.com/suzuki/kizashi/2010/review.htm

 

[overst33r]

I suggest you take a good look at a used Subaru Legacy GT

EDIT: Seems your search is biased towards crossovers/suvs... I guess the LGT is too small for you.

 

[PricklyPete]

Subaru Outback. Best all around performer and with the new CVT transmission, you will get good gas mileage as well.

 

[NutBucket]

Or on the same note Subaru Forester. Heck, the Forester and Outback won SUV of the year the last two years. Must be worth something.

 

[desy]

A car w/ AWD would be a Fusion/6 or Subaru or Passat, Ford 500, Volvo's
Also, prolly more but thats just whats on the top of mind

 

[arch113]

Chevy Equinox

I have a 2008 Chevy Equinox with AWD, I'm ~6'1" and have no problems with leg room, even in the back seat.

 

[vi edit]

Chevy Equinox

I have a 2008 Chevy Equinox with AWD, I'm ~6'1" and have no problems with leg room, even in the back seat.

I second this post. I actually just bought an '06 Equinox this weekend. LT Trim, AWD, leather, heated seats, sunroof, GM Certified. It had 60k miles and I paid 13k for it.

The '07's have a much nicer looking interior and you can easily get into a low milage one for around $18,000 and have it fully certified with a very long warranty still remaining.

The back seat is simply cavernous. And it doesn't have the "hump" that many other cars do in the middle seat. It's a flat floor and will easily best any wagon for seating for 2 adults and a car seat in the 2nd row.

It's a comfortable, easy to drive vehicle with decent gas milage for it's size, V6 engine, and AWD capability.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Outback, Forester or Legacy. New Forester won Motor Trend's SUV of the year (for 2009 I believe). If your wife is biased against Subaru's, take her to see the Forester. A friend of mine said the same thing when I suggested it and she changed her tune once she saw it.

 

[rh71]

before you settle for a wagon of any type make sure the lower height is satisfactory when dealing with children (and gear) in the back. Bending over like that to do whatever everyday can be wearing.

 

[vi edit]

before you settle for a wagon of any type make sure the lower height is satisfactory when dealing with children (and gear) in the back. Bending over like that to do whatever everyday can be wearing.

It's not just height either. It's bench width and floor shape. Lot's of cars have the ability to seat 3 across in the back. Very few can do it comfortably. The previous gen (up through '09) Subaru wagons were pretty tight in the back row. I wouldn't want to try to fit a car seat and two adults back there for anything more than an emergency run somewhere.

 

[krunchykrome]

I say get a new CRV or Outback

I have a 2008 CRV EX AWD; bought it for $24,500. It's a great little SUV. It gets good mpg; I average 21-23mpg, although I've gotten up to 28mpg on a full tank before. Plenty of cargo space - we go camping quite often, and we have plenty of room to stuff all of our gear and still have room for passengers. If I ahd to complain about the car, I wish it came standard with a roof rack. Also, I wish it had more power. It only has 166hp, but it's definetly more than enough for what most people need. Just don't plan on losing any cars at a red light. I bought it for several reasons - it's a honda and it's reliable, it has AWD, it has plenty of cargo space, and I thought it had a nice/functional interior. Also, when I test drove it, it drove like a car, and my wife would appreciate that. The 2010 models have more power. I think they now have 180hp and they even improved mpg by 1. Definetly go test drive one. After test driving and shopping around, I bought the CRV over the Xterra, Wrangler, X3, and WRX.

I would definetly take a look at the new outback though. They look sharp and very practical.

 

[TruePaige]

As much as I dislike some of the styling, the Subaru Outback was a solid performer when I drove one for work, especially in the winter with multiple people.

 

[JonMooring]

If you wanted something a little more fun (and slightly more pricey), I'd say go for a 2006 BMW 330xi sedan. They run right around $26K. Buuut, that may be a little small for what you need. Have you considered an Acura RL? 2005-2007 runs right around $24K, give or take a couple grand. They are very roomy, and are luxurious and fun to drive. All of these are used prices because, well, I think it's just silly to buy a new car when it's just going to lose so much of its value in the first year. If you're looking for an SUV, I'd say look at the Nissan Xterra. Comes out to around $26K brand new with automatic and 4x4, or significantly less used.

Hope this helps! I'm currently in the market for an AWD vehicle myself, but more as a toy than anything else, so I'm probably not looking at exactly the same types of cars that you will be looking at.

 

[exar333]

Or on the same note Subaru Forester. Heck, the Forester and Outback won SUV of the year the last two years. Must be worth something.

+1 if 4WD or AWD are key.

 

[StageLeft]

I thought all the CX-7 were AWD. In any case, my local dealer was earlier this year and probably still now selling NEW (albeit it year old from sitting on the lot) CX-7 for a hair under $20k.

I test drove one and it was nice. i didn't get it because the gas mileage on them is truly fvcking EGREGIOUS (read people's findings on forums, it's not at all uncommon to be well into the teens for city driving) and the quality at the time wasn't great, probably because it was a newish model year (I was looking at a 2007 that had been on the lot for a year or 18 months). It drove nicely though and has a good bit of power, 242 horses IIRC.

Really you should buy a used car anyway but if you have to buy new the CX-7 is an option. Subaru outback is nice but will be much slower and I think worse to drive than the Cx-7.

Another consideration see if you can get a mazda certified used CX-7 (or maybe a CX-9 if you're lucky). The certified adds a ton of mazda warranty onto it and you'll save a lot of coin buying a couple years old.

Not much opinion on the other cars in this thread.

 

[ElFenix]

It's not just height either. It's bench width and floor shape. Lot's of cars have the ability to seat 3 across in the back. Very few can do it comfortably. The previous gen (up through '09) Subaru wagons were pretty tight in the back row. I wouldn't want to try to fit a car seat and two adults back there for anything more than an emergency run somewhere.

the ford fusion appears to have more room side to side in the back seat than the previous gen equinox. the new equinox has slightly less back seat room and cargo room.


has the OP considered AWD minivans? cavernous room and often better fuel mileage than a cute-ute/cuv/suv type thing

 

[JonMooring]

the ford fusion appears to have more room side to side in the back seat than the previous gen equinox. the new equinox has slightly less back seat room and cargo room.


has the OP considered AWD minivans? cavernous room and often better fuel mileage than a cute-ute/cuv/suv type thing

New Fusion is one good-looking car... Good fuel economy, too My buddy has one and he says it's a blast to drive.

 

[c3p0]

New Fusion is one good-looking car... Good fuel economy, too My buddy has one and he says it's a blast to drive.

This!!!

c3p0

 

[vi edit]

the ford fusion appears to have more room side to side in the back seat than the previous gen equinox. the new equinox has slightly less back seat room and cargo room.


has the OP considered AWD minivans? cavernous room and often better fuel mileage than a cute-ute/cuv/suv type thing

Again, numbers aren't everything. They don't take into account seat layouts, center consoles, and floor shape.

Fusion back seat:
http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/2010FordFusionHybridBackSeats01small.jpg

Equinox back bench:
http://tkcarsites.homenetinc.com/BobGrimm/vehicles/G2746(5).jpg
(and that slides back another 5" from what it is currently at)

The fusion is likey much more comfortable for two adults in the backseat because of the shape of the seats. But put a car seat in there and stick somebody on the hump and they are stradling the console.

 

[yh125d]

Yeah I own a Fusion and it is very good for up to 4 adults, but 5 people would be a pain except a very short trip


Obligatory Subaru recommendation as has already been brought up


Have you looked at volvo at all? From what I hear the V70 CC is absolutely cavernous, AWD, very comfortable seats, high ground clearance for a wagon too. The XC90 is also great, but it is bigger than the others mentioned, maybe XC60/70? (Don't know anything about those honestly)

 

[jaydee]

Three best values:

2010 Chevy Equinox LS AWD starts at $24,935 (destination incl) before TTL. Think they have $1,000 for conquest purchase (if you own an '01 or newer competitors car). Heck of a car, great gas mileage. Will not get more for your money on a new car.

Also consider a used '07-08 AWD GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook. Seats 7-8, so obviously it would seat 5 adults and one car seat very comfortably with room to spare. Should be able to find one in the low $20's with around 30-40k miles.

Should also be able to find a used AWD '08 Saturn Vue or the aformentioned pre '10 Equinox in the $15-18 range.

 

[Mermaidman]

The new Equinox is very popular and is backordered, so good luck trying to put one on your driveway this year!

 

[Arkaign]

Equinox is a very nice vehicle, shocking really. They also get ridiculously good fuel economy considering the size.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I drive a 2008 Fusion (FWD, wish it was AWD), and I don't have any complains with 3 adult passengers in the car. The fold down arm rest / cup holder in the middle is such a trivial thing, but it actually goes a long way to making adults feel comfortable in the back (primarily dividing the space, so you don't get that awkward "too close to the stranger next to me" feeling). I've ridden in the back of one too, and it wasn't bad.

However, fitting 4 adults and a car seat would be a bit of a squeeze. If you plan to do this regularly, I would suggest something just a little bit bigger.