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New SUV Time!

Soccerman06

Soccerman06

Diamond Member
Hey, been looking for a new suv, basically what I need is something reliable and capable in shit weather. Obviously 4 wheel or all wheel drive is wanted, preferably something with atleast a turbo 4 or v6. I want something with decent mpg (mid 20s). Price isn't really set but 30-40k is the range I'm seeing. One of my major requirements is the back seats must fold down flat and the entire rear area must be covered, no bucket seats in second row kinda thing (dogs can't slip into any open spaces). So room for my German shepherds and luggage is required . Leather and heated seats would be preferable. Its gonna be doing 90% of its life on the highway and have some brutal days in the winter. Vehicles I've looked at so far are:

2011 Ford edge
2011 Ford explorer
2011 Chevy traverse
2011 Chevy equinox
2011 Toyota rav4
2011 Toyota 4runner

So my questions would be, what other vehicles are there I should look at and anything to watch out for?

Thanks
 
We get the Lexus RX350 as a loaner and I've driven it to Palm Springs and back over a long weekend. Very nice ride, comfortable, roomy, nice fit and finish, excellent engine. Not sure if it comes in AWD but I'd be kind of shocked if it wasn't an option.

The second row seating does fold down flat and it does go all the way across.

I bet you could find a ton of low mileage new-to-you SUVs for thousands less than a new one costs.
 
+1 for Subaru, if you're concerned about snow they do great.

Other than that, the Equinox gets good reviews and gets good gas mileage with its I4 engine but it may have less power than you want. All the reviews I've read say that it is adequate but far from awe inspiring.
 
The new Outback. I love mine. I get 30mpg with the 2.5L and CVT. Look at the 3.6R if you want more power.
 
2011 Jeep GC + updated 4WD pack.

or 2011 Explorer

For me anyway, Subarus are pretty nice, but they're fugly as shit and your dogs wont be comfortable in the back. My friend's dad has 2 fully grown Labs and they were too big for the rear cargo area of their 2008 Outback, sold it and got a used Element actually (quite possibly the worlds best dog car.)
 
I drove the i4 equinox and it just sounds and feels anemic when driven. It also had a much harsher ride compared to the traverse. Unfortunately the local dealership doesn't have the v6 equinox in stock to drive in the area (sounds like bs to me but w/e).

Looked up the rx350 and even the base awd version starts at 40k, so prbably a tad out of my range.

Also the girl says no subarus, she thinks they are ugly or whatever.
 
The Equinox V6 is what I would look at first.
The traverse is like a SUV/MiniVan crossover(minavan size with regular doors and 4x4 option). Not that it is bad, just not sure what if you really want?

The Explorer might be good as well.
Not a big fan of the Edge now with the updated Equinox.

Hyundia has a nice one as well.
 
PhoKingGuy said:
2011 Jeep GC + updated 4WD pack.

or 2011 Explorer

For me anyway, Subarus are pretty nice, but they're fugly as shit and your dogs wont be comfortable in the back. My friend's dad has 2 fully grown Labs and they were too big for the rear cargo area of their 2008 Outback, sold it and got a used Element actually (quite possibly the worlds best dog car.)
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The new Outback is much roomier than the old one.
 
Jumpem said:
The new Outback is much roomier than the old one.
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Just took a look, the 2011 outback has an extra 4 inches of legroom for the rear seats and an extra 6.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded down. That's a pretty substantial increase over the last generation.
 
Bignate603 said:
Just took a look, the 2011 outback has an extra 4 inches of legroom for the rear seats and an extra 6.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded down. That's a pretty substantial increase over the last generation.
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With dogs, its not about space, its height. Sure a smaller breed might work but depending on that really skews what is acceptable or not.
 
Soccerman06 said:
I drove the i4 equinox and it just sounds and feels anemic when driven. It also had a much harsher ride compared to the traverse. Unfortunately the local dealership doesn't have the v6 equinox in stock to drive in the area (sounds like bs to me but w/e).

Looked up the rx350 and even the base awd version starts at 40k, so prbably a tad out of my range.

Also the girl says no subarus, she thinks they are ugly or whatever.
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There are plenty of used ones around here for low $30k range. Finding one with low mileage and AWD might be a bit tricky but I found quite a few with around 30k miles between 2008 and 2010 for mid to high 30k range. A lot of 2008's available in the high 20k range.
 
Tristicus said:
Those new Chevys look horrible... (Equinox and Traverse)

I agree with jack though, Tahoe FTW.
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Hmm. I actually think the Equinox and Traverse look pretty decent. They (along with the GMC Terrain) look a lot better in-person. Pictures do not make them look good IMHO.

+1 for the Tahoe.
 
ExarKun333 said:
Hmm. I actually think the Equinox and Traverse look pretty decent. They (along with the GMC Terrain) look a lot better in-person. Pictures do not make them look good IMHO.

+1 for the Tahoe.
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Seen the Traverse in person, ugly. Equinox is slightly better, but still ugly IMO. Really wish they kept the Trailblazer name and general design, as they look sharp IMO. I wouldn't mind having a shorter 4WD version of the TB we have if I was in the market for a used SUV.
 
Tristicus said:
Seen the Traverse in person, ugly. Equinox is slightly better, but still ugly IMO. Really wish they kept the Trailblazer name and general design, as they look sharp IMO. I wouldn't mind having a shorter 4WD version of the TB we have if I was in the market for a used SUV.
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You're actually right, the Equinox is decent, but I was a big fan of the TB exterior styling, the interior looks like puke though. The EU/Asia spec Captiva actually looks better IMHO.

Tahoes are nice, but the design is a bit old to buy new. You can score those things dirt cheap on the used market.

The Acadia is the best looking Lambda triplet.
 
The new tahoes are more than what I wanna spend, and even a mid specced explorer (my leading vehicle atm) is about 38k msrp or 35k invoice. Similarly specced edge is like 36k msrp :/. Tomorrow I'm gonna take a look at a 2010 rx 350 and see how it compares. Would like to try a tourag tdi but they are expensive and not as reliable as I'd like.

Tried a cx9 and it was meh, not as zoom zoom (sales guy said they aren't suppose to say zoom zoom anymore for suv) as I was expecting. I tried a crv a few years back and if its too small for my needs I think, plus they are gutless. I did like a fully specced rav4 for 32k and could get it for under 30 and I liked it but its pushing the size limits.

I should add this is probably going to get 20000 miles a year or so if driven year round. I have a 330c for summer driving but that's only for my summer commute and would not be going to my lake house like this suv will, so something large and inefficient like an old tb or tahoe is out of the question.
 
Soccerman06 said:
The new tahoes are more than what I wanna spend, and even a mid specced explorer (my leading vehicle atm) is about 38k msrp or 35k invoice. Similarly specced edge is like 36k msrp :/. Tomorrow I'm gonna take a look at a 2010 rx 350 and see how it compares. Would like to try a tourag tdi but they are expensive and not as reliable as I'd like.

Tried a cx9 and it was meh, not as zoom zoom (sales guy said they aren't suppose to say zoom zoom anymore for suv) as I was expecting. I tried a crv a few years back and if its too small for my needs I think, plus they are gutless. I did like a fully specced rav4 for 32k and could get it for under 30 and I liked it but its pushing the size limits.

I should add this is probably going to get 20000 miles a year or so if driven year round. I have a 330c for summer driving but that's only for my summer commute and would not be going to my lake house like this suv will, so something large and inefficient like an old tb or tahoe is out of the question.
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The RX is nothing more than a warmed over camry wagon, plus the AWD system blows chunks. For the same price as one of those you could probably score a loaded new Explorer with a much better AWD system or even an MDX with SH-AWD (ugly but functional)
 
Add the 2011 Durango to your list - bigger than the JGC, more in line with the Explorer and the new 3.6l Pentastar V6 is an exceellent engine.

2011 Ford Edge if you can go car-based SUV with limited towing ability.
 
I have a 2500hd diesel to tow my boat and landscaping bs so I'm not worried about the towing capability of these vehicles.
 
Fmr12B said:
Add the 2011 Durango to your list - bigger than the JGC, more in line with the Explorer and the new 3.6l Pentastar V6 is an exceellent engine.

2011 Ford Edge if you can go car-based SUV with limited towing ability.
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Only thing is Dodges have HORRIBLE resale value.
 
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