Semi-Large SUV suggestions

[brotj7]

We currently have a 2001 Blazer(Trailblazer Package) that we need to trade in. We need enough room for two car seats, a dog and luggage for monthly 3hr trips to our home city. We live in NY with mountains all around us and our driveway is pretty bad in the winter, although my wifes current 2009 Nissan Rogue can make it up. We would like something bigger than our Rogue, but smaller than a suburban. My current blazer has uumph if I need to floor it our of my work's parking lot on a busy street, or pass a truck on the highway, and we would like that again.

Wants:
- price has to be under $45k total purchase but under $30 would be awesome
- 5 star crast test
- 2008 or newer
- V6 due to the size we are looking for
- at least 17mph city
- 4 wheel drive for winter(auto 4 wheel is nice)
- 4 wheel disc brakes
- third row seating or cargo space is negotiable as our dog can go in the back with our luggage if we really need to.
- solid leather seats(no perforations besides the seams to protect against wet dog)
- heated front seats- heated mirrors
- >150 cu ft interior space
- We don't tow anything, and it needs to fit in a smaller 2 car garage.
- good uumph

The 2011 Ford Explorer is revamped to be a family car this year, so we test drove an XLT with the 202 options for the rear camera and solid leather. We loved all of the interrior trim and back seat space, but it's just too long. We don't like needing the 2x side mirror for the massive blind spot, or the sluggish excelleration under 40mph.

Next week we will be looking to test drive a 2011 Toyota Highlander & Highlander hybrid, Nissan Murano & Pathfinder, Honda ??? We would then like to test drive some 2009s and 2010s to see if we can find what we want and keep total purchase under $30k but have no idea what might work from those years. Oh, my gut said to trade in my Chevy for another Chevy, but the blazer is no longer available. The closest thing in our minds is the Traverse, but my wife test drove it and said it has no power, handling, and she just does not like the station wagon/minivan look.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.

 

[MiataNC]

Kia Sorento
Hyundai Sante Fe
Mazda CX-9

 

[vi edit]

CX-9 is a good option. And Mazda is practically giving them away. Decent "umph". Great handling for a car it's size, and great seating/cargo space.

My other vote would be an Eco-boosted Flex. It's basically a lower to the ground, boxier Explorer.

 

[Arkaign]

Good that you're upgrading, that older Blazer model you're in is a deathtrap in a crash.

I like the CX-9

 

[krunchykrome]

Here's what I would look at:

Under $45k:
-Chevy Tahoe
-Honda Pilot
-Toyota Highlander
-Acura MDX

 

[Arkaign]

Yeah the Tahoe is a good bet as well. They're tough as hell, and I would expect 17mpg to be easily possible with the newer models as long as you don't always drive like a total hoon.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

My father has a 2009 highlander. It drives pretty much like a car. I don't know what they go for used but it seemed like a good value for the money when he bought it new.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Q5 ... damn your budget

 

[brotj7]

We loved the Mazda CX-7 but we ended up getting a better deal on our Rogue when the cash for clunkers deal was going in 2009, will definately add the CX9 to our list. Can't believe we forgot about them.

Going to say we would prefer a gently used 2009/2010 toyota or honda over a New Kia or Hundai.

 

[brotj7]

Arkaign: yeah, I feel it on the curves. The front end suspension is done for, so whenever I hit a little bump I get that gut feeling I could roll it. Married, with one kid, and another on the way, it's time to move away from the college cars into something safer.

krunchykrome: thanks, forgot about the Acura line too.

 

[Jumpem]

Outback. Plenty of room in the back seat for two car seats with mine, and the big black lab has plenty of space in the back. I get 30mpg too.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Infiniti FX35?

http://www.edmunds.com/infiniti/fx35/2008/

 

[rdp6]

dunno / don't care about cargo space numbers, but it sounds like the Ecoboost Flex might do the trick. With incentives, etc I got a 2011 limited at the end of April for a few dollars over $43K (including all fees & taxes) with the vista roof. Wife is very happy with it. I am very happy with it. Don't know how it will be in NE Ohio snow but it is great in the rain / puddles on country roads even with 20" wheels.

This is a legitimately fast wagon. Seats are very good. All seating positions are usable for road trips.

For 2011 EB Flexes, SEL has non perforated leather for front 2 rows. Limited has perforated leather. Both have vinyl for 3rd row seats. Presumably you can / should afford make seat covers for your pets at this price point.

19 miles per gallon reported by the trip computer. 80/20 state highway/ city. We fill it with 93 octane although that apparently is optional. My take is don't buy a turbo equipped engine if you are too cheap to buy premium gas.

I think the Flex meets all of your stated needs with the possible exception of the cargo space. All seats except the driver's fold flat into a more or less continuous surface.

The Flex drives much more like a car than a truck. Unibody design and extra engineering features for the Ecoboost model seems to make a huge difference for a nearly 2.5T vehicle. It is very much (to me) a 7-passenger limousine. Mind you the SE model is very plain compared to the Limited.

I'll reply with answers if you are interested in asking questions.

Edit: re-read your post: 3hrs in the Flex will be a treat with the excellent seats and windows. You'll love having a turbo in the mountains. You really need to check out an ecoboost Flex. It is the same length as the wife's '97 S-10 reg cab / bed. About a foot wider. You can replace the short whip antenna with a shark fin antenna for cheap.

 

[manimal]

FX35 or a Cayenne-


Seriously if you have never driven a Cayenne S or a Cayenne Twin Turbo you have no idea how awesome these cars are...

other than their cooling issues lol

 

[DeviousTrap]

The closest thing in our minds is the Traverse, but my wife test drove it and said it has no power, handling, and she just does not like the station wagon/minivan look.

Try an Acadia or an Enclave, they're the same chassis but honestly all 3 feel very different from each other.

We just went through this same process after considering the Lambda triplets, the Honda Pilot, and the Explorer. We ended up with a loaded 2010 Enclave for $33k.

 

[cardiac]

Kia Sorento
Hyundai Sante Fe
Mazda CX-9

Definitely not enough room for 2 car seats, a dog and luggage plus the 2 adults. The CX-9 probably has the room...The wife drives a Santa Fe....

 

[mmntech]

Try an Acadia or an Enclave, they're the same chassis but honestly all 3 feel very different from each other.

We just went through this same process after considering the Lambda triplets, the Honda Pilot, and the Explorer. We ended up with a loaded 2010 Enclave for $33k.

The Acadia isn't a bad vehicle. It definitely has power to spare. Guy in an F-150 tried to race me last week when I was driving one from work. Needless to say he wasn't happy with the outcome. It's all power to weight baby. That said, I don't like the Acadia's interior. It's pretty utilitarian considering what you're paying. Not a lot of features. All GM's SUVs feel like work trucks on the inside.

The Ford Edge is also worth checking out. I've raved about the Lincoln MKX in the past, and it's just a souped up Edge. If you get the Edge Sport model, which is under $40k, you get the same 3.7L V6 as the MKX, which delivers a nice 305 hp and 208ft-lbs of torque. That should be plenty of Oomph. I've driven a lot of vehicles and the Edge/MKX are still my favourite SUVs to drive. Comes with features by the barrel.

If space is a concern, I'd also check out the Ford Flex. It never gets a lot of love, which is unfortunate. Not the prettiest girl on the block but they're pretty luxurious and spacious for the price. They're also shipping with the turbocharged Ecoboost engines now, though that model gets pricey. The Flex is seven passenger.

The Kia Sorrento is pretty luxurious considering what you're paying. Hyundai/Kia have really taken Korean cars up a huge notch. The V6 is powerful and I like the interior a lot. You also get a lot with it. Comes with an (considerably underpowered IMO) 2.4L I4 or a beefier 3.5L V6. It's also seven passenger.

 

[LTC8K6]

That's 280 torque not 208...

 

[brotj7]

We finally dd the trade, so I just wanted to update this older thread. We got a 2011 Honda Pilot Touring with 18k miles, backseat ent center, navi, and backup camera. It accelerates like a pig versus my Blazer, but it still has the towing bar installed. We got it for 33k and the 01 blazer. We did not get the extended warranty, but after reading the post about the Odyssey and the transmission issues, I think we might want to add it when we free up more funds.

We did test drive the acadia and highlander. We thought the acadia was overpriced, and I liked the highlander, but my wife likes the bling in the Honda, that's what we got as she will be driving it more often.