I am thinking about a getting a SUV

[Narragansett]

OK, so what do I want?

I have been looking for the last day, and many are disappointing. My first thought was a Toyota 4Runner. They have 3 models, and the EPA rating is 16/19 on all 3. WOW!!

I want gas only. No Electric or Diesel or Hybrid, and I am not looking for a 50K car.

The RAV4 Toyota seems a bit slack on horsepower.

Today I am going to look at the Tahoe . (* edit, Nope, that ain't it. )

 

[K-22]

Rav4

OK, so what do I want?

I have been looking for the last day, and many are disappointing. My first thought was a Toyota 4Runner. They have 3 models, and the EPA rating is 16/19 on all 3. WOW!!

I want gas only. No Electric or Diesel or Hybrid, and I am not looking for a 50K car.

The RAV4 Toyota seems a bit slack on horsepower.

Today I am going to look at the Tahoe . (* edit, Nope, that ain't it. )

There is not an over abundance, but if you put in the time.
you can find a low mile 2011-2012 Toyota Rav 4 with a V-6.
26-27 mpg on the road, and 0-60 in 6.5 sec.
With the proper tire, it is an animal in the snow and ice.

Mine is not for sale.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I like the Chevy products. In full size I've had a 1974 K-5 Blazer (I think that is a 2 door Tahoe now) 150K miles, 1979 Suburban 325k miles, 2000 1/2 ton 4x4 Silverado 245K miles and currently 2014 1/2 ton 4x4 Silverado 135K miles and going strong.

Never got great milage, always had large tired and 2" lift kits, for fun and work! I had to drive places and get back out without help! I only got real stuck twice first was too close to water and sank to the frame beside a lake . Second was doing logging survey, went off edge of creek crossing, had a winch that time and drug myself 50 yards across a bog.

Normally, full size wheel base and V-8 horsepower and torque are enough to stay out of trouble. Good aggressive tires for mud and deep snow. Only deep snow was a few hundred yard drift about 3 foot deep. To keep grill open I just backed through it (the bed had several hundred pounds of firewood in it) We don't have sand dunes in Ohio, but similar trucks to mine have worked fine in Michigan dunes.

Others can tell you about their favorite weekend warriors, I will tell you about trucks and SUV's that do it in the worst and come out fine, day after day for years at a time! 49years and stuck only twice! (I'm sure the driver had something to do with it too! )

Ivan

 

[wood714]

I really like the 4Runner. My mom has a 2021 Highlander with a V6 that is too nice. She also has a 2019 Rav4 that she keeps in Florida. I've been driving it most of the summer while she's in Ohio.

If you put the Rav4 in Sport mode it has plenty of power, but takes a hit on MPG. Even in economy mode I think it does too good.

It has zero problems driving a 900 mile trip at mid 80 MPH. I've had it as fast as 103 effortlessly.

 

[MetalMan]

Possibly look for a new or used 3G (2019-2023) Acura RDX...

The SH-AWD system in these cars is phenomenal in inclement weather. Won't climb rocks like a Jeep but will go where other 4WD systems fail.

Turbo 4cylinder / 272HP. Great handling. EPA highway mileage in the upper 20's. Great seats. Good utilization of space.

 

[Telecaster]

Just as with guns, the key is, what do you intend to do with it? Do you just want something that sits higher? I like that for when my back is acting up and scrunching down into a small car is painful. Or do you need it to haul stuff that you don't want exposed to weather? Or is it for off-road? Is a Corolla Cross or Forester big enough or do you need Tahoe size?

 

[Rodan]

Just as with guns, the key is, what do you intend to do with it?

This is the most important question.

We have a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. Our requirements included that it be towable behind our RV, and be competent in the back country, while still being a good highway vehicle. It has 90% of the capability of a Wrangler (we don't need that last 10%) off-road, but is much more comfortable on-road. It's capable of running 80mph all day long on the highway at 22-23mpg. Ours is the V6, which has plenty of power. You can get it with a V8 if you want more power at the expense of fuel mileage.

When we bought it, it was a decision based on meeting our needs, but both my wife and I have really grown to like it.

 

[Narragansett]

Just as with guns, the key is, what do you intend to do with it? Do you just want something that sits higher? I like that for when my back is acting up and scrunching down into a small car is painful. Or do you need it to haul stuff that you don't want exposed to weather? Or is it for off-road? Is a Corolla Cross or Forester big enough or do you need Tahoe size?

I want higher, comfort and space to load fishing gear. This will be a Georgia vehicle. No off road use

 

[Farmer17]

My daughter was looking for a new SUV and was wanting an Audi or BMW and she looked at how much they cost. She makes good money but she didn’t want to spend $50,000 on a vehicle either. We spent a lot of time researching and test driving and she ended up with a Hyundai Tucson. It has every bell, whistle, and safety feature you could ever ask for, and gets great gas mileage. She was getting on a plane and the car notified her that she left it unlocked and she was able to lock it with her cell phone. She can control many things on the car with her phone and she loves that and it’s plenty roomy enough inside for four big guys and she paid about $33,000 for it. The interior of the car is very deluxe looking and you would think you were in a Cadillac and it has the unbeatable Hyundai warranty, which is pretty important nowadays, when you figure in the cost of car repairs.

 

[Inusuit]

Three Toyotas in our family including my 4Runner and my wife's FJ Cruiser. I have no complaints on the 4Runner and like it. Our driveway is 300 yards long so occasionally a challenge in Wyoming winter.

 

[ladder13]

Possibly look for a new or used 3G (2019-2023) Acura RDX...

The SH-AWD system in these cars is phenomenal in inclement weather. Won't climb rocks like a Jeep but will go where other 4WD systems fail.

Turbo 4cylinder / 272HP. Great handling. EPA highway mileage in the upper 20's. Great seats. Good utilization of space.

Yep

 

[Telecaster]

I want higher, comfort and space to load fishing gear. This will be a Georgia vehicle. No off road use

The smaller ones should do just fine. My Kia Sportage has been great, the Hyundais are fine (my wife has a Santa Fe). RAV-4s are good. I've heard the Nissan Rogue isn't that good; cheaply made.

 

[Bald1]

There is really only one choice. Ford Expedition!!! Go big or go home.
Edit: or maybe a crew cab pickup with a fiberglass cap on back and carpeted bed liner.

 

[BAM-BAM]

My wife likes her Honda Pilot
I'm driving a 2016 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X w/ a matching cap. Seats four/five and has a 5' bed. about 80 cubic feet in the bed w/ the cap. 16/20mpg at 70mph.

Find a 3 year old vehicle coming off a lease. We've bought 4 over the past 10 years and saved about 30-40% off new, milage varied from 5000 to 19,000 miles still under warranty.

We have a local independent dealer that follows 3 or 4 Pa. car auction houses from his computer....and can get us just about anything we want given 30-60 days.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I like my 2020 RAV4.
Bought the FWD model.
Get 34-35 MPG here at Altitude.
Love my Sirius, not crazy about the Sunroof.
Just close cover and try not to think about it!
Just bought new tires at 50,000 miles.
Zero Problems!

 

[pawngal]

Lexus RX350, I'm on my 3rd one. AWD, comfort, space, mileage around 25mpg, plenty of get up and go. Don't be afraid of miles on one. Sold my 2007 9 years ago with about 100,000 miles on it, it is still going strong with over 200,000. My son had a Nissan Rogue, hated it, traded it 4 years ago for a 2007 RX350 with nearly 200,000, it now has about 250,000 with no issues. My current 2013 has 130,000. I'm the second owner, bought it with just under 100.000 miles.

 

[Heinz]

I have a 2015 Mazda CX-5 AWD. It gets 26 mpg, does not seem to make any difference if it is on the highway or not. 126,000 miles, 1 set of brakes in front, one in back; 2 batteries, 2 engine air filters, 1 cabin air filter, oil changes on schedule. Great in snow, not bad off-road bird hunting in Ohio. Not capable of towing much. You can get a ton of stuff in it. It is surprisingly perky. But if you have the actual mpg on display the milage will drop down to about 5 mpg when you floor it.

 

[glowe]

I bought a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit and it has literally needed only gas, oil, and tires over the last 6 years. Could not ask for anything more. Have collision avoidance, lane departure control, adaptive cruise control, and all the comfort features of any SUV on the market. It offers the best 4x4 system on the market and 4 height levels for off-road or snow. It is plenty big enough for me being agile, and a dream to drive. I also looked at the BIG SUVs and find they are all just full size pickups with a full length cover and just too big and clumsy for me.

This vehicle has everything I need and want and still looks brand new inside and out!

 

[squidsix]

We wanted the same. Because I dont drive off road, we bought a Ford Flex. We got the FWD version. HUGE inside (144 cubit feet) and drives like a car.
275 hp, six speed auto trans.
We get 26 mpg, and it has been totally trouble free for 85k miles. They ended production in 2019 but they are out there.

 

[Rpg]

I’ve had a series of 4 Runners (3) exclusively since 1990. Among other features, they have real 4 wheel drive with locking hubs. Makes things more versatile for off-road travel here in Colorado, unlike the awd systems so often substituted for the real thing nowadays.

It would only be 2, but a young lady ran through a stop light and totaled #2, so I had to get #3.

Mileage is about 17/mpg: not great, but I can live with it.

I had to replace the battery and brakes as you’d expect with any vehicle. Just last week I replaced the rear windshield wiper. The most inexpensive vehicle to operate I’ve owned.

As you can see, my mind’s made up.