Small SUVs?

[Doug M.]

We are on our 3rd/4th Subarus. My wife had an Outback wagon, and I had a Legacy. Mine got mostly highway miles that were easier on it; had 187K or so in 7 years and it still did not use oil, etc. With the 6 speed manual, I got 35 or better MPG. My wife now has a Forester and I have an Ascent. They are much easier to get in/out than the Legacy/Outback.

Many folks I know have had various Toyotas; we had 2 some years back. They did well, and I can't think of anyone who has had real trouble with one. My sister and her hubby had several go over 200K miles. Most folks I know also like their RAV4s.

 

[Squarebutt]

They do indeed pop up. We just bought a Lexus 2013 RX350 with 122,000 miles. Why buy a 10 year old car with all those miles? Two reasons: this one had a stellar carfax record, with service at the Lexus dealer every 5000 miles, and because our previous car was an Avalon with a similar V6 drivetrain, and it's still running fine after 20 years and 204,000 miles. The Lexus is extremely comfortable, sits high enough for a good view of the road and with good maintenance will last forever. For all the tech stuff and comfy interior, underneath it has the same engine, transmission and all-wheel-drive system as the Highlander and Sienna, so any Toyota mechanic can work on it. I've done my own oil changes for years, and never experienced an engine failure, even on cars with 200,000+ miles.
Still have my old pickup for the heavy lifting, towing and rough jobs, but it doesn't see many miles, especially with gas prices so high.

 

[LVSteve]

I think the Lexus RX350 kicked off the whole luxury CUV thing. All the ones I've ridden in have been quality vehicles. Wife's friend has an Acura RDX with the V6 motor, maybe a 2017? That is a smooth, quiet ride ride, too.

 

[SuperMan]

Have had two Ford diesel F250s over the last 20 years. This past fall decided to get a second vehicle to become my primary driver and just keep the truck for going shooting, camping and towing.

Since I already have a truck and am not into heavy off-roading any more wanted something with a little more comfort but a lot of room. Three of my friends had the Honda Ridgeline and after a couple of times in their vehicles did a lot of research on them... And that is what I ended up buying last December...a 2022 Sport Model.

I looked at SUVs but with all of them the rear seats had to be folded down to get rifle cases in. The Ridgeline is basically a Honda Pilot with a bed. Super comfortable and quiet to ride in with not only a 5' bed but a HUGE underbed storage area.

280 hp...lots of pickup and 5000# towing capacity.

Low tank of fuel with only stop and go city driving was 19.0 mpg. Average where I live 23-26. Last two straight highway tanks were 29 and 30. That is at the pump, not the meter which has been within .4 of the pump just about every tank.

Put an ARE cap on about two months ago. Expensive but absolutely LOVE it. Tons of secure storage. A friend with a Pilot has a lot more interior noise than the Ridgeline coming from the cargo area.

Three of my friends who have ridden with me who have small pickups/van plan on getting a Ridgeline next trade-in time...

carbuzz.com/compare/honda-pilot-vs-honda-ridgeline#cars=i_85070-vs-i_85765

Bob

 

[garddogg56]

Stick with the Escape, never heard of the problems said here and yes try the Honda and the Toyota we did and my wife said all you could hear was the road noise.Hers is a 2014 it has four wheel drive with an eco boost engine that has a turbo.Up here in Maine four wheel drive is much better than all wheel drive.
This Escape is 8 yo and we've had no problems just maintain it properly

 

[doublesharp]

Have had two Ford diesel F250s over the last 20 years. This past fall decided to get a second vehicle to become my primary driver and just keep the truck for going shooting, camping and towing.

Since I already have a truck and am not into heavy off-roading any more wanted something with a little more comfort but a lot of room. Three of my friends had the Honda Ridgeline and after a couple of times in their vehicles did a lot of research on them... And that is what I ended up buying last December...a 2022 Sport Model.

I looked at SUVs but with all of them the rear seats had to be folded down to get rifle cases in. The Ridgeline is basically a Honda Pilot with a bed. Super comfortable and quiet to ride in with not only a 5' bed but a HUGE underbed storage area.

280 hp...lots of pickup and 5000# towing capacity.

Low tank of fuel with only stop and go city driving was 19.0 mpg. Average where I live 23-26. Last two straight highway tanks were 29 and 30. That is at the pump, not the meter which has been within .4 of the pump just about every tank.

Put an ARE cap on about two months ago. Expensive but absolutely LOVE it. Tons of secure storage. A friend with a Pilot has a lot more interior noise than the Ridgeline coming from the cargo area.

Three of my friends who have ridden with me who have small pickups/van plan on getting a Ridgeline next trade-in time...

carbuzz.com/compare/honda-pilot-vs-honda-ridgeline#cars=i_85070-vs-i_85765

Bob

10-4 on the Ridgeline. I bought an 08 new and still love it. 65k troublefree miles. I set up at several gun shows and RL is perfect. I can get 2 monster totes in back area and then my cart and other accessories ride in the bed. I put a Bak Flip folding 3 piece cover on mine when I bought it and it still looks/works like new. I'd trade but there is nothing I'd rather drive.

I am a weirdo who would rather have several 10-15 yr old vehicles than a brand new one. My fleet is the RL, a 2011 Durango Citadel w/Hemi, a 2011 Toyota Avalon, and a 2004 Corvette. Mama drives a 2015 Toyota Sienna AWD.

My advice on a sm suv is Toyota w/3.5L 6 cyl and front wheel drive. Yota has been making this platform for 20 years+ and has it figured out. I'd look for a Lexus RX 350 fwd - they are cheaper to purchase and maintain than AWD. A Toyota Venza is basically the same.

Highlanders and Rav4s are bulletproof but I much prefer the 3.5L - no timing belts. my Avalon get 28mpg on road and 21 around town riding in luxury but it's just a Toyota when it's time to repair. a 4 cyl does not get much better mileage because it works harder. 3.5L is truly a sweet engine.

 

[Glashaus]

My fiancé leased a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus, AWD, turbo. It was very nice, a little too nice for the projects that she was on. She turned it in at the end of the lease and is driving her 2013 Honda Accord that she bought new, it will be her project car for the next couple of years while she is down in Corpus Christi, or until she gets the itch for something new

 

[doublesharp]

A 2013 Accord is a fine vehicle. Perfect size I think.

 

[johngalt]

My Mercedes GLK 350 is a great vehicle. 300hp V6 motor. I got the last model year, right before the replacement model with the little sissy 4 banger.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

There was a period when Ford Escapes had head gasket issues. The Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CRV are pretty much the gold standard of small SUVs. The original Toyota Highlander wasn't too big, but the later versions started to pile on the lard.

Bought a Highlander a month ago for the wife and couldn't be happier. Was looking hard at the CRV but went with the Toyota-the ride was just that much better and the space inside rivals her old Trailblazer XL. Looke dlong and hard at the 4Runner buy basically bought thr eHighlander because it was on the lot-if the 4Runner was there, I would have bought it. Two totally different vehicles. The 4Runner is a truck with a SUV body on top while the Highlander is a mom-go to store-stay on the highway vehicle. SInce anytime one goes off road in "below I-10" Louisiana one sinks, off roading isn't really considered a viable use (although the marketing pretty much makes one really want one of these)-I'm pretty realistic enough to understand that a 67 year old man with a 70 year old wife isn't the same as those young couples one sees on the commercials going off roading through the pine trees. My off roading these days is pretty much limited to cutting through the strip of grass between parking lots at Wal mart and Lowes.
BUt that still doesn't stop me from believing I'm still the 35 year old stud climbing 30 degree angles with beer in hand in my trusty FJ40 in 1st gear

 

[WR Moore]

FWIW, my #2 son is a Ford trained mechanic. He won't buy a Ford V8.

Back in 2013 I bought a base model 2014 Subaru Forester. It's got the all time, 4X4 and at the time I needed something that could get me to work regardless of weather. Outstanding visibility, easy to get in and out of-I'm old too-and very easy on gas. I live rural and seem to hover around 30 mpg with a no longer available manual. The next year the wife got an Impreza with the CVT tranny. Different, but interesting, not as easy to get in and out of, even better gas mileage. Supposedly, the Outback (fancier, more station wagon like) seat is only 1 inch lower than the Forester, but seems more.

 

[tops]

Leaning heavily toward a small SUV as I want something that sits and more or less feels like the pick-up I'm used to. I'm getting old and can't get comfortable in low slug sedan seats any more.
I'm currently leaning towards the Ford EscapeQUOTE]

My wife has a 2012 Escape and it's more like a Go Cart. She also has a 2009 Edge and it's more like a pickup. They each have about a 100,000 miles on them with no major problems and she is planning on driving both for several more years. Larry

 

[oink]

We have a Rav 4 and are happy with it. Super gas mileage. Hard to find a good low mileage one at a good price. They hold their value well which hurts if you're looking to buy used. Definitely not a big SUV.

 

[GypsmJim]

I'm posting just for informational purposes, since your caveat was very clear.

My Dad had 2 Mercury Marquis in a row and had trouble with both. My MIL and a neighbor both had Escapes and they were not happy with them either.

Dad traded his last Merc in on a Chrysler and he simply loved that car.

My last vehicle was a Chevy Equinox. The OEM tires needed to be replaced at 55,000 miles and the original brakes lasted 94,000 miles. Those were the only 2 services I ever did except for oil changes, yada, yada. That simply was the BEST car I ever owned.

I replaced the Equinox with a Lincoln MKX 4 years ago. I admit its the NICEST car I ever owned, but it will be my last Ford product.

 

[Rob613]

Was a die hard F150 guy until my last one...2016, bought new. Nothing but electrical problems. Throttle body, radio, faulty door locks and alternator issues.

At the same time I had a 2015 Escape as a work car, at 65k an electronic solenoid in the transmission went, causing weird shifting. Work paid to fix it but intensive labor cost. I would have just traded it in.

Have had Rams since and couldn't be happier. Wife has a 2019 Highlander and loves it.