Small SUVs?

[Grayfox]

So I'm thinking it may be time to trade for a newer used car that's much cheaper on gas that my old Mercury Grand Marquis land yacht.
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 Escape. I've been a Ford man for many years. DIL has one and likes it. However, research has shown that certain years of these were troublesome.
I'm open to suggestions. Want something that's comfortable, trouble free and gets good gas mileage.
NOTE: I DO NOT do Chevy, Nissan or any type of Chrysler (Jeep) vehicles. So just leave those out.
generally looking for something from the mid-2010s or later. Whatcha got?

 

[JohnRippert]

I have a 2012 KIA Sportage SX Turbo that I bought new. Easy to get into and out of. Mine is low mileage as I hardly drove it except on weekends and vacations. No problems with it at all. It gets good mileage on the highway and fair mileage in the city. The turbo makes it too easy to "give it some stick". I plan to keep it another 10 years if I can. A non-turbo Sportage from that time period would likely do you well.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Good luck car shopping in this market.

Been happy with my 3 VW Tiguans. 35mpg hwy. on regular gas.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Bald1]

Some Ford Escapes and Mercury Mariners were known for water pump issues and alternator issues. Both more expensive that you would think to fix……not sure where you stand on foreign vehicles but the Honda CRX is bullet proof. They can be had in AWD or FWD.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Love my 2020 Toyota RAV4.
No! No! Not the Red one!
It's the Silver one.
It's Front Wheel Drive only,
I get 35MPG at Altitude.

 

[wood714]

A Ford Escape isn't going to "sit" like a pick up truck.

A Toyota 4Runner sits just about exactly like my stock 4x4 Tacoma.

My mom has a 2021 Toyota Highlander that she really likes and it's easy for her to get in and out of. Even after breaking her left hip 4 times.

She spends the winters here in Florida and the ride got too much for her, so she bought a 2018 Toyota Rav4 just to keep here so she can fly down now. It's near exactly like the Highlander, but just a spot shorter in length.

I get to drive it all summer while she's in Ohio.

 

[IronSkillet]

There is a Toyota 4-Runner for sale in the classifieds thread, it interests me, just to far away. 4/Runners have somewhat better seating then Taco's.

My current ride is a 2012 Toyota Highlander 185,000+, it was delivered with 6,miles the rest are all mine. Overall this has been an excellent vehicle and would recommend it for someone in the shopping for a preowned ride. Everything that has broken on this vehicle and very little at that someone has posted a how-to video on YT. Give you an idea the blower motor for HVAC stopped, located video replacing it was 45 minutes. Passenger side window control arm bolt fell out watched video pulled panel off located bolt window works again but not perfect but it will close completely. Sunroof which I have no use for; driver side floor board filling up with water again found video with lots of bad advice. Poor design drain from sunroof discharges inside front wheel housing fender and drivers door, duct-taped gasket on roof around rubber gasket, no more wet feet and electric shorts. This has been a solid vehicle and I would not hesitate to acquire another one that has only been driven by a little old lady. Everything else is just general maintenance. Was considering getting something new wanted to check out the Honda Odyssey went to the dealer in Tallahassee. They informed me because of the chip (dip) shortage they no longer stock vehicles at the dealer but I could purchase it and delivery would be in 4-20 weeks depending on options! I said screw this, went and put new struts/shocks on Highlander and reevaluate after we hit 200,000 miles. Had a family member purchase a Honda CRV in 2012 and they are still driving it with no complaints.

 

[pawngal]

Test drive more than one before you decide. Going from a big car and a pickup you may feel like you are in a little box

 

[brigham33]

I've driven all Lexus cars for the 20 years. I traded a 15 month old Lexus for a Ford Escape PHEV (Plug in hybrid) and can't be happier! I'm getting over 150 MPG, instead of $30 per week in gas, I now $20 per month. Rides well and no problems in the last year, 12,000 miles. They are hard as hens teeth to find, I looked for almost 2 months before I found on. Good luck, Rick

 

[LVSteve]

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.

 

[K-22]

Toyota RAV4

So I'm thinking it may be time to trade for a newer used car that's much cheaper on gas that my old Mercury Grand Marquis land yacht.
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 Escape. I've been a Ford man for many years. DIL has one and likes it. However, research has shown that certain years of these were troublesome.
I'm open to suggestions. Want something that's comfortable, trouble free and gets good gas mileage.
NOTE: I DO NOT do Chevy, Nissan or any type of Chrysler (Jeep) vehicles. So just leave those out.
generally looking for something from the mid-2010s or later. Whatcha got?

I have a 2012 Rav4.
Should I need to replace it, I would probably go with another Rav4.
I have had this for 8 years, with no issues.
As for comfort, I am 6'2", and 260 lbs.
Best,
Gary

 

[Greyman50]

Have a 2013 Highlander with 180,000 on it. Largest expenditure was AC compressor and struts. Easy to get in and out of for us with " arthur" all over. 4 cylinder that gets around 21 mpg around town and 28 on interstate. Was my Greys limo, he had the whole back with rear seats down.

 

[TripLeader]

Subaru. Try the Forester and Outback.

 

[RobertK3026]

My cars are getting up in age and mileage, so now going on a trip I just rent cars.
I recently rented a Ford Explorer, might be bigger than you are looking for though.
It was four wheel drive according to the badging and it had a four cylinder engine and got 27 mpg doing 75 and it was much more comfortable than my Jeep Cherokee.
Good Luck with your search.

 

[Kevin J.]

I second the suggestion by Trip Leader. Bought a Subaru for the wife, now that's pretty much all we drive and my truck stays parked. She actually said to me the other day " I thought this was my car".

 

[yeti]

My first choice would be a Honda. Check out a nice used Acura RDX (2010 1st generation or 2013 2nd generation, if possible) or look at some Honda CRVs.
Toyota RAV would be my next recommendation. 4Runners are good, but a bit bigger and would likely get <20mpg avg.

If we get into a skirmish/standoff with China, Iran, _____ or the Russian - Ukrainian war drags on another several years.... more mpg will be a good thing.

 

[Kenna]

We bought a 2020 FORD Explorer for the wife. She loves it! We have taken it twice to and from out west, I drove, very comfortable to drive. I drive a Ford F-250

 

[AJ]

I drive a Ford 2002 F150 XLT V8 most of the time here in town. The Wife's is a VW Tiguan 2019. Have no qualms about getting in her VW and driving anywhere. Good gas milage and good ride.

We owned a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport before the Tiguan. Not a bad ride, sat up as high as my F150, not real good gas mileage.

Owned a 1976 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with a 360 cubic inch V8 with headers at one time. Great power, good ride, but at 10 MPG on the highway not very good gas mileage. Would go anywhere I wanted to go and pull anything I could put a chain on!

 

[pawngal]

The only SUV that will feel like sitting in a pickup and isn't huge is the Toyota 4Runner. But good used ones are expensive and in constant high demand. And the gas mileage isn't great.

 

[Onomea]

I've owned three small Mazda SUVs in the last two years, a 2019 CX-3 Sport (subcompact), a 2020 CX-5 Grand Touring, and a 2022 CX-5 Signature (compacts). I sold the first two for more than I paid for them as I sequentially upgraded.

They don't get the best milage in their class. I got a bit over 30 MPG on a 2600 trip in the 2020 model. And their range is less and cargo space smaller than their competitors. Where they shine, though, is their styling, well appointed interiors, and in their handling. They're comfortable, and fun to drive

They're very nice small SUVs for the buck.