Help me choose an SUV

[nboicepardee]

Morning!
I currently have an 11 year old Dodge Grand Caravan that I am looking to replace sometime this year. I want something smaller, but still able to accommodate my family of 4 (kids ages 10 and 7). I occasionally car pool, so I would like to be able to accommodate 2-3 more children, but I don't need regular extra cargo space. I guess I am probably looking at a midsize SUV. Can people give me recommendations? I have absolutely no idea what I am interested in. I will either buy a newer car (2-3 years old) or new, if I get an excellent deal.
Thank you!
Natalie

 

[Fab4@disney]

We purchased a new 2012 Dodge Durango about 6 months ago and really like it. We got a $4000 rebate on it because it was last years model year. Before that we owned a 2008 Ford Expedition that we loved even more but the gas prices forced us to a mid size SUV. Be sure to take it on an extended test drive and read reviews from other owners too. Good Luck!

 

[momof3ds]

We recently did the same thing and ended up with a 2010 Hyundai Veracruz, which seats 7.

The veracruz was discontinued and the hyundai Santa Fe now has a model that seats 7.

 

[descovy]

We just bought a car and went with the whole (SUV vs minivan) decision. We ended up sticking with minivan due to fuel economy and needing cargo room (our other car is a sub compact)


Our budget was $25k... A little more okay, but MUST be under $30k after all options & TTL.

Anyway, if we chose SUV, our choice was going to be Chevy Traverse. Still has a decent 3rd row, and a good price.

Chevy, GM, and Buick are triplets... So the GM version is the Acadia, and the Buick version is Enclave.

I don't like the look of the Ford Flex but it is another option.

With a larger budget, we would have loved a Honda Pilot.

FWIW... Ended up with a Honda Odyssey.

 

[snoopy5386]

We have a Toyota Highlander and love it. Seats 4 fine for every day and plenty of cargo space for trips. Seats 7 when needed.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I love the inside of the new Nissan Pathfinder...great entertainment system!
Don't laugh but look at older porche cayenne suv's. new they are really expensive but their sale value is poor so if you look at one that is several years old you might find a great deal!
Nissan Murano is one of the better five seat options.
I am a big nissan fan, I have a frontier pickup too!

 

[itradehilton]

Another vote for the Toyota Highlander, also we bought ours used from a car rental company, they sell cars that they have for a year and we got the warranty with the car. I have not had any issues with the car, I bought 3 years ago.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We're looking at the Toyota Highlander also, if I can ever decide to give up the van.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

Cheap& affordable...Toyota highlander is not near the top of that list.

 

[Huff]

We love our 2004 Durango. Design changed for 2012. Still a very nice vehicle for a family but the older design suits us better as we tow and go off roading. The new design is more for on pavement but ride and handling is better. The Jeep Cherokee is based on the same design, just trim differences.

When shopping for any new vehicle I'd opt for a 2012 still on the lot as they will be cheaper than the 2013. Look up dealers invoice and any factory to dealer or consumer rebates and offer invoice minus rebates. Be prepared to walk if they won't take it. Another dealer will. Never pay MSRP minus rebates especially for a new but year old model.

 

[Nina1]

We have a Highlander and a 4Runner and love both of them. We always buy Toyotas because of their phenomenal reliability. The Highlander is 8 years old and all we have ever needed to do is regular maintenance. 4Runner is two and still brand new. We will only do one car payment and only trade in when one is paid off. We bought both cars new. Both will go way over 100,000 miles.

 

[Kellydelly]

I was in a similar situation. I've been driving a 2001 Grand Caravan for almost 12 yrs and it was starting to fall apart a little (leaking oil, power steering is having slight issues). My problem was fitting four kids into a different vehicle, though. I did not want another minivan, as practical or comfortable as it would be for the whole family. I was looking at Ford Explorers, Dodge Durangos, and then last week was turned onto the Honda Pilot while looking at the Oddysey in the showroom (dh insisted I at least look at the van!). The Explorer is really too tight for four kids. I drove a Durango two days ago and I can't see very well around the B pillar behind the driver's seat. The Pilot had 8 seats, came with a hitch, rear camera, bluetooth and I like that the rear window hatch opens up.

I went to one Honda dealer Friday who only offered me $1000 for my van. I knew it was worth at least a thousand more. I didn't feel like the salesman was taking me very seriously. Although the Durango salesman was trying to get me to sign without my husband, which I thought was a little pushy (and he also claimed to be 6 ft tall when he was showing me how much room was in the rear seat for an adult and he couldn't have been taller than 5'9", LOL). So yesterday I went into a different Honda dealer so dh could test drive the Pilot too and we were happily surprised with a $2300 trade in offer and a great sales price of $26,700 . As soon as she told me the trade offer I told her the Pilot was sold (we were going to try and sell it privately and hoped to get $2500). The salesWOMAN did ask me how soon I was looking to buy, so maybe that helped motivate the sale price, or the fact that I told her a different Honda salesman had totally lowballed my trade value.

I can't believe I pulled my husband over to the dark side of buying a foreign car (he is a Chrysler fan) but besides the minivan, there was nothing that really fit our needs and the style I was looking for. I can't wait to pick it up Tuesday !

 

[1buckeyegirl]

We were in the same boat we have two kids but need to have a few extra seats for friends every now and then. We went with the the GMC Acadia and love it! We got the 7 seater with the bucket seats in the 2nd row and it works great for us, but you can also get the eight seater with the 2nd row bench. Also gets a lot better gas mileage than our old ford explorer and has a lot more space!

 

[RN2003AZ]

I have a 6 month old 2013 Ford Explorer that I got after having a VW Routan and couldn't be happier! I custom ordered mine with the second row bucket seats. Easier access to the third row if needed. Perfect space for my 2 boys in the back seat and I love my car! It was between the Ex and the Honda Pilot which I liked but it felt too boxy for me. The Ex is a much softer, smoother ride.

 

[goofyredraider]

I Have a 2013 Ford Flex Sel with tons of features (nav, etc). I traded in my 2011 Ford Flex for it...I love it and cannot say enough good things about the Flex.

 

[shell8558]

Another vote for the pilot !! I am on my second one . I had one from 06-12 and bought the new model in march 2012. ( like the one pictured above , mine is black ) Abdolutely love it!! Plenty of space , great gas mileage and comfortable ! Never had any problems with it - just change the oil , tires and required mainteance.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I love the inside of the new Nissan Pathfinder...great entertainment system!
Don't laugh but look at older porche cayenne suv's. new they are really expensive but their sale value is poor so if you look at one that is several years old you might find a great deal!Nissan Murano is one of the better five seat options.
I am a big nissan fan, I have a frontier pickup too!

I've had a Porshe in the past. They are great cars, really well made. But the cost to fix ANYTHING is outrageous and not everyone works on them.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We got a KIA Sorento last summer and love it! I also downgraded from a minivan. The Sorento has a nice amount of cargo space and my two almost 6 foot teenaged boys fit nicely in the backseat. I also like how it drives and handles. DH did a lot of research and the high safety ratings are what sold him on the car.

 

[mom2d&b]

We too are looking fro something to replace a minivan (windstar). We like the Kia Sorento and the Dodge Journey. I still want to test drive the Traverse before making a decision.

 

[granmanh603]

We got a KIA Sorento last summer and love it! I also downgraded from a minivan. The Sorento has a nice amount of cargo space and my two almost 6 foot teenaged boys fit nicely in the backseat. I also like how it drives and handles. DH did a lot of research and the high safety ratings are what sold him on the car.

Another vote for Kia Sorento, we have and older one 2008, our DD loved ours and so a little over a year ago she got a new Sorento, 3 boys, and just the other day I was driving with her and out of the blue she said I LOVE this car. Mind you this is one fussy girl. She used to drive around in and Ford Expedition(she would not get a van and had just had twins and could not fit 3 big car seats in her SUV). The Sorento has fold down 3 rd row.
As for service , we just did a road trip to LI, NY and had trouble with the engine right before we got to our destination. We were down for a relatives baby shower. My DH looked up the Kia dealer and took the car over there and they took it in and repaired at NO charge, wonderful service. we had to get back home the next day so this was great service for a out of towner.
So big thumbs up for Kia Sorento