Looking for Reviews on Large Sized SUVs (tahoe, yukon, etc)

[marycaym]

With all of the snow we have had this winter, I am thinking about trading in my current SUV (2006 BMW X5), for a larger/heavier SUV (looking at late year used models) that has 4WD that I can engage into 4WD. The BMW is the first SUV that I have had that although it has some type of 4 wheel locking system thingie (shows how much I know), that I have not had an actual 4WD, 4 lock system type of 4WD - in the past I have had a grand cherokee, montero, highlander.

We moved last year into a house w/a 1/4 mile driveway off of a private road and as much as I love my Beemer it is not cutting it in this weather. But I do love the luxury all the bells and whistles of it.

So for those of you that have larger SUVs preferably w/a 3rd row to have room to tote the kids friends around w/us. I have looked at the tahoe, yukon, expedition, suburban, navigator, and sequoia - how do you like them, how do they do in the snow, what do you dislike, etc.

NOTE: this is post is not meant for a debate on the price of gas, buying american vs. non-american, buying a large SUV, buying a car in this economny, etc. I am strictly looking for reviews.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[natenapril]

I had a Sequoia and LOVED that car!!! And while I know you said this wasn't about gas mileage but it didn't due to bad. I was getting about 19 on base and 21 on the highway.
My DH felt it was time to sell it since it was 8 years old with 170,000 miles but I really miss it.

 

[Heidijs]

If you like the bells and whistles along with size and 4WD...check out the Escalades...my friend has one and wow...that thing is MINT and huge! But it also cost her an arm and a leg...they bought it because they needed room for all their kids and the other SUVs like the Durango with the 3rd row wasn't cutting it for leg room even for the kids...they love the Escalade. Gets good mileage too they said and has all the toys along with a GPS screen and all that.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

We have a 2004 Yukon XL. I love it! It is huge and can be a bit of a pain to park, but it can easily pull our camper. We have had it for almost a year and we still love it. GMC did a style change since our model that includes the flex fuel thing and I think the variable cylinder technology, but we got such a great deal and were able to pay cash that the newer tech stuff wasn't worth it.

We have alot of bells and whistles: heated seats, drop down DVD, leather, XM, OnStar, 3rd row seating, towing package, 6 cd changer. I can't remember what all. It has been a great car so far.

 

[everylastbreath]

Cadi Escalade- I'm on my 2nd one, I would never drive anything else- Love the size, can't honest say I use the 3rd row much, but plenty of room to carry things- Love it - luxury & durability- highly recommend! Funny, but I was thinking if I went to a smaller SUV it would be the BMW.

 

[RooRach0906]

I have an 05 Chevy Trailblazer Ext so I have the third row. I really really enjoy it. We did just get it in Nov, but we have already had to use the 4 wheel driver in 14 inches of snow and it did fabulously. I also live off a private gravel road and I do have neighbors and only 3 of us we able to get out. Us and the two other trucks (heavy duty trucks) we able to get out. My FIL has a Surbanban and lives 20 minutes from us and his did great in the snow as well. We love his too but we dont need the added trunk space (We are only a family of two soon to be three but I do in home day care so I needed the 3 rows) so ours is a lil smaller than what you are talking but not much. Its also very easy to change from 2 lo to AWD to 4 lo to 4 hi just a lil knob on the dash. Just remember that when going in 4 hi or 4 lo you have to have the car in Neutral and put in Neutral to get out as well. AWD tho you can change while driving as long as you are not going high speeds.
Hope this helps

 

[mlclements]

I am on my second Ford Expedition. I absolutely love them. Whenever we get rid of this Expedition I will get another one. I love all the extra's they have and I haven't had any problems with them.

 

[TaraPA]

If you're used to all the bells & whistles try the larger Lexus SUVs (not the RX series). We have the middle one - the GX470 - it has a 3rd row that goes in & out VERY easily ( I can do it myself in under a minute) and seats 8. Premium sound, back-up camera, built-in navigation & dual DVD players, extra safety feautures, Bluetooth, voice command, etc. standard. There is a larger model too if you need more space. We have the '06 & plan to drive it into the ground. I LOVE this truck! It drives like a dream, on & off road. Handles extremely well in the snow. It's our 2nd Lexus & we are brand loyal forever. We've previously had Jeep, Chrysler, Saturn & Ford & no one came close to the pampering we get from Lexus. Yes you pay more for the vehicle, but their service is impeccable.

 

[Belle5]

I am on my second Ford Expedition. I absolutely love them. Whenever we get rid of this Expedition I will get another one. I love all the extra's they have and I haven't had any problems with them.

I love mine, too! Mine is pushing 200,000 miles and is ten years old and I have yet to have any major problem. I just love my SUV!!!

 

[Sam's_Mom]

We love our Tahoe. We have had it for 4 years and are looking to get a new one. It goes great in the snow and is small enough to be easy to park in parking garages and lots. It also has all the bells and whistles that one would need. It has over a 100,000 miles and has needed very little repair. We have a caddy too- the big one with 3rd row seats and find it to be too big. It is hard to park and has a big turning radius making it not a good choice for the country roads we drive, but is great for long distance trips.

 

[solfan68]

I do not qualify for the "third row" discussion, but we have been driving a Chevy Avalanche since we bought it new in 2003. Very reliable and quite solid in the bad weather. Ours doesn't have much in the way of bells and whistles, but that may have changed in the last few years(XM, GPS, etc). I will say I hauled five teens comfortably last night when we took our youth group roller skating.

And although we don't have a third row, we have a six foot "pickup bed". It can be very handy for trips to the price club, Christmas at grandmas, or when getting our spring supply of mulch. If we really need to haul, we even have the ability to knock down the back row and do a pass-through for up to eight feet(like sheets of plywood). Good luck in your search !

 

[marycaym]

Cadi Escalade- I'm on my 2nd one, I would never drive anything else- Love the size, can't honest say I use the 3rd row much, but plenty of room to carry things- Love it - luxury & durability- highly recommend! Funny, but I was thinking if I went to a smaller SUV it would be the BMW.

Does your escalade automatically go into 4WD or do you have a dial/button that you push?

I love the escalade but from the research I have done, it seems to have a very similiar AWD/4WD system like my BMW does. While I love it, I want something that will engage all 4 wheels into the 4WD rather than hoping the sophisticated AWD system works.

 

[Anne34]

I have a 2002 Suburban. It is our 2nd suburban and we love them!!! The only problem we had was a sensor went out -- a quick and easy fix. We have about 120,000 miles on the car and it is great. It handles well in the snow, ice, etc.....we have 2wd, 4wd and auto 4wd which is where is drives in 2wd and slips into 4wd if it needs better traction. This is usually what I use when driving around when it snow and the road are kind of bad.

We tow both a boat and a trailer with it. Wonderful. We have a dvd player, sunroof, 3rd row, etc...and LOTS of storage room in the back when we have soccer tournaments or travelling with 3 kids and a dog.

I would get another Suburban/Yukon Denali/Escalade in a hearbeat.
(basically all the same car, just upgraded interiors)

 

[ceecee]

My neighbor sold her Yukon and took a loss on it. She drove only 12 miles to work but with toting the four kids around, gas got too expensive, she also said parking the thing was a nightmare. After she sold it, she loved that she could park in the garage and still move around in it!

 

[marycaym]

We have a 2004 Yukon XL. I love it! It is huge and can be a bit of a pain to park, but it can easily pull our camper. We have had it for almost a year and we still love it. GMC did a style change since our model that includes the flex fuel thing and I think the variable cylinder technology, but we got such a great deal and were able to pay cash that the newer tech stuff wasn't worth it.

We have alot of bells and whistles: heated seats, drop down DVD, leather, XM, OnStar, 3rd row seating, towing package, 6 cd changer. I can't remember what all. It has been a great car so far.

How is it in the snow?

 

[Jenn4615]

Like you, I had a smaller fancy SUV...traded it in on a Tahoe... which I LOVED LOVED LOVED...cause it was loaded. But I really HATED driving it around town everyday when the weather was nice. I live in rural area that requires 4WD... I am now back in a smaller SUV because I hated driving it so much when it wasnt "needed"... If I could have a third car it would be IDEAL... and use the Tahoe in the winter or when I needed alot of extra room!

 

[tinatark]

We have a Denali XL... love it, but it's not truly a 4wd - in fact, most of the larger SUV's you mentioned are AWD, not 4wd.

I think you can get the Suburban in 4wd.

I love the space of our car - ours has factory navigation/dvd, but the newest ones have a back up camera. I had that in an Acura MDX and loved it. The 2nd row seats are also heated, my kids love it!

If the Expedition (or Expedition EL) is available in 4wd, a great feature it has is that the seats fold flat, rather than tumbling, like the GM SUV's.

 

[RooRach0906]

We have a Denali XL... love it, but it's not truly a 4wd - in fact, most of the larger SUV's you mentioned are AWD, not 4wd.

I think you can get the Suburban in 4wd.

I love the space of our car - ours has factory navigation/dvd, but the newest ones have a back up camera. I had that in an Acura MDX and loved it. The 2nd row seats are also heated, my kids love it!

If the Expedition (or Expedition EL) is available in 4wd, a great feature it has is that the seats fold flat, rather than tumbling, like the GM SUV's.

A denali xl...... which denali Envoy or Yukon both can be a denali xl and majority of them have the option of getting them in 4 wheel drive. Otherwise they come the way you stated.

My last Envoy which is a smaller SUV unless its the XL model had 4 wheel drive and my new Chevy Trailblazer XL does to. Both are GM.

I just wanted to let you know b/c you seemed unsure about that.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Op: I'm unsure why you think you need a 4 wd vs an AWD?

We used to own a Tahoe. It was a 1997 and had close to 200,000 miles on it before the engine went and we decided to get another vehicle. As others have stated, it was a royal pain in the butt to park and drive around town. Places are not made for those big honkin' SUV's. I know you don't want to hear about gas, but it got about 12-14 miles to the gallon and when gas was $4.00 a gallon, I wanted to cry when I had to fill it up.

For right now , I drive a BMW 330XL. I think that car goes better than my Tahoe in the snow. Seriously!

I am looking to either purchase a BMW X5 or the Lexus GX 470. As others have stated, alot of vehicles have now gone to AWD vs 4 WD.

Do you not think your X5 drove well in the snow?

 

[elliemae1192]

I had a Suburban that was over 10 years old and still ran great. LOVED it. Decided we wanted something new and bought a 2006 Yukon. LOVED it too. I would definitely recommend them.

I just sold mine in October. Not because I didn't love it, but because we're trying to become debt free. I got almost $9000 more than I still owed on it. They really hold their value. We were able to go out and pay cash for a 2005 Jeep Liberty. I REALLY like the Liberty too. It's smaller, seats only 5 as opposed to 8 with the Yukon, but it's still a great little SUV.