Mid-size SUVs - some observations?

[Christine]

Repeat after me....

M.I.D. - size

Now that we're back on topic, I think it's very interesting that nobody's voted for the Murano...

Well if you want MID-SIZE, why are you looking at a RAV4--it is a small SUV.

 

[delilah]

We have a Toyota Highlander and a Toyota 4 runner. Both are very reliable cars, and I would buy either again in a second. We are planning to buy the Highlander hybrid when it is time to buy a new car. (When we finish paying for the present Highlander).

 

[mookie]

I have a Hyundai Santa Fe, and I just love it. (Although I'm in the market for a mini-van now, I am really going to miss my Santa Fe!)

 

[Planogirl]

The RAV4 is a small SUV but if it's big enough for you, I think that it would be an excellent choice. Toyota does make 5 different SUV's the last time I looked just in case you need a bigger one. You can't go wrong with a Toyota IMO.

 

[DaisyD]

I voted other. I would get the Acura MDX. It is a nice step up from the Honda and is a great SUV. I love, love, love mine! It is around $48,000 loaded.

 

[KAMommy]

As the driver of the poor, damaged GoofySoob, I want to thank everyone for their opinions. And I am going to impose on you for a few more comments.

As to size, we really don't want anything huge. I drove a Montana at one time and I hated it...I couldn't park anywhere! The car was just too long. I am really firmly in the mid-size SUV range, which Edmunds notes as the Rav4, CRV, Equinox...etc.

And while I appreciate the input on the Acura, I am really cheap...that's the CPA in me. I just can't force myself to pay for a badge when I can get something similar so much cheaper.

I would be really interested to hear from more new Rav4 and Equinox owners. Thanks again for all of your help.

 

[princess pooh]

I love my Rav! The size is perfect and it gets me through the worst snowstorms.

 

[DaisyD]

Wow, How rude. Ask for advice and you put someone down. Getting an Acura isn't paying for a badge. It's paying for quality.

 

[sweet angel]

I have a Mazda Tribute. I LOVE IT!!!!! it comes with a great warranty: 4 year/50,000 instead of the normal 3/36,000. it is wonderful.

I have an '04 Tribute and love it. Would buy another in a heartbeat, especially since they restyled the interior and have the shifter on the console now instead of the column.

Sorry, I know you asked for more RAV4 drivers, but I love my Trib!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Wow, How rude. Ask for advice and you put someone down. Getting an Acura isn't paying for a badge. It's paying for quality.

Well first of all an Acura wasn't even on her list. In the OP it stated that they had a price range that ruled out things in the Acura range.

Second, an Acura is a Honda with a fancy tag on it. Quality in Hondas and Acuras are the same. There was a report a few years ago that showed the Honda/Acura plant. At the end of the line most of the cars went right or left. The ones on one side received Honda branding and the ones that went to the other received Acura branding.Ya, it's paying for a badge. Honda is the quality, the tag is just cosmetic.

 

[DaisyD]

Well first of all an Acura wasn't even on her list. In the OP it stated that they had a price range that ruled out things in the Acura range.

Second, an Acura is a Honda with a fancy tag on it. Quality in Hondas and Acuras are the same. There was a report a few years ago that showed the Honda/Acura plant. At the end of the line most of the cars went right or left. The ones on one side received Honda branding and the ones that went to the other received Acura branding.Ya, it's paying for a badge. Honda is the quality, the tag is just cosmetic.

The choices also listed OTHER. An Acura falls under that. Her husband said no cars in the $80,000 range. It is far from that too. Acuras actually come with better options. When someone asks for an opinion it is rude to cut that person's choice down whether they like it or not. Acuras are very nice and a step up from my Honda.

 

[sweet angel]

The choices also listed OTHER. An Acura falls under that. Her husband said no cars in the $80,000 range. It is far from that too. Acuras actually come with better options. When someone asks for an opinion it is rude to cut that person's choice down whether they like it or not. Acuras are very nice and a step up from my Honda.

Oh for pete's sake, does everything here have to turn into an argument? The OP doesn't want to pay the price of an Acura -- I'm sure if someone had suggested an Infinity (more expensive Nissan), the response would've been the same. No one is bashing you or your vehicle, nor is anyone being rude.

 

[DaisyD]

Oh for pete's sake, does everything here have to turn into an argument? The OP doesn't want to pay the price of an Acura -- I'm sure if someone had suggested an Infinity (more expensive Nissan), the response would've been the same. No one is bashing you or your vehicle, nor is anyone being rude.

I disagree but I'm finished with this thread.

 

[RC Fan]

I don't see where anyone was rude.

I love Acuras too, but I probably wouldn't pony up the extra cash unless there was a feature on the Acura I had to have. I am cheap too!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Another Saturn Vue owner here-don't rule it out.

RAV4 would be the second pick-we were dead set against toyota 3 years ago thinking it was "foreign"-now that we live in a town where 7,000 Americans work building Toyotas, that option is now open.

 

[GoofyDad869]

The choices also listed OTHER. An Acura falls under that. Her husband said no cars in the $80,000 range. It is far from that too. Acuras actually come with better options. When someone asks for an opinion it is rude to cut that person's choice down whether they like it or not. Acuras are very nice and a step up from my Honda.

And in the OP I stated that we'd like to be in the $25k-$35k range for price. Allowing for a fudge factor of 10% (I think that's a reasonable amount of fudge room for those 'gotta-have' options like rear seat entertainment), the most we'd be willing to pay would still be well under $40k. The Acura does NOT fall under that. A base Acura STARTS at around $37k (any other trim options bump it over $40k immediately) - if we were looking in that price range I'd be asking about BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, & Land Rover instead of Chevy, Subaru and Toyota.

Price isn't our biggest concern (as I said in the OP), but we know what our target price should be and want to stay in that range if at all possible. So a suggestion that STARTS 15% higher than our stated high end target should be taken seriously?

Where is the perceived rudeness? I did use the example of the '$80k M-B Gelandewagen (G-Class)' as being obviously well out of our price range - it's a literary device called 'hyperbole'. I could just as easily said "no biggie HUMMERs please". Which brings me to another point - Does anyone else think 'biggie HUMMER' would be a good band name? But I digress...

So if we're now nit-picking semantics, I'll go ahead and admit to misleading people with the OP / title. I admit I should have said 'below 4000lb curb weight' rather than "mid-size", but how many people know the approximate curb weight of the vehicle they drive (show of hands)? I tried to explain the inclusion of the Honda Pilot (at 4500lb curb weight) in our consideration because it is the smallest Honda SUV (that I'm aware of) that has a V6 engine. It looks a little big for our needs, but we haven't test-driven anything so we're still considering it.

I think I rather specifically stated what we were looking for, and am asking for opinions from owners and/or drivers of these specific vehicles. I'm also aware that there's a wide world of vehicles out there for any given set of parameters, and I've not been actively researching these SUVs for very long (basically I started late last weekend). Since I've not put in hours & hours of research (yet), I was also asking people if there were models WITHIN OUR SPECIFIED PARAMETERS that I may have overlooked (the Saturn Vue suggestion was one, for example). That's why that "Other" option is up there.

For the record, here's our restated parameters - price range is $25k-$35k, size is sub-4000lb curb weight (small-size to mid-size SUV), engine is V6 (or blown 4-cyl if available in price range) with around 200hp - anything above that power-wise is gravy. I didn't bring this up in the OP, but we'd also like very good safety features (since this will hopefully be our son's vehicle in 5 years time) - like crash test ratings.

After KAMommy read this thread last night (and posted), she and I talked about the Nissan Quest I brought up. She's now willing to consider it. Here's the clinker which KAMommy figured out last night (do try this): find side-view pictures of a Nissan Quest and a Chevrolet Equinox and compare them side-by-side. Spooky, ain't it? So, what's the difference between some minivans and some SUVs - perception.

 

[sweet angel]

So Tribute's aren't an option, huh? Phooey!

 

[GoofyDad869]

sweetangel-
The Mazda Tribute is one that we'll probably consider. We drove a Ford Escape rental to the World a couple of years back. It (the rental Escape) wasn't optioned the way we would want for our daily-driver, though - so it's not an apples-to-apples comparision. The Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute share the same platform and I think pretty much all of the mechanical bits. The pricing on the Tribute looks very competitive with our price range.

 

[sweet angel]

You are correct -- Trib and Escape are basically the same vehicle. Trib is outfitted a little nicer IMO. Price is nice. Ride is nice, handling is nice.

I know a few people with Hyundai Santa Fe's as well -- all have rave reviews. The warranties on the Hyundais are amazing.

 

[KAMommy]

I just wanted to thank you, Sweet Angel, for sticking up for me. I started reading the post as I finished lunch and was...well, I guess, surprised is the best description. I make a point to TRY not to be rude, and I can't really imagine how I was.

Oh well, to each his own...

And thanks again to everyone who is helping us out. I think I will go research a Mazda now!