Need suggestions for reliable suv/crossover

sz9144

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 11, 2005
Messages
500
I have a 12 yr old ford escape xlt suv that runs fine but I know that one day she'll be beyond repair. So I'm beginning to gather data on a good, reliable suv replacement.

I have had to put so much money into repairs that I could have bought it three times over. However, I have read that the newest ford escapes are being made better.

My mother has a Honda cr-v and loves it. Hasn't had to do any repairs in 5 years.

That's exactly what I'm looking for, a car that only needs routine maintenance.

But... I travel for a living and am in my car all day every day, so I also want something with a little luxury and comfort as well.

Looking into the BMW x1, Volvo crossover, Buick enclave, and Subaru TriBeCa

Thanks!
 
We have a Hyundai Santa Fe and have been very pleased. They also have the Tuscon which is slightly smaller, depending on your needs. I felt like the Hyundai offered a lot of nice options for the price.

The 10 year warranty was a huge plus.
 
Have you looked at any of the Mercedes products? I see you are looking at some of the pricier models/brands.

Have driven their cars exclusively for 4 years now and really loved my last ml350. Lots of space, extremely comfortable to ride in and drive, and awesome features like blind spot monitoring, driver alertness monitoring, built in iPhone charging, push button start, Bluetooth, etc.

Love never taking my keys or phone out of my giant purse! Oh and for drive through they have a braking feature called "hold" that keeps your brake lights on and your car stopped but you can take your foot off the brake. Also enjoy driving their glk. Both are fun to drive and can move.
 
Have you looked at any of the Mercedes products? I see you are looking at some of the pricier models/brands.

Have driven their cars exclusively for 4 years now and really loved my last ml350. Lots of space, extremely comfortable to ride in and drive, and awesome features like blind spot monitoring, driver alertness monitoring, built in iPhone charging, push button start, Bluetooth, etc.

Love never taking my keys or phone out of my giant purse! Oh and for drive through they have a braking feature called "hold" that keeps your brake lights on and your car stopped but you can take your foot off the brake. Also enjoy driving their glk. Both are fun to drive and can move.

I would be very cautions with the Mercedes given how bad their reliablity ratings are.
My Brother has a Kia Sorento and loves it. We have Ford Escapes at work, several are over 100,000 miles now with no problems.
 

Have you considered the Honda Crosstour? A friend has one and really likes it. I ride in the backseat and it is easy and comfortable to get in and out.
 
Toyota Rav4/Honda CRV or larger versions of both Toyota Highlander/Honda Pilot
cant go wrong with either, quality of each/resale values/maintenance/etc/track records....
 
Here's a second recommendation for the Hyundai. We currently have 5 Hyundai SUV's in our family and absolutely love them. They are super low maintenance, great warranty and come fully loaded for the same price as other base models. I love my new Tucson and my hubbie loves the Santa Fe.
 
I'd go with the Subaru, I love mine and I know a lot of people who have had great luck with theirs. Mine's only a year and a half old but I love it to death so far!
 
We have a Hyundai Tucson and a Kia Sorento and love both. My Sorento holds 7, gets better gas mileage and has all the bells and whistles.
Hubby's Tucson is smaller, great features and very comfortable too. Both have been low maintaince.
 
I have a Subaru and it is dream. I have never had anything wrong with it. I could drive forever.
 
Loved loved loved my Subaru! Sad I had to get rid of it for a larger vehicle. I have a Durango now and I love it. Subaru was great for parking (great turning radius). The Durango is so comfy and I love the built in nav and hands free cell.
 
My mom has a 2005 CRV and LOVES it. No maintenance issues to date. I would definitely go look at one. Our family tends to hold onto cars for a really long time, and sometimes what we think of as "luxury" is now standard in the higher models. If that is not enough luxury, check out the Acura MDX and the Lexus RX. Like the CRV, it has rave reviews and low maintenance from people I know.

I have friends with the BMW and they all agree that they absolutely LOVE their car...when it is not in the shop. So I would take that into consideration too.

Happy car hunting!
 
I love my traverse! It big though. It's one of the few cars dh (6'7") is comfortable in.
 
We just bought a Chevy traverse. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this car. We have had really good luck with chevy's in the past. Our suburban made it to 294,000 miles. The traverse is nice because it seats 7, feels like a minivan on the inside, but drives line a car. It has a lot of great safety features, and its pretty :)

Oh and the grey interior with the LTZ trim is just breath taking. My mom bought a Mercedes SUV about the same time, and when she saw my car she said she was a little disappointed her interior wasn't as nice.
 
MAZDA!!

I've had two Mazda 5's (like a mini van but really small...it was great when my kids were little and playing soccer & hockey), Mazda CX-7 (crossover, seats 5), I now drive a Mazda CX-5 crossover that is SMALLER than the CX-7 and seats 5. It's all wheel drive and his name is Gunther. I love him :flower3:
My hubby drives the CX-9 which seats 7, his has all wheel drive as well. The CX-9 is huge and bei9ng huge isn't the best on gas. My 5 is fabulous on gas, even in town.

The Escapes have gotten much better, and I drove a few (hubby works for a dealership so I was able to have them for a few days at a time) but they cost much more than my Mazdas and aren't any BETTER than my Mazdas.
 
We just bought a Chevy traverse. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this car. We have had really good luck with chevy's in the past. Our suburban made it to 294,000 miles. The traverse is nice because it seats 7, feels like a minivan on the inside, but drives line a car. It has a lot of great safety features, and its pretty :)

Oh and the grey interior with the LTZ trim is just breath taking. My mom bought a Mercedes SUV about the same time, and when she saw my car she said she was a little disappointed her interior wasn't as nice.

We had a 2011 Chevy traverse and I loved it at first until it started having to be in the shop all the the time!!!!! Friend still has hers and can't wait to get rid of it! Always in the shop:(. Needless to say I traded mine in because after 14 times in the shop for huge repairs I had had enough! Traded it for a Honda odyssey.
 
We had a 2011 Chevy traverse and I loved it at first until it started having to be in the shop all the the time!!!!! Friend still has hers and can't wait to get rid of it! Always in the shop:(. Needless to say I traded mine in because after 14 times in the shop for huge repairs I had had enough! Traded it for a Honda odyssey.

Well that's not what I wanted to hear :( Maybe the 2013 model is better? :fingers crossed:
 
I have the BMW X5, I love it for the most part. Except for the navi and the cost of the German parts (my Audi A4 was like that too). My Acura TL has a terrific navi and much lower cost on parts so I am spoiled with it. I believe most of the SUVs you have listed suggest using premium gas. We use 93 octane exclusively so that does make them more expensive.
 
Well that's not what I wanted to hear :( Maybe the 2013 model is better? :fingers crossed:

I hope you have better luck than we had:). Ours had the brakes go, the whole power steering unit go ( which they could never fix right!) all the coil packs blew out, the cooling system was recalled for leaks that they "couldn't " fix but just bring it by the dealer and they will refill the coolant:( really!!!!! brand new car and you can't fix it And I have to bring it in to have coolant added forever! Not acceptable! Among countless other things that had to be fixed. Just couldn't trust the car anymore:(. It broke too many times and left me to nervous to drive it without bring stuck:(
 



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