New small SUV?

[NewfieDan]

DW is looking for a new small SUV or cross over. Her current one has become more costly in repairs than the cost of a new one. It's been a while since we bought a new vehicle so we aren't sure what is reliable. She knows that she does NOT want something exotic. The one we have now is a very high end machine, but the repair bills when something broke down were crazy expensive.

Now DW wants something more reliable and either Asian or domestic. The wife is considering a machine about the size of an Escape or equivalent.

Any ideas about what to look at? We are starting the search this weekend.

 

[JB]

Re: New small SUV?

Consumer Reports rates the Subaru Forester and the Toyota RAV4 as the best.

I had a Forester for a couple years and it was bulletproof. #1 daughter's Forester has over 200K and is still a new car.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: New small SUV?

Buy the domestic brands . . . Or at least one that you know is made in the USA. That new Ford Escape looks pretty OK. As for repair costs, they are all getting crazy.

 

[bigdee]

Re: New small SUV?

Buy the domestic brands . . . Or at least one that you know is made in the USA. That new Ford Escape looks pretty OK. As for repair costs, they are all getting crazy.

++Toyota RAV4++ I don't think it is being made in USA yet. There really isn't any suv that is entirely made in in USA these days....they are assembled here with parts from a global network of venders. Some are assembled with pride and some are not but the Toyota's built here or in Japan are.
Cars.com finds that Toyota is the most American of all cars -- more U.S. sourced parts, U.S. production and U.S. sales.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: New small SUV?

Kia Sorrento or Sportage depending on what size you are looking for. More value for the money than anything else you can buy.

 

[emoney]

Re: New small SUV?

I'll echo the Kia Sorento comment from experience. My wife has been driving one for the past 5 years (longest she's every had a car) and has now put over 100k miles on it. It's really been a great vehicle. There's a lot to be desired in the MPG category, but it tows our 3100lb rig like there's nothing back there, which shocked me to be truthful.

Looks-wise, I think GM is making a really nice looking "small-to-midsize" SUV and their V6 has a pretty good history. As far as that goes, I'm not sure a person can go too terribly wrong with a recently built 6 cylinder SUV. I will say they do make them better than they used to, and that's all manufacturers.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: New small SUV?

I'll echo the Kia Sorento comment from experience. My wife has been driving one for the past 5 years (longest she's every had a car) and has now put over 100k miles on it. It's really been a great vehicle. There's a lot to be desired in the MPG category, but it tows our 3100lb rig like there's nothing back there, which shocked me to be truthful.

YUp - my wife had one for 7 years until she traded it in on an Optima. Infinity sound system, power everything, towed our boat with no effort when needed and cost around 10K less than anything else in that feature range.

 

[jkust]

Re: New small SUV?

Which suv is she looking to replace? I'm embarassed to say that I like the looks of some of those small suv's. The Chevy Equinox looks nice and I think that new Sorento looks decent as well. I think most of the small suv's are really coming into their own.

 

[robert graham]

Re: New small SUV?

I agree with JB on the Subaru and Toyota, but my brother-in-law has a Ford Escape Hybrid and I'll have to admit that it's pretty darn nice!....in electric mode, no motor sound at all!...kinda wierd at first!...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New small SUV?

I agree with JB on the Subaru and Toyota, but my brother-in-law has a Ford Escape Hybrid and I'll have to admit that it's pretty darn nice!....in electric mode, no motor sound at all!...kinda wierd at first!...

Ford Esape hybrid was good but they don't make it in a hybrid anymore. The bad thing about the hybrid version is that with the AC on, the engine had to be running.

I would pick the Honda CR-V over a RAV-4 because I hate the spare tire on the back of the car.

When my Lexus GS gets 250K miles on it, I am going to be looking at one of these crossovers too. I like the Hyundai Kia models myself.

I am definitley not a fan of Subarus. A few friends that I know that have them would not buy another one.

 

[JB]

Re: New small SUV?

I agree with JB on the Subaru and Toyota, but my brother-in-law has a Ford Escape Hybrid and I'll have to admit that it's pretty darn nice!....in electric mode, no motor sound at all!...kinda wierd at first!...

An Escape Hybrid would have to be used because they dropped it in favor of the 2 liter Ecoboost. It didn't sell well. I haven't driven one, but I really like my 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Great mileage and rated the best mid size SUV. Driving it is a trip; smooth and quiet, very powerful if you need to pass.

I gave up on my beloved Mercedes MLs because of the cost to use and maintain them. I really liked the Forester but wanted more car. The Highlander Hybrid is the only SUV I have tried that is as pleasant to drive as an ML. Mine has 142,000 miles and still runs and drives new. BTW, it gets better gas mileage than the Forester.

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: New small SUV?

Which suv is she looking to replace? I'm embarassed to say that I like the looks of some of those small suv's. The Chevy Equinox looks nice and I think that new Sorento looks decent as well. I think most of the small suv's are really coming into their own.

She is replacing a Range Rover. Hers is 2003, they are known to be trouble in those years. Recently the alternator went, then the transmission shift motor and recently the tranny itself. Total for parts alone is over $10k. Plus installation, that's why we are looking for new one. Something that will not cost so much in repairs.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New small SUV?

She is replacing a Range Rover. Hers is 2003, they are known to be trouble in those years.

They are basically known to have trouble in all years. My neighbor used to carry a piece of rope in his car to tie a door shut when a door latch would eventually break.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: New small SUV?

An Escape Hybrid would have to be used because they dropped it in favor of the 2 liter Ecoboost.

I heard they dropped the hybrid version because the ecoboost engine version got nearly the same mileage as the hybrid.

 

[JB]

Re: New small SUV?

I heard they dropped the hybrid version because the ecoboost engine version got nearly the same mileage as the hybrid.

Possible. Ecoboost technology is changing a lot of things. Most important, I guess, is that buyers trust ecoboost and many still are wary of hybrids.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: New small SUV?

Back in 2008 when we were looking for a small SUV we tested the Rav4 (made in Cambridge Ontario). It had a really nice ride but what I didn't like was the fact that the rear gate was a swing open, hinged on the passenger side. You would have to load it from the road side of the vehicle rather than the sidewalk side. Wasn't too fond of the spare tire back there either. And the fuel fill was on the road side. For safety I prefer the fuel fill on the passenger side.

We ended up buying a Nissan Rogue. Pleanty of room and pretty decient gas mileage. I'm averaging 26 combined city/highway. It took a bit to get used to the CVT transmission also.

 

[jkust]

Re: New small SUV?

She is replacing a Range Rover. Hers is 2003, they are known to be trouble in those years. Recently the alternator went, then the transmission shift motor and recently the tranny itself. Total for parts alone is over $10k. Plus installation, that's why we are looking for new one. Something that will not cost so much in repairs.

Yes there is a good reason Rovers have such low resale value. I love the looks of the ones from the last several years though. Top Gear loved them as well for their actual off road prowess. As much as Foreign cars have some neat features, I've alway gone slightly used American since the parts are so much cheaper and service is easy to find but I haven't had any issues with any of my American cars back to my 1995 Chrysler when the miles finally got up there. I wonder how much the Kias and the Hyundai small suv'scost to repair since I think the newes ones are really top notch or very close to it in their respective classes and since they are cheaper when new. I absolutely love steep depreciation curves with cars and GM's seem to have been the best for the money over the years. As much as we are a Lexus/Mercedes family I can't in good conscience spend the extra money and prefer to save it instead.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: New small SUV?

Possible. Ecoboost technology is changing a lot of things. Most important, I guess, is that buyers trust ecoboost and many still are wary of hybrids.

More than that - hybrid technology is $$$$. SO if you can get the same milage without all the extra parts

 

[oldjeep]

Re: New small SUV?

I wonder how much the Kias and the Hyundai small suv'scost to repair since I think the newes ones are really top notch or very close to it in their respective classes and since they are cheaper when new.

Hard to say. We've had 3 kias and I've never paid for any thing but general maint (oil/trans/diff) and timing belt changes. The timing belt service can be expensive, but no more than any other vehicl.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: New small SUV?

I don't know if you consider it "small" but have you considered the Ford Flex?