Recommendations for mid-size SUV?

[UK78ALUM]

We are looking to buy an SUV next spring. I love my Sequoia, especially on the highway, but it is a 4 ton behemoth and loves gas. So, we will keep it for trips and now we need something smaller for getting around town.

It's usually just the two of us now, so something the size of a Blazer or smaller would be fine. She's been in the CRV and the Acadia, but that's about it.

We want all the bells and whistles such as GPS, and I definitely think the nicer the better, but we probably would not spend the bucks for a BMW or Mercedes, and she would definitely not buy a Cayenne, unfortunately :icon_frown:.

So, has anyone seen the new Buick? I think it's a nicer version of the Acadia, but I'm not sure. Also, any other vehicles that you particularly love or hate?

Thanks folks.........

[WILD1]

Don't know if this fits your criteria but I absolutely love my Hyundai Santa Fe. I used to drive a Jeep Cherokee, I liked it and drove it for years but last Summer it was time to buy something new and I wanted a vehicle with better safety ratings/features and one that got MUCH better gas mileage. I'm completely satisfied...plus the warranty can't be beat.

[Will Lavender]

Just bought a Honda Pilot -- though I'm really not sure if that's considered mid-size. Thing drives wonderfully. Ton of room inside, but it handles better than the larger SUVs I've driven. I've owned my Accord for seven years and haven't had one problem, so I trust the Honda brand.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Well my husband just bought me a 08 Ford Escape in June..I have never owned an SUV and I will tell you I love it.......I am getting 30 miles per gallon in it.....drives great..they totally redesigned the Escape this year

[BigBlue75]

Dave, I would recommend the Blazer. I've owned and driven daily a 4 door, 4WD LT Blazer for several years now and I love it. It's got the V-6, which gives me all the power I need. Gas mileage is very good for an SUV, I average mid twenties per gallon. It's comfortable and roomy, but you don't feel like you're driving an RV, if you get my meaning.

I think the "Blazer" name has been replaced by "Trailblazer" now, and they've tweaked the body style just a bit, but it's about time for me to think about getting a new one myself and I'm definitely going to give them a look.

Oh, and OnStar is now or is going to be standard equipment on new Chevys, if that means anything to you.

Hope that helps.

[CatKroboth]

Humvee H1 or H2.... Oh wait sorry...

My sister has a Highlander an loves it, and they come in a Hybrid model now if you are interested.

The Chevy Equinox/Saturn Vue is a nice little ride, powerful enough that you don't feel like you are going to get run over.

I have heard alot of good stuff about the Hyundia...

This is probably the most competitive part of the market right now, with everyone coming out with a Hybrid model and or Flexfuel...

[freethrow]

Don't know if this fits your criteria but I absolutely love my Hyundai Santa Fe. I used to drive a Jeep Cherokee, I liked it and drove it for years but last Summer it was time to buy something new and I wanted a vehicle with better safety ratings/features and one that got MUCH better gas mileage. I'm completely satisfied...plus the warranty can't be beat.

I have a Hyundai that I have driven for almost 7 years. Bought it for the gas mileage. Price too to be honest. :) I have had almost no trouble with it. I had a plug wire fail at around 60,000 miles and one sensor for the automatic shift failed around then too and that is it. All covered by warranty. Didn't spend a dime.

[kybuc]

My wife has an GMC Acadia. She absolutely loves it. The Acadia may look mid size and get mid size gas mileage but it has more cargo capacity than a Chevy Tahoe.

We got it fully loaded minus the GPS, I have a Garmin that takes up that slack .

If you decide to go with the Acadia you will be very satisfied.

[DenCat]

Not sure if this qualifies as an SUV, but give the Nissan Murano(sp) a look. I don't own one, but I have friends who do and they love it. I have driven it and it drives great.

[surveyor]

We have a 2004 Volvo XC90 2.5T AWD. We've had it for 4 years July 1st and we're really pleased with it. Gas mileage is about 24 mpg hwy. We've about 71k on it, including a few trips to Florida and numerous trips to the Smokey Mountains in the fall and winter.
However, Volvo no longer offers the 5 cylinder 2.5 turbo. Current offerings are a 3.2L V6 generating 240 hp, a 4.4L V8 generating 310 hp.
Both of those get about 20 mpg hwy.
We've been completely satisfied with it. Handling is more car-like, and with the AWD performs well on snow.
If the 2.5T is more to your liking regarding gas mileage, I'd gather there's still a few available Certified Pre-owned.

My brother-in-law has owned a few Hyundai Santa Fe's as well as a few Sonatas and has been extremely pleased with those vehicles.

My in-laws bought a Honda Pilot last year that they really like. They got a very good deal on a new one at Swope Auto Center.:thumbup:

[CATHYnKY]

I have an '02 Escape. Love it! When I get ready to buy another vehicle, I'll get another Escape.

[UKSam]

I am glad this thread was posted. My wife is wanting to get rid of the "van" and we are looking at some of the crossover vehicles. 90% of the time it is just us and the 2 kids but we still would like the 3rd row seating. The third row doesn't have to be spacious. Short trips across town would be about it.

We really like the looks of the new Mazda, Nissian Outlook and the Chrysler Pacifica. The Pacifica is the only one that has been around for a couple of years. If anyone has a crossover (seating for six) please give me your thoughts.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

A good friend just got a Toyota FJ Cruiser that is UK blue, that I think is one of the best looking vehicles on the road. I keep joking with him to let me use it for game days this fall.

http://www.toyota.com/images/vehicles/2008/fjcruiser/gallery/color/photo_6.jpg

[TransientAlum]

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4 door

Woo Hoo!!!

[CoquieKat]

My next-door neighbor has a Hyundai Santa Fe as well, and she really seems to like it.

[freethrow]

My next-door neighbor has a Hyundai Santa Fe as well, and she really seems to like it.

The 2007 model is a good looking thing.

http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/52870/2007-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-10.jpg

[surveyor]

PS Dave,

With regard to the Volvo XC90 (or any other Volvo purchase, for that matter).

You can opt for the OSD (Overseas Delivery Program). With overseas delivery you go to Gothenberg, Sweden to pick up your car. You get a tour of the Volvo plant and you can take your car on a test drive through Europe. Also, you save 8% on the purchase of the car. Included in the purchase of the vehicle:

Your roundtrip airfare
1 night's hotel stay in Gothenberg, Sweden

After you've tested your car, Volvo preps it for shipping back the U.S. You return home and await delivery.

The next Volvo we buy, we're going to opt for OSD.:thumbup:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=107534

[Will Lavender]

A good friend just got a Toyota FJ Cruiser that is UK blue, that I think is one of the best looking vehicles on the road. I keep joking with him to let me use it for game days this fall.

http://www.toyota.com/images/vehicles/2008/fjcruiser/gallery/color/photo_6.jpg

That's a really sharp vehicle. A guy in our neighborhood has a maroon one, but I like the blue better. (Obviously.)

Problem is: it's two-door. For a family of four, like ours, that's just not practical and would be a tremendous headache every time we all tried to pile in.

[bleedbluelady]

I have a Highlander. Absolutely, positively love it. V6, so decent gas mileage. Rides smooth as any car I've been in. I've carried a ton of landscape stones in it. My husband has a Jag...he is trying his darndest to take my Highlander away from me.

[MurphyLee]

That's a really sharp vehicle. A guy in our neighborhood has a maroon one, but I like the blue better. (Obviously.)

Problem is: it's two-door. For a family of four, like ours, that's just not practical and would be a tremendous headache every time we all tried to pile in.
Actually it is a four door.The handle on the back door cannot be seen unless the front door is open,sorta like the four door pickups.A guy I work with has one and loves it.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

Actually it is a four door.The handle on the back door cannot be seen unless the front door is open,sorta like the four door pickups.A guy I work with has one and loves it.

I have a 07 Accord that is only a couple months old, but I might have to trade it in for the FJ Cruiser.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/31/BlueFJCruiser.jpg/800px-BlueFJCruiser.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/31/BlueFJCruiser.jpg)

[WildcatGirl]

...and I LOVE it...mine doesn't have navigation system, but it is an option if I'm not mistaken (I know for certain it is on the slightly larger XL-7, which is still smaller than your current gas hog but has 7 passenger seating) the Grand Vitaras are great on gas and a great value. I got the relatively basic model for like $16,900 (my main reason to want to get a new vehicle was to get back into a manual transmission that I enjoy driving now that I'm not sharing a car with my daughter who could roast a clutch a month with her lack of shifting ability!...and of course manual transmission is usually only found in base models) but mine still has a lot of things that are considered options by most manufacturers such as power windows/locks, remote, reclining REAR seats in addition to the front ones...a feature Jordan loves, a nice audio system (to be factory) that has XM/CD/AM/FM/MP3, a hard covered full size spare, etc. They come with sunroofs and a host of other options.

The Suzuki Dealership here in Huntsville makes buying a car an actually simple and relatively hassle free process (and it's my understanding that is a manufacturer thing not just a specific dealer thing). Before settling on the Grand Vitara, I had toyed with the idea of buying Jeep Wrangler...since I wasn't specifically looking for an SUV...just something fun to drive...and ended up at the Suzuki Dealership because I just got plain frustrated at the Jeep one getting the run around (likely because they can't imagine that a girl is smart enough to know they are giving her the run around!) So I told them to forget it and went up the road and bought my 3rd Suzuki in as many years.

I bought my first Suzuki 2 years ago when I was looking for the cheapest little new car I could find, since Ciera was going to be in it most of the time. I got a Forenza and within 2 weeks Brad had traded his Honda for one of their larger more loaded cars. Since then I bought one other Forenza (when the first one was totalled in a head on collision last summer) and then traded it for the Grand Vitara once Ciera got a car of her own.

[UK78ALUM]

...and I LOVE it...mine doesn't have navigation system, but it is an option if I'm not mistaken (I know for certain it is on the slightly larger XL-7, which is still smaller than your current gas hog but has 7 passenger seating) the Grand Vitaras are great on gas and a great value. I got the relatively basic model for like $16,900 (my main reason to want to get a new vehicle was to get back into a manual transmission that I enjoy driving now that I'm not sharing a car with my daughter who could roast a clutch a month with her lack of shifting ability!...and of course manual transmission is usually only found in base models) but mine still has a lot of things that are considered options by most manufacturers such as power windows/locks, remote, reclining REAR seats in addition to the front ones...a feature Jordan loves, a nice audio system (to be factory) that has XM/CD/AM/FM/MP3, a hard covered full size spare, etc. They come with sunroofs and a host of other options.

The Suzuki Dealership here in Huntsville makes buying a car an actually simple and relatively hassle free process (and it's my understanding that is a manufacturer thing not just a specific dealer thing). Before settling on the Grand Vitara, I had toyed with the idea of buying Jeep Wrangler...since I wasn't specifically looking for an SUV...just something fun to drive...and ended up at the Suzuki Dealership because I just got plain frustrated at the Jeep one getting the run around (likely because they can't imagine that a girl is smart enough to know they are giving her the run around!) So I told them to forget it and went up the road and bought my 3rd Suzuki in as many years.

I bought my first Suzuki 2 years ago when I was looking for the cheapest little new car I could find, since Ciera was going to be in it most of the time. I got a Forenza and within 2 weeks Brad had traded his Honda for one of their larger more loaded cars. Since then I bought one other Forenza (when the first one was totalled in a head on collision last summer) and then traded it for the Grand Vitara once Ciera got a car of her own.

That's good info, thanks!

Two questions - how did everyone come out of the head-on? Did the car do what it was supposed to do? Air bags, crumple zones, etc. ??

What is maintenance like? How expensive is it to repair? What problems have you had?

Thanks again!

[WildcatGirl]

Well my little Forenza (if you're not familiar with them think Honda Civic size) was hit head on (while I was sitting still essentially) at about 50 by an older Jeep Cherokee, the impact sent my car backwards into the vehicle sitting behind me and was certainly TOTALLED...but I came out of it with only a bum ankle (and the worry of being stranded 3 hrs from home...lol) which was caused by the fact that my foot was hovering over the brake pedal at the moment he hit me and when the ball of my foot hit the pedal my toes touched my shin. Now when you consider the circumstances, I'd say my car did an awesome job protecting me...wouldn't you?

I had absolutely no problems with my second Forenza, the first one there was a problem with a connection under the seat that would come loose sometimes when the seat was moved that I had taken in twice but I was told that they redesigned that connector for subsequent year models (and since I had no problems with the one that was 1 year newer I guess they did) At this point, I only have 1300 miles on my Grand Vitara...so one wouldn't expect any problems, and I haven't had any. Brad has had his Verona for 3 years now and hasn't had any troubles...only time it's been in the shop has been for new brakes 2 weeks ago and for the usual oil changes.

[The Old School JPS]

The Honda Pilot drives so well for an SUV. You should take one for a test drive.

Has anyone here had any experiences with the Ford Escape hybrid?

[TransientAlum]

Last accident I had was in a 78 Spruance although technically, our 90 something Tico hit something too....