SUV Recommendation?

[Patriot201]

Okay, everyone. I have a challenge for you...

Which mid-sized SUV do you most recommend?

Here is the criteria the soon-to-be owner has set:

~ Must be fairly fuel-efficient
~ Must be able to use "regular" fuel
~ Needs to be large enough to transport two dogs and at least three passengers.
~ Needs to be large enough to haul stuff from the hardware (moderate amounts of wood and other "goodies."
~ Needs to be large enough to transport a long-weekend's worth of boat stuff.


The soon-to-be owner is NOT looking for large SUVs such as Suburbans, Tahoes, Expeditions, etc.

Some of the contenders:

~ Toyota Highlander
~ Honda Pilot/Acura MDX (the only problem with the Acura is that it requires premium fuel)
~ ?????

Please help!

[skaterbabscpst]

A full size Cherokee would do all that. Heck, I could probably manage everything but the wood hauling in MY cherokee! lol And I have a hitch and trailer for hauling anything too big for the cargo area. (Cam uses it for trash runs.)

[jen_nah]

There is a lot of great options out there now days.

Saturn Vue (could even go with the hybrid model)
Saturn Outlook/GMC Acadia
Pontiac Torrant/Chevy Equinox
Ford Escape (also offers a hybrid model)
Volvo XC90
Mazda CX7 or CX9

[natysr]

Our Nissan Pathfinder has good towing capacity. It seats 7, but the last row (which seats 2) folds down to allow more cargo room.

The manual states that premium gas should be used (actually most manuals say that now) but that is a scam. Unless you actually hear pinging etc., you don't need premium gas.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-07-30-premiumgas_x.htm

[Patriot201]

Thanks, guys!

I am going to make this more challenging. I got more information about what he wants...

~ I think the XC90 is too small for this buyer's taste. He needs a little more cargo room.

~ Jeeps are definitely out (he hates Jeeps).

~ Fords are probably out (he has owned several and is tired of the issues he has encountered).

~ He doesn't want Chevrolet or any GM products.

~ The vehicle needs to have approximately the same amount of room as a Ford Explorer (so anything that is significantly smaller is out).



What do you all think of these vehicles:

~ Toyota Sequoia
~ Toyota Highlander (Hybrid or regular)
~ Toyota 4Runner (I think it is a bit small, though)
~ Honda Pilot

~ Any other suggestions?


Thanks for your help! Please keep the suggestions coming! :D

[jen_nah]

Thanks, guys!

I am going to make this more challenging. I got more information about what he wants...

~ I think the XC90 is too small for this buyer's taste. He needs a little more cargo room.

~ Jeeps are definitely out (he hates Jeeps).

~ Fords are probably out (he has owned several and is tired of the issues he has encountered).

~ He doesn't want Chevrolet or any GM products.

~ The vehicle needs to have approximately the same amount of room as a Ford Explorer (so anything that is significantly smaller is out).



What do you all think of these vehicles:

~ Toyota Sequoia
~ Toyota Highlander (Hybrid or regular)
~ Toyota 4Runner (I think it is a bit small, though)
~ Honda Pilot

~ Any other suggestions?


Thanks for your help! Please keep the suggestions coming! :D

Well if he is needing more cargo room then some you have listed are actually smaller then the Explorer. The Sequoia actually gets bad gas mileage esp for the large SUV market since it is considered a full size SUV (comparable to the Tahoe & Expedition).

The Toyota Highlander cargo capacity is 80 cu ft where the Explorer is 85 cu ft.

Here is the cargo cu ft/ gas mileage/tow capacity on a lot of popular models

GM Acadia/Saturn Outlook
116.9 cu ft/ 18 city 26hwy/ 4500 tow

Honda Pilot
87.6 cu ft/ 18 city 24 Hwy/ 3500 tow

Toyota Highlander
80.6 cu ft/ 18 city 24 hwy/ 3500 tow

Mazda CX9
100.7 cu ft/ 18 city 26hwy/ 2000 tow

Ford Explorer
85.8 cu ft/ 15 city 21 hwy/ 7290 tow

Volvo XC90 (more cargo then the Highlander)
84.9 cu ft /17 city 22hwy/ 3970 tow

Toyota Sequoia
128.1 cu ft /15 city 18hwy/ 6500 tow

Toyota 4Runner
18 city 22 city/ 5000 tow

Chevy Tahoe (takes gas plus Flexfuel which lessens our dependancy on forgein oil)
108.9 cu ft/ 15 city 21 hwy/ 7700 tow

Ford Expedition
108.2 cu ft/ 14 city 20 hwy/ 9100 tow

[Niea]

I have a Honda CR-V and love it, but I realize it doesn't suit your needs (low towing capacity). Plus, if you find the Rav4 too small, this would be also.

But I love my CR-V so much that if I needed to upgrade, I'd definitely get the Pilot.

Also, I don't know if all versions of the CX-7 require premium fuel, but I know some do (my boss has one). His is turbocharged, though, so that's probably why.

[CDNTech]

I love the CX-9 and the Pilot. A friend's mom has had a Pilot for the last few years (3 I think) and has no issues whatsoever.

[Patriot201]

Thanks, everyone! :D

[natysr]

I'll add specs for the Nissan Pathfinder as it was not listed above. The Pathfinder now comes in a V6 or a V8 and 4x2 or 4x4.

Full passenger capacity: 149.1
2nd and 3rd rows folded flat: 79.1
3rd row folded flat: 49.2
All seats up: 16.5

Towing capacity
V6 6,000
V8 7,000

Gas Mileage:

4x2 V6 15/22
4x2 V8 13/18
4x4 V6 14/20
4x4 V8 12/18

[kimogilvie]

I have a pilot and it's great. The only maintenance that it has needed is oil changes...and I do drive the thing into the ground. I frequently cart myself, DH, two kids (both in Boulevard car seats), great dane, stroller, cradle swing, and other baby/toddler stuff all in one trip when going to MIL's.