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Midsize SUV recommendations (leaving Acura)

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by HondaTheNextOne, Apr 12, 2015.

  1. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    (Hopefully im in the right forum, my apologies if not)

    A little over a year ago my wife bot a 2012 Acura MDX. To keep a long story short Acura has not lived up to their 'luxury' standards despite taking the vehicle in for repair 'the noise and heat issues are "normal"' they say

    They WILL put her in a 2013 Acura, same features as her current 2012 (has leather and AWD but little else ) and give her what she owes on it.

    We looked at a Lexus yesterday and loved it but it would put is upside down about $4000.

    My wife doesn't HAVE to have a luxury though , so I'm here for recommendations and thoughts on other makes and models. We've basically ruled out Toyota mid size SUVs just because for instance the Highlander is too much.
    Nissan Pathfinders are decent priced but not so good on safety (that we can tell)

    So, given safety ratings, and it must be a mid size SUV , what do you all recommend in the 2011-2013 range?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    funny, my partner loves his, and it's a 2012 i believe. is the rav 4 too small?
     
  3. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    Haven't looked at those but will compare them. Upon mentioning it she is under the impression they are smaller and she 'might as well get a car' but I'll let the comparison say for sure :)
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    don't judge anything from the outside. a test drive usually gives abetter feel. sounds like she doesn't want the compromise of a crossover.
     
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  5. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    If you're looking at safety check out used Volvo XC60's. Maybe their used price would be around what you can afford, it's a Volvo so no need to talk safety and it's a nice size SUV if you don't want the third row feature. If you want a third row, look at the XC90. It was ended in model year 2014 after a LONG run to make way for the redesigned XC90 in about two months as a 2016 model. So you can probably get great deals out there on a 2014/13/12.

    Oh, and if looking at the XC60 you can also look (I think I'm right on this) at V60's. A little less SUV more sport station wagon-ish but I think similar size.
     
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  6. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I wanted to add real quick. IF you do look at the 2015 Volvo XC60, research the engine it has. Volvo is in the middle of changing engines and the XC60 got caught up in this and it causes confusion. Also note that they changed things and made a 2015.5 model year which has from what I've read interior and exterior updates.

    Basically their new engines are called Drive-e engines. They are 2.0L 4 cylinders. The T5 has a turbocharger. The T6 has both a turbocharger and a supercharger.

    Confusing this is their old engines were called T5 and T6 as well.

    So you can get an XC60 that's a T6 but it could have the 'old' engine or the new Drive'e engine, you have to find out for certain.

    Also, you can only get the new Drive-e engines in XC60's with front wheel drive. If you want AWD in an XC60 you have to go with their 'old' engines. It's because their new Drive-e engines are basically built for their new SPA (scalable product architecture) and are incompatible with the AWD system in the XC60 since it isn't built on SPA. (The first car coming out from them built on SPA is the new XC90, then down the road they will refresh all their cars and they will be built on the SPA or CMA platform, useless knowledge, lol).

    Oh, and I 'think' if you go FWD with the new Drive-e engine you also get the new 8 speed automatic transmission they are using.
     
  7. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    Thanks paradox I was wondering since they had quite a few t5 and t6s on kbb.

    Do you know about the cargo area--it shows as 30.8 cubic Ft compared to about 80 on the acura. But overall length and height are similar between vehicles so why such a gap?

    My wife shows the 2015 xc60 has 67 cu ft per the Volvo site.

    Are you familiar with the trunk/cargo area?
     
  8. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I'm not unfortunately, sorry. The Acura has a third row, right? The xc60 does not so you'll just get figures for cargo with and without the second row folded flat. Acura will probably have three; cargo behind third row, area with third folded and area with third and second folded flat. I think the xc60 may have a little less overall though, maybe the outgoing Gen 1 XC90 is more comparable in cargo room? I'm just not that familiar with them in terms of cargo room.
     
  9. breakfast

    breakfast Active Member

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    You can't beat a 2015 Subaru Outback 2.5 Premium with the Eyesight/Power Liftback option if you are looking for a mid-sized AWD Suv- like vehicle- it's the safest car you can buy per IIHS, and 32 mpg highway rated. Under 30k new. I have driven one and am very impressed. For more of a luxury feel, the Limited is not much more.
     
  10. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Forgot the Subaru as well, good call. Safety is there and they keep one heck of a resale value from what I have read. I just don't like their styling at all. Did I mention I don't like how they look? Lol
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i was thinking suburu as well. think of them as small for some reason. especially compared to acura, thats why i was wondering if the rag 4 was big enough.
     
  12. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Yeah I personally wouldn't 'think' of them as an MDX/Pathfinder/Highlander/XC60(90) type replacement but hey, if it works... Subaru had a larger suv competitor but didn't they stop making it? The Tribeca I think? Not sure though, I really never liked subaru's to know about their model lineup.
     
  13. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    They do still have the Legacy Outback wagon
     
  14. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Not anymore. "Legacy" and "Outback" are now mutually exclusive. The former is a sedan only, the later is an SUV only.

    As someone who had to replace a non-Outback Legacy wagon, this was disappointing.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    poor sales?
     
  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Or they wanted more Outback sales to keep the Legacies from dragging down their car CAFE.
     
  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Also, over a decade ago, it was a way to convert the most-rollover-prone passenger car into the least-rollover-prone SUV.
     
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  18. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    Subaru...I've had more folks recommend those lately (including when my Honda was wrecked in February but I went with Prius :) )

    Going to test drive a Nissan pathfinder premium today. It's between that and the lexus 350 Rx right now

    Little concerned the pathfinder won't keep its resale value but the add ins are unbeatable

    Will check into the Subaru's as well

    Thanks everyone, keep em coming!
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that will be an interesting comparison. if the lexus isn't head and shoulders above a pathfinder, i would be concerned for toyota's future.:cool:
     
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  20. HondaTheNextOne

    HondaTheNextOne Junior Member

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    Lexus was clearly an awesome ride ( head and shoulders above Acura)
    But Pathfinder had more of the features we wanted at a better price.
    We ended up with a 13 pathfinder premium and so far we love it