sac's SUV-buying saga - finally complete!

I'm starting to think seriously about a new car, probably an SUV ....

Some features I'd like to have:

- Good to excellent fuel efficiency (regular gas)
- High clearance for non-paved/rugged roads on vacations
- 4wd or AWD for above reason
- fold down flat rear seat(s) with 6'-plus long flat cargo area so two people could sleep in it
- available 2" trailer hitch (or reasonable ability to install one while keeping the good clearance (for hitch-mount bike rack)
- seating for 5-6 adults

Recommendations? Cost?

Define "good to excellent fuel economy"

This might be a good place to start:
http://www.hybridsuv.com/

The Highlander hybrid might be a good fit. Depending on your price point, one of the Lexus models might as well. Not sure if the others have 2012/2013 models.

rastro said:

Define "good to excellent fuel economy"

This might be a good place to start:
http://www.hybridsuv.com/
I don't know for sure, but I'd want it to be best or near best in class. Hopefully better than my 2000 Chrysler minivan.


I'm not sure if any SUV's seats fold flat enough to sleep on. Though my experience is a bit old.

40 mpg+ highway is a threshold I'd like to find.

Subaru Outback or Tribeca?

I notice that the manufacturer's webpage says that the Highlander Hybrid (as opposed to non-Hybrid) is not designed for off-road use. Now, we aren't going to take off cross-country, but we do like to go on some of those unpaved back roads in National Parks and similar (some that say 4 wheel drive recommended/required) ... is that "off-road"?

Subarus tend to have less than great mpg because of the all wheel drive.

But its a trade off I will gladly take.

Re Subarus, I'm wondering if they have the cargo space and clearance we are looking for? And are they working on a hybrid? That might help with the mpg.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

40 mpg+ highway is a threshold I'd like to find.
Realistically, I don't think I'll find that together with the other features/characteristics I mentioned. But high 20s at least would be nice.


Was in a Toyota showrrom recently and was astonished to see the Highlander gas version gets only 22mpg hiway. Who in their right mind would buy something like that!?

Is that a Subaru Impreza, soda? I love, love, love my 2007 Impreza, but I'm not sure it would fit sac's requirements.

I think that's the new Outback.

An Outback would work!

I don't think that the Subarus have a very long cargo area. Am I wrong about that?

The Outback is like a boat. Check it out.

The Outback has tons of space and has a fairly rugged design that should meet your needs.

Well, the Outback does have a large cargo area (71cf) with seats down, but as with all of the auto websites, they don't give linear dimensions. Also they don't say whether the seats fold flat. (Many of the other websites do specify that.)

But it does sound like a possibility.

I guess I'm going to have to do some car dealer visits, much as I hate that whole process.

I misspoke - they do say that the seats fold flat. Maybe all the car-makers have realized that this is a desirable thing!

Just as important to me is the city MPG. Subarus don't impress me on either. I'm comparing this to my 2003 Ford Escape. Seems like marginal progress over the past decade.

I rented a peugot (puegot?) eco diesel crossover type vehilce in italy (model g-8??) it is rated at 80mpg i don't think it is available in usa. I got over 50mpg with it. not sure why this type of vehilce cannot be sold here.

oots

Because we're idiots when it comes to diesel. No wonder Europeans laugh at our dalliance with hybrids (Yukon!!) when their Fords and Opels get 70-75 mpg.

the model is peugot 3008 diesel electric hybrid and is rated at 74mpg. the vehicle was awesome-held 5 adults in comfort as well as 5 large pieces of luggage and performed/handled well.
if I knew I had a 500+mile range with a tank of diesel I would consider it,

oots

sac said:

I'm starting to think seriously about a new car, probably an SUV ....

Some features I'd like to have:

- Good to excellent fuel efficiency (regular gas)
- High clearance for non-paved/rugged roads on vacations
- 4wd or AWD for above reason
- fold down flat rear seat(s) with 6'-plus long flat cargo area so two people could sleep in it
- available 2" trailer hitch (or reasonable ability to install one while keeping the good clearance (for hitch-mount bike rack)
- seating for 5-6 adults

Recommendations? Cost?


To answer your question. No, it doesn't exist. Best gas mileage you will get is 23/24 highway and city will be under 20.

Honda pilot might be the closest to your description. Subaru outback only seats 5.


I know everyone raves about the Subaru Outback, but I found the 4-cylinder engine to be a drag. I had a 2001 Outback that was great for about six years. It handled well in snow and rain, there was plenty of room in back, it was kinda cute (made the fact that I was driving a station wagon more tolerable) and had decent features, but I really missed the 6-cylinder.

Regarding European mileage comparisons, a few points: 1) their gasoline is much better than the swill we get here, 2) many of their cars are in fact diesels, and their diesel is better than ours, and 3) many have a cool feature where the engine "dies" at stops then restarts when the accelerator is pushed.

After 30 years of Volvos, I chose an Outback... and I love driving it (as compared with my previous Swedish workhorses, which developed performance parameters best described as "Stately").

Truth be told, the Outback's rear seats fold down NEARLY flat. And, if I wish, I can now replace my factory-supplied static side mirrors with street-safer foldable versions. Otherwise, though, it's been a step up in performance with no significant loss of utility or creature comforts... for a lot less moolah.

-s.

BTW: This video came out after I'd made my choice.



RVM said:

Regarding European mileage comparisons, a few points: 1) their gasoline is much better than the swill we get here, 2) many of their cars are in fact diesels, and their diesel is better than ours, and 3) many have a cool feature where the engine "dies" at stops then restarts when the accelerator is pushed.

Better diesel yes but not better gasoline. It just looks better because the Europeans use RON rather than the average of the RON and the MON, called the Anti-Knock Index, AKI.
As for the start/stop function, that is coming on new BMW's. The reason for slow uptake is that the EPA testing cycle doesn't or hasn't until now been able to factor in the start/stop function meaning a manufacturer doesn't get to claim an MPG boost hence can't justify to the consumer the added cost of installing the feature.


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