sac's SUV-buying saga - finally complete!
The Honda Piot redesign is enormous and will not get you the mpg you're looking for, I don't think. How about a Mazda CX-9? It's about a foot longer than the Highlander, and seats a bunch pretty comfortably. You could look at a Chevy Traverse as well.
What year did the Pilot change to a bigger model. I might be in the market for a used Pilot but the larger version seems to big for our needs.
mkmama2 said:
What year did the Pilot change to a bigger model. I might be in the market for a used Pilot but the larger version seems to big for our needs.
2008. I had the exact same dilemma and had a really hard time finding a 2007 or older that didn't have a million miles on it.
Any full size SUV, Pilot, Traverse, CX 9 etc are going to get abysmal MPG. Subarus have typically gotten lousy mpgs, but the latest batch have smaller more efficient engines are are finally in the ball park for the class.
If you can put aside the idea of sleeping in the car (how often would that happen?), I think the most difficult thing to find will be a vehicle which has a wide enough, tall enough rear seat to seat 3 full size adults along with good mpg.
If you can put aside the idea of sleeping in the car (how often would that happen?), I think the most difficult thing to find will be a vehicle which has a wide enough, tall enough rear seat to seat 3 full size adults along with good mpg.
Have you looked into the Volve XC70? I am not too sure of the ground clearance, but the back seat folds flat. We get decent mileage in ours and have been very happy with it!
The conundrum is that weight impacts mpg. So awd mechanics = weight. Larger back seat = weight, etc. Smaller car, smaller engine = better mpg.
While I like the XC 70, it gets only marginally better mpg than an SUV, its certainly a far more enjoyable drivers vehicle. If you want much better mpg, then smaller or diesel or hybrid are the best options.
While I like the XC 70, it gets only marginally better mpg than an SUV, its certainly a far more enjoyable drivers vehicle. If you want much better mpg, then smaller or diesel or hybrid are the best options.
Mini has just come out with a new club man that seems quite large. Looks like a small-medium SUV to me.
Perhaps this is just an issue with our particular vehicle, but we have significant clearance issues with our current minivan plus hitch-mounted bike rack on paved roads when we get to places (like our driveway entrance from the street) where there are "dips" or bumps or unevenness. We have to be VERY careful when we drive it, especially when the rear cargo area of the van is loaded for vacation and we don't even consider taking it off the paved roads. We want plenty of clearance to avoid any chance of having to deal with that in the future plus we do like sitting up higher (as in most minivans and SUVs) and being better able to see the road ahead as well as the scenery when traveling. And, even ignoring the sleeping aspect, I have to say that the fold down seats that don't fold flat are annoying because you cannot pack things in nearly as well on a sloped surface.
I may not purchase the next vehicle right away and I know that there will be compromises to be made, but I figured I'd put it out there to be sure that we don't miss looking at good possibilities when we get ready to take the plunge.
I may not purchase the next vehicle right away and I know that there will be compromises to be made, but I figured I'd put it out there to be sure that we don't miss looking at good possibilities when we get ready to take the plunge.
That probably indicates what good cars they are - nobody is unloading them early.TarheelsInNj said:
mkmama2 said:
What year did the Pilot change to a bigger model. I might be in the market for a used Pilot but the larger version seems to big for our needs.
2008. I had the exact same dilemma and had a really hard time finding a 2007 or older that didn't have a million miles on it.
I still think the Highlander hybrid fits every requirement, at least on paper.
Aug 26, 2012 at 6:36am Edited
It does look good but it is VERY expensive and there is a note somewhere in the website that says that the Hybrid model is "not designed for off-road use" and I'm wondering how rugged a road needs to be before it would qualify as "off-road".rastro said:
I still think the Highlander hybrid fits every requirement, at least on paper.
It is certainly on my list to investigate, though.
Keep the suggestions coming!
sac said:
That probably indicates what good cars they are - nobody is unloading them early.TarheelsInNj said:
mkmama2 said:
What year did the Pilot change to a bigger model. I might be in the market for a used Pilot but the larger version seems to big for our needs.
2008. I had the exact same dilemma and had a really hard time finding a 2007 or older that didn't have a million miles on it.
I don't doubt it. I was really disappointed that both the Honda Pilot and the Highlander ballooned in size with their redesign, because the older models might have been perfect for us. We originally were looking for a 3-row SUV, but gave that up because that would be a "once in a while" need for us and we didn't want to have to drive a tank around every day if we didn't need to.
I would like a 3-row SUV where the back row has little or no cargo space behind it, because it would be an infrequent need and we would probably keep it folded down most of the time. But it sure is nice to be able to carry the extra people sometimes, either for family outings when the kids bring a friend or we bring the grandparents or for scout/church trips and the like. Our current minivan (Dodge Grand Caravan) seats 7 with fairly good cargo space behind the third seat ... we can downsize from that at this point.
We were passengers in a Ford Flex recently and were impressed by its roominess. Don't know anything about it except that it was quite comfortable but it may be the shape you are looking for.
nakaille - It does look good except for the mpg (16 city/23 highway) ... I am hoping for better than that if possible.
I know that my various "wants" are conflicting and I won't be able to get everything, but I'm already learning a lot. Thanks all and please post about others you may know about.
I know that my various "wants" are conflicting and I won't be able to get everything, but I'm already learning a lot. Thanks all and please post about others you may know about.
Rant - ALL of the websites provide specs on cargo capacity. MOST of them say whether the seats fold flat. But NONE of them provide linear dimensions (length and width) of the cargo area. I remember when we got our minivan, one of our requirements was that we could fit a 4x8 foot sheet of plywood in flat and close the rear door. Now we don't need that any more but are hoping for the 6' or a bit more minimum length of flat cargo area. Unfortunately, despite the plethora of online data about all these vehicles, I cannot find this information anywhere for any of them.
What about a Rav4? It has a third row option, but isn't huge. I'd assume reasonable gas mileage.
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:48pm Edited
We have the older model Highlander Hybrid. Love it. Roomy, seats 7, great clearances, great leg room. "Folds flat" is up for interpretation - it is almost flat. We have taken it on some pretty rough terrain (it just sort of wobbles along) but it did get stuck in a sandpit once.
We use a Thule box on the roof to store luggage when we want the cargo area open for the dog etc.
We use a Thule box on the roof to store luggage when we want the cargo area open for the dog etc.
We are in the process of looking for a vehicle very similar to what the OP asked about, although we don't necessarily need the all wheel drive. A friend has suggested the Hyundai Tuscon. Does anyone have any familiarity with, or thoughts about, that car? Much appreciated.
Rav4 may be interesting. Apparently there is a redesign for the 2013 model, so details aren't available yet. I'll be watching for it.
Aug 26, 2012 at 1:00pm Edited
I forgot to mention earlier that we would LOVE it if we found a vehicle we like with a manual transmission. (We're stick-shift folks.) But I'm assuming that is rarely, if ever, an option any more in this class. (Apparently a couple of the low-end models have it but I'm not holding my breath on that one.)
Subarus come in automatics, or they did the last time I checked around 2008 or so.
sac said:
I forgot to mention earlier that we would LOVE it if we found a vehicle we like with a manual transmission. (We're stick-shift folks.) But I'm assuming that is rarely, if ever, an option any more in this class. (Apparently a couple of the low-end models have it but I'm not holding my breath on that one.)
You can't even get a Ferrari in a stick anymore.
Do they still list automatic transmission as an add-on when you select choices on-line to get an estimate? That one always pushed the estimate so much higher than the "Starting at. . ." price. It made the starting price seem so deceptive since almost everyone gets automatic. I had a shift car in the 1970's, but I don't even remember how to drive one now.
If a vehicle (and there are a few) has the option for a manual transmission, it is nearly always "standard" and you then have to select and pay extra for the automatic. That being said, it is often VERY difficult to actually find a vehicle with a manual transmission at a dealer. We have two Honda Civics with 5-speed manuals and love them. We get much peppier performance and since we are comfortable with driving them, we're happier all around. That being said, I recognize that fewer and fewer vehicles have them available, so it isn't on my "must have" list.nan said:
Do they still list automatic transmission as an add-on when you select choices on-line to get an estimate? That one always pushed the estimate so much higher than the "Starting at. . ." price. It made the starting price seem so deceptive since almost everyone gets automatic. I had a shift car in the 1970's, but I don't even remember how to drive one now.
Another one that doesn't say whether the seats fold flat (nor give dimensions of the cargo area other than cubic feet) ... but I shall add it to the list.peteglider said:
Jetta wagon- stick gas or diesel!
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Yup, it's lacking on the horsepower. Pretty sure you can get a 6-cylinder now.