Looking for a nice, smaller SUV

U

Used2btexaslover

250+ Posts
I can't in good conscience drive my Tahoe anymore. It's too big and uses too much gas. It makes me feel guilty. I am becoming a liberal in my old age.

So, I am downsizing a little. I am looking for a quality smaller SUV, and one that is used. I can't bring myself to pay sticker for a new one either. I think I want a 2003, depending on what is out there. On my list are:

Volvo XC90
Acura MDX
Toaureg?

What else is there? I don't want the Lexux/BMW/Mercedes smaller SUV, I know that much. I do want something that keeps its value though.

I am leaning towards the Volvo. Any reasons why not?
 
To my knowledge, I can't think of an SUV that gets "good" gas mileage or significantly better than your Tahoe at least. Get a car if, do you really need an SUV in the first place?
 
We have an MDX and love it. Volvo seemed to have a higher rate of repair and the VW just did not interest us after looking at the MDX. I also looked into Infiniti, Lexus, and BMW but crossed them off the list more for personal reasons than automotive.

Right now you really can't go wrong with an Acura/Honda. Driving to and from work and around town with the MDX we get about 15 mpg. On the road between Houston and Austin we get about 20-21 mpg - not that great with today's gas prices, but it is a pretty good sized vehicle.

Personally - my vote is for the MDX.

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15 around town in the MDX? That doesn't sound that good. I get 21-22 in my car, and its got a 325 hp v8.
 
Johnny (and washpark)- Mainly because they are a little too pricey, plus they just aren't 'me.'

Gordon - I know, I've thought about that. But we do want at least one SUV (even if smaller) in the family, plus I have a toddler in tow and will be expecting more. I've considered the Volvo Cross Country, but that isn't too much better in terms of MPG.

lostman - GREAT to hear about the MDX. The only problem I think is that since we live in BFE there is no Acura dealership close to us. Can you get them serviced at Honda I wonder? That is my main concern, otherwise the MDX would top my list.

tbone - They say the MDX is about 18 in the city with premium fuel. Not the best but better than the tahoe. Plus it has very low emissions.
 
Honda Pilot? I have a friend who loves his.

Toyota Highlander? I don't know anyone with one, but Toyota makes a damn good automobile.

Subaru Outback? The mountain Mercedes here in Colorado.

BFE is not the place for a BMW/Mercedes/Acura/Land Rover/Lexus - I agree. Too hard to get service and the envious will make your purchase less enjoyable.

Find a good Japanese SUV.
 
My parents live in Colorado and if I lived there I'd totally get the Subaru Outback. Love them. But I don't live there. And yes I am being superficial about this. I am crunchy (which is why BMW/Mercedes/Lexus are out) but not that crunchy, and I live in a very not crunchy part of Texas.
 
Yeah, Nissans are great, so that's a good idea too.

We love our Pathfinder but we are also looking to get rid of that and replaced it with a sedan.
 
I drove a Toyota Highlander a couple summers ago and it was a great car. Not as big as the MDX or anything but luxurious and a good price.
 
This may be smaller than what you are looking for, but I love my CR-V

I average 26 miles a gallon and get 30 on the highway. It cost me just under 20k for a brand new one.
 
Honda Pilot is essentially the same vehicle as the Acura MDX, I believe. But you said small-neither of these are small in any way.
I have a CR-V and it is great-the on demand 4WD works in off road conditions just fine, and it fits in small car parking places.
 
The Grand Cherokee is not going to get better mileage than the Tahoe.

I really like all three of the original cars you mentioned. The Highlander and the Murano, hell even an Xterra are the other ones I would look at in that category.
 
indeed, I struggle to define the MDX as "small," but my mom has it, and it is phenomenal.

we got my wife an Escape last year. I think it was a great value, came w/ some good upgrades, and it's one of the few Ford vehicles that is actually growing for them right now.
 
My GF has a Highlander and she loves it. One thing that she likes about it is that it has a folding 3rd row seat that comes in handy every once in a while.
 
You are missing a bet by bypassing the Lexus RX300.I've had one for three years and have zero complaints about any thing.I can't say that about any other car I've owned except for the used 1954 Ford Crown Victoria I bought at a Ford dealer in Austin my senior year at UT.
 
I did a LITTLE research, and I mean little...and the used Lexus prices were no more than the Acura or Volvo's...and in many cases less. So price shouldn't be an issue there.

My girlfriend has a CR-V and loves it. I think it's a great car, and she gets great mileage in it. The cargo space gives you a lot of height, if not the width you get from some others...but then again you aren't going for teh larger SUVs anyway.
 
Yeah, if you're wanting a smaller SUV for the gas mileage, then I would pony up the extra money and get a new Escape hybrid. Toyota is also going to start selling their Highlander in a hybrid model in June.

I have a Jeep Liberty and I love it. It's perfect size for me right now and is fairly inexpensive. You can get one with a 4 cylinder engine which will up your gas mileage quite a bit.
 
Losthubby drives the MDX and work is less than 5 miles away, all stop and go traffic, hence the 15-17 mpg. He often takes clients out and needed something with a bit more room than the Acura TL he was driving. We also still needed the folding 3rd seat for family trips etc. It is bigger than I woud want, but it is what we needed and I did not want another minivan. blech!

Lostbaby 1 drives a CR-V and loves it. Gets great mileage, and has plenty of room for her and her stuff. I have the TL now and Lostbaby 2 has my old Accord. No complaints about any of them!

The Highlander Hybrid looks interesting. I am also waiting to see Acura's new RDX coming out with the '06 models supposedly. Saw a preview of it a few months ago - very nice looking and not as big as the MDX, but still with all the nice extras the Acuras have.

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