I've owned 3 SUVs - a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, a Lexus RX300 AWD and now an Acura MDX Touring (5 people and 49.6 cu ft for the dogs!).

If you want space and never want to go off-road get the MDX (or the Honda Pilot).

If you want some space and amazing toughness and off-roading ability get a Toyota 4 Runner.

If you want something without much space or off-roadability but fun to drive then get a wagon (BMW 325i wagon, A4 wagon, Subaru WRX wagon, Lexus IS300 Sportcross). If you need the high seating position then get the Infiniti FX35.

If you want to tow a lot then get something American (Ford Exploder, Chevy something etc).

 

I am looking at getting my wife a Tribute. For about 22k (US), you can get a V6, front wheel drive, ABS, side impact airbags, and a decent ride. It will even tow up to 3500 lbs. It's not an off road vehicle, but would do fine for what we want. I would also like to consider a Dakota quad cab (Sport Plus) 4x2. It can pull up 6000 lbs. Quad cabs are nice for that extra room and to have a bed. With a new house, it would be nice to be able to haul trees, plants, even new furniture. But my wife doesn't want to drive a pickup truck. And she's not getting the RX-8! :D

 

I'm with Gord... why do most people HAVE to have an SUV? If you need cargo space and/or tow vehicle, get a pickup; covered cargo space, a cargo van or a Volvo wagon. If you need room for lots of kids, get a minivan; all wheel drive, a Subaru. I have very low regard for most SUVs and the soccer moms who steer them (barely) around while chatting on their cell phones and putting on their mascara.

But... I just took a road trip from LA to Phoenix, AZ and back in an Acura MDX with NAV, and I think I could be convinced to actually drive one of these if I had to. Very nice vehicle, and head-and-shoulders above all the other SUVs I've been in.

 

If you can spend just over $35K (closer to $40K) I'd go for the MDX. We just picked one up about a month ago. It seats 7 for '04, has plenty of power for average tooling around, and is very comfortable. My wife doesn't work and since she's the primary driver (and drives about 500 to 600 miles a month) I don't really feel all that guilty about her driving our two kids and dog around in such a large vehicle. The best part is when friends and family come over. We no longer have to take two vehicles to go out to dinner, or a play, or the beach, or whatever... Those who live in costal communities can understand how hard it is to find one parking spot let alone two.

We used to have a Tribute ES. It was a fine car. It seats 5, plenty of pep. It did have its share of problems, but I attributed that to it being an early production model (01 we got in 00). The problem with that was that whenever friends or family visited we'd have to take two cars and deal with parking, following, etc...

Though I'd rather see a sedan in my garage next to my 8 (I really wanted an A6), the MDX is a pretty nice car... Get's better milage than my 8 too!

 

I would stay away from the Tribute. It is just a rebaged Ford Escape. Just make sure you realize this when buying.

 

That's the exact reasoning I have for getting my MDX. It's a ULEV vehicle that gets 20mpg (our average over 25k miles) and can do 0-60 in under 8 secs. It can carry 7 people - I have elderly relatives visiting from Singapore for 3-6 months each year who cannot drive and it's wonderful to just take one vehicle instead of two (saving the environment and all that...). Even better it can carry 5 people in comfort plus two 95lb dogs for road trips, or 5 people plus a ton of baby stuff and a ton of shopping in the cavernous cargo area. The only negatives are weak (longish) braking and a non-luxury interior (RX-8 is better) and it can't go off road (no concern to me).

I would consider replacing it when the lease is up with a loaded $40k Toyota Sienna, but my wife has a phobia about minivans and their soccer-mom image and lousy styling - maybe I can persuade her when we have our 2nd baby... of course I would be mostly driving the sport sedan because I cannot handle FWD .

Personally I find that living in TX I get annoyed seeing half the vehicles here are pickup trucks with immaculate beds (i.e. never used), no tow hitches and just one person in them. Why the hell would anyone get a gigantic, gas guzzling and very poorly performing vehicle for purely personal daily driving use? OTOH pickups (and SUVs) can be useful during the frequent flooding that Houston suffers - my month-old new G35 was in the shop for 5 weeks recently for water damage.

Funny story - a friend in MA bought a new $35k pickup truck to carry his St Bernard dogs around in (200lbs each), and only afterwards found out it was illegal to carry pets in the back of a pickup in that state... He's looking at a Suburban now.


Anyway if you don't need to go off-road then get an MDX - even a one year old certified pre-owned one would be good and will be under budget. Do not get a Jeep - terrible dealership experience after the sale (but otherwise a decent vehicle). If you don't need space or performance then get a cute-ute like the CRV/RAV4/Tribute although a 4WD wagon might be more fun.

 

FX35:



Or

Forester:

 

x5 if I had too

 

How about the Murano?

 

Have a Chev Tahoe...i hate american vehicles...but if you need it for, say what we need it for: 4 DOGS, Tow my Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 to offroad events, pull a trailer for woodworking, eventually pull trailer for parts for a FFR Cobra and to shows, hauling tons of stuff, very off-road capable when needing to take the family back into the mountains for climbing, kayaking all that fun stuff.....but gets around the same disgusting gas mileage as the RX-8...

it's big I don't really care for BIG automobiles like that but it's nice, roomy, and has TONS of power...oh yeh...it's a BITCH to wash...and wax...

 

My wife's SAV. Good choice mikeb, but it costs a little more than 35K . Great car 0-60 in 6 flat (4.4i) and very quiet and practical, not to mention stylish.

 

what does a x5 cost 50k?

 

Nissan Murano or the VW Toureg