Suitable Family SUV

suitup01 on 07/01/2015 - 15:15
Last edited 09/01/2015 - 13:04

Hey guys, my family and I have been shopping around for a SUV that is fuel efficient and aesthetically pleasing. For price we are hoping to spend less than $35k. Other than that we are not too sure what else we want in a SUV.
We do not know a lot about cars so we have been relying on what our friends believe is the "best" SUV. So far my parents are looking to purchase a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Mazda CX-5. What are your opinions of these cars? Do you guys happen to know any other models or car manufacturers that are good? You can clearly see I am a noob at this, haha. I really appreciate your help. Thanks.

Prefers: "Tall" cars that don't require bending our knees (mum has arthritis). Good resale value, has plenty of leg room, has advanced technology, sunroof and roof rack, rear camera, fuel efficient, has inexpensive or low servicing costs and has a spacious boot as well. We are not fussed about the brand or whether it is a 2wd or 4wd.

Automotive

Comments

    • sagrules on 09/01/2015 - 16:28

      Was your father in law's Subaru luxury 2014 model, and how much did he pay driveaway?

    • MountFranklin on 11/01/2015 - 00:15

      We bought a brand new Kia Sportage MY13 2months ago - Platinum DIESEL for $35,500 drive away with free floor mats. This is in Brisbane QLD

  • Satoria on 08/01/2015 - 20:55
    -1

    Think about why you want a SUV. What advantages do they have over a sedan? I know they're popular at the moment, but even in terms of safety the sorts of cheap small SUVs that are popular with families aren't any safer than a medium sedan. Unless you want comfortable seating for more than 4 people, my pick is the Holden Cruze SRI-V, the top of the line model, which can be bought dealer used auto for about $23,000, which is an absolute bargain for the features and safety, and is reasonably large and fuel efficient. See here: http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/results.aspx?silo=stock&q=(((((((SiloType%3d%5bBrand+new+cars+in+stock%5d%7cSiloType%3d%5bBrand+new+cars+available%5d)%7cSiloType%3d%5bDealer+used+cars%5d)%7cSiloType%3d%5bDemo+and+near+new+cars%5d)%7cSiloType%3d%5bPrivate+seller+cars%5d)%26(Make%7b%3d%7d%5bHolden%5d%7b%26%7d(Model%7b%3d%7d%5bCruze%5d%7b%26%7dBadge%7b%3d%7d%5bSRi-V%5d)))%26Service%3d%5bCarsales%5d))%26(Year%3drange%5b2014..%5d)&vertical=car&WT.z_srchsrcx=makemodel&sortby=~Price

    At least give a non-SUV a test drive.

  • ankor on 08/01/2015 - 22:12
    +1

    Find the car that feels like driving one of these.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZeFDe44Ddo

  • Aust on 08/01/2015 - 22:24
    +2

    Dont shoot the messenger but some reading material here on models:

    http://autoexpert.com.au/owning-a-car/qa/is-the-holden-capti…

  • [Deactivated] on 08/01/2015 - 23:39

    wrx STi

    • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2015 - 00:08
      +7

      Cos a whole family could fit comfortably on the wing, amirite?

      • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2015 - 00:14
        +2

        Hey I can fit 4 reasonably sized blokes in there no problem, no complaining. Why limit yourself to a SUV which is inherently flawed even in it's name, not seeing any "sport" utility in any of these cars, no special towing capacity or off-road ability.

        • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2015 - 00:17

          I dunno, I was just being a smartarse :(

        • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2015 - 00:18

          Same here :(

        • intrasonic on 09/01/2015 - 00:51
          +1

          In one of his comment replies, the OP mentioned that his mum has arthritis and wants a car with a higher hip point for easier entry without having to bend too much.

  • mike0407 on 09/01/2015 - 00:43
    +18

    Might I suggest the Canyonero. I hear it's top of the line in utility sports

    • jwh on 09/01/2015 - 04:18

      Thanks for the nostalgia.

    • WT on 09/01/2015 - 10:41

      the male or female version?

  • This Guy on 09/01/2015 - 04:10
    +4

    Medium SUV Comparison

    http://www.caradvice.com.au/295571/medium-suv-comparison-jee…

    tl;dr: Mazda CX-5

  • renza on 09/01/2015 - 05:03
    -1

    Skoda Yeti. Ill probably be shot down for it, but they are built well and are fuel efficient.

  • itsdanthaman on 09/01/2015 - 08:56

    cant stand those fake 4wd's, cough, SUV's……

    go take a used low km diesel Pajero for a drive and you will appreciate the real thing rather than a festiva with a lift kit.

    even if you never go offroad, the space & feel of a real 4WD you cant beat

    • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 10:16
      +1

      cant stand those fake 4wd's, cough, SUV's……

      loll…

      The worst offender is the Great Wall - X240

      More like Great Fail,

      • 2jzzzz on 09/01/2015 - 13:36
        +1

        Made of recycled milk bottles. Terrible car.

  • Hadoop on 09/01/2015 - 09:10
    +2

    I was on the same boat about 2 months ago - ended up going for a 2nd hand Kia Sorento SLi 2013 Petrol. Paid 30K and couldn't be any happier - the car had less than 15000 km and warranty until 2018.

    Relatively fuel efficient (13L/100km driving in heavy trafic every day of the week) and much better on the highway.

    I can't think of many other cars in the same price range that looks as good and drives so well.

    • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 10:14
      +2

      My mate bought a brand new Kia hatch 2014 (cant remember the model), it fell apart at 5,000kms. Engine died.

      OP - i'd stay away from that entire fleet if possible. Go second-hand real manuf like Mazda, Honda, Nissan, etc

      • chrismor on 09/01/2015 - 11:40
        +1

        Back in May/2011, I bought a new Kia Sportage Si (base model), done 70,000 Kms so far and haven't had any issues with it. I don't know about warranty claims (because I've never needed to make one) but your mate's case seems claimable.

      • Japius on 06/03/2015 - 12:15

        I used to think the same but I won a Kia Cerato (small sedan) back in 2008 at a local soccer club. Happened just as I changed jobs and lost my company car so kept it for driving into the city every day. I have treated it like crap as a daily driver ever since and it is still going strong.

        When it's time to upgrade our main car I will at least look at the Kia options.

    • sal78 on 10/01/2015 - 23:56

      we bought our sorrento 7 seats in 1/2012. it was the only 7 seater that could fit 2 backward facing and 1 booster easily. if the 2 baby seats next to each other, we could still let ppl into the third seat. no other 7 seater could do this and i cant exactly ask my mum to climb in and out of the boot to get to the 3rd row.

      4yrs later. never had any problems at all. really good build car. will be upgrading soon and considering the sorrento again but maybe the mazda 9 for a change since we dont need baby seats now.

      we bought when the new shape was released and paid new drive away $30.5k I noticed the same car is $38k+ now. very lucky.

    • BartholemewH on 11/01/2015 - 13:23

      I am amused how SUV fuel efficiency is on a different scale to other vehicle classes. People have bagged large sedans and wagons as being fuel inefficient for more than a decade but 13l / 100 is OK because it's an SUV. My G6E turbo uses 12.1 litres a hundred smashing it in town and 8.x on the highway but SUV drivers tell me about my 'fuel guzzler' lolololol.

  • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 09:21
    +2

    Go for the new Nissan X-trail ST-L. And you can even choose to have extra 3rd row if needed so make it become a 7 seaters.

    My friend bought the brand new ST-L with 3rd row for $3,6000. the 3rd row was extra 1000 dollars. so 35000 for 5 seater.

    Engine is 2.4L with CVT transmission. Not as low fuel usage or powerful as the european 2.0 turbo diesel, but still could manage to get 10L/100KM for city driving, which is not too bad.

    The CVT transmission is quiet and smooth, which is good for family but drawback is lacking of sporty feel.

    But with ST-L, you basically get everything. Leather seats, 360 view with reverse camera and navigation. Only no sunroof and no sensors.

    The best thing I like of my friend's X-trail is the 2nd row can be slide upon front and backwards. So you have more control for the 2nd row and 3rd row leg room. I found this is quite useful if you need to have the baby chair installed on the 2nd row, then you can move the seats front and give more leg room for 3rd row for adults.

    The most dislike I feel about this car is it is made in Thailand.

    • llllllllllllll on 09/01/2015 - 09:55

      Is this 2WD or AWD do you know? The ST-L AWS is listing on the website as 43k so getting it for 35k is a very good deal. 2WD is 40k so I guess with a bit of haggling you can get it down to 35k.

      • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 13:02

        it is a 2WD

    • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 10:12

      The most dislike I feel about this car is it is made in Thailand.

      Avoid, when Car Manuf's outsource some of their building plants to Thailand and other Asian based countries, expect the "quality" factor to go downhill. Even though they use genuine Japanese parts, the quality control and just not there

      Not all of Honda's line cars are made in Japan, some are made in Thailand and are rubbish, same goes for Mazdas and the rest

      • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 13:07
        +1

        Agree. in 2008, I bought a brand new Honda Accord made in Thailand. All kinds of small problems, like dashboard noise, broken light bulbs (light bulbs were not covered by warranty, but once you start having 5 broken light bulbs within 3 years ownership, you know the real issue is deeper). Even though nothing major, you just expect much more once you buy a new car especially from a quality brand.

    • 2jzzzz on 09/01/2015 - 13:38

      A 4wd should never have CVT trans…. Terrible.

      • zeomega on 09/01/2015 - 21:57

        A car should never have CVT trans. Period.

        • x d on 10/01/2015 - 01:27
          +2

          Don't know about that generalisation. I read that the new WRX CVT with sport mode is actually the way to go if you want a daily driver in city traffic. Apparently it might even be outselling the manual versions!

          Check out some reviews and you might think twice about CVT's.

          Not that I have test driven a WRX CVT. I still like my dual clutch SST gearbox but if the CVT is more reliable, I'd wouldn't rule it out (I dread the reliability of dual clutch gear boxes).

          Cheers.

        • zeomega on 10/01/2015 - 23:05

          @x d:

          CVTs has never be long lasting. It might work fine and dandy for the first few years, but eventually, and pretty quickly, it will start to fail.

          The WRX CVT with that much torque… I don't really expect it to last very long.

          I have to say, i'm pretty biased towards CVT. Maybe the standard has improved over the years… for now, I'd still avoid CVT like the plague.

        • sonique on 11/01/2015 - 21:14

          @zeomega:

          really? Interesting. is that your experience? article?

          I have a Outlander CVT SUV for 5 years now without any issues with it and I have a 10 year drivetrain warranty if it does.

          Disadvantage I find with with my CVT is it's a noisier transmission then gearbox cars, it's loudish like those diesel engine on acceleration. I thought the acceleration "feels" weak because it doesn't have the pull that gearboxes have, but I found later it actually accelerates quite well when I follow it in my evo.

          fyi to OP, I get under 10L/100km city driving on normal unleaded. service every 12 months about $250 at dealership.

          Only problem so far has been faulty ECU chip replaced under warranty, 1 year in.

          before i got the car, i test drove, CX7, IX35, Nissan Xtrail.

          That's my experience.

          I'm keen on the new PHEV model but it's too pricey I think.

  • ShamelessBargains on 09/01/2015 - 10:20
    +4

    Mazda CX5 has relatively good reviews online. Has a reliable engine and holds its resale value very well.

    Volkswagen Tiguan also springs to mind. Its a well built car with a solid engine though is on the smaller side.

    Subaru Foresters are also a good buy in this price range.

    Don't know much about Jeeps but with their latest advertising, I have been seeing a lot more of them on the roads.

    • suitup01 on 09/01/2015 - 13:06

      I found the servicing costs for the Volkswagen a bit too pricey. May look into the Mazda CX-5.

      • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 13:09

        The servicing cost for Jeep is also way too pricey.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2015 - 00:40
      +3

      The Tiguan is a very nice drive (I used to lease a top of the line diesel variant with leather / sunroof) but size wise it's not too much better than a Golf on stilts, and the current model design is very old now

  • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 10:26
    +2

    Other shitty SUVs that should be avoided

    • Jeep Compass: a shitty version of Cherokee, just gutless
    • Audi Q3: Predominantly manufactured in China or India, they're shitty version of the Q5 and look a cross between a sedan, hatch, wagon and SUV. lets just call it a Cross Over
    • BMW X3: A cheap version of the X5 if you cant afford, yet expensive and lacks anything to do with BMW
    • Holden Traxx (a cheap shitty and "douchebag" version of the Craptiva)
    • Mitsubishi Outlander: Aptly named, you have to be an outlander to consider this mechanically obese automobile without balls
    • Mazda CX-7: They were discontinued for a reason, heavy, fuel-guzzling lumbering vehicles with internal space of a Suzuki Swift
    • Mazda CX-5 2.0 (Maxx) - Significantly hamstrung by lack of power from a small engine, it also lacks various "standard" accessories that you would see in a Kia, and with the price tag of $30,000 avoid from CPB ratio
    • suitup01 on 09/01/2015 - 13:07

      We were thinking about the Jeep Compass the other day until we saw the review on Car Advice. What do you think about the Cherokee Sport?

      • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 14:01
        +2

        Cherokee Sport is a great car. If you can afford it (and its service charges) I highly recommend

    • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 13:10

      Not agree with BMW X3

      • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 14:12

        Not agree with BMW X3

        Oh Really? Check the forums, they're littered with Oil leak, Engine and Brake problems

        Until 2011, it was built in Austria under a different manuf but licensed to BMW, they then canned it and started building them at BMW, USA.

      • ShamelessBargains on 09/01/2015 - 15:44

        X3 is such a pointless car though. For a bit extra you can have the X5 with the prestige and road presence. X3 doesn't have the same prestige, has a very average engine and is just an expensive crossover with no 4WD capabilities. The Volkswagen Toureg is a good alternative to the X3.

    • xuqi on 09/01/2015 - 16:39

      The CX-7 has engine issues, so stay well away from them. Google it to find all the horror stores of dead engines.

      My sister purchased one from new, and drove it for 65000K's, regularly serviced by Mazda.

      Out of nowhere the engine seized 6 months out of warranty, costing her another $15K for a new replacement. Mazda Australia didn't want to know about it.

      Once it was back on the road she sold it and purchased a BMW X5.

      • ShamelessBargains on 09/01/2015 - 23:33

        Damn thats a lot of money for a new engine. CX-7 are one of the only Mazdas I know of that are rubbish.

  • mungicide on 09/01/2015 - 11:35
    +1

    What about Nissan Qashqai?

    • chrismor on 09/01/2015 - 12:07

      Around a year ago I drove a Dualis(now Qashqai) base model and I was surprised by its fuel efficiency and nice ride. I drive a similarly sized Kia Sportage and if I was in a similar dilemma as the OP I would go for the new Xtrail, seems more spacious, powerful and its looking better than ever.

      • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 12:11
        +1

        Dualis are good cars from a power/ratio, overall quality and fuel efficiency point of view, however they score poor in my ratings based on their design. it looks like an enlarged hatchback which just didn't make it to the SUV size in all respectiveness

        • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 13:12

          It is called compact SUV. Just sitting higher, but should expect similar interior space like Mazda 3.

        • zeomega on 09/01/2015 - 22:00

          The interior of the Dualis is just plain boring as well.

    • suitup01 on 09/01/2015 - 13:04

      Is it true the production is in Thailand?

      • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 13:13
        +1

        Not sure now, When I bought it in 2010, it was built in UK.

    • Hiroko on 10/01/2015 - 18:39

      good value for money car, but massive waiting list and minimal discount in aus atm

      should be able to grab a good deal on a Subaru Forester at this time of year.

  • jaybo on 09/01/2015 - 12:28

    i bought a ford kuga at the start of last year and love it. they're basically the same size/etc as the mazda cx-5
    the purchase price was a little over $40k cause we went the 'trend' model, with diesel & the tech pack ($$$ but really cool features like adaptive cruise control) but the kugas base models start from $28k i think.

    they had a 2.9% finance deal on at the time, that combined with capped price servicing made the whole deal pretty sweet.

    i get about 7.5l/100km from the diesel, given fuel prices at the moment the diesel may or may not be a good long term option, it certainly drives wonderfully though.

    things to look out for - the price of tyres. i recently got a puncture and it was ~$450 to replace the tyre. my neighbour has a cx-5 and reported similar crazy prices from tyres so this may be a SUV specific thing.

    • ShortyX on 09/01/2015 - 19:40

      $450! That seems excessive! What size is it?

      • jaybo on 01/02/2015 - 09:05

        sorry for the late reply :D um 235/50 r18 or something weird. it's a very odd size, bigger than a normal car tyre but not quite big enough to be a proper 4wd tyre (like off a prado or something similar) finding snow chains was a nightmare :(

  • moza on 09/01/2015 - 12:45

    We picked up our new car today! After weeks of research and looking through a number of models, we decided on the Mitsubishi Outlander 4WD-version.

    We based this on basic 4WD ability (light sand and small grassy Hills getting to picnic and camping spots etc), and price.

    Ours was a dealer model and so we got it with roof racks, Tinting, carpet mats, and a few other addons all for under 30k.very happy with it.

    • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 13:04
      +2

      congratz

  • vipsta on 09/01/2015 - 13:15

    We went through this exercise 6 months back. Decided to get a Ford Kuga Trend Diesel for 32k drive away on Ford's 2.9% finance. Had a horrid experience for the first 3 months of owning the car with the car spending more days at the dealership than with us with an intermittent transmission issue where the car would go into limp home mode, dealer unable to replicate the issue. Dealer inadvertently fixing the issue. Assumption is the fluid level in the gearbox was probably borderline and it triggered off the sensor causing the whole issue. Everything was tightened / fluids replenished the car has been trouble free so far.

    Car is great to drive (i would say best to drive in the mid-size SUV segment), safe and loads of room. Fuel economy is ~8l p/100km in city / suburban driving.

    Did a fair bit of research before we selected the Kuga, and customer satisfaction has been good for the car, our initial experience with the car is probably the minority.

    Good luck!

  • ghostdom on 09/01/2015 - 13:15
    +3

    Popular pick, Mazda CX-5.
    Function pick, Nissan X-Trail
    Driving pleasure pick, Subaru Forester
    European pick, VW Tiguan

    My pick will go to CX-5 :) within your budget.

    • frostman on 09/01/2015 - 14:03

      My pick will go to CX-5 :) within your budget

      Just read my "SUVs to avoid"
      The CX5 is a great car, I own one too, just dont get the 2.0L Engine, it severely under powered.
      Save up 4K and get the same model with the 2.5L engine

  • onlyletters on 09/01/2015 - 16:48

    Cheapest turbo diesel SUV you can find with warranty.

    • This Guy on 10/01/2015 - 01:57

      ???

      A Peugeot 2008??? Not a bad car, but I doubt that's what you were talking about.

  • snajper on 09/01/2015 - 17:27

    Cx-5 diesel is fantastic but is likely to be around $40k mark.sooooo much torque…

  • jasonbw on 09/01/2015 - 22:41
    +2

    I really love our Renault Koleos, no way would I, a typical Honda and Holden man would have ever thought id own a Renault, but its been a year since their last Diamond sale when I bought it for $35K and its been an awesome SUV. So very happy so might be worth a look?

    • sagrules on 12/01/2015 - 10:58

      We also test drove Renault Koleos and loved it - even took it overnight to get a feel for it. However, the cars resale value gets smashed pretty quickly.

  • Benzy on 09/01/2015 - 23:13

    I am looking for 7 seater SUV. What about Hyundai Santa Fe? or any other suggestion?
    has to be 7 seater, fuel efficient, good resale value and comfortable for new born baby and parents.

    • ShamelessBargains on 09/01/2015 - 23:40
      +2

      Santa Fe is a great 7 seater and resale is pretty good for the latest model.

      Also look into the Holden Captiva 7 and the Toyota Kluger. They are around the same price bracket and are solid choices too.

      Captiva 7 is 8.6L per 100km
      Santa Fe is 9L per 100km
      Kluger is 11.6L per 100km

      All cars have good resale values except the Captiva 7 which isn't as popular as the aforementioned two above.

      Comfort wise is user dependent. I recommend a test drive of each but they all should be relatively comfortable.

      I know of a few people who own Klugers and they only speak highly of them.
      I have a friend who owns a Santa Fe and they are very happy with it.

      • frostman on 10/01/2015 - 13:13
        +1

        Just remember to add an extra 3L/100km as the stats they provide you on paper are not driven in the ideal world with kids, shopping, and million traffic lights.

        When they come up with those figures, they basically have a test driver driving meticulously to achieve this.

        My CX5 is rated at 8L/100km, I bought it brand new with 8Kms on the clock. after 5,000kms, it says im averaging 11.5L/100km

      • love2buy on 10/01/2015 - 20:59

        Old Klugers used to look crap but current models look even better than a lexus.

        • Cheeper on 10/01/2015 - 21:33

          Think so? I think they look "lumpy", bulges everywhere. The previous model was Japan made which is always a bonus with any car. The 6 speed transmission is a plus but the one in the previous model was bulletproof and had almost undetectable changes. Smooth as silk with the 3.5 Toyota V6.

          As for the Kluger consumption figures shown above I can assure you they are nowhere near real results for the 2WD version. I have owned one for almost 3yrs from new and around town it is usually better than our 4 cyl camry consumption wise. Around town it gives 10.5 on e10 and better on premium. Open road has returned 7.0 a couple of times but may raise to low 8's when you stick the boot in or carry a bit of a load. Pulling a van the worst was 14 !!

          Another bonus of the Kluger 2WD is the very low servicing cost along with it's legendary durability. In the time I have had mine the only thing I can fault is that I can't drive it often enough.. :-) It is effortless on long trips and very nimble around town.
          They may look to be "large" but only consume the same real estate as a camry sedan.

          The current new versions will be out of the reach of the op here @ $44,000 dive away but he may be lucky to score a low k previous shape one (used) within his budget.

          For long term ownership and overall cost of ownership during that time there would not be much that would come close. He would still be smiling in 10 yrs time.

          If only looking to do light use and have it for a couple of years then any European, Jeep or Subaru would do the job.

        • Benzy on 10/01/2015 - 23:38

          @xywolap: Thanks for your reply. I am thinking to buy Kluger or Santa Fe. However cant decide. DO you know much about Santa Fe. Both are around the same cost. I am leaning towards Santa Fe because its only 2.2L Diesel engine (more mileage) however Kluger is 3.5L engine.
          What do you think?

  • x d on 10/01/2015 - 01:45

    Hi all,

    See http://www.australiasbestcars.com.au/2014-WINNERS/Best-Small…

    http://www.australiasbestcars.com.au/2014-WINNERS/Best-AWD-S…

    http://www.australiasbestcars.com.au/2014-WINNERS/Best-SUV-4…

    Take the above with a grain of salt as I would have chosen a WRX over a GTi in the sport car category if it was my cash.

    Personally, I only have good things to say about my 2012 Kia Sorento SLi. Reliable and squeak free from new. Love the carrying capacity for long trips. 7 seat flexibility when carrying extended family. Service cost capped and only 12/12. Average around town 10-11L/100km, on highway at 100km/hr will get 6L/100km.

    Diesel engine is very torquey and powerful. Probably not as bulletproof as the Prado's or the Pajero's diesel unit but more quieter than the Pajero's.

    Bought it when the Santa Fe was still at the old shape and not as attractive but if buying today, I'd go for the Santa Fe (though my version was $46500 drive away with extras and not at $35K as requested).

    Cheers.

    • This Guy on 10/01/2015 - 02:04

      Just steer clear of the Kia manuals. Ours sounds/feels like rubbish, but every time we take it in to get fixed under warrenty the mechanic death grips the knob and crashes it into gear.

      I tested a brand new one and it had the exact same problem. Weird part is our manual took a few thousand km's before it started acting up.

  • usman6062 on 10/01/2015 - 07:50
    +1

    If i would be buying…..i will only go either Honda crv, Toyota Rav4 or now may look into Huyandai i35.
    Japenese cars r reliable and have very less maintenance cost.
    If u want…have a look into mitsubishi outlander Pheu which does 100km in 2litres.

  • Bazza99 on 10/01/2015 - 09:07
    +1

    I was in the same boat. I'd say go for the Nissan Qashqai. A beautiful European styled car with Japanese reliability. Cars guide SUV of the year. It's the one of the best selling SUVs in Europe. Definitely worth considering before you make a decision.

  • FisSort on 10/01/2015 - 10:41
    -2

    Range Rover Sport. Black and lowered. You can still look down on people for not trying harder at school.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2015 - 21:46

      Good luck lowering a car with air springs as standard

  • little555 on 10/01/2015 - 11:07

    Once you decide on the vehicle get prices then contact a car broker, National Car brokers I think. I did but bought from a dealer before they got back to me. They would have saved me close to $5,000.

  • Lancerx on 10/01/2015 - 15:09

    Always liked Subaru Forester's look and AWD functionality..but just prepare to spend on the maintenance…other than, it's a great SUV to drive, much better in handling corners and wet condition due it's superior AWD handling and also has 6 stars rating..

  • equinoxxx on 10/01/2015 - 15:48

    Am I missing something? How are you going to get a new SUV with

    "Good resale value, has plenty of leg room, has advanced technology, sunroof and roof rack, rear camera, fuel efficient, has inexpensive or low servicing costs and has a spacious boot as well"

    for under 35K… with the good re-sale value part being the most important I would say?

    Honda, Subaru to name 2 have good resale value but don't think will meet your other requirements. Or did I miss the bit saying you want second hand?

    My 2 cents. I have a forester XT and it has everything you need, will need to buy 2nd hand though :)

    • equinoxxx on 10/01/2015 - 16:06

      oh fuel economy I get 7.5L/100 on highway, around 9-11 city driving.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2015 - 16:52
    +1

    For around 35k (give or take a couple k) best new car options imo are

    Toyota Rav 4 GXL 2.0 2wd. Test drove. Very spacious, decent driving dynamics, quality interior, nice dash, very good interior / cargo space. Built in Japan, toyota reliability / cheap servicing / good resale. Rear sensors and camera.

    Mazda CX-5 maxx sport 2.5i. I test drove the 2.0 it is underpowered feels sluggish compared to other 2L engine cars in this segment. Japanese built. It's boot and passenger space are smaller than other SUVs in this price bracket, it has a nice interior and car journos heap praise on it for its car like handling. Inbuilt sat nav a bonus for this price range. Rear camera.

    Honda CRV VTI 2.4 2wd. Used to own a VTi 2.0l which was fine but wished for a little bit more power. Clever folding seats which fold flat, bonus that this can be done from the boot. Huge passenger room and boot, similar to Rav. Not as sporty a drive but who cares it soaks up bumps nicely. Only 5 speed auto which hurts fuel economy a bit.Interior / dash feel basic compared to rav / cx5, exterior not as nice IMO. Rear camera smaller than cx5 or rav, located at top of dash. Built in Thailand but never had any probs in 2 yrs. Fixed price servicing decent resale.

    I can't comment on the Cherokee sport except for a quick look at the interior, I have an optioned up limited which has a 3.2L v6. Interior / boot space is similar to rav / crv, ride height is a little higher. The car is solid and heavy - not sure a 2.4L engine is going to cut it but can't hurt to take it for a spin. The fabric interior not as nice as as RAV / Mazda / CRV IMO. American built, a mysterious rattle from rear seat or dash has been sorted out at the first service, all good now but wasn't a great first impression. Nice to drive, quiet cabin, has a 9 speed auto, unique exterior styling. Servicing through suttons group is fixed 295 per 6 month service for 6 years.

    For that money though a Rav is at the top of my list. Cars I wouldn't get are the Tiguan (smaller than cx5, due for replacement), Kuga (no camera unless top of line), or a Great Wall :-/

  • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2015 - 19:21
    -2

    unless you have 4-5 kids do you really need a SUV

    • Cheeper on 10/01/2015 - 21:37
      +1

      He explained why… and it is the same reason I prefer to drive one. They are great for us oldies with aches and limited mobility :-)

  • love2buy on 10/01/2015 - 21:12
    +1

    Insurance premiums is another factor to consider.

  • Maxxjet on 10/01/2015 - 23:17

    Is 2013 Nissan Murano Z51 Series 3 St a bad one as nobody mentioned it at all. I'm kind of in the similar situation as op and was watching this model. WP owners forum generally speaks high of this one while productreview having some negative feedbacks. However, personally I like the outlook and it should at least worth a check out by op.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/01/2015 - 08:09

      I have the 2009 Nissan Murano and it's a pleasure to drive. With the previous models the main problem was the CVT transmission which now has been addressed and I think it was mainly in US. Otherwise the V6 3.5L is very smooth and the CVT allows lower fuel consumption.

      • chumlee on 12/01/2015 - 22:19

        I have a 2010 Murano Ti and it‘s a great car and I have no complaints nor any issues with it. As with most large SUV's it is thirsty.

  • ryf on 10/01/2015 - 23:24

    Tested CX-5, CRV, Forester and RAV4. Ended up picking the Forester (2.5i-L for $36k) over CRV. The only issue I have is that when you shift from Reverse to Drive, there is a pause for a second before it engages in Drive - not much of a delay, but mildly annoying. Spacious and fuel efficient (doing 9.5/100km after 1.5 years). Points for CRV for build quality and cabin layout, and boot space. If you want to get a better deal on subis, don't go to the big 5 dealers, try to get out to the independent dealers. I went with Eastern Subaru, they even dropped the car off to our house, great service!

  • RefusdClassification on 10/01/2015 - 23:34
    -5

    How to make Australia a better place… Start by banning SUVs. Why do soccer mums need planet killing SUVs in order to drop 1 kid off at the local non-governmental school, and to pickup groceries from Coles? Arrogant middle class snobs are obsessed with one-upmanship, and one way in which they try to prove their superiority is by driver larger cars than normal folk.

    • ShortyX on 10/01/2015 - 23:54
      +1

      A good comparison video here - http://www.caradvice.com.au/videos/wagon-v-suv-best-40000-pi…

      It seems to me that a lot of people prefer SUVs for the higher ride and/or convenience of not bending down to strap kids in. Apart from that, it does just seem to be the trend.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/01/2015 - 00:07

      What about removing the chip off the shoulder of the poor people instead?

    • chumlee on 11/01/2015 - 10:18

      Yawn

    • Speckled Jim on 13/01/2015 - 11:55

      Well I agree with Thaal. Perhaps not the whole class argument though — there's many an aspirational bogue with smokey old diesel rattlers. Then there's the slightly more cashed-up varieties with V8 conversions in their Landy/Pathy/whatever.

      Despite the height advantage, they can rarely park within marked lines.

      I think this sums it up best.
      From the shambles that is GMH, the headline from their VE Sportswagon ad:
      "Because the SUV is so 1994."

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