Help Me Choose a 5-Seat SUV under $40k

Aap Ke Papa on 07/02/2018 - 20:02
Last edited 11/02/2018 - 20:51

Edit#2 10/2/18: I test drove the following cars today
Nissan Qashqai Ntec, Nissan X-trail ST, Kia Sportage GT Petrol, Mazda CX5 GT, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback 2.5i premium, Hyundai were too cocky to give me a test drive without appointment

I liked the following cars in no particular order. All cars had that extra oomph and a beautiful interior with decent bells and whistles
Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium $42000 Driveaway brand new
Mazda CX - 5 GT $43990 without any bargains
Kia Sportage GT Line $43000+

All the prices given to me are without any haggling.
Any chances what best prices I can score? And what are your thoughts on the prices? Aim would be not to cross the $40K mark

I'm in Melbourne

I am unable to choose which SUV to buy. I currently drive an elantra 2013.
I have narrowed it down to the following

Mazda CX-5 AWD Touring
Honda CR-V 2WD VTi-S
Subaru Forester 2.5i-S
Tucson 2.0 2WD Elite Auto
Renault KOLEOS Zen 4x2

As you can see the cars are mid range in terms of features and stuff. I am not after a top model or a base model. I am not after a 7 seater, I will never me towing or doing off road driving.

Things I want from my car

Decent looks
Nice pick up 0-60
Fair amount of fancy features that come in mid range models
Can live without android auto
I do city driving spend most of my time in traffic driving 1 hour a day max which is to and from work.
I hope the cars will have a decent sound system.
other that that i really dont have any expections apart from a car that doesnt give my any unnecessary problems if i service regularly.

Negative for cx5, i really love the shape and the features that come in the touring model but it just looks like a bigger hatchback to me at times with not enough ground clearance.
Negative for CR-V - CVT and the rear shape
Negative for forester - the shape is not exciting enough

please help me choose one or shoot down option but do tell me why.
Cheers

Edit 9/2/18: Thank you guys really loving all the insight from you guys. Apologies that I havent test driven any. I aim to this weekend. So keep giving me all the pointers you have to make a decision as I dont have much clue about what car to get. The car that I will get I will hang on to it. It wont be an investment yeilding option for me. All I want to something nice to drive, decent safety features, nice cabin, reliable and high riding with easy access for kids/pram etc

Poll Options

  • 125
    Mazda CX-5 AWD Touring
  • 27
    Honda CR-V 2WD VTi-S
  • 63
    Subaru Forester 2.5i-S
  • 34
    Tucson 2.0 2WD Elite Auto
  • 115
    Other
Automotive

Comments

        • sovereign01 on 13/02/2018 - 08:50

          @kingmw:

          From your own article: "approval authorities in Europe conducted a review and certified that following the update the fuel consumption figures and CO2 emissions originally listed by the manufacturer were confirmed. They further certified that previous engine performance, maximum torque and previous noise emissions remain unchanged."

          Ignoring various contradictory owner 'reviews', which are notoriously garbage.

        • JIMB0 on 24/02/2018 - 09:53

          @sovereign01: Then why didn't they make them like that in the first place? Something has to be compromised.

      • sn809 on 12/02/2018 - 15:29
        -1

        That is not how a Diesel turbo is supposed to be driven specially a new one if he intends to keep it for long

      • kingmw on 12/02/2018 - 18:28

        Almost every fuel economy underestimates real-world fuel consumption because cars are loaded, have multiple electronic components activated, wind resistance, incorrect tyre pressures, road surfaces etc (the list of variables compared to a lab setting is enormous)

        7.8L/100 km with city driving (have roof racks)

        • sovereign01 on 13/02/2018 - 08:54

          I've found plenty of cars can beat their fuel economy numbers when driven well, especially diesels.

          True there can be variance based on those things, but generally as a comparison both his cars are driven the same way with the same accessories (A/C etc), he's hoping as he gets many more kms on it (10-20k+) it'll loosen up and settle down, but at the moment he's disappointed (he spent the extra on the diesel for it's economy)

  • altomic on 07/02/2018 - 21:10
    +1

    why are selling the elantra?

    • Aap Ke Papa on 07/02/2018 - 21:11

      not selling just giving it to my brother. its done 80k and its engine was completely replaced last year under warranty so its a pretty good car

      • thetrain on 07/02/2018 - 21:51
        +5

        Your 80,000 km 2013 Elantra needed a new engine?

        I'm curious what happened, maybe Hyundai hasn't improved as much as I thought

      • R-Man on 09/02/2018 - 13:31
        +1

        huh! Not the 80k I expected to see in this discussion

      • Charity on 10/02/2018 - 17:29
        +6

        its done 80k and its engine was completely replaced last year under warranty so its a pretty good car

        it isn't.

    • Cheapo Moose on 11/02/2018 - 15:51

      Because it's an Elantra.

  • Findo on 07/02/2018 - 21:16
    -7

    Second hand BMW X3/X5? Or a GLC/GLE Class?

    • El Grande on 07/02/2018 - 21:25
      +1

      GLC or $40K. Sign me up. When I went to my local MB dealer I was told starting from 85K 6 months wait and $0 discount. I walked straight out.

      Edit: No second-hand GLC because they are very popular and due to the long wait very low difference in price between new and used.

      • Findo on 07/02/2018 - 21:28
        -3

        Maybe a second hand ML or GLK then, $40k isn’t much to work with when it comes to European cars.

        • El Grande on 07/02/2018 - 21:38
          +2

          They are doing brand new X3 (outgoing model) for $56-57K that's like 20-25K off RRP. But the car is horrible to drive. Very bumpy and stiff suspension. I think I hurt my back driving it. I complained to the salesman and he said, "We are not a luxury brand. We are a sports performance brand. Our driving dynamics are set to reflect our philosophy. If you want soft mushy drive we suggest you try a Mercedes Benz or an Audi". I was shocked by his response and asked him what about Lexus? He said, "I would stay away from the Jap brands, they don't know how to make premium cars."

        • Findo on 07/02/2018 - 21:39

          @El Grande: holy moly that’s terrible, which stealership was this?

        • El Grande on 07/02/2018 - 21:39
          +2

          @niggard: Waverley BMW

        • Shuey on 09/02/2018 - 11:00

          @El Grande: Hmm I don't agree with the sales rep bashing other brands, but the reason why it's bumpy and stiff is cos of the specs^. That's because for the outgoing model, they stopped selling plain vanilla X3 and all came with M Sports spec as a No Cost Option (NCO). While you can play around between Eco Pro / Comfort / Sports.. but generally not as comfy as the equivalent GLC and Q5 (I've tested these 2 too)

          ^ - sports suspension, lower profile tyres, bigger rims

          Source: I own an X3 M-Sport (F25); the outgoing model.

        • El Grande on 09/02/2018 - 14:33

          @Shuey: It was an X-Line, not an M-Sport. I was told M-Sport was stiffer so more bouncy. M-Sport is not an NCO, Innovations Pack is across the range. I really wanted to like that car for the price as it was a great deal but couldn't get over the ride quality.

        • Shuey on 09/02/2018 - 14:44

          @El Grande: Are you referring to the G01 or F25? Unless 1) it's the G01 (but doesn't seem so at that price point) 2) changed the "promo" specs or 3) ripping you off, the F25 X3s should be M-Sport NCO. A colleague got his Q3 2017 (before G01 launch) and there wasn't an X-Line option available.

          But yea, great price but if you don't enjoy the drive/ride.. it's not worth it.

          I'm not fussed with mine since it's on Eco Pro and Comfort mode all the time (toddler in tow)

        • El Grande on 09/02/2018 - 14:49

          @Shuey: No definitely an X-Line. They had M-Sport but wanted 3K more. 2017 F25 X20i X-drive with Innovations pack and Panoramic roof White/Black/Silver colour for 56K I offered 53K and they said no. They had like 12 left at the time (Late December 2017)

          How much did your colleague pay and what did he buy?

        • Shuey on 09/02/2018 - 15:02

          @El Grande:

          He paid circa $62-63k
          - '17 model
          - M Sport inc/ Innovation pack
          - Metallic paint
          - HUD
          - Heated seats
          - BMW boot tray

          Mine's a '16 model with slightly different options.

        • El Grande on 09/02/2018 - 15:04

          @Shuey: Which engine though? Bit high for 20i amazing for 28i

        • Shuey on 09/02/2018 - 15:13

          @El Grande: it was for the 20i (20d needed to add 2k). yep, seems a bit high now but back then the G01 wasn't launched yet, plus both ours built to order not ready stock. 28i was never an option cos it would have breached the LCT level

        • El Grande on 09/02/2018 - 15:22

          @Shuey: Okay I was lead to believe if I buy a new one G01 vs F25 I would be paying $25K more. Did you pay a similar price in 2016? In that case, I can look at that G01 in a few months time.

        • Shuey on 09/02/2018 - 15:31

          @El Grande: Yea, I was comparing the GLC before I bought my X3. Another colleague bought the former and only got like $3-5k off the RRP after serious haggling (he's a TA..lol) and it was still circa $20k over the F25 X3. Audi sales rep was worst (but that's another story). So my decision was fairly simple.

          Yes, mine was similar minus boot tray and heated seats, but plus the panoramic sunroof.

          On a side note, what's the current offer on free service maintenance nowadays?
          3 years or 60k / 4 years or 80k / 5 years or 100k?

        • El Grande on 09/02/2018 - 22:23

          @Shuey: Free service is only through the corporate program I think. Not for normal buyers. I didn't ask.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2018 - 00:07
          +1

          They have never sold the GLK in Australia. You are making stuff up. It was a LHD car only.

  • jsb on 07/02/2018 - 22:14
    -1

    I bought Ford escape trend 1.5 front wheel drive in December for around 30k. Awesome car. As per your budget, consider 2l AWD.

  • Yttrium on 07/02/2018 - 22:16
    +6

    40k is a lot for a car.

    Why not keep some of the 40k for yourself?

    • Gnosh on 09/02/2018 - 10:41
      +7

      a true ozbargainer

    • Aap Ke Papa on 09/02/2018 - 19:14

      What have you got in mind?

      • Yttrium on 10/02/2018 - 16:55
        +1

        You could probably keep 10k or 20k for yourself , and still buy an equally functional vehicle.

        If you Really like money , you could even keep $30k

        Are you the type of person that likes money ?

        • hayne on 11/02/2018 - 05:11
          +2

          I think he meant what car do you have in mind

  • gentlecrack on 07/02/2018 - 22:23

    Baahubali - No SUV will be an upgrade to Chirakkal Kalidasan.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2018 - 22:30
    -5

    I took a Mazda CX-5 for a test drive and liked it but only had $250 so I just weed my pants on the driver seat and returned it

  • MathNerd on 07/02/2018 - 23:29
    -7

    under $40k

    But…. that's a low-yield investment.

    Go over $80k, that's an investment with high yield.

  • MisplacedGaijin on 08/02/2018 - 08:07
    +3

    Subaru XV - good pickup, decent tech and around $30k.
    I got one last Nov and all I can say is that I should've got it sooner !

    • Oz8argain on 08/02/2018 - 09:40
      +3

      we have a base model xv bought new 2013, no tech and interior sucks, it has paddle shifters .. whats the point of that on a cvt. 35k

    • andylch on 08/02/2018 - 11:22
      +1

      How is it compared to Impreza Hatch? There is $8000 premium just for the higher clearance and off-road mode.

      What is the best deal for 2.0i-S now?

      • El Grande on 09/02/2018 - 14:43

        Yeah, I couldn't justify the price difference. Got the 2.0i-S instead. Paid $31,300 with $600 accessories and bonus 2 years factory warranty extension. Can be had for $30K in NSW but VIC cartel are crooks and smaller dealers won't match NSW carsales prices. I was told there is an $800 difference with rego, stamp duty and freight factored in(if buying from NSW). So I just decided to pay a little extra to buy locally and avoid the hassle. Got the bonus warranty thrown in for the fuss I made but Subaru needs more competition here.

    • Peter Enis on 08/02/2018 - 13:09

      OP probably doesn't like the shape!

  • Ryanek on 08/02/2018 - 08:53
    +6

    I would say the Tucson looks the best of the lot. Drives great and I believe has the biggest boot space in its class. With the fixed price service and long ass warranty, it's hard to look past.

    • El Grande on 09/02/2018 - 14:45
      -4

      It's a Hyundai! Helps me look right past it.

  • affable on 08/02/2018 - 09:17
    +2

    Considering your city driving and only real desire for SUV looks, you should seriously consider the Outlander PHEV. 50km electric range should fit your city commutes, and you can still drive interstate etc if you need. You can charge at home overnight from a normal powerpoint and if you can do around 80% of your driving within the 50km daily EV range the savings (petrol @10l/100km city vs 12c/kWh off peak electricity) will be in the order of $8000 per 100,000km. You can get 2 year old PHEV for $25-35k, the top range Aspire having fantastic FCM and ACC which is so good it has to be experienced to be believed. We've had ours 3 years now and love everything except the stock Toyo tyres which seem very prone to punctures (2 punctures in 3 years, when I've had no other punctures in 30 years of car ownership).

    • payless69 on 09/02/2018 - 08:35

      was considering one but local dealer would not even let me test drive one, citing high demand. What is the pickup like eg 0-60?

      • affable on 09/02/2018 - 17:02

        If you put your foot down to the floor it is better than the old 3litre V6 Outlander. That will cause the 2litre ICE to fire up which you don't want to do too often if you are trying to drive in EV only.
        Just using the electric motor it still keeps up with traffic accelerating from a standstill at the lights.
        Because its electric + petrol, it starts moving strongly.

        0-10 km/h: 0.84 sec
        0-20 km/h: 1.62 sec
        0-30 km/h: 2.42 sec
        0-40 km/h: 3.22 sec
        0-50 km/h: 4.00 sec
        0-60 km/h: 4.83 sec
        0-70 km/h: 5.80 sec
        0-80 km/h: 6.95 sec
        0-90 km/h: 8.28 sec
        0-100 km/h: 9.87 sec

        http://www.myoutlanderphev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=767

        • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2018 - 00:02
          +2

          0-100kmh in 9.87 is slow as f*kc

        • soaringphoenix on 10/02/2018 - 10:13

          @Burnertoasty:

          Yeah sorry but nearly 10 seconds to 100 is glacial.

          If the OP wants performance, he's looking at the wrong vehicle class unless he's willing to look at Cayennes, Levantes, Bentaygas etc.

          Why not just pick up a 2015 or 2016 HSV or FPV, or if you're will to stretch the budget, an older AMG.

        • soaringphoenix on 10/02/2018 - 10:16
          +1

          @soaringphoenix:

          Here's a 2008 C63 within budget:

          https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Mercedes-Benz-C6…

        • affable on 11/02/2018 - 12:43
          +1

          @Burnertoasty:
          0-100 is almost irrelevant apart from as a pissing match. 0-60km is much more useful for day to day.
          Which SUV are you suggesting for <$40k beats 4.83secs 0-60km?

        • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2018 - 14:07
          -1

          @affable: piss off with your bullshit 0-60kmh. That is not a metric that anyone cares about.

        • affable on 12/02/2018 - 07:59

          @Burnertoasty:

          I see you have come up with no alternatives, thereby confirming my hypothesis.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2018 - 08:38

          @affable: Well a ‘decent’ 0-60kmh time is in the 2-3 second Range. But literally no one uses that measurement, you just used it because you think you can manipulate it to suit your purpose, but whichever way you spin it, your car is slow.

        • affable on 12/02/2018 - 09:31
          +1

          @Burnertoasty:

          An SUV under $40k with 2-3 second 0-60, yeah right. Keep dreaming.
          You've obviously stuck in the ICE age and have never driven an electric vehicle to see how practical they are off the line in day to day driving.
          How often do you even reach 100km an hour, once a week, once a month?
          0-100 is for ICE age magazines and track day cars, as they take that long to get the RPM and torque kicking in.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2018 - 13:25

          @affable: A PHEV is not an EV. I often drive a Tesla S and understand the benefits of fullness EVs. I’m sure you live your car, but it isn’t fast in any way. I drive in excess of 100kmh every single day.

          To answer your question, A Jeep Grand Cherokee, which can be had for $40k ish can hit 60kmh in 3.6 seconds.

          https://www.racv.com.au/membership/member-benefits/royalauto…

        • affable on 12/02/2018 - 16:45
          -1

          @Burnertoasty:

          lol 2wd Cherokee is $50k, as tested around $80k.
          Double the price to get you to 60 in 1.2 seconds less.
          Enjoy those extra 400 seconds a year.

          So you have a set of traffic lights or a standstill merge in a 100km zone, where is that, I've never seen one despite driving in all states and territories in Australia?

        • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2018 - 19:57

          @affable: You can get a 4*4 Laredo Grand Cherokee for low $40ks. 1.2 seconds is an eternity to 100kmh, to only 60kmh and you’re not even in the same ballpark. Your argument has been completely debunked. Your car is slow by any metric. And every freeway entrance in inner Melbourne has a traffic light on the on ramp.

  • BigBirdy on 08/02/2018 - 09:25
    +2

    Tucson, Sportage or Nissan Qashqai. It’s not the reason for this selection, but Mazda, Honda and Subaru will have higher service costs

  • kelasen on 08/02/2018 - 09:26
    -2

    Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross - Try that. I am loving it.

  • John Kimble on 08/02/2018 - 09:27

    OP, you don't seem to like many shapes…what about these shapes?

    https://youtu.be/Wou-aj7p8SE

  • whooah1979 on 08/02/2018 - 09:51

    Why do motorists that don't drive a suv dislike ( in some cases hate) motorists that drive a SUV so much?

    it's almost on the same level as drivers vs cyclists.

    • Ryanek on 08/02/2018 - 10:02

      They can't get past the fact that some people actually do buy it for the aesthetics. Some people just want to ride higher and there's nothing wrong with that.

      • ATangk on 09/02/2018 - 00:35
        +1

        Or they want to get in and out of a car without having to bend down low. For elderly (or even the regular joe), suv’s are much more superior in ergonomics.

    • MakkhiChoos on 08/02/2018 - 22:34
      +1

      Can’t see through them. Makes it harder to drive. They might be leaving 6 car distance or planning to change lanes at last moment leaving too little space between you and next car after SUV in front of you.

      • whooah1979 on 08/02/2018 - 22:42
        +4

        1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi.

        Just keep your distance and you'll be fine.

        • MakkhiChoos on 10/02/2018 - 18:56

          guess you don't drive much in Melbourne.
          some idiot will see that as an invitation to change lane into that gap, and I will end up with even less distance between me and now another car in front of me.

    • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 02:21
      +6

      I notice a lot of SUV drivers have trouble staying in their lane as they seem to have very little feel for the width of their car. Those drivers need to upgrade to utilize driver assist based functionality

      I've seen some SUV drivers sometimes reverse out from a park without noticing a lower height car behind them which had already gotten out first.. These drivers tend to rely so much on their reverse camera that seem to forget to also check their blind spots.

      Can't see through them.. which is hard to see past the driver in front of/behind you, or blocking your view to the right when you are in a double turning lane… And they also block your view when in a parking situation.

      My main irk is most of them tend to drive at snails pace with snoozeworthy acceleration from a red light..

      Oh I just remembered one other thing that I notice..Most of them seem to come to an almost dead stop when doing a left turn into a driveway or road..

      • Euphemistic on 09/02/2018 - 06:41
        +1

        Same applies for most drivers. Anyway, don’t get so worried about SUV drivers or you’ll have an aneurism

        • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 08:17

          I observed that because it seems much more prevalent with SUV drivers. I'm surprised that you didn't refer to the vessels as being abnormally swell.

        • Euphemistic on 09/02/2018 - 09:51
          +1

          @Aneurism: I suspect confirmation bias. You see what you think and don't notice any of the SUV drivers doing the right thing. Same can be said for p-paters, cars with oversize exhausts, black euro cars (particularly Audis) tradies utes … etc etc. It's how stereotypes evolve.

        • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 09:54
          -2

          @Euphemistic:

          The same thing can be said about your observation. Yet this is a forum where people put forward their opinion. The problem is you don't know me and cannot speak for what I have observed or not observed.

          As for casting heuristics, they are done so as to categorize groups in a general fashion. However, that does not mean there is no truth to it. Stereotypes tend to be formed for a reason.

          As for SUV drivers doing the right thing.. Every now and then I observe an SUV driver staying in their lane. I remember most instances because I internally applaud them each time for not driving in the middle of the road like most other SUV drivers.

        • Euphemistic on 09/02/2018 - 10:04

          @Aneurism:

          As for SUV drivers doing the right thing.. Every now and then I observe an SUV driver staying in their lane. I remember most instances because I internally applaud them each time for not driving in the middle of the road like most other SUV drivers

          and what of all the SUV drivers you don't notice becuase they have done nothing wrong. The ppoint you 'appluad' and SUV driver for doing the right thing indicates you are possibly ignoring other types of vehicles because you are focussed on the SUV's

          I will admit though, I kinda do the same thing when I see a p-plater driving well.

        • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 10:10

          @Euphemistic:
          My current car is 23 years old. It is not an SUV. I've never had an accident in 23 years (and less than a handful infringements in that time)

          I've spent a lot of time researching SUV's the last week because I am considering purchasing one.

          Assume what you will.

          Edit: I use proportions based on groupings. And my internal abacus makes me feel like a higher proportion of SUV drivers exhibit the things I mentioned as compared to the proportion of non SUV drivers. It is the proportions that contribute to the feelings that generate the heuristics.

          Also it is easy to focus on SUVs when you are attempting to overtake them and they have half a tyre in the second lane. This happens way too many times and forces me to have to sag off and just trail them which ironically gives me more opportunity to observe their driving characteristics.

        • Euphemistic on 09/02/2018 - 10:38

          @Aneurism: and you want to buy one? That's funny. Are you hoping to turn around the image of the SUV driver or are you going to become one.

          Again, you are probably noticing them more becuase you are looking for one. Since we started playing puunch buggy in the car with the kids I'm sure there are a lot more kombi's and vw beetles on the road than ever before.

          Since buying my Navara, I see a lot more of them. No idea how many hiluxes, tritons or colorados I passed this morning, but I remember noticing a Navara. It was a blue one. I have no idea how many hatchbacks I saw, have no interest in them.

          For overtaking you probably notice the wheel in lane first, then that it is an SUV, then you start to watch.

        • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 10:50
          +1

          @Euphemistic:

          There is a difference between criticizing a car type vs criticizing the general population that drives it. The observation does not pertain to all SUV..and those that do not exhibit those habits need not be defensive about it.

          The only real features I was interested in was the Honda magic seats and general boot size for lugging larger, bulkier items.. but don't like cvt. The only other SUV that interested me was the tiguan 162 TSI but it is over inflated in price vs features and didn't have magic seat equivalent.

          So until the seats feature catches on with the competitors (or honda switch away from cvt) then I'll probably stay away from it.

          My observations of SUV drivers was formed over the last few years and based on how many times i mutter or swear to myself about another driver (that is when I log the car type)..ie. the wheel in the lane is rarely a non SUV..

        • John Kimble on 09/02/2018 - 10:56

          @Aneurism: pic of the log or it didn't happen.

        • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 10:58
          +1

          @John Kimble:
          I was referring to mental logs

        • John Kimble on 09/02/2018 - 10:59

          @Aneurism: FMRI then :p

        • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 11:02

          @John Kimble:
          The FMRI has SUV tyre marks all over it :/

    • Brianqpr on 09/02/2018 - 10:13
      +1

      I have an SUV now for family reasons but my main reason for not liking them before that is the difficulty in seeing past them in traffic. Also, when the whole 4x4 thing took off in the early 2000s it was about clowns having them purely for status and driving no further than the local supermarket.

      SUVs have come a long way since then and are now much more like other cars, just a bit bigger than your standard size. They are also a lot more attractive to look at than the old boxy, ugly shapes.

      That said, once the kids are older and able to transport themselves I will go back to something smaller.

    • Cupi on 09/02/2018 - 11:21
      +1

      Personally l find majority of arguments as to why SUV's are better than an equivalent sedan/station wagon are just plain wrong. I understand and agree SUV does provide a higher driving position and due to height it is easier to get in and out of for some people. Other arguments are plain crap as SUV's do not outperform equivalent sedans/station wagons.

      Having said that l am in the wast minority given how many SUV's are sold, marketing and styling just appeals to the masses.

    • 811b11e8 on 11/02/2018 - 17:23

      They attract people who get bigger cars wanting to ride higher and feel safer driving.

      They usually want to feel safer as they either just had a baby or they know they are bad drivers.

      I had a mother swerve in to the bike lane while leaning over to check the on baby in back more than once for example.

      Its also a false sense of security as Mazda 3 is safer than a CX-5 in crash testing.

    • abb on 13/02/2018 - 12:14

      Many people use the "it's safer for me" (but the other guy is (profanity)!) argument, because of their increased mass.

      I think they're much worse for vehicle vs pedestrian crashes too (especially if you add bullbars or similar, luckily that's less common now).

      They block the sight lines of other drivers (imagine two vehicles side by side at an intersection, car turning left, SUV turning right… car can't see jack).

      95% of Porsche Cayennes I see on the road drive like absolute jerks - late/no indicating, cutting off, etc.

      Essentially, SUVs are selfishness in vehicular form.

  • JUSTINO on 08/02/2018 - 22:12
    +6

    Nissan xtrail

  • cisco on 08/02/2018 - 22:16
    +1

    BMW X1

  • Shiny Mew on 08/02/2018 - 23:01
    +3

    Cringeworthy post. Given your requirements, you don't need an SUV. A wagon is the obvious choice.

    • Euphemistic on 09/02/2018 - 11:08

      even a wagon is not an obvious choice, there is no apparent need for cargo space.

      • resisting the urge on 09/02/2018 - 13:38

        I don't mind them, once they get out of the way.

        Even better when they driven by maniacs on the edge of stability control and go rolling the moment they hit an obstacle or a bad angle. That said, rollers can hit you and others if you just happen to in the wrong place at the wrong time.

        But evolution is absolute. Will non SUV drivers outlast the SUV drivers? I think they'll manage to pick off us non SUV drivers at a very similar rate as the SUV drivers kill themselves.

  • BartholemewH on 08/02/2018 - 23:09
    +3

    Skoda Kodiaq. Cheapest I just searched up was 43k but there are sure to be deals around.

  • devilbabies on 08/02/2018 - 23:53

    Get a Suzuki LJ80. It makes me a little sad that men are choosing the car they drive based on the resolution of the reversing camera and other minutia.

    https://i.imgur.com/nTgd81C.jpg
    https://i.imgur.com/swMxnoR.jpg

    • sw00p on 09/02/2018 - 15:59

      Lol, makes me a little sad that you don’t realise ‘masculinity’ is a construct.

  • Ahbal on 09/02/2018 - 00:12

    Sounds like a hatch or wagon is better suited to you….why SUV?

  • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 02:08

    Tiguan..might be ugly as heck but drives pretty well.

    • resisting the urge on 09/02/2018 - 13:41

      I've compared the previous to the latest one just recently. A world apart, new is much better looking (for an SUV) and almost as brilliant a car as the Golf.

      On the negative side, both are still combustion engines, and Tiguan is still more bulky and tall to be as safe or good to drive though.

      • Aneurism on 09/02/2018 - 13:52

        "and Tiguan is still more bulky and tall to be as safe or good to drive though."

        Well OP is asking for an SUV so it needs to be compared to other SUV's which are for the most part also comparatively tall and bulky. The question is is the Tiguan better to drive compared to the alternative SUVs ?

        • resisting the urge on 09/02/2018 - 14:03

          My comparison was from the POV of the previous model and unraised cars which may or may not help the OP.

          If you are concerned about how they drive, only way is to see how they drive around slowly, then faster, and faster. Especially without ESC. The older Japanese ones I've driven are terrifying in emergency situations and a lot of it is due to weight distribution, elevation and size. But it is hard to tell until you need to avoid something. They are adding gizmos to restrict the point at which they lose their composure (but successful recovery can require too much skill IMO), so most are unsafe when it comes to crash avoidance.

          To answer your question the only SUV that is safe or good to drive (in terms of crash and roll avoidance on normal roads, staying upright and handling well) is probably limited to the big expensive ones, such as Cayenne, Toureg, Range Rover, X5 etc- basically those with equal weight, super-wide tyres and ESC that manage suspension as well as tyre slide. They may have height but are adjustable to the conditions AND have a lot of width which prevents body roll when turning, or in an emergency slide.

  • Pleasure Paulie on 09/02/2018 - 02:23
    -1

    Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

  • Cleartripe on 09/02/2018 - 03:04
    +1

    No love for Nissan X-Trail?

    • syousef on 11/02/2018 - 10:51

      No idea why this would be downvoted. I have upvoted.

      A work colleague recently got one to replace a car that had been written off (accident not her fault). She has to young kids and so far she says she's loving it.

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