Comparing CUV's/small SUV's

[connor_in]

I will be looking to get a new vehicle sometime in the first few months of 2017 and thought I would see what info my IE brethren had to help me make my final decision.

Basically, I am looking at getting a CUV/small SUV and trying to stay under $30K, with preference to be mid $20K's.

I prefer to get a vehicle I will drive for its entire life my current SUV is 16 years old and my wife's vehicle was 15 years when the transmission finally died. So basically, I am not looking for a vehicle to switch out in just a few years. Thus resale value not really a big factor.

Right now, based on research and talking to friends/family/etc I am looking at (& what I like about each)

Hyundai Tucson (warranty, mpg, looks, safety, told it drives very well)
Kia Sportage (warranty, safety, features, told it drives well)
Mazda CX-5 (looks, mpg, features, told it drives well)
Subaru Forrester (reliability, mpg)
Toyota RAV4 (reliability, mpg)
Honda CR-V (reliability, mpg)
Nissan Rogue (features, mpg, looks)

As far as the Chevy, Ford, and GMC entries in this level of vehicles, they are either priced higher for similar features, not rated as well in many online listings, or have acquaintances that have really spoken against them.

The drawbacks I have about each are

Tucson - it has a DCT, there have been issues with this DCT but recent fix out for it is getting raves from owners in some forums; also, lack of features on the lower trims, this is big as I can't afford top of the line Limited trim
Sportage - it has the standard automatic transmission so engine should be solid, but has lowest mpg of the others on my list, not the biggest on the outside looks, but could live with it, redeeming factor is better features available on lower trims vs its cousin the Tucson
Mazda - features are ok on lower trim, but seems to be a bit costlier than some of the others, I haven't heard great things about the infotainment system, warranty OK but could be better
Subaru - vehicle seems OK, but not great in many aspects, nothing really makes it stand out above others, warranty not that great
RAV4 & CR-V & Rogue - all have a lot of people not high on their CVTs (especially Rogue has had a number of issues, people just don't seem to like the others); nothing really seems to stand out about the Toyota & Honda, the owners I know think they are at best OK, had a couple people tell me essentially the same thing on both, they are relatively reliable and have good resale value but feel like they are kind of living on their reputations and need overhauls to make them more worthwhile.

If I had to buy today, I would probably go with the 2017 Kia Sportage and get used to the front end looks. The gas mileage while lower than the others is still better than my current one by a chunk. I would probably get the the low end LX with the 2 pkgs or the mid level EX with no pkgs. Plus I get the one of the best warranties available.

NOTE I live in Northern Indiana (so snowy winters) and thus would get AWD version of anything. Also, I have not test driven any of these yet, but starting to do that in the not too distant future.

Let me know what you know/think/hear about any of these so that i can make an informed decision.

THANKS

 

[PANDFAN]

my dad has the 2016 Nissan Rogue and absolutely loves it...lives in PA and had no issues w/ the snow...looks very sharp

 

[woolybug25]

Foreign CUV's are for the poors.

 

[pkt77242]

I would recommend the Forrester, or CRV.

My wife drives a CRV (and I previously did as well). Very reliable and good MPG. We traded mine in with 120,000 miles only because we needed a van (and of course we got a Honda Odyssey which I drive).

One of my brothers always buys Subarus and loves them (He has a Forrester and an Outback). They last a long time, and they come with AWD so no adding it on).

 

[pkt77242]

Foreign CUV's are for the poors.

I think that you have that backwards.

 

[tussin]

I have a 2011 CR-V. It's reliable and I haven't had any issues with it. Main benefit is reliability -- I'll likely drive this thing into the ground.

Drawbacks:
1. Not great with inclement weather. I've had some dicey experiences in winter with it.
2. Base model has a weak engine. I've noticed this in off-road / dirt road situations.
3. I don't think you get as many bells & whistles for the price and the car is simply not cool. It's a Mom car.

If I could do it again, I would probably get a Subie or Toyota.

 

[Bubbles]

On paper I'd most likely go with a RAV4 hybrid. We have had very good luck with the reliability and overall build quality of Toyota. The Japanese and Koreans don't really do the 'solid' feeling build quality, but of the ones I have driven and owned, Toyota is closest IME (even over Lexus and Acura previously owned).

 

[woolybug25]

I think that you have that backwards.

Let me rephrase...

Kia, Mazda and Hyundai CUV's are for the poors...

 

[pkt77242]

Let me rephrase...

Kia, Mazda and Hyundai CUV's are for the poors...

Agreed.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Pay extra for the BMW. If not, Subaru is the way to go.

 

[GoIrish41]

Just got a RAV4 for Mrs. Goirish41. She loves it. She gets over 30 mph and still has the room she wants to taxi the kids around town. I've had great luck with Toyotas in general.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I have a 2014 Mazda CX-5. Best feature is that it is an awesome drive! Down side is it holds no residual value.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BoredIrish]

Curious that the VW Tiguan didnt make the list.

The Tiguan is re-designed for 2017, which is nice. The flip side is that you can get a deal on the clear-out 2016's. I picked one up a couple of months ago in Canada with 0% financing up to 84 months.

German cars are different... you either love them or hate them. Personally, I am a fan. 2.0 T engine is the same as the GTI. Good peppy engine with great handling. Fun car to drive.

 

[calvegas04]

I would get the Honda CRV, but the KIA is nice and I really like the look of the CX-5. Also check out the Subaru crosstrek

 

[#1rish]

Curious that the VW Tiguan didnt make the list.

The Tiguan is re-designed for 2017, which is nice. The flip side is that you can get a deal on the clear-out 2016's. I picked one up a couple of months ago in Canada with 0% financing up to 84 months.

German cars are different... you either love them or hate them. Personally, I am a fan. 2.0 T engine is the same as the GTI. Good peppy engine with great handling. Fun car to drive.

+1. My wife and I just picked up a 2016 R-line 4Motion last weekend. It's a beauty. Only knock on it is that is doesn't have as good as MPG as the other CUVs listed. Also, FYI the 2017 in the US is NOT redesigned, just a shuffling of trims. 2018 is most likely when the US will get the new generation.

Tiguan R line:

OP, if you were to consider the Tiguan, I'd recommend the 2017 S 4Motion model. A little more expensive at $27k, but this year they added a lot of nice standard features that you don't see on other base models:

- 6.33 inch touchscreen media with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- Rearview camera
- Keyless access and push button start
- Heated front seats

 

[Rack Em]

Just got a RAV4 for Mrs. Goirish41. She loves it. She gets over 30 mph and still has the room she wants to taxi the kids around town. I've had great luck with Toyotas in general.

I hope you don't let her drive much faster than that. Women are a liability on the road.

 

[RDU Irish]

Pay extra for the BMW. If not, Subaru is the way to go.

Couldn't disagree more about BMW. My X5 was meh until thing needed to be repaired and then it was my mechanic's best friend - not just cost but frequency of fixes drove me nuts. And it chewed through tires like a freaking cookie monster - with much poorer gas mileage than I expected (and I didn't expect much).

Replaced it with a Discovery Sport (Land Rover) - drives much lighter than it looks, tons of pep, starting price lower than you would think. Pretty sweet ride, very please so far.

I was actually hoping to get a decked out Santa Fe - loved the ones we had years ago. Very disappointed in what they have done with those - much smaller and they gutted a lot of value out of them. I'm 5'10" and felt crowded in the driver seat, visibility out the front sucked - just absolutely not an option after driving it.

My sister loves her Subarus - great for granola crunching and driving under the speed limit in the left lane.

 

[Rack Em]

Couldn't disagree more about BMW. My X5 was meh until thing needed to be repaired and then it was my mechanic's best friend - not just cost but frequency of fixes drove me nuts. And it chewed through tires like a freaking cookie monster - with much poorer gas mileage than I expected (and I didn't expect much).

Replaced it with a Discovery Sport (Land Rover) - drives much lighter than it looks, tons of pep, starting price lower than you would think. Pretty sweet ride, very please so far.

I was actually hoping to get a decked out Santa Fe - loved the ones we had years ago. Very disappointed in what they have done with those - much smaller and they gutted a lot of value out of them. I'm 5'10" and felt crowded in the driver seat, visibility out the front sucked - just absolutely not an option after driving it.

My sister loves her Subarus - great for granola crunching and driving under the speed limit in the left lane.

WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW WOMEN TO DRIVE?!?!?

 

[PANDFAN]

Curious that the VW Tiguan didnt make the list.

The Tiguan is re-designed for 2017, which is nice. The flip side is that you can get a deal on the clear-out 2016's. I picked one up a couple of months ago in Canada with 0% financing up to 84 months.

German cars are different... you either love them or hate them. Personally, I am a fan. 2.0 T engine is the same as the GTI. Good peppy engine with great handling. Fun car to drive.

would NEVER buy a VW....i have never known anyone to say anything good about them or being reliable(15 years to newer)..expensive to fix

 

[RDU Irish]

+1. My wife and I just picked up a 2016 R-line 4Motion last weekend. It's a beauty. Only knock on it is that is doesn't have as good as MPG as the other CUVs listed. Also, FYI the 2017 in the US is NOT redesigned, just a shuffling of trims. 2018 is most likely when the US will get the new generation.

Tiguan R line:

OP, if you were to consider the Tiguan, I'd recommend the 2017 S 4Motion model. A little more expensive at $27k, but this year they added a lot of nice standard features that you don't see on other base models:

- 6.33 inch touchscreen media with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- Rearview camera
- Keyless access and push button start
- Heated front seats

We had one and loved it - a little small for (at the time) family of four but plenty functional. Traded it in when bun #3 was in the oven. Over the options listed I second your motion.

 

[RDU Irish]

would NEVER buy a VW....i have never known anyone to say anything good about them or being reliable(15 years to newer)..expensive to fix

Two Passats and a Tiguan previously owned - loved them all and no repair issues at all.

 

[BoredIrish]

Two Passats and a Tiguan previously owned - loved them all and no repair issues at all.

I did alot of research prior to picking up my Tiguan and it really seems like with German cars, people either love them or hate them.

My dad is a long time Caddy guy. He picked up a Mercedes C class as his last car and absolutely hates it. He can't wait till he can get rid of it and pick up something else.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

As a Ford shareholder may I suggest a Ford Edge?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Mazda CX-5 or Nissan Murano tops my list.

 

[connor_in]

I don't mind VWs as my Dad had a couple as I was growing up and it wore well for a while before a little bit of a rust issue. He has since moved on to Audis, which I like but out of price range right now.

Its mpg is same or slightly below the Kia. Also, I was told it requires Premium fuel and not regular like the rest, is that true?

----------------------------------

Sorry Wooly, but apparently I am the poors

Also, while the Hyundai & Tucson have not help their re-sale value well (supposedly, the recent useds on them haven't seemed to price drop much-also not a factor as I would like to keep the vehicle for a long time anyway), they have been getting a noticeably improved response to their quality & reliability recently.

(PS: Wooly still owns a Yugo...young guys google Yugo auto)

------------------------------

Panda, I like the Rogue too. Has your Dad talked to anyone else with transmission issues on them? That has been the issue that worries me about them as I know people with them with CVT issues. When they have had an issue it resulted in having to replace it instead of fixing it.

---------------------------

Rack, I gotta let my wife drive as we work in different cities in opposite directions. However, I at least made sure she is in a minivan and not a real vehicle...

---------------------------

I have researched the Edge as I have a family member with one, but the base model w/ AWD starts at $30K.

--------------------------

I Like the Murano, but would probably have to go used to get in my price range. Also the worry over the Nissan CVT has shown up in stories for it as well.

--------------------------

I really do appreciate the input as more information only helps making an informed decision!

 

[PANDFAN]

I don't mind VWs as my Dad had a couple as I was growing up and it wore well for a while before a little bit of a rust issue. He has since moved on to Audis, which I like but out of price range right now.

Its mpg is same or slightly below the Kia. Also, I was told it requires Premium fuel and not regular like the rest, is that true?

----------------------------------

Sorry Wooly, but apparently I am the poors

Also, while the Hyundai & Tucson have not help their re-sale value well (supposedly, the recent useds on them haven't seemed to price drop much-also not a factor as I would like to keep the vehicle for a long time anyway), they have been getting a noticeably improved response to their quality & reliability recently.

------------------------------

Panda, I like the Rogue too. Has your Dad talked to anyone else with transmission issues on them? That has been the issue that worries me about them as I know people with them with CVT issues. When they have had an issue it resulted in having to replace it instead of fixing it.

---------------------------

Rack, I gotta let my wife drive as we work in different cities in opposite directions. However, I at least made sure she is in a minivan and not a real vehicle...

---------------------------

I have researched the Edge as I have a family member with one, but the base model w/ AWD starts at $30K.

--------------------------

I really do appreciate the input as more information only helps making an informed decision!

he hasn't had any issues but unsure if he has spoken w/ anyone else that has one...i had an altima the 1st year they came out w/ the cvt and had no issues w/ it

 

[Wild Bill]

Curious that the VW Tiguan didnt make the list.

The Tiguan is re-designed for 2017, which is nice. The flip side is that you can get a deal on the clear-out 2016's. I picked one up a couple of months ago in Canada with 0% financing up to 84 months.

German cars are different... you either love them or hate them. Personally, I am a fan. 2.0 T engine is the same as the GTI. Good peppy engine with great handling. Fun car to drive.

Tiguans are nice and I don't mind VWs but they have much less cargo space than most of the competitors. VW has to buy back all the diesels in November so I bet they slash prices to keep some of their customers. Could be a good time to buy one.

Couldn't disagree more about BMW. My X5 was meh until thing needed to be repaired and then it was my mechanic's best friend - not just cost but frequency of fixes drove me nuts. And it chewed through tires like a freaking cookie monster - with much poorer gas mileage than I expected (and I didn't expect much).

Replaced it with a Discovery Sport (Land Rover) - drives much lighter than it looks, tons of pep, starting price lower than you would think. Pretty sweet ride, very please so far.

I was actually hoping to get a decked out Santa Fe - loved the ones we had years ago. Very disappointed in what they have done with those - much smaller and they gutted a lot of value out of them. I'm 5'10" and felt crowded in the driver seat, visibility out the front sucked - just absolutely not an option after driving it.

My sister loves her Subarus - great for granola crunching and driving under the speed limit in the left lane.

The run flat/no spare drives me nuts about BMW. Good luck finding a 18 inch low profile fun flat if you have an issue on the highway. Really makes no sense. They are really great to drive but total maintenance whores.

 

[connor_in]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-MknuRE2Bcg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

for Wooly

SNL spoof

Watch Adobe From Saturday Night Live - NBC.com

 

[BobbyMac]

We just leased a CX-5 to leave in Cali. I wanted to get a used Ford Edge Sport but my girl liked the Mazda. I ok'd it after driving it. At 6-5, 275ish I'm very comfortable in it. Great seats, great interior design that you'd expect on a German rig.

Best part is, $0 down and $300/mo for 3 yrs and 30k miles w/ 5 synthetic oil changes thrown in.

Styling, Ride and performance is voted best by all the mags for the $30k and under CUV's. I got 34 mpg on a 800 mi round trip to AZ too. Around town it gets 25 at worst.

The question you ask is, do you want this deal or do you want $4250 down and $369/mo for an X1 or Q3?

But without a doubt, best interior this side of a German.

 

[connor_in]

We just leased a CX-5 to leave in Cali. I wanted to get a used Ford Edge Sport but my girl liked the Mazda. I ok'd it after driving it. At 6-5, 275ish I'm very comfortable in it. Great seats, great interior design that you'd expect on a German rig.

Best part is, $0 down and $300/mo for 3 yrs and 30k miles w/ 5 synthetic oil changes thrown in.

Styling, Ride and performance is voted best by all the mags for the $30k and under CUV's. I got 34 mpg on a 800 mi round trip to AZ too. Around town it gets 25 at worst.

The question you ask is, do you want this deal or do you want $4250 down and $369/mo for an X1 or Q3?

But without a doubt, best interior this side of a German.

That is why its near the top of my list. I have heard very few people say much against it unless its more of a nitpick, but overall people really seem to like it in my research.