Family SUV is exploding, what to buy
 

Hello all, figured I could source a few opinions from you guys. Just found out this morning my 2008 GMC Acadia SLT-2 shit the bed (165,000 miles). Entire steering system is failing, cat failed, and a bunch of other crap all within the last 2 days. $3500 bucks to fix a car thats maybe worth 5k seems like a losing proposition.

I dont want to spend more than 30k, and if I can get nearer to 20k that would be ideal. We have looked at new CX-9s in touring trim, but are also looking at a 2014 and up MDX, Santa Fe Sport (its a hyundai, but its cheap in top trim), could look at a new Acadia, brand new Terrain etc. The main requirements are the wife wants some niceties, leather seats, moon roof, back up camera, and something thats faster than 0-60 in 8.5 seconds like our Acadia. We do lots of road trips, 1 baby, and 2 dogs, so cargo capacity is extremely important, mpgs that are above 20, and something that doesnt rattle like a tin can.

Besides the brand image of a Hyundai, is it worth looking at? Any experience? Some of the people on here have the new CX-9s, I assume they are holding up well. They really impressed me with interior quality and road noise. I can't find anything made in 2012-2017 that isn't a bin of crappy parts and rattly interiors for 20-30k worth looking at. Ideally I want to find something sub 50k miles so I can get some good years out of it before repairing things.

Any suggestions are helpful. Thanks.

We have a new CX-9, it's great. Had it about a year, nothing has failed on it yet.

http://www.codrus.com/cars/cx9/cx9-2.jpg

If you're a Mazdaspeed Motorsports member, you can get S plan pricing on new Mazdas. I also got a $500 "loyalty discount" for showing them the FD registration, but they wouldn't give me another $500 for the Miata as well. :)

--Ian

My wife drives a 2011 MDX- it's nice, quiet and moves out pretty good. I don't mind driving it at all. Paid $24k 2 years ago with 80k miles.

MPG right around 20- it's supposed to get premium though.

How has the cx9 been in the fuel economy department. All the reviews I read say it underperforms EPA.

I'm not actually sure, my wife drives it so I don't fill it up very often. I'm sure it gets better milage than anything else we own, though. :)

--Ian

2015+ Subi Outback?

We have a 2015 3.6r with the leather niceties and all the Eyesight stuff, and like it a lot so far (only owned a couple of months). Bought second hand to clarify... I'm in Aus so not sure what $30k USD will buy you there.
Also driven the Diesel manual and I liked it too and it does have nice low down gogo. Don't recall if it had leather.

I'm a Mazda guy and the CX-9 was on our list but I like that the Outback feels a little less SUV.

I drive Toyota Highlander as daily. MPG is at 22 in mixed cycle, about 26 on the highway, been reliable for the 9 years I've owned it, roomy enough for our family with a dog (used to be two of them) and long trips. We love to camp and go to desert, mountains, up and down the coast. Having said that - I was seriously considering switching to Subaru Outback.

We were interested in the Outback until I discovered it only came with a CVT. That's a deal-killer in my book. The CX-9 has a competent traditional 6-speed automatic.

--Ian

I've driven Subaru with CVT and can't say anything negative about it for day to day driving. Works just fine. They have the car for about 5 years now and not a single problem.

Fozzie xt? There are a bunch of them on carmax without a ton of miles.

Unless you want to use it to tow at the upper limit and often, which might be risky with CVT, I didn't see anything in my research that would make the CVT in the Subadoo a dealbreaker.
Certainly it drives well and feels pretty much like any other auto with the added bonus fun of paddles and different options for driving if you really need to go there.

2013-14 Toyota Highlander with <36k miles in Limited trim (packed with goodies) is probably about $23-25K in today's used car market. Find a good one with <50k miles and you won't have to worry about maintenance for a long long time.

2014-15 or 2016 re-designed CX-9 - again, a great value in the Touring trim with all the goodies - just have to find that low miles car.

+3 on the Highlander recommendation. Currently at 220000 with no maintenance performed outside of fluids, tires, and brakes. Quiet and solid, yet economical.

Ill have to look at the Highlander, last time I looked I thought 30k got you a 3 year old model with 50k miles on the clock. Seems crazy to pay that when I can get a brand new cx9 touring for the same cost.

Subarus just...... dont do anything for me. Ill look at the outback, but they always seemed unrefined, uninspiring cars that have a cult like following that drives the prices sky high. My neighbor owned 3 subis in the past few years. LGT started to show lots of metal in the oil changes, Impreza went through 3 head gaskets in 3 years, and his FXT blew the turbo. But... perhaps the newer ones are different.

We have a Sequoia and absolutely love it...45K miles on it in the last year, majority of that towing either the 20ft open trailer or 26ft enclosed...has done excellent and more then enough room in all 3 rows for adults and kids...

Wife is all over the place with cars... CX9, then i convinced her to at least look at a Hyundai, now it's a Ford Edge, then MDX, now not MDX, now its a "insert car here". Im gonna have to just put her butt in a bunch of seats over the weekend.

haha sounds exactly like my lady's shopping experience. I think she might have gotten tired of looking and MDX was the last one we drove. LOL

Mate I can dig it. It also has to be something you like because you like it as much as it reads good on the spec sheet. We also went through a long period of flip flopping between different cars and different perceived requirements.

Im having that internal argument with myself right now. On paper some of these cheaper economy based suv's come loaded with tech, lower price, but match performance and cargo. But I know over time the slightly higher initial quality suv with less options is going to be just as comfy 5 years down the line as it is when new. I just sold my Ford Explorer as well, so new car is happening within a few days... if we can agree on something.

Volvo XC60 and XC90. Both have been updated and they look gorgeous. They also have the best interiors by far in my opinion. They are also super safe for the wife.

XC60

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XC90

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