Small to Mid Size SUV

[Shin Pad]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Just bought a GMC Terrain yesterday. I know the guy I bought it from personally, so he let me have it for two days first. I don't pull anything, so the 4-cylinder is plenty good for me. It's rated 46mpg on the highway, i was getting about 38 which is still great. I figured out how many kms i average each year and the difference between this and the V6 was about $650 a year, which is significant. The AWD is also not necessary for me as i don't go off-road. In the end for me it was about comfort, space (new little Street Pharmacist due July 6th) and price. The Terrain has backup camera, satellite radio etc. as standard, so that was the kicker for me. 28,000 over 72 months @ 0%. I'd normally be against that length of loan, but at 0%, it is free money

AWD is not really for off road use. It's more for getting traction on icy roads, etc.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

AWD is not really for off road use. It's more for getting traction on icy roads, etc.

I drive an AWD car with winter tires. My wife's FWD minivan with winter tires is very capable as well. I have no problem driving either one in basically any condition. AWD is nice, but it's not a mandatory thing at all as long as you have the right tires. I personally wouldn't drive a RWD car year round in Canada, though, winter tires or not.

[yads]

We have a Ford Edge and are pretty happy with it so far. You really need to specify what your budget is to get any kind of meaningful feedback.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by yads

We have a Ford Edge and are pretty happy with it so far. You really need to specify what your budget is to get any kind of meaningful feedback.

Great point thanks.

I am looking in the $20,000 range +/- a few K.

Am looking for used.

Cheers

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Unfortunately a lot of companies out there are only offering premium wagons these days, which obviously drives more people to other options....leading to even less wagons to choose from. Kind of a crappy deal for us wagon fans.

They seem to be a dying breed. I test drove a used 328xi wagon last fall and it was a fantastic car. But it was too expensive for me from a purchase price and maintenance cost perspective. I've looked at other cars/SUV's/crossovers in my price range since and nothing has stacked up in all the categories like the 328 did.

For most people, all wheel drive is over-rated in my opinion. Stability control (standard in all new cars in the US, unsure about Canada) and some decent winter tires (which you should have regardless of all-wheel drive) is more than enough in most scenarios. It's funny how people turn into rugged mountaineering woodsmen as soon as they go car shopping.

I agree with winter tires whole heartily but I still think that all wheel drive is not over rated at all. Sure you don't need it most of the time, but when you don't have it and are stuck you aren't thinking about the majority of the time when your car is good enough. My Mazda 3 with decent winter tires still gets trounced by an AWD vehicle with all seasons when getting moving (obviously stopping is another matter wholly dependent on the tires). Lots of vehicles now a days with AWD are clearly designed for city use and not mountaineering. Personally I would rather have a vehicle that is capable all the time than good enough most of the time. Especially if that difference is relatively low in cost.

[FlamesFanInOilCountry]

I painted myself into a bit of a corner with a leased car and finishing my degree, and ended up having to buy with GM again (I know, cool story, bro!). Anyways, I bought a 2010 equinox. It's alright, mileage is decent, handles well, but I notice that it's starting to depreciate pretty rapidly (even seeing some rust already). It does the job, but I don't know that I'd buy GM again after the experience with my wife's vehicle.

We bought my wife a 2012 CX-7, which she and I both love. Her car is a pleasure to drive, great balls on it, handles well, surprising amount of room and we did get a pretty good price on it. They wouldn't move price wise, but they through in some decent upgrades. CX-5 was great, but we decided to go with the CX-7 for long term.

[Table 5]

2010 and it's starting to rust???

[STeeLy]

That's ok, his wife's CX-7 will rust in about the same amount of time.

Mazdas are fun to drive, but their paint is terrible.

[malcolmk14]

I like the Nissan Rogue, and the Audi Q5. But I think they're both crossovers.

[Violator]

Originally Posted by yads

We have a Ford Edge and are pretty happy with it so far. You really need to specify what your budget is to get any kind of meaningful feedback.

Hopefully that will be my next vehicle

[Qwerty]

I am in the same boat looking for a small-mid sized SUV.

Been looking at:
GMC Terrain
Chevy Equinox
VW Tiquan

Any opinions on others I should look at or people that have owned these above? Looking to spend ~30,000.

[socktape]

Originally Posted by Qwerty

Any opinions on others I should look at or people that have owned these above? Looking to spend ~30,000.

Subaru Outback or Forrester - I have a 09 outback and love it. Gas milage isn't as good but the 2011-12 are in the 42mpg range. Full time AWD as well.

[Lt.Spears]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

I agree with this. When I was looking around for an SUV, the ones that had enough power for highway driving, were all Turbo models which required premium gas. So, any savings these vehicles have with respect to gas milage, go out the window when you have to pay more for premium gas. My RAV4 V6, has 269 HP and it runs on regular fuel. I do a lot of highway driving, so this is ideal for me. I won't recommend a regular 4 cyliinder engine for highway driving. If you are doing mostly city driving, then just get a regular 4 cylinder engine (not a turbo).

Also, the gas milage with my V6 is still pretty good.

The Ford Eco-Boost motors all run 87 Octane.

[Table 5]

A new review of the Escape by Autoblog for those of you in the market.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/2...-review-video/

I will still continue to mock crossovers, but this one seems like a pretty decent one.

Also, I have Ford stock....

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Table 5

A new review of the Escape by Autoblog for those of you in the market.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/2...-review-video/

I will still continue to mock crossovers, but this one seems like a pretty decent one.

Also, I have Ford stock....

I don't think the Escape it Technically a cross over is it?

The Edge, isn't that the cross over?

[Lt.Spears]

I really dont understand what the difference is.

CUV
SUV
Crossover


They are all the same, all have 4 doors that swing out, all have 2wd and 4wd versions.

The only thing is some are bigger than others.

They are all SUV's

[GreatWhiteEbola]

I believe the deciding factor is if the vehicle is built on a truck or car platform. That has blurred over the years. CUV and cross-over are the same.

CUV- car based
SUV- truck based

[93Hound]

We have loved our 2008 Escape. Great mileage in the city too. We get about 430 km's to a tank and it only costs about $50 to fill. Actually trying ot sell it if anyone is interested. Let me know if you are.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by 93Hound

We have loved our 2008 Escape. Great mileage in the city too. We get about 430 km's to a tank and it only costs about $50 to fill. Actually trying ot sell it if anyone is interested. Let me know if you are.

62L tank. At today's prices would be $60+ to fill from when the low fuel light goes on (approx 9 gallons remaining).

[BloodFetish]

Does anyone know if diesel CX-5s are confirmed for the Canadian market?