My MIL is looking to get something AWD for her next car. Her 2000 Malibu sucks in the snow and is starting to wear out, and she likes my wife's Equinox. Up until this year she has borrowed my wife's car when the snow hits but my kid is starting school so that won't be an option. She has a budget of ~$10,000 and wants a small/midsize SUV.
Must haves-
AWD / 4WD
Can't be huge, but she wants an SUV. Although she did like an AWD Lincoln MKV that was for sale locally.
Must have solid long-term reliability with minimal maintenance costs
Automatic or CVT
Preferably priceable under $10k with under 100k miles
2010 or newer
I've been looking at Rogues and Escapes, also seen a few Foresters in that price range. My wife had a Rogue before the Equinox that was really a good car (she crashed it). Is there anything else I should be checking out? Any reasons to stay away from the Escape, Rogue or Forester?
My mom has a rav 4 and i have been driveing the hell out of it. hers is a 2010 and pretty good till the deer nailed it a few weeks ago.
Tucson/Sportage. Should be able to get a couple years newer than the competitors for same money
Looking in the parking lot at the local ice cream spot and I realized that our Chrysler Pacifica minivan has the driver at the same height as nearly all of the modern SUVs in the lot. It was the same height as well, it was just longer and had a lower floor. So if you need the ground clearance, I can understand getting the raised wagon solutions.
Other than the lack of AWD (really not usually needed as long as you have decent tires, especially as most AWD systems are useless on the SUVs).
The drawback is that the non-hybrid models have a slightly annoying 9-speed automatic. The hybrid has a nice CVT and in many places you can get a decent tax rebate upwards of $10K
Careful on the Rogue. They all have a CVT transmission, which are reliable if and only if they receive frequent fluid changes that most owners neglect. If buying used, it'll be a crapshoot for transmission longevity unless you get one with documented changes.
My friend is a master tech for Nissan/Infiniti and that info is straight from him. He's seen 200k-mile CVTs original to various Nissans, but owners were religious with fluids.
She is dead-set on an SUV and AWD. She does like the RAV4. Looks like we have some shopping to do, as they are right at the top of her price range with decent miles.
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HalfDork
9/7/19 6:51 a.m.
2nd gen MDX has been the best and most reliable vehicle I have owned. Had mine since 2007 and it currently has 173k and I maintain it religiously but beat the hell out of it every single time I drive it. I have towed countless flat bed trailers loaded with cars too. IT HAS NEVER BROKEN DOWN. EVER. Only scheduled maintenance and wear items. They have nice interiors, attractive exteriors and handle betrer than you would think. Apparently they tuned the chassis at the 'ring. Still a bore compared to any of my bimmers but the ///MDX has earned my respect.
My SO recently bought a Kona and loves it. Says her Civic was too big.
Plus 7 on the Honda and Acura FWD based AWD SUVs. As in, my mid 70s parents and 35 yr old "puts a picture of friends on the gauge cluster to cover that annoying CEL" sister have gotten very good service from 7 total, 4 AWD, 3 FWD
She is still looking, which is because of her own inability to commit on buying. There was a STEAL on a 2016 Rogue that she decided to sleep on, and while she was thinking it got sold. Plus she is adamant that the dealer be willing to wheel and deal on price... which when they are selling something already below blue book, they won't.
Old people problems I guess.
We have one of these with 120K miles. It has been flawless.
XC60
