Best mid-size SUVs on a budget?

You been talking to my wife?

 

Now yer talkin'.

 

The Infiniti is much nicer on the inside you will find. I definately recommend this car. Especially with the tech package, rear view cameras make life easier.

 

So no one thinks the Jeep Gand Cherokee is worth a look? I'm so close to pulling the trigger on this Hemi '05........

 

Excellent choice. The RX330 is a great vehicle. Also might want to look at 4Runners.

 

Be careful with the Nissan if you consider it...they have some pretty spooky quality problems. The problem with the Lexus is that you won't ever want to get out of it!

 

My mother has one. I drove it a few times....its drives horrid to say the least.

 

The RX330 or the 4runner?

Neither is a drivers vehicle. Both have weak brakes and mushy steering.

However, for getting groceries and hauling a few friends in year round conditions with the utmost reliability either model works pretty well.

 

The RX. I have not driven a 4runner.

 

Just bought my wife a new SUV last night. Went through all these same considerations. Here's my 2 cents.

Lexus RX330 / Toyota Highlander are on the same platform/chassis, basically a tall Camry wagon with or without 4wd

Infiniti FX is rear or 4wd version of G35/350Z platform, not Altima/Maxima platform that the Murano is based on, which is fwd or 4wd

Another thing to consider is a pre-owned, certified 2001 Audi A6 Quattro, which can be financed at 0% right now. (We would have gone this route, but my wife really wanted the SUV)

I ended up trading my wife's Navigator (98 w/ 110k miles) on the 2005 Pathfinder. The lease special they are (were) running was a big factor, but it's also a really nice truck (it IS a truck, btw, body on frame and all). It has space, features, a 6cyl that has plenty of power but gets decent mileage, fold flat 3rd row seats, and looks pretty cool. When I was driving home from the dealership last night, there was a 20-something year old guy in a Honda/Acura coupe giving the Pathfinder a healthy once-over.

We looked at the following before deciding:
Jeep Grand Cherokee (04 and 05) (Liked '04, but no new ones left, and poor value, didn't care for '05)
Mercury Mariner/Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute triplets (nice, but too small for us)
Lexus RX (too small for the money, but very nice)
Toyota Highlander (wife liked, I didn't, end of story)
Honda Pilot (missing some features that others had at same price point)
Volkswagen Touareg / Porsche Cayenne (too expensive / REALLY too expensive for what you get, reliability concerns)

Well, enough said. Good luck shopping!

 

If they are too small, I would recommend only the following:

1. Toyota Highlander (design is vanilla..been around a few years)

2. Lexus Rx330 (hip and luxurious...). Or if this doesn't fit budges used Rx300.

3. Used Acura MDX (upscale brother of Pilot)

 

when we looked i had some big problems with the highlander..
for one.. a v6 was an upgrade.. omg... u could do comparisons all day i guess.. anyone actually know what mrs. lay is looking for ? v6 ? v8? loaded? striped?

 

Rob, hate to say it, but I think post #41 is a winner

Those cars-esque--suvs are perfect from someone coming from a Buick.

Good luck and post pics.