midsize SUV?
 

I need to get a good traveling road worthy SUV for business travel. I currently travel in a 2005 BMW X5 4.4i but some of my customers get jealous and make snide coments...I just don't need it or need to fight it. So I'm looking for something with good gas mileage (would be nice but)...I need good looks, comfort for my 6'5" frame, good stereo and reliability. this will be a 3rd car for us.

So far I am considering:
Jeep Grand Cherokee limited
Toyota 4runner (never owned a Jap car so...)
GMC Envoy (not sure about the looks)
GMC Denali

I'm trying to keep it in the $40k range so if there are any other SUV's I am missing let me know.
Opinions please! Thanks!

Re: midsize SUV?
 

from your list i like the denali. My mom has a 01 Yukon, which is surprisingly nice. better mileage then expected (still crap) and held up nice over the years and dint fall apart like my rover and jeep did and still are. I went to the miami auto show last weekend and saw some decent suv. A little above your range, but the new Mercedes GL is available witht he new MB 320 DIESEL. and the touarege is bringing back the V10 TDI. The GL probably has the best mileage for its class (claiming 30 but most likely mid 20's but still awesome for its size) and is very roomy. My diesel liberty averages 24 city/highway but is tight for me at 6'4" so woudlnt be good for anyone taller.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Thanks Lostin...yeah I have the high end SUV covered with my BMW X5 4.4i. I need something more "normal" that I can drive to customers with and something I can put a lot of miles on. I travel a lot and rent a lot of cars with Dollar or National and I have had the Jeep Grand Cherokee a lot and it's comfortable and in the rental fleet I've had some with 15k miles all beat up and they still ride good. The Denali/Yukon is bigger than the Jeep or Toyota but I like the new styling and the 100k mile warranty I see advertised on TV.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

I'd say the Jeep. I drove a new Limited with the 4.7 and it was a nice rig. The navigation was nice, and it had a good amount of power. Pretty sharp lookin' rig too. Definitely rode better than my '98 Grand Cherokee.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Honda Pilot,Best bang for the buck,great milage and seats seven!all wheel drive when needed,Not to flashy or fancy,very practical and resale is great! :evilb:

Re: midsize SUV?
 

My wife drives a Toyota Highlander limited. She has had the following Vehiles in the last 3 years: GMC Envoy, Chevy Trailbrazer, Ford Escape, Jepp Grand Cherokee, and a Jeep Liberty. I am not really into the smaller SUVS but the Toyota has a better ride, and gets better mileage than any of the above. She likes it the best. If it were me I would buy a 07 Tahoe. Hope this helps. BTW she said she would trade you her 06 Highlander for the X5! :evilb:

Re: midsize SUV?
 

THIS IS IS AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE. Prefer it over the Porsche variant. Its like we can drive a Audi 8 series but opt ted for the VW Pheaton, cause people get jealous, and always look at what you have which can believe it or not queer a deal. The status symbol plus the additional 20k is not as important for basically the same vehicle. To much grief and aggravation in lately in life, why add more to the stress. Just my take on it. Jeff

Re: midsize SUV?
 

hey mike, you might also look at a Pathfinder. I have over 150k on mine and very little work into it (oxygen sensors and rear susp links basically). The driveline is bullet proof and the ride is better than most of the smaller SUVs out there. And I spend 8 hours a day in the car so I have a lot of seat time :D Chrysler/Jeep quality has improved slightly in the past few years but they still have some fairly serious issues around 50-60 k miles.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Infiniti Qx56. Stickered 48-52k. Best suv on the market. Comes loaded with gps,back-up cam and alot more standard. Plus 4yr 60k mile warranty. Drive one you will love it. My .02 anyway :drink:

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Good real world info...thanks. I will look at the VW Tourage Diesel, never thought about the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highland either.

Yes I have weird customers. One of my partners that handles the northern midwest bought a Toyota FJ Cruiser. it was only $25k and he gets **** from time to time from customers. They do not know what it cost but it must be the bling factor...basically jealous musicians-music store owners is what I deal with.

Sorry the X5 is not for sale. My wife will drive that for the everyday car instead of the Porsche. Just looking for aan average good reliable nice mid-size SUV.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

You wouldn't catch me dead in a Chevy/GMC again. Toyota all the way and give me a call when you hit 200,000 trouble free miles. I've run up 500k on my Toyotas without any issues.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

What about the new Dodge Nitro, looks like it's built on the Liberty/Commander platform.

http://www.dodge.com/en/nitro/index.html

Re: midsize SUV?
 

The H3 is on your range... I kinda like them I'm thinking about getting one for myself.

Lexus also has the RX suvs.... but you'd still get the comments

Ernie

Re: midsize SUV?
 

I have idiot liberal customer's that give me a hard time for driving an Excursion.

I've looked at a Touareg, one of the things that put it on the top of my list for besides it will fit in parking garages. I live near some pretty good twisty mountain roads and the handling is extremely good for an SUV.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Mike,

If I were buying a mid-size SUV, I would seriously consider the Pathfinder. No where near as much bling as you are used to but it will not let you down and is surprisingly quiet. I also like the Acura MDX. I think it has less flash than the BMW but is an awesome vehicle. New Tahoe looks nice but is not mid-size.

Mike

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Avoid Land Rovers.

Anyone want to buy a 1999 Land Rover before I set it on fire and take the insurance money?

Re: midsize SUV?
 

I had an H3 for a rental car a few months ago. I returned it back to Avis in the next town the next day. It's weird but I do not fit comfortably in the H3. Plus the ride and handling was horrible I thought. I had an H2 and fit great and it was awesome but I can;t go see customers in that...probably not a H3 either.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Land Rover LR3?

Re: midsize SUV?
 

You should be able to sell it on ebay....their is an ass for every seat

Re: midsize SUV?
 

the Tourage after getting the needed options cost as much as my BMW X5 4.4i. This is not what I'm after as the BMW X5 is a much better vehicle.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Hey Mike, GMC has a new smaller suv called an Acadia. Not sure if it has the room you need but I saw one at a small auto show in Flint and it is nice. The interior was awesome 4 GM in my opinion. I believe it is at the GMC website. Front or all wheel drive w/ a vv v6 engine! Good luck, Tracy

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Mike, I would second the Pathfinder or 4runner. Unfortunately the Jeep will spend more time in the shop than on the road. Too bad because even in stock form a GC can just about out off-road anyone if necessary. I had an 01 Pathfinder until my Titan and was happy with that. If I was going to stick with my old small boat, I would of bought an 05 Pathfinder instead. The Toyota is expensive, but Toyota/Lexus has proved time and time again that they are worry free machines. I only wished they made that 10,000 lb towing Tundra last year.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

This is because musicians are his customers :eek: And since they're drummers, they're the smartest of the bunch, imagine if he had to ferry around singers!!! :evilb: :evilb: :evilb:

Re: midsize SUV?
 

My wife has put over 40K miles on her 2004 Durango Limited (with the Hemi) in just over 2 years, not one problem. Very nice ride on the highway and now with the MDS it sounds like it gets decent mileage (well, maybe not "decent" but better).

Re: midsize SUV?
 

honda/acura :evilb:

Re: midsize SUV?
 

I'd check out the new Avalanches. They look really sharp; and the 1/2 ton (only version now available) rides really well.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Just bought a 2006 Pathfinder in June. Love it, bought the stripped down version (with power window, locks air cd)? For a little over $30,000. 3rd row seating and the thing I like is the power train doesn't change if you go up to the more luxury versions(leather, sunroof, navigation) Tow capacity is 6000 lbs and comes with factory hitch installed. Love it highly recommend it.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

I saw and heard one of those Jeep Cherokee SRT8 models yesterday. Sounded good and according to the mags are very quick.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

Mike,
Going from a X5 to a domestic there are some major differences as they target different customer/functions. Sold an 04 denali after 24 months- very nice soft ride-no problems what so ever. Quality was good for a domestic truck

I agree with above in putting the VW on your shopping list-very tight, fun to drive and almost (stress almost) BMW like.
Toyotas are very reliable but the much softer ride than the euro competition.

Suggestion, go out and rent a few of the rides( enterprise, hertz) you are considering and see how well they drive (and upholstry duribility) after they have been beatin-on by the public. Also, many euro dealerships have service loaners that may rent out, check them out.

When you land on a specific brand- float-it-up on the board and we will pick it apart :evilb:

Also (one-of the) good sites to check out is edmunds.com to start with in checkin stuff out.

Just remember, the fun is in the hunt
Good luck.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

You LOVE those Avalanches don't ya?!?! :drink: A truck will not work for the type of travel I do.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

15mpg on the hiway will not work.

Re: midsize SUV?
 

On the road this week and I lucked out and got a Toyota 4 Runner from National. I rides nice but it seems a little cramped at the driver position. With the seat all the way back the steering wheel seems far away and the stalks coming out of the steering colum hit my knees. The V6 version I have this week is getting 23.7 on the highway at 75mph. Overall average is 19 so far. That is really good!

My X5 4.4i BMW is not going away right now. I am adding a 3rd auto.