Topic: Spend My Money Part 2 - Wifey's Car

[valuator]

After the success of this thread https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=121507.0, it's time to find a replacement for my wife's 2015 Outback.  I'd probably prefer to drive it into the ground, her inclination is to lease vehicles for 36 months, so I am happy to meet in the middle and buy quality vehicles that she will drive for 8-10 years.  She's had this one since October 2014, so I can't complain and I'm willing to compromise.  So "keep driving it" is not an option I want to hear 

Her requirements:
Big sunroof
No premium fuel
Good power
Good AWD system
Not too big

She'd prefer a V6 since she loved the power of the 3.6 in the Outback, but has accepted the automotive world has moved on.  After months of browsing, touring dealer lots, etc, she's also decided that she's not interested in a Bronco/Wrangler/4Runner style vehicle, and she's also pretty much ruled out the German and luxury brands (concerned about reliabiltiy, cost to operate, and doesn't want a snobby image).

Here is the short list as it stands today:

CR-V Touring (Hybrid by default now, I think)
RAV4 XSE or Limited Hybrid
Acura RDX
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Volvo XC60

She likes the idea of the V6 in the Jeep, the roominess for toting a car full of kids to hockey tournaments, and likely great winter performance, but she's also wary of the size....she finds our Pilot too large to be her daily, and this is pretty close.

CR-V, she's not keen on the Hybrid but she's willing to test drive it.

RAV4, she quite likes it, but I hate the idea of buying a vehicle towards the end of it's current generation....it bothers me to spend $50k and then see a new generation on the road so soon.  I'm probably being unreasonable on that point.  She really doesn't care....her view is buy whatever is the best option today and is oblivious to new models.

Acura - This is, I think, her current front runner even though it is a premium brand and uses premium fuel and has the worst fuel economy.  She loves the sportier German competition (owned a Q5 prior to the Outback), and  to her this is a reasonable substitute at a lower entry point and extremely well equipped.  I think this would be the nicest place to spend time, drive the best, and has SH-AWD.  On the flip side, I think a 2025 redesign is in the cards and the stupid trackpad for infotainment should disappear. 

Volvo - Her brother has a newer PHEV and my wife loves it.  However, it is costly, the dealership is in Fredericton (1.5 hours away), and I'm worried about reliability.  I'd rather roll the dice on an X3, to be honest.

Anything we're missing here?  Ultimately I will likely bend to whatever she wants, since I think we're choosing between pretty good options.

[Guy]

If she keeps car for 3 years only the Volvo reliability should not be an issue. My wife's 2019 XC40 is still going strong.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I'm guessing overall size, including backseat space and cargo room is a concern here, if she's schlepping kids to hockey games?

[valuator]

If she keeps car for 3 years only the Volvo reliability should not be an issue. My wife's 2019 XC40 is still going strong.

We're planning to buy it and keep it 8-10 years.  That's the compromise.....I'd prefer just to keep the Subaru 

[valuator]

I'm guessing overall size, including backseat space and cargo room is a concern here, if she's schlepping kids to hockey games?

Yeah, she'd like enough room to take 2-3 kids and their gear if needed.  I think the sizes of what she's looking at would work fine.  I don't think she wants to drive anything small anyway, but trunk and backseat space would be an issue in the sub-compact range.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

What about another Outback?  A Limited XT or Premier XT comes with the 2.5T engine, and doesn't have the gaudy bits of the Wilderness.  Also, they're quite roomy with a ton of cargo space. 

[WP v3.32]

MAzda?   Cx5 of Cx50...?

[valuator]

What about another Outback?  A Limited XT or Premier XT comes with the 2.5T engine, and doesn't have the gaudy bits of the Wilderness.  Also, they're quite roomy with a ton of cargo space.

I hate the CVT and she wants a higher seating position. Also, the 6-cylinder is gone, and she is holding that fact against Subaru. Honestly if she was thinking Outback, I think she’d hang on to this one and spend some money to bring it up to snuff cosmetically.

[draghon]

If you are considering Jeep, what about the other domestics?

Escape/Bronco Sport, Edge
Equinox/Terrain/Envision

[Gurgie]

Surprised no one said it yet... CX-5 is the answer

Seriously though, a signature with the turbo motor is quite luxurious inside. Performs well & has the space you're looking for in a smaller than the Pilot package.

Another option is the VW Tiguan, currently offering 0.99% financing over 60 months (at least here in Ontario).

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Surprised no one said it yet... CX-5 is the answer

Seriously though, a signature with the turbo motor is quite luxurious inside. Performs well & has the space you're looking for in a smaller than the Pilot package.

Another option is the VW Tiguan, currently offering 0.99% financing over 60 months (at least here in Ontario).

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

Eh, the only detractor against the CX-5 is rear seat space.  It really is tighter than any of the other compact CUV's.  Valuator made mention of kids and hockey games - I have no idea the ages of his kids, but I'm going to assume they're approaching their teens, and if they plan on keeping this one for 10 years, it won't be long before they outgrow the rear seats of the CX-5. 

Honestly, it's the only reason I actually didn't recommend it.  The CX-5 has a LOT of reasons to love it, but it also has that one major flaw compared to the competition.  Also, it doesn't have a big sunroof, which is a requirement.

The CX-50 DOES, however, have a large panoramic sunroof.  However, it suffers from the same smaller back seat as the CX-5.

The Tiguan does have a ton of space going for it, however it's got a cheap feel, and apparently the engine is a let-down.  It's kinda the opposite of the CX-5, if you think about it.

[tortoise]

The engine in the Tiguan isn't as bad as people make it out to be. But, it's not the highlight.  They do drive very nicely though, particularly on the highway. 

A big knock against them is the move to capacitive touch buttons everywhere.  Even with wireless AA/CP, it would be a pain.

They are also a nice size, bigger than the CR-V, but not overly massive.

[PJungnitsch]

Not sure I'd be keen on either the Jeep, Tiguan, or Volvo for 8-10 years

That new Crown Signia might be a fit though? New design, proven tech, hybrid, looks like lots of room. Sort of like a Lexus Outback

[Blueprint]

CX-5 (of course), but size issues have already been discussed

CX-50 Hybrid, order before the world catches on that it's a RAV4 Hybrid fast pass

Need more room but only 2 rows? CX-70, and the tranny is smoother in the PHEV (will run on regular, though premium is recommended) MHEV has a six, runs on regular or premium. Freakin' huge trunk.

Pathfinder. Has a classic V6 for now, regular 9-speed slushbox, looks trimmer than Pilot etc. Should check every box.



Tesla Model Y (kidding)

[Blueprint]

Toyota Venza, the one that's being bumped by the Crown Signia. Huge pano roof (that does not open) with electrochromatic "blind", hybrid, near Lexus feeling, not a thief target, good trunk IIRC.

[valuator]

The Pathfinder is huge....honestly, if she was willing to drive something in the Pilot/Pathfinder/Grand Highlander class, I'd give her our new Pilot and go get something different for myself.

Crown Signia is worth consider for sure, not sure if it is tall enough to not be a station wagon 

CX-5, she ranks it below the CR-V and RAV4.....I don't feel strongly enough about it to argue with her, I'd probably just pony up for an RDX rather than a loaded CX-5.  We looked at the CX-50, but it is too small/too low.

Grand Cherokee - I think she likes the idea of the Jeep, but she's gonna find it too big.

[PJungnitsch]

The Tiguan does have a ton of space going for it, however it's got a cheap feel, and apparently the engine is a let-down.  It's kinda the opposite of the CX-5, if you think about it.

The one we rented for a road trip really reminded us of a Dodge Journey. Same cavernous size, same type of crappy interior (which I think got improved in the refresh) but better handling. Drivetrain wasn't exceptional or anything, but perfectly fine. Seats were good. The dash had a buzz that would not go away and a check engine light from the stop start not restarting cleanly

[TheHire]

If she keeps car for 3 years only the Volvo reliability should not be an issue. My wife's 2019 XC40 is still going strong.

My wife's '22 V90 Cross Country left her stranded numerous times... was a true POS.

[Fobroader]

If she keeps car for 3 years only the Volvo reliability should not be an issue. My wife's 2019 XC40 is still going strong.

My wife's '22 V90 Cross Country left her stranded numerous times... was a true POS.

My moms XC60 R was a fantastic car, but at 80K kms, it started costing thousands every few months in repairs, thank god for warranty and why she's in a Lexus now.

[Blueprint]

The Pathfinder is huge....honestly, if she was willing to drive something in the Pilot/Pathfinder/Grand Highlander class, I'd give her our new Pilot and go get something different for myself.

11 cm longer than the JGC, but same width and height. A CX-70 would be 20 cm longer than the Jeep.

Can't go wrong with a CR-V Hybrid though - a bit bland, but it should last a long time.