edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
HL is too small. If light off road, Pilot TrailSport!
Best New Mix - Size SUV ?
- Thread starter ChrisD46
- Start date
What do you consider "off road". Are you talking smooth gravel/dirt roads, or something requiring good ground clearance and low-range?
I have a Cadillac XT4 and it's only had one minor issue that GM has corrected with an upgraded part (EVAP purge pump). I would get the XT5, which is a little bigger but with GM's same 2.0L four cylinder and 9 speed auto which is a proven reliable powertrain. My XT4 is all wheel drive and it gets over 30 mpg average with recommended (but not required) premium fuel. These are still union made in the USA if that matters.
Again , the Kia Sorento , or Toyota Highlander are my yardstick of measure for a mid-size SUV … Conversely the Toyota RV4 (or similar) SUV is too small thus I put them into “large compact SUV’s but not mid size like the Highlander or Sorento are.
These days, I would suggest you only consider hybrids. The price differences are not significant, like in prior years. Toyota hybrids have better acceleration than their gas-only counterparts, and, of course, the significantly improved MPG cannot be ignored. Additionally, Toyota hybrids do not experience CVT problems, and the company boasts the best hybrid system available.
In 2025, WHY do people buy gas-only SUVs these days?!
I would stay far, far away from anything Stalantis/Jeep/Ram, and steer clear of the inferior GM/Ford counterparts, and the Korean brands.
In 2025, WHY do people buy gas-only SUVs these days?!
I would stay far, far away from anything Stalantis/Jeep/Ram, and steer clear of the inferior GM/Ford counterparts, and the Korean brands.
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JHZR2
Staff member
MIL owns two highlanders. We all prefer the fwd 4 cyl one to the newer, fancier, 6cyl AWD unit (which just had an AT failure, btw).
Test drive one and verify that you like the gearing and shifting profile. I wouldn’t own one that is like the v6 awd.
Test drive one and verify that you like the gearing and shifting profile. I wouldn’t own one that is like the v6 awd.
That is unfortunately to hear. Are you referring to the 8 speed AT? What had failed?
JHZR2
Staff member
Yes, very common failure. There are tsb and maybe even warranties for it now. But certainly not what was expected. The 4cyl one just hums along in very severe (terrain) service with over 100k at this point. And actually feels less sluggish than the heavy awd v6.
I actually own a few of them. It is the characteristic of the vehicle that it is hunting gears due to programming. Many hate the 8 speed AT. Even after doing the TSB reflash, it still does it. But the question still remains - what actually failed? Failed mechanically as in broke down or fail as it's hunting gears and humming?
2026 Honda Passport.
JHZR2
Staff member
Failed mechanically. I have the dealership write up someplace… The terrain is severe, but ford trucks and the other Highlander, older Camrys, etc. didn’t fail. It’s just a bad design apparently.
They had an Accord 4cyl - 2002 maybe. That the AT lasted something like 28k miles. They’re not hard drivers.
They are all chasing a little mpg gain. My Tundra is 6-spd auto. Later went to 8-spd and the new ones are I think 10-spd now. Newer Ford F-150 trucks are iirc 10-spd also.
5 speed is enough for a heavy truck or SUV!
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2GR-FE with the old 6 speed is the sweet spot
My Kia was much better than my Toyota, but since you like things like that, the new RAV4 Prime looks to be neat. Hopefully they up the quality :/
Toyota is trash. I had a 2021 rav4 prime. My first and last Toyota. You know what issues that model had that are systemic?
-The roof leaks into the a pillar airbag area. Toyota makes you pay. Why? Because the roof rack rails are held on with plastic clips that have foam washer type gaskets. In the heat cycling and vibration, they develop clearance issues
-The HV cable is subject to corrode. This was a $5k fix until Toyota finally owned it.
-It could catch fire (per toyota) if you charge it in <39*f temps as I recall.
These issues did not plague mine as I dumped it for an RDX in 6mo. However, they are blatant engineering flaws in what should have been a very mature product offering.
Toyota wouldn't get any attention from anyone at all if they didnt have the absolute bull run that was 1990-2009-ish for them. The interior materials are meh. The engineering is poor. The performance is lacking. They just a horrible option from every angle except one: Resale. And only because people tend to take a while to learn when things change.
