Best SUV (SAFE and Reliable) for the money

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I realize you are asking about higher end cars but...

As far as space a mini van is the best. Can carry 7 people and with the rear seats down or removed most will accommodate a 4x8 sheet. We had a Hyundai mini van for 10 years and it was built like a tank and rode pretty nice, the Kia Sedona is its equivalent.

As far as SUV we just bought a Ford Edge and it comes with a great crash rating. Hopefully we won't try that part out.
 
Go drive the Honda Pilot. You will be surprised as to how roomy it is and it has plenty of power.
 
Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
BMW X5 -- safe, 3 rows, reliable and comfortable.

1. The third row was an option, and only from MY2007 up. The 2007-2010 cars have reasonably proven tech but are getting old; MY2011 and up is all DI + turbo.

2. X5s ride pretty horribly, and that optional third row is about as spacious as a shoebox.

So... probably best to nix those last two words.
 
If you legitimately need a 3-row vehicle, there are exactly 4 reasons to buy an SUV/crossover over a good minivan:

1. You'll regularly use the vehicle to tow things
2. You'll regularly use the vehicle to go off-road
3. You're willing to buy a worse vehicle for the sake of image
4. You honestly had no idea minivans were better

The same is true for 2-row SUVs/crossovers vs. good sedans/wagons/hatchbacks.
 
Originally Posted By: d00df00d

The same is true for 2-row SUVs/crossovers vs. good sedans/wagons/hatchbacks.

True. Although in the US the selection of upscale wagons pales in comparison to the selection of upscale SUVs, sadly.
 
Honda Pilot gets my vote, or of course the Lexus RX (CPO are pretty affordable)

To everyone ragging on the 4runners and recommending VW or Dodge to the OP wanting a safe AND reliable SUV...really?
 
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I'll go out on the limb here. Ford Flex. If you like the styling it really can't be beat.

Can seat 7 comfortably, is reliable (based on the Explorer/Taurus platform), and is very nice to drive. You can get it with the 3.5 Ecoboost with AWD and will be a rocket ship and should get decent fuel economy.

You either love or hate the styling though but the utility and performance can't be beat.
 
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Check out a Kia Sorento. It has one of the highest owner satisfaction ratings from CR. It drives like a much more expensive class of SUV. It's very competitive on price as well.
 
Originally Posted By: madRiver
If 7 adults a Suburban....


Definitely a Suburban. I would look for a good used one with service records. I love my Tahoe but for 7 adults that will not work. If in doubt just rent a Suburban for a day. You will be surprised how good it is on fuel.

Just IMHO!!
 
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
If you legitimately need a 3-row vehicle, there are exactly 4 reasons to buy an SUV/crossover over a good minivan:

1. You'll regularly use the vehicle to tow things
2. You'll regularly use the vehicle to go off-road
3. You're willing to buy a worse vehicle for the sake of image
4. You honestly had no idea minivans were better

The same is true for 2-row SUVs/crossovers vs. good sedans/wagons/hatchbacks.


My parents' new CR-V has the same combined fuel economy as the 2008 Civic I just bought off them. Admittedly, the new Civic will beat it. I renovated a complete house with a sedan and a coupe, but a truck or SUV would have been more convenient. I think SUV are most useful for families that have to schlep a lot of stuff around to kids' activities.

Now that the Civic is in the stable, the F-150 is going up for sale. I doubled my fuel economy by going from 5w30 to 5w20!

If I were shopping for an SUV right now, I wouldn't pass up testing a CR-V. I shopped Pilot/MDX/XC-90 last year and none impressed me enough to drop the F150. The refinement of the CR-V and possible fuel savings would have me seriously cross shopping it.
 
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If you want a SUV check out a 4Runner. If you want a crossover check out a Highlander. If you want a luxury SUV check out the Lexus GX and if you want a luxury crossover and one of the very first corssovers since 1997 check out an RX. If you want the best SUV for the money get a Toyota Land Cruiser.

You mentioned safe and reliable SUV I can tell you our 1997 4Runner Limited with more than 350,000 miles on it lives up to those standards. Same holds true for our CUV 2013 Highlander Hybrid Limited with more than 85,000 miles.
 
Originally Posted By: GenSan
If you want a SUV check out a 4Runner. If you want a crossover check out a Highlander. If you want a luxury SUV check out the Lexus GX and if you want a luxury crossover and one of the very first corssovers since 1997 check out an RX. If you want the best SUV for the money get a Toyota Land Cruiser.

You mentioned safe and reliable SUV I can tell you our 1997 4Runner Limited with more than 350,000 miles on it lives up to those standards. Same holds true for our CUV 2013 Highlander Hybrid Limited with more than 85,000 miles.



I'm seeing a theme here...
 
Originally Posted By: Silverado12
I would recommend the Chevy Equinox if you're looking for a CUV. If I needed extra space I would get a minivan, though. Probably a Grand Caravan.


Purchased a 2015 GMC Terrain DENALI for the wife to replace her 2000 S10 Blazer, great car with the 3.6 V6 and all the bells and whistles, smooth, strong and Xcellent gas mileage, we've gone on several long trips in it
thumbsup2.gif

We looked at the Equinox LTZ and it was outfitted as the Terrain but the wife chose the GMC.
 
OP: You'd be doing yourself an incredible disservice not to look at the Acura MDX, particularly if you're shopping Audi, etc. You will not beat it for the best combination of safety, comfort, reliability, utility, and performance for your dollar.
 
Originally Posted By: gofast182
OP: You'd be doing yourself an incredible disservice not to look at the Acura MDX, particularly if you're shopping Audi, etc. You will not beat it for the best combination of safety, comfort, reliability, utility, and performance for your dollar.


A friend has one of these and they are pretty special (albeit expensive). The one thing I wonder with them is... has Honda sorted out the 9-speed issues? I know when the new generation Pilot came out they had problems. One of the magazines had a long termer that needed a new transmission. This may have been corrected though as I think it actually held up sales of the new Pilot.

I'd look for a Ford flex as some one mentioned to meet most of your requirements.
 
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