My sister is car shopping...

[The Critic]

My sister is car shopping and I have been recruited to assist with the process.

Her general parameters:
- New
- $50K or less
- Modern infotainment and ADAS features
- Reasonably quiet and roomy
- Good visibility
- A "nice" interior with some type of non-cloth seating
- Prefers to keep length under ~185" for ease of parallel parking in urban environments
- Decent fuel economy, hybrid preferred. However, she will only drive 6-8K/yr for the foreseeable future, so...
- Needs to be reasonably reliable for 7-10 years and ideally, something that I would be willing to work on.

So far, she has driven 9 vehicles and has narrowed it down to these 3 choices:

- 25 Lexus NX350h
- 25 Subaru Forester Limited
- 25 CR-V Hybrid Sport-L, but is also willing to consider the 1.5T EX-L

I don't particularly love any of those options but it is her car, not mine. Looking for feedback on vehicles we should be looking at, as well as general thoughts on the pros/cons of the 3 choices above.

Thanks.

 

[CharBaby]

I think that the Lexus NX has her name all over it if she can get one for < $50K
We have a 2023 Toyota Venza which is a close sibling to the NX and even look similar and my wife absolutely love it. Can't get the Venza any longer but, just sayin'.

Lexus:
https://www.mikehagertycars.com/post/perfection-the-2024-lexus-nx-350h

Venza:
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks...r?img_name=2024-toyota-venza-side-view-custom

 

[Danno]

Yes on the Lexus. Toyota Hybrid for reliability, Lexus for luxury. No need to look further.

 

[RooflessVW]

https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/mx-5-miata

As far as I can tell, it checks every box. Except maybe "roomy." That's subjective anyway, isn't it?

 

[Patrick0525]

Whatever she selects make sure there is a temporary spare tire. No Run Flats and a slim repair kit- please. If it is a naturally aspirational Toyota RAV4 so be it.

The Venza has a spare tire.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Toyotavenza/s/cTIwQeh08P

 

[97prizm]

My sister is car shopping and I have been recruited to assist with the process.

Her general parameters:
- New
- $50K or less
- Modern infotainment and ADAS features
- Reasonably quiet and roomy
- Good visibility
- A "nice" interior with some type of non-cloth seating
- Prefers to keep length under ~185" for ease of parallel parking in urban environments
- Decent fuel economy, hybrid preferred. However, she will only drive 6-8K/yr for the foreseeable future, so...
- Needs to be reasonably reliable for 7-10 years and ideally, something that I would be willing to work on.

So far, she has driven 9 vehicles and has narrowed it down to these 3 choices:

- 25 Lexus NX350h
- 25 Subaru Forester Limited
- 25 CR-V Hybrid Sport-L, but is also willing to consider the 1.5T EX-L

I don't particularly love any of those options but it is her car, not mine. Looking for feedback on vehicles we should be looking at, as well as general thoughts on the pros/cons of the 3 choices above.

Thanks.

I'd throw in the Mazda cx-50 maybe cx-30. One is offered in a hybrid that is designed by Toyota. I think the 2025 Subaru Forrester is all-new so possible first year run issues. I've driven the Lexus as I sold them. Appliancy but reliable.

 

[andrew_j]

Subaru is easiest to work on by a long shot and least complex.

All seem nice and no clear winner as choices are all over the place.

Lexus would be my choice , fancy RAV4?

 

[hrv]

Just remember at the end of the day...YOU have to decide and live with it....

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Does she have kids? Is seating or storage space an issue? When I shopped I had to consider the kids getting older and us using the vehicle accordingly. I put driver’s seat where I am comfortable and then I get in 2nd row behind that to see how I fit. Same if a 3rd row. Does it need to be AWD or is FWD OK?

One thing I have told many is to check local car rental places. Some of them have the models so you can actually drive for a couple days. Some dealers rent the cars they use as loaners so same thing.

 

[raaizin]

My sister is car shopping and I have been recruited to assist with the process.

Her general parameters:
- New
- $50K or less
- Modern infotainment and ADAS features
- Reasonably quiet and roomy
- Good visibility
- A "nice" interior with some type of non-cloth seating
- Prefers to keep length under ~185" for ease of parallel parking in urban environments
- Decent fuel economy, hybrid preferred. However, she will only drive 6-8K/yr for the foreseeable future, so...
- Needs to be reasonably reliable for 7-10 years and ideally, something that I would be willing to work on.

So far, she has driven 9 vehicles and has narrowed it down to these 3 choices:

- 25 Lexus NX350h
- 25 Subaru Forester Limited
- 25 CR-V Hybrid Sport-L, but is also willing to consider the 1.5T EX-L

I don't particularly love any of those options but it is her car, not mine. Looking for feedback on vehicles we should be looking at, as well as general thoughts on the pros/cons of the 3 choices above.

The CRV Sport-L interior with cloth seats is rather low rent compared to Lexus. She should look at CRV Sport Touring Leather seat Bose Radio for MSRP of 42k. My daughter got 2k of MSRP last March so should be able to get that easily today. She gets around 37mpg and its a nice vehicle.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I believe the NX is still assembled in Japan. Personally I still think this is better. However I presume its purchase price is a fair bit more than the other 2?

 

[DuckRyder]

Of those 3 the Honda Hybrid L.

We must assume based on those 3 she's looking for CUV/SUV size. I agree with adding the Mazdas to the look list.

If she could wait, check out 2025 Tiguan and 2026 Passport (if they fit in the length requirement)

On the sedan front check out the 2025 Civic Hybrid.

Depending on what you're willing to work on maybe add Escape Platinum Hybrid to the list.

 

[DuckRyder]

CRV Sport-L interior with cloth seats

The "L" means leather.

I personally would prefer cloth or Vinyl, but you lose a lot of features going to the plain sport which is unfortunate.

 

[JavierH19]

I'd take the Nx or forester if it can be had on a good sale.

 

[John105]

I'm not up on things but frankly I'm surprised that with a 50k budget, those are the choices?

Cost no object and those 3 choices, I'd go CR-V and again not up on it, if there are multiple engine choices, the one that doesn't have failure or dilution.

Also wonder if used and something nicer would make sense.

 

[GR_CoB]

Find a 2023 Mazda CX-9. Your sister will thank you and it will only use half (or less, or slightly more) of that $50k budget. Nice place to be, roomy, efficient. See video below : this Mazda was outgunned in every category - less cylinders, least horsepower, least amount of gears, oldest platform. Yet it held its own VERY well, and delivered the best fuel economy.

I found a bunch of 1-owner examples of 2021-2023 models, with only 5k-20k miles, and at $25-$35k price tags. Brand new options that she is considering are severely less impressive, yet cost a lot more...
https://www.autotempest.com/results?radius=300&zip=28001&make=mazda&model=cx9

 

[JeffKeryk]

NX for the win. Putnam Lexus has been good to me, if they have the one you want. They also trade with other dealerships.
Might be a good time to buy...

 

[SatinSilver]

A silver '25 Corolla XLE hybrid would be cool since it's an upgrade over her previous car. Only way the XLE can be had is in the hybrid model. Comes with leather, moonroof, alloy wheels, etc for just under 30k. Kind of a rare trim so you would have to locate one somewhere.

Autotrader and Toyota's website can help in locating one.

 

[IndyIan]

One of my co-workers got a 2024 CRV hybrid, pretty much loaded. Drives pretty nice and is nearly silent sometimes even with the engine running. She did not like the "driver aids" at first, as it was following tar strip repair lines in the road and generally yanking the vehicle around unpredictably, but I think she's figured out how to shut all that off.
Oddly enough though I see that CR-V hybrids have a very high fatal accident rate? Nearly 6 times the average SUV?
https://www.kxan.com/automotive/the...t rate of all car,, Buick, Dodge and Hyundai.
Could be just a lot of bad luck, but the typical CRV driver is probably among the least likely groups to have these type of accidents?
It seems odd as CRV's have always had fewer than average fatalities, and now they are many times worse?

 

[panthermike]

Find a 2023 Mazda CX-9. Your sister will thank you and it will only use half (or less, or slightly more) of that $50k budget. Nice place to be, roomy, efficient. See video below : this Mazda was outgunned in every category - less cylinders, least horsepower, least amount of gears, oldest platform. Yet it held its own VERY well, and delivered the best fuel economy.



I found a bunch of 1-owner examples of 2021-2023 models, with only 5k-20k miles, and at $25-$35k price tags. Brand new options that she is considering are severely less impressive, yet cost a lot more...
https://www.autotempest.com/results?radius=300&zip=28001&make=mazda&model=cx9

As the owner of an '18 CX-9 I wholeheartedly concur, just awesome rides all around. And you're right, can be had only slightly used for a deal!!