My sister is looking for a luxury CUV or midsize/smallish SUV. Q5 and Macan are front runners. She had a new Lexus RX as a rental, and that's as large of an SUV as she'd be okay with.

Brand is important. I suggested to her a Cherokee, but she grimaced. I'll still show her what's out there, but no way in hell she'll be caught dead in a Hyundai. Safe to say anything German works. X3 is thrown in the mix here too, though I don't like the reliability reports on them.

She likes all the goodies her ES350 has. Navigation is a must. No need for a third row or AWD. Any heads up about brand/model-specific quirks would be nice (e.g. navi sucks on a certain model/year, etc). Strongly considering a lease, as she doesn't put on many miles and likes the idea of another new car in 3 years.

Also was curious about tire pricing. I've never had 19" or bigger wheels on any of my cars... and I know tire pricing gets wonky at that size and bigger. A friend once told me car tires for 20" wheels are actually cheaper due to being more common

 

Don't know how reliable they are but what about a new GLK?

 

Why not an MDX? That and the Q7 are about the best overall IMO. The Q5 is ok

 

X1.

 

Macan S. The end.

 

Macan.

 

SRX is awesome

 

Range Rover Evoque or VW Touareg?

 

Yeah, my mother in law just got an 013 SRX. Very nice.

 

Lease or buy?

Lease: Q5
Buy: RX

 

Macan S with just the Infotainment Package is already $53,885. No full leather, and no heated seats. $58,405 with them.

Meanwhile the Q5 Premium Plus with 3.0 TFSI starts at $44,400. Add the S line package and Navigation and it's only at $51,450. Comes with full leather and heated front seats. I think the Q5, especially with S line, looks better than the Macan S.

I don't know much about the SRX but the FWD model with Premium package is $49,270 and comes with many options such as heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, navigation, etc.

MDX is probably too big?

GLK350 with Sport, Lighting, Leather, Premium 1, and Multimedia package, plus heated front seats, is $50,695. Reduce by $1,990 if she isn't interested in the AMG styling of the Sport Package.

Not sure about X1 or X3. X3 with xLine, leather, Cold Weather, and Technology Package is already $53,625. It just doesn't excite me as much as the others.

Overall I'd have to drive each of them, but I think the Q5 is pretty nice.

 

I like the Porsche Macan the most. But, it's basically a rebadge of the Q5. So, same car.

So, Costco, if your sister has no issue with a few grand more, get the Porsche.


For something different, I would also ask her to consider the Evoque. BMW X3 is also worth a shot but personally, not my favorite.

As a wildcard, checking out the Infiniti FX35 (or whatever the bleep it is called now) is not a horrid idea either. But, it depends on whether she thinks it looks like Willy needs to be freed again.



People here are suggesting the Q7, MDX, and etc...but, I think those cars may be too big for her.

 

I loved the X3 my father in law had! Too bad it got stolen. I would also try the infiniti and the cadillac.

 

I like the look of the Ford Edge Sport with the 20" wheels. edit they are 22" wheels

Also like the FX35.

 

I'm not sure that's a good thing to ask your sister.

 

 

If she was thinking clearly, she'd go buy a used CTS-V wagon

 

Given what Costco has said, his sister sounds like a pretty typical person and probably will not have the highest connotative value for Cadillac as a brand.

He'd probably have the same luck if he suggest Buick or Lincoln.

 

I figured that Cadillac and station wagon were non-starters. Which is why I said "thinking clearly"

 

Well, compound that with the fact that most women, typically, do not like wagons.

 

Honestly, they get too much say in the matter when it's the husband's car.

Yes, I'm still single. No idea why.

 

My balls are my own and I have an S2000

 

If your sister is like the girls in so cal.

Then i would suggest BMW X3 28 Msport will be the car for her. Without M sport, X3 is pretty boring looking.
She doesn't need the 35, because i don't think she cares.

Out of all 3 (BMW, Audi, Merc), BMW probably has the best resale and residual value = cheaper payment.

She will be perfectly happy with Evoque too.

Drove my co worker's Q5 2.0T.... feels very underpowered.

 

I vote Macan first, Q5 second. Lexus RX is getting a little long in the tooth, isn't it?

Also, if she's likely not going to put a lot of miles on it, what's the concern with tire size?

 

The X3 has a horrible ride, I would look into the Lincoln MKX as well. They are very nice and I personally like them better than any other CUV/SUV in the same segment.

 

Isn't the MKX just a ford Edge with a lincoln badge?

 

My boss just bought a Lexus GX460 for $49k.

It looks fking boss and drives so smooth.

I actually want to buy this for my wife.

You mean like how ILX is a rebadged Civic?

 

The ILX has the acura interior that is pretty much in every model.

The Edge limited/sport interior is much closer to the MKX than the Civic is to the ILX...

 

Maybe Acura forgot to work on the exterior because it looks like straight up Civic.

 

Wont argue there, they had a really good opportunity with the concept to make an aggressive looking car and wimped out.

Hope they don't make the same mistake on the TLX.

 

Yes, my sister is the typical woman who prefers a higher driving position. Wagon is out of the question. I haven't asked but I think her range is $60k at most. But if she really likes it, I think she'll be willing to spend more.

Good calls on the Evoque, Touareg. Didn't one or two members own a GLK? Driving dynamics don't matter to her, though I think she'd appreciate road feel and handling without being able to put a finger on why. Trying to sway her into a diesel... we'll see.

Now if you ask me, the SUV I'd get in this segment would be a Macan S Diesel. Love it on paper, and inside and out. Shame that we don't get the twin-turbo V6 oil-burner... yet.

I'll compile info, but I doubt any domestic make will make the final cut. SRX, maybe. I really like the MDX, but I dunno if she wants something that large. I think she might even eliminate the RX. She wants something tall, but compact.

Thanks, all!

 

You can get a great deal on the GLK... Was looking at one for my wife last year and found a '12 with 15k miles for 34k... Im not huge on the looks, but it fits the bill with elevated driving postion, good visibility, decent versatility, and a fancy badge...

 

So as i suspected, so everything that matters to you does not matter to her.

Diesel? um.. she is going to put gas in the tank after 1 week and she will be calling you for a tow truck. Don't do it.

She is not going to listen to the advice you gave her because she does not understand why they are important and she does not care even if they are important.

just tell her to get whichever one she thinks is "cute" and you will be the best bro ever.

 

why is this so true.

When her TPMS light goes off, she asks me to inflate her tires for her.

 

It's the PMS.

 

X3
Q5
Evoque
Touareg

 

I own a Tiguan and added the APR reflash + intake (260hp/305tq) and it is plenty quick - it surprises some folks on the highway for sure. You can get a similar reflash for the the Q5 2.0T (lower hp, higher tq) so it won't feel underpowered.

I've also driven a Touareg on several occasions. It's a big car (much bigger than the RX), so I would cross that off the list if she wants a small/mid sized SUV.

 

We have Q5 as a family car. Only complain I have with it, other than powertrain, is the size of trunk.

I looked at my wife's friend's RX and it was able to put golf bag horizontally flat down. Q5 has it's wheel wall or something coming into the trunk, so you cannot do the same.

Other than that, I like the rest pretty much. I don't truly feel luxury in it, but it feels nicer than any Korean/Japanese cars in its segment.

 

Not this. At all. Terrible.

 

[QUOTE=Yumcha;14999815]I like the Porsche Macan the most. But, it's basically a rebadge of the Q5.

QUOTE]

Are you a pot smoker Fokker? Ya gotta read some of the comparos between the SQ5 and the Macan S. Not the same kind of car at all.