Dispite the rising prices of gas these days, I'm thinking about making the switch to an SUV. Reason being my wife and I are about to have our first kid any day now, and we're hoping to still travel a fair amount. I think that the SUV would be a better bet for trips. And I'll probably get a car for the commute next year.

Here are the options:

1. Honda Pilot

2. Infiniti QX4

3. Nissan Pathfinder.

I also like the Jeep Cherokee.

I'm looking used and want to keep the cost below $25K, closer to $20K. Hopefully with less than 36K miles and the olderst being a 2003.

 

SUV is definately roomier than a mid-size car and more comfy when travelling. We used to have 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and we travelled everywhere with it. We use Acura TLS for commuting to work (car pool). We have just upgraded from Grand Cherokee to Nissan Armada and we still drive the SUV everywhere on our trips.

I sat in my friend's 2002 Pathfinder and I felt the cabin space is smaller than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Pathfinder and QX4 are pretty much similar except QX4 is $10 more for the badges.
Honda Pilot? Have not closely looked at one.... so no comment. But if you could a Pilot/MDX with Navi, it would be a nice one. Honda/Acura has the best factory NAVI among the car industries.

You provided 4 choices. I would go with Other since I still like Jeep Grand Cherokee. Not the new body sytle but the body style from years 1999-2004.

Just my $0.02.

 

Truthfully, get a minivan. Find a used Odyssey. Good gas mileage, tons more room than an SUV.

 

Out of those 4, I would recommend the Pilot.

I drove the last gen Pathfinder back-to-back with an 04 Murano SE and the difference was night and day. The wife and I H A T E D the Pathfinder but loved the Murano....which is why we now have an 05 Murano SL AWD w/Touring pkg. Not to mention, the Murano has a limousine-like back seat (although you cannot tell from the outside) which is great for a firsttime mother who needs manuevering room in the backseat to tend to the baby.

Admittedly, it does not have the cargo space (subjective) of the Pathfinder/QX4 (or Pilot) but it makes up for it in just about every other area. That said, the Murano's cargo area was enough to accomodate the luggage for me, the wife and two teenaged kids for a one week trip to Florida.

Acme Nissan in Monmouth Jct (Rt 130) has a couple of used 05 Muranos (S AWD) for sale both for $25,999 with 27k and 25k. I bought my last 3 cars from Acme and they will deal.

 

I have a Grand Cherokee and can comment that there is not a lot of room for the backseat passengers.

 

Ravi , I agree with F23A4 . I wouldn't even consider the Pathfinder. Like I told you when we met up out those choices I would go with the Infiniti even though it's technically a beefed up Pathfinder. It all depends what year Pilot also because they have the same glass tranny we do. The Murano is a nice truck too if it's in your price range I would jump on that over any on your list.

 

That's kinda of a last resort option. I agree that there is more room, but I have driven a couple Minivans and I hate them all.

 

The Murano is an option, and it's better on gas than the others, but I have to fork over some more cash. But we're looking at those too.

 

No offend but guys in Murano ... looks ghay.


My $0.02. ... Flame suit on !!!

 

toyota highlander

 

or if you can afford the new odyssey go with that. It's got a lot of power and very very roomy on the inside.

My parents have an '05 touring. I love that driving that thing. I just wish they took better care of it.

 

You guys are talking about the LAST GEN PAthfinder, not the new 7-passenger version. Let's at least be fair when talking him out of it. The current one is MUCH better than the previous, and a worthy alternate.

 

can't ignore the new Hyunda Santa Fe thats coming out this month~



3.3-Liter V6 Santa Fe SE and Limited

Type Hyundai Lambda DOHC V6 (transverse mounted)

Materials Aluminum block/aluminum cylinder heads

Bore and Stroke 92.0mm x 83.8mm

Displacement 3.3 liters

Horsepower 242 6,000rpm

Compression Ratio 10:4:1

Torque 226lb-ft 4,500rpm

Valves per cylinder 4



check out http://www.allnewsantafe.com/

 

I really like the Qx4. It's a very nice SUV. If I was really looking for space and comfort I'd go bigger than any of those though.

 

Odyssey.
Better mileage than an SUV...and will outhandle them all on the road.

 

The second row in the new Pathfinder is MUCH tighter than the Murano with the 3rd row being Nissan's dedication to the Lexus SC430's rear seat.

While it is MUCH better than the last generation with favorable pricing for a 7 pax SUV, I would much rather have a higher mileage slightly older MDX over a lesser mileaged new Pathfinder. IMHO, there is no better mid-sized 7 pax SUV than the MDX.

I spend a good share of time checking out the Nissans at my local dealer. As such, I like most Nissans but I am still not into Pathfinder and Xterra SUVs. They are OK in their own rite but IMHO they lack style.

 

My Murano can hold its own against the Ody on the twisties.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Infin...QQcmdZViewItem

 

The gas mileage on the FX has got to be horrible....what about a used MDX?

 

What about a wagon?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

They're about the same.

 

supercharged range rover

 

In that list I think the Pilot gives you the best blend of practicality, fuel economy and relibility.

 

We traded our Yukon for a used 04 Odyssey. I drove it and could not have been more impressed. It getts approx 23 mpg around town and 27 on the highway. It has tons of room and the rear seat folds flat. This allows you to pack the kid gear in and still have room to take people to dinner once you reach your destination. When we visit people out of town, this comes in handy.

One more though---Take your stroller to the dealership. Put a 20lb bag of potatos in your wife's arm. Now have her place the stroller in the SUV and the van. This was a big factor with my wife. It is also easier to get the kid in and out of. The power doors are great as well

 

Does it have to be potatos?

 

i'm going to say go with the QX4......i currently own one. it is a great truck. i got mine for 16K with a 100,000 mile extended warantee with only 50K miles on it. i did buy it form a private seller and it is a 2001. the truck overall is a good. the cabin i do admit is a bit small but it's ok. the back seats are comfertable and there is alot of cargo room. the only downfall about this truck is that it eats gas. i do get on it hard every so often but gas milage on it isn't the best. if you live in a inwter climate and get snow it will not get stuck. i live and RI and have gone through some pretty deep stuff and have not gotten it stuck, the all wheel drive system on it is really good.

 

Grand Cherokee

 

Do you like the new FJs? Suicide doors make for easy backseat entry...plus its got character.

 

Kenworth Grand Dominator?

 

what kind of backseat entry?

 

Those are fire traps!!! :wink:

 

i think forking over the money for the murano would be the better way to go in the long run. no reliability issues, no problems, no leaks.. my girlfriend's family had one for almost 4 years with 100k+ miles. her dad drives it back and forth from long island everyday, as a commuters car too. it drives like a car, gas mileage is good, never had any problems.

the car has some nice grunt too. its probably your best bet. the pathfinder will feel lazy and somewhat cheap. if you get the pilot and then you test drive the MDX, youre gonna regret every little thing about the pilot. a qx4 feels just like a pathfinder.. well it is!

jeep cherokees.. umm, unless you want to spend more money fixing it and being at a shop in about a week or two, then go for it. those things could never go 10 miles without something going wrong.

murano feels like a sports sedan, actually very similar to the maxima. good mileage and best bet for the long run.

i would agree with what the majority said about this car too.

 

Other

how about a subaru forestor, the one with the blowers got like 230HP, u know that kicks some azz + enough ground clearance for some off-roading if ur into that.

 

In general . Candidly though, my Murano did have to get the Throttle Body replaced with 7k on the odo......while on vacation in Florida. But, it seems that the TB problem I had was more of a fluke where it does appear that only a VERY few other Murano owners (at least on NissanMurano.org) have experienced the same.

Also, I do not think Ravin would regret the Pilot nor MDX. Both are VERY capable Odyssey-based SUVs with tons of utility. However, after having driven the MDX I can say that it does NOT have ANY of the fun factor of the Murano.

....and to your statement that the "Murano feels like a sorts sedan, actually very similar to the Maxima". While my Murano is nowhere near as quick as my 02 Maxima, it can hang with it on the twisties. The Mo really is as much fun to drive as my Maxima.

 

How about Mazda cx-7 or Toyota rav 4?

 

Grand Cherokee

 

my v6 4runner's been great. 30k miles with no problems. about 18mpg avg.

 

Why not a station wagon like a Volvo or Audi?

 

That's an option. I like the Volvo's.

I'm also considering the Subaru wagons. The wife said she really would like a soccer-mom box like Volvo station wagon.

 

Good to know. I've always liked the 4Runner. I test drove one last year and it wasn't too nice, but I think that one was banged up. Maybe I'll give it another try.