SPECIFIC VEHICLE RECOMMENDATIONS - Midsize All Purpose SUVs:
These vehicles have room for four adults and can tow trailers. All have luxury versions. Resale values are high due to popularity of SUVs. 4 wheel drive versions are great for snow covered states.
Toyota Highlander - Surprising vehicle. Based on the Camry. 6 cyl or 6 cyl hybrid electric, front or 4 wheel drive. Reclining rear seat is quite comfortable for real people. Optional 3rd seat is less comfortable. Designed for on road use with better than average SUV handling. Very quiet and tows 3500 lb. Great reliability. Regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Honda Pilot - Based on the Honda Odyssey minivan and Acura MDX SUV. Has third row seat and great on-road handling for an SUV. High reliability. V6, 2 or 4 wheel drive. Tows 3500 lb UHaul trailer or 4500 lb boat. Regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 5 - Comfortable for 5 or 6 on trips, more around town 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Toyota Venza - Surprising vehicle. Based on the Highlander, but sits lower and is actually aerodynamic. 4 or 6 cyl, front or 4 wheel drive. Reclining rear seat is quite comfortable for real people. Optional 3rd seat is less comfortable. Designed for on road use with better than average SUV handling. Very quiet and tows 3500 lb. Great reliability. Regular gas.
4 - Quite spritely 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 5 - Comfortable for 5 or 6 on trips, more around town 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Toyota 4Runner - This truck is the same size as Toyota's Highlander, but the Highlander is a car based vehicle. The 4Runner is a horse. Excellent reliability. Tows 5000 lb. V6 or V8 with rear or 4 wheel drive. Regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 2 - 15 to 19 mpg on regular or 17 to 21 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 4 - Can tow up to 5000 lb - 20 ft I/O boat/5X10 Uhaul trailer 4 - Has space and weight capacity for heavier items 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Nissan Murano - Based on the Altima (car). Shorter than most in this category, this vehicle is designed more for stylish around town capacity and sport handling than for off-roading or work. Lots of power. Great handling and brakes. Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) allows better power use and better gas mileage than most in this class. Suspension (ride) is stiff due to sport orientation. Excellent reliability. 6 cyl, front or four wheel drive. Premium gas recommended.
4 - Quite spritely 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 4 - Swallows large household items 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 4 - Performs well in emergency maneuvers
Nissan Pathfinder - Redesigned into a midsize truck, it now has the room and the power to do real work. Where the Murano is a sports car with SUV space, the Pathfinder is a truck with work and off-road capability. Somewhat longer than Nissan Xterra with more emphasis on luxury and on-road use. Tows 6500 lb. 6 cyl rear or 4 wheel drive. Premium gas recommended.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 2 - 15 to 19 mpg on regular or 17 to 21 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 5 - Can tow over 5000 lb - Horse trailers/Travel trailers/big boats 4 - Has space and weight capacity for heavier items 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Subaru Tribeca - Very good quality SUV based on the Legacy (car). Very reliable. 6 cyl, 4 wheel drive only, so the price is higher than car based competition. Gas mileage is improved over last year's model. Great for getting around in snowy areas. Regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 2 - 15 to 19 mpg on regular or 17 to 21 on premium fuel 5 - Comfortable for 5 or 6 on trips, more around town 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Nissan Xterra - Approximately the same vehicle as the Pathfinder, but slightly shorter with more emphasis on off-road and recreational use. Where the Murano is a sports car with SUV space, the Xterra is a truck with work and off-road capability. It compares more to the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Tows 6500 lb. 6 cyl rear or 4 wheel drive. Regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 2 - 15 to 19 mpg on regular or 17 to 21 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 5 - Can tow over 5000 lb - Horse trailers/Travel trailers/big boats 4 - Has space and weight capacity for heavier items 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Toyota FJ Cruiser - Basically a Toyota 4Runner (truck) with less luxury and no third row seat. Designed for the off road crowd. Competes against the Nissan Xterra. Has huge blind spots in the rear quarters. Has 2 normal doors and 2 smaller ""suicide"" doors for easier rear seat entry. 6 cyl only. 2 or 4 wheel drive. Regular gas. Tows 5000 lb.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 2 - 15 to 19 mpg on regular or 17 to 21 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 4 - Can tow up to 5000 lb - 20 ft I/O boat/5X10 Uhaul trailer 4 - Has space and weight capacity for heavier items 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Ford Edge - Car based and set up more for urban use with a V6 engine and front wheel drive. Power is lower, and gas mileage isn't any better than the V6 Murano, and the ride is sport oriented. V6 automatic and front or 4 wheel drive. Regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 1 - Takes over 130 ft to stop. Rather longish. 2 - 15 to 19 mpg on regular or 17 to 21 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 5 - Cavernous 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 4 - Has space and weight capacity for heavier items 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Ford Explorer - Truck based, and noticeably larger than other midsize competitors with more towing/hauling capacity. Although looking much like the 05 Explorer, it has undergone a significant redesign and is much improved, although it still is less reliable, uses more gas, and has far worse value depreciation than Nissan, Honda, and Toyota competition. Same basic vehicle as Lincoln Aviator. V6 or V8 with rear or 4 wheel drive. Tows 7300 lb. Regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 2 - 15 to 19 mpg on regular or 17 to 21 on premium fuel 5 - Comfortable for 5 or 6 on trips, more around town 2 - Good for low initial price/short ownership span/low miles 5 - Cavernous 5 - Can tow over 5000 lb - Horse trailers/Travel trailers/big boats 4 - Has space and weight capacity for heavier items 2 - Can get out of its own way
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