Best Small AWD CUV/SUV For College Grad

"rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S" (rb1971) 08/11/2016 at 13:47 • Filed to: None

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My niece is graduating from college soon, and wants a smaller SUV/CUV with AWD. She doesn’t drive stick (am I a failure as an uncle? Yes, yes I am.), but I imagine that is not a limiting factor in today’s environment. I would want her to have something very safe and very reliable, as well as something with at least some amenities and that doesn’t look terrible.

Personally I sort of like the 500X for a young woman since it’s cute, but I don’t know what reliability or servicing is like.

What does the Oppo hive-mind think is the right vehicle? Probably the Toyota RAV-4 or the Honda CR-V right?

ETA: Ideally available with a CPO warranty used. Her family lives in the deep country so access to mechanics is also on the concerns list.

For Sweden > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:49

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Does it have to be new?

If not, K5 Blazer

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:51

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Subaru Outback/XV/Forester.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > For Sweden 08/11/2016 at 13:51

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Ha! Ideally available with a CPO warranty used.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 08/11/2016 at 13:53

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I’ve disliked every Subie I’ve ever driven. They seem to get worse mileage and are louder on the highway than any competitor. But I could be convinced I’m wrong.

Leadbull > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:53

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I see Hyundai Santa Fe/Tucsons on the road all the time. I drove one for years, and it never had any problems.

For Sweden > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:53

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I bet you can find an awesome Hyundai Tuscon for not many bones

lone_liberal > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:53

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If you read today’s TTAC the 500X doesn’t seem to fit women very well and I wouldn’t bet the farm on its reliability. I’d either go for the two you mention or maybe an Escape.

Party-vi > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:53

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CX-5!

Wacko > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:53

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Suzuki SX4 of course.

which this lovely lady will deliver once she finds where she put the keys

LongbowMkII > Party-vi 08/11/2016 at 13:55

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Is the cx-4 coming out soon?

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Leadbull 08/11/2016 at 13:55

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Good idea, I’ll look at those. Hyundais usually aren’t on my radar but whenever I am in one they seem nice.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > For Sweden 08/11/2016 at 13:55

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Another vote for the chaebol’s cars.

Party-vi > LongbowMkII 08/11/2016 at 13:55

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If you live in China, yes.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Party-vi 08/11/2016 at 13:56

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I think she would be more CX-3. I do like the Mazdas but worry about repair/mechanic access.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:57

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CX5 is nice. Get the Touring or Grand Touring model if she wants sunroof.

I have a Renegade - same under the skin as the 500x - but the 9-speed auto sucks. We have the 1.4T/6m fwd and it’s good on gas. The Renegade is also a top pick from Jalopnik - plus the roof comes off if you get the MySky option.

Zibodiz > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:57

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My wife had very similar requirements in a car, and we narrowed it down to an Escape or a Rav4. She wound up with an Escape because there was one FSBO that was willing to swap straight across for my old car, but either one is a safe choice.

The CR-V has a questionable AWD (search it up on Youtube.) The Escape and Rav4 are both sturdy, safe on the highway, fun to drive, and if you’re shopping used, you can get an inexpensive one in good shape with many reliable miles left. The Escape is a little roomier on the inside.

If you want something with a little more off-road capability, consider the Tracker; body-on-frame, RWD-based. Otherwise, the Rav4 & Escape are my favorites.

Party-vi > Wacko 08/11/2016 at 13:57

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TTercel > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:58

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Mazda CX5 or Subaru Crosstrek

Toby F., Manager > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 13:58

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Crv, Rav 4 fits your criterias

Wacko > Party-vi 08/11/2016 at 13:59

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wow, now she has pockets to put her keys. :)

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Zibodiz 08/11/2016 at 13:59

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Thanks. Any reliability issues with the Escape? Fords are a good option due to the service-anywhere requirement, but there is a balance between American cars which generally win that side of the equation, and Toyos and Hondas that rarely break in the first place.

Party-vi > Wacko 08/11/2016 at 13:59

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Pocket dresses are the best. They mean I don’t have to hold my wife’s shit when we’re out.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Party-vi 08/11/2016 at 14:00

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Second the motion

MarqCars > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:00

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CX-3 or Jeep Renegade! Also Chevy Trax or Buick (I know) Encore

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:01

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Keep in mind the Tuscon comes with and with out a turbo, the turbo version is much better to drive.

LongbowMkII > Party-vi 08/11/2016 at 14:01

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I thought that was coming stateside. Oh well. Mazda Miata it is.

ritchie70 > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:04

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What “deep country” does she live in that you can’t find someone willing to work on a Mazda? Is it still 1972 where she lives? I so very much do not understand.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:06

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Maybe a forester or Crosstrek. They have great reliability and safety.

Wacko > Party-vi 08/11/2016 at 14:07

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at first i thought it was for you.

Zibodiz > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:07

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The 1st & second-gen Escape drivetrain is actually 100% Mazda, with a Ford body (so no rust issues). We bought hers about 4 years ago, and during that time, the AC stopped working and it’s developed a slow oil leak from one of the head cover gaskets (which I’m planning to fix this week); aside from a short time when it was running rough (I think we had bad gas), it’s always been stellar. The AWD is fast enough that it saved me from sliding into the ditch on a bad snow day; it’s the best feature of this car, I think. I could feel the back end start to slide sideways while I was on the Interstate, then felt the slight ‘clunk’ of the AWD engaging, and the car acted as if we were on dry pavement. It really impressed me.

Hers has about 160k. We bought it with 130k. I installed a Class 3 trailer hitch, and we have used it to haul our 22' camper, which it also did very well.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > ritchie70 08/11/2016 at 14:09

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Her family lives in a yurt on a mountain in TN. The closest town is about 30 minutes and has about 1000 people. She doesn’t live there anymore but it would be nice to have a car that could be serviced if necessary when she does go home. (She also has AAA in case as well.) There are still parts of the US where getting something services that isn’t from the US or Honda/Toyo is relatively more difficult - I’m from one of them as well, even if I don’t live there anymore.

MUSASHI66 > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:11

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Honestly, every single car in that group is so similar, you’d be hard pressed to know what you are driving in if the logos were covered. They are priced within a few bucks of each other for comparable class, and any money you save upfront buying a, say Chevy/Ford over a Honda/Toyota is list in the resale value down the road in the favor of Honda/Toyota. Gas consumption is within a few gallons. Interior space is within a few inches.

Some exceptions:

Subaru offers real AWD - all others are FWD and they engage rear wheels when slippage is detected. Important if you get a lot of snow.

Subaru also offers Eye-Sight and that might be a great idea for a driver without too much experience.

Some offer a much better warranty for the original buyer - 10 years/100k miles, but if you are looking for CPO, that is a moot point as most of them will be 7 years/100k miles drivetrain

In the end - buy the one she likes the best, which also has the nearest dealer/mechanic for repairs.

Stapleface > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:12

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I’d suggest the Crosstrek if she doesn’t care about having a CVT or stellar acceleration. It’s a pretty capable vehicle with Subaru’s AWD system, and IIRC got high marks from NHTSA for crash safety.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Zibodiz 08/11/2016 at 14:13

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Pretty impressive. What year is yours?

I imagine even if the internals are made by Mazda they are serviced by Ford mechanics and techs?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:18

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My family has owned 6 (2 Imprezas, 2 Legacys, an Outback, and a BRZ) and we have always liked them. They do get lower mileage compared to the competitors (that comes with standard AWD (though now that I am looking at the figures the 2017 Outback actually gets better MPG than a RAV4 25/32 vs 24/31 respectively)) and it is a characteristic of Boxer engines that they make more noise than traditional engine designs. However each car we have owned has been very reliable and they have a lot more character than a CRV or the like. Keep up with the recommended service and they will run forever.

Like everything I can only speak from my experience and your mileage may vary (I saw 3 CELs in 9 months for 3 different reasons with my 2006 Corolla). In the end it is really up to your niece to pick something she likes and you can simply show her the different options that are out there.

mazda616 > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:26

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We have had our CX-5 for 3.5 years and 40,000 miles with no issues. It needed a software update for the transmission control module that took about an hour. That was about a month ago. Other than that, just oil changes and tire rotations.

Zibodiz > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:27

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It’s an ‘03. We have the V6, which is more sporty, but loses a few MPG. It’s officially a Ford, so anyone who fixes Fords will definitely fix it. Even though it’s a Mazda engine, the cover has a Ford logo. The drivetrain was also used in the Mazda MPV (Minivan) and Tribute, and the Mercury Mariner (and probably others), so any shop out there should be willing to work on it. As a backyard mechanic, I have a couple bones to pick with the engine design (you can’t get to half of the spark plugs without removing the intake), but otherwise I think it’s probably one of the easier CUVs to work on.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 14:30

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The CX-3 is probably the most fun offering in the segment (tested it while my mom was temporarily interested in CUVs), and available with a decent AWD system and automatic gearbox. It’s also got a HUD, and HUDs are cool.

Reliability should be allright, I guess?

As an aside: we also tested the Jeep Renegade (very roomy, but a lot of interior noise due to its boxy shape) and the Opel Mokka (Euro Buick Encore, got seasick on the highway), and the Mazda was our favourite by far.

DynamicWeight > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 15:13

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I agree with you here. I bought a Crosstrek and traded it in at 20k miles. I just couldn’t stand it any longer. I had never had a car with a bad interior before, I didn’t even know it could be so bad so I didn’t pay attention while shopping. Learned my lesson.

Under_Score > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 18:25

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I have a RAV4, and I like it. Also, look at a 2011-2013 Rogue, because backup cam.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 19:58

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none

boxrocket > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/11/2016 at 22:36

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Escape/Mariner/Tribute, CX-5, RAV4, and - if they’re OK getting parts inline - Suzuki SX4.

I bought my wife a 2016 CX-5 GT last year and we love it. Pre-Focus-Platform Escapes are plucky, good for mild off-road (like “deep country”), and were made for a long while so later ones are well-sorted, and lots of parts and knowledge for the earlier ones.