SUV/Crossover help requested

"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2) 04/10/2017 at 13:46 • Filed to: None

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So the wife wants a new vehicle — her’s is the primary family auto (3 teens + 2 parents and an occasional dog or two). She currently has a pathfinder and wants a Tahoe. As I do have to drive it, I don’t want a Tahoe because I think I’d frequently run into things driving (captaining?) such a boat. As I clearly will lose this argument without supporting evidence, please help me with other reasonable suggestions (max. 2 years old). Thanks! (Tahoe pictured below)

Textured Soy Protein > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 13:51

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Is her Pathfinder the current 7-seat crossover style one? What does she dislike about it that has her wanting a Tahoe? You could start with this fuel economy comparison ...

bob and john > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 13:54

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a minivan....

My citroen won't start > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 13:55

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Just buy the newer RX you can find/afford. Preferably in F-Sport trim

Stapleface > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 13:56

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Get an Odyssey or Sienna. They are really the best vehicle for the job. Minivans are the best people movers there are, bar none.

Now, if she HAS to have a SUV (because reasons), then you might also want to consider a CX9. Probably one of the smaller big SUVs, if that makes any sense.

Bytemite > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 13:56

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Probably a wagon or minivan will be a better option. These body styles just make much better use of their size since a Crossover is just a hatchback or wagon with lifted suspension, it doesn’t give you any more interior room. And a truck-based SUV like a Tahoe will be much larger and less efficient than a minivan while giving you half the usable space of a minivan.

I would look at the minivans on sale right now. Can’t go wrong with the Sienna, or Odyssey. Maybe even the Kia, so you might want to shop around.

bhtooefr > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 13:56

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What’s the actual usage model? How far is it usually being driven, any towing, etc., etc.?

Milky > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 13:58

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haveacarortwoorthree2 > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2017 at 14:00

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It’s a ‘13 Pathfinder, so 7 seat CUV. She puts quite a few miles on her car toting the 3 boys around, plus the occasional vacation and long-weekend drives, so we usually try to swap her car out every 5 years or 80,000 miles (I travel a fair amount and we don’t have family in the area, so if anything goes wrong it can be a significant pain for her). She wants the Tahoe for space reasons — I don’t want it because I don’t think we need that much space, plus crappy gas mileage, plus it will take up more room in the garage.

KFN > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:01

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Great, now I’m obsessed with Sargo boats. My wife will be so pleased.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Bytemite 04/10/2017 at 14:01

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She went through 3 minivans when the kids were younger. She doesn’t want to go back there! (Even though those things are so damn useful)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:01

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Tahoe’s and even their larger Suburban brothers are shockingly easy to drive for one.

But outside of your people/animal requirements - do you tow? Need 4x4?

haveacarortwoorthree2 > bhtooefr 04/10/2017 at 14:03

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Usually drives 15-18k miles a year, with about 2000 of those being highway vacation miles. Her ‘13 Pathfinder is 4wd, but we really don’t need that any more. No towing or anything — mainly just a family hauler with a bike rack on the back.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > bob and john 04/10/2017 at 14:05

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I agree — the most useful. But she went through 3 of those when the kids were younger and does not wish to go back.

Bytemite > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:07

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I guess then she has her reasons. But still, she will be sacrificing those sliding doors and the massive interior space that comes from the minivan’s low floor-high ceiling.

I’m pretty sure the Tahoe’s 3rd row seating will be trash compared to the full size 3rd row minivans have.

For the lesser of two evils, I’d go with the crossover. Unless you need to tow a boat, I just don’t see why she wants the truck SUV? It gets terrible mileage, is much bigger on the outside than the inside, and drives like a wet noodle.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/10/2017 at 14:08

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No towing. Pathfinder was 4wd, but we don’t need that any more.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > bob and john 04/10/2017 at 14:10

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no, not this.

LongbowMkII > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:14

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Has she seen the inside of a Tahoe?

OPPOsaurus WRX > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:17

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How about a Ford Flex? my wife hated them until she actually sat in one

CaptDale - is secretly British > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:19

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May I suggest the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL

I guess if you wanted less “boat” (this trucks handle great you’re silly for thinking you’d hit stuff) you could do the Acadia, but you loose trunk space and POWAR!!

E92M3 > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:23

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Take her to test drive a Tahoe, then immediately to test drive a MDX. Make sure you do it in the same day.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:27

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I mean it’s not like it’s a huge difference. You can handle a few extra inches right?

benjrblant > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:32

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So there’s 5 of you. No towing required, no 4x4/AWD required. Minivan is vetoed. Maybe bikes on the back or roof.

Tahoe just sounds silly- its massive and as everyone has pointed out- poor mpgs. Maybe something like a Toyota Highlander (hybrid, even) or Ford Flex? Subaru Forester?

TheRealBicycleBuck > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:34

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Best option is to rent one for a week and see how it goes.

Despite my advice, my wife opted for an Explorer. She can’t wait to get rid of it.

Dru > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:34

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If the fuel consumption doesn’t scare you, and it still wouldn’t scare you if gas was $4/ gallon, go for the Tahoe. I would honestly go suburban if I were going that direction at all.

I empathize with you, they’re overkill and tend to be the epitome of American excess, but they are generally really comfortable and dead reliable. I personally would go Suburban over Tahoe just because extra cargo room. If my wife and I had kids, we would be using the hell out of the space as her parents are close by and it would be nice for everybody to ride together. I think you said that’s not the case for you, but it’s worth considering. Just replace family with friends or more dogs.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > benjrblant 04/10/2017 at 14:38

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We really do need the three rows, so Forester is out. Had not thought of Highlander, though — thanks!

Textured Soy Protein > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:39

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Sounds like a minivan is the best tool for the job but she wants a Tahoe because it’s got more room than a Pathfinder and not a minivan.

But in lieu of a minivan, you’re going to need to get a larger 3-row crossover than the Pathfinder. Off the top of my head, I think the roomier 3-row crossovers out there are the Honda Pilot, maybe the new VW Atlas, and Chevy Traverse/Buick Enclave. The GMC Acadia has been updated and is smaller, the new Traverse stayed big, and the Enclave will be announced soon.

If you want to be sly, agree to go with her to the Chevy dealer to look at the Tahoe, but make sure ahead of time they have some new Traverses available to look at, and when you get there, be like, “hey this new Traverse looks pretty nice,” and then look at all the ways that it as a big crossover is more practical than a Tahoe.

Hell, it looks pretty damn similar to a Tahoe now anyway.

Tahoe interior:

Traverse interior:

haveacarortwoorthree2 > OPPOsaurus WRX 04/10/2017 at 14:40

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Yeah, I might have to actually carry her over to one and put her in it! She looked at a pic of one on the web, gave me the stinkeye, and then went on about her business.

Textured Soy Protein > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/10/2017 at 14:41

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The Tahoe just happens to weigh 1000 lbs more than the Pathfinder is all...

bhtooefr > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 14:43

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This is like ideal Pacifica Hybrid territory - you might not even use gas except on the highway vacation miles, and it’s eligible for a $7500 federal tax credit plus any state incentives, due to actually being a 16 kWh plug-in hybrid - but I see the no minivan requirement...

OPPOsaurus WRX > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 15:01

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thats what mine did as well. I just went to the dealer one day i was with her and said ur gunna look at this so at least I can;t say you never did. Somehow, despite her liking it we still ended up with a Nissan Quest.

Maxima Speed > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 15:02

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Tahoes are actually not bad to maneuver, even in a clouded city. Visibility is great and turn radius will surprise you, its very maneuverable in a crowded parking lot.

shop-teacher > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 15:15

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“I don’t want a Tahoe because I think I’d frequently run into things driving (captaining?) such a boat.”

Sorry, but I rolled my eyes here. Tahoes aren’t that big or hard to drive. I was smitten with the one I rented a couple years ago. It was a fantastic highway cruiser, and I found it shockingly easy to park. 

That said, your needs clearly do not require such a large vehicle. Any number of 3-row CUV’s will do you just fine. I would have her check out the new Mazda CX-9. It is freaking NICE. Damn good looking, really nice interior, and will be more easily maneuverable and get better fuel economy.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 15:21

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well you have a lot of options for that many people without towing. The problem is towing.

First, buy that Tahoe you’ll love it. Seriously.

Second, go test drive a Durango, you’ll probably love that too.

Third, everyone makes a nice 3 row crossover. The GMC Acadia is gorgeous now, look at the Explorer or the Flex or the Lincoln MKT. i’ve been oggling the MKT for years. Great deals on them too. 3.5L Twin Turbo and accepts the same performance tunes as the Taurus SHO if you want to have some fun with it.

BahamaTodd > Milky 04/10/2017 at 15:28

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While we’re at it:

Tahoe RST. 6.2 V8, 10 speed auto, magnetic ride.

http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2017/apr/nyas/chevrolet/0406-rst.html

BahamaTodd > KFN 04/10/2017 at 15:36

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I went through that phase a few months ago. Smaller cabin boats and pocket trawlers.

I like the modern and classic blend of the newer  Ranger Tugs models.

Monkey B > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/10/2017 at 15:38

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this, the options listed are good. I drive Tahoe’s regularly working at a Chevy dealer one day a week. You’re going to have a backup camera so the only issue is getting used to the front. Honestly it’s not hard to drive unless you cut corners too tightly and have issues in places such as drive thru’s.

They aren’t cheap, but they do hold their value quite well. While you may find other 3 row options, it’s easily the roomiest and easiest to access the 3rd row. The Acadia is nice as is the Buick option, I prefer them much more than the rather beige looking Traverse.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2017 at 15:54

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and it will have brakes and suspension to accomadate that...go take one for a test drive, it probably won’t feel as different as you think

Textured Soy Protein > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 04/10/2017 at 16:06

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Not saying the Tahoe isn’t relatively easy to drive.

But, no amount of suspension and brake tuning is going to make up for the fact if you compare 2 vehicles of not-overly-different exterior dimensions where one of them weighs 1000 lbs more than the other, there will be a difference in how those two drive.

KingKai > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 16:24

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Easy. XC90. You can send my comission via western union.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 17:08

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It’s a Tahoe, not a dually 3500, they aren’t hard to drive at all.

I’d personally just get a Tahoe because they’re wonderful. Otherwise, the new Acadia is a wonderful CUV.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/10/2017 at 17:21

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It was said somewhat tongue in cheek. I managed to drive a loaner Escalade for a week without running into anything, so I should be good (although I admit not trying to parallel park that thing).

The Compromiser > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 19:07

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Durango. Have 3 kids, no dogs. Tvs in the backs, bluray even, heated middle row captains chairs, obnoxious red ring light tail, digital dash, 8.4 “ entertainment center, Legendary Dodge Reliability .....

Nevermind.

Liam Farrell > haveacarortwoorthree2 04/10/2017 at 22:37

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My mom has a 15 suburban, it is an absolute tank, cruising on the highway at 85/90. Soaks up bumps and potholes. The interior does feel small though for such a big car. It is surprisingly easy to drive, even myself only driving it around the block a couple times. It is very direct and has power when needed. It is just a great car to bomb down the highway in.