Help me choose a car

[Anonymous]

Budget is around $30K. I care about safety and AWD; DH wants a hybrid but could be convinced otherwise. Current options are:

1. 2018 or 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. I like the warranty and crash test ratings. Don’t love low MPG and look of exterior. No hybrid option.
2. 2019 Rav4 (possibly hybrid, but that’s not available yet). We currently have a Toyota I’m happy with. Earlier years don’t have great crash ratings so would want 2019.
3. 2018 or 2019 Nissan Rogue Hybrid. Haven’t taken this for a test drive, but has lackluster reviews online.
4. 2016 or newer Acura MDX. Also haven’t been in this car. Are acuras reliable for many years? They’re pricey but seem reasonable preowned. Hybrid would increase price.

Anything else to consider? Any tips?

I’m open to new or lightly used, and we hope to have this car for many years. We’re mainly city drivers but take frequent trips to mountains, and have 2 small children.

[Anonymous]

OP again! One more to add to the list ... a Toyota Highlander, probably 2017 or 2018.

[Anonymous]

Any are fine but I'd go a bit bigger.

[Anonymous]

Why not Subaru? They dominated the latest safety ratings, plus AWD and in similar price range as your options.

[Anonymous]

Loved my Rav4 - can't remember the year of it. Would have kept it until it died, but someone hit my son while he was driving. Totaled the car, but my son walked away with no injuries whatsoever - probably age and the car.

I drove the Nissan Rogue a few times lately as rental cars. If you use your phone as a GPS, there is no where to put it that you can easily see it. I usually put mine on the top of the steering wheel but in the Rogue, there is a gap and I can only see about 1/3 of the screen. That alone would make me not want one.

[Anonymous]

We have the Hybrid Rav-4 and love it. I highly recommend it. I would also recommend the non-hybrid Rav-4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again! One more to add to the list ... a Toyota Highlander, probably 2017 or 2018.

We're on our second Highlander- love them and have never had a problem with either.

[Anonymous]

2. Also take a look @ Subaru

[Anonymous]

We love our MDX, we use it with the 3rd row down for stroller etc, but great to put up when we have family visiting.

[Anonymous]

I’d get a Subaru and be done with it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Subaru was not on my list because years ago we had a lemon of a 2007 Forester. It was an unreliable money pit that still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I’d look into newer Subarus, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again! One more to add to the list ... a Toyota Highlander, probably 2017 or 2018.

We're on our second Highlander- love them and have never had a problem with either.

We have 2 highlanders 2012 and 2017. We love them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved my Rav4 - can't remember the year of it. Would have kept it until it died, but someone hit my son while he was driving. Totaled the car, but my son walked away with no injuries whatsoever - probably age and the car.

I drove the Nissan Rogue a few times lately as rental cars. If you use your phone as a GPS, there is no where to put it that you can easily see it. I usually put mine on the top of the steering wheel but in the Rogue, there is a gap and I can only see about 1/3 of the screen. That alone would make me not want one.

It now comes with navigation standard.

[Anonymous]

Nissan is junk. They have very low resale value
Car depreciates fast
Compare cost of 3 year old to new

[Anonymous]

Why not a Honda CRV?