Mid sized SUV recommendations?

[Suburban Plowboy]

I would never buy an SUV. I inherited the one I have, so it's different. It's excellent for the price I paid. It offsets the $5,000 I can expect to pay over the car's life for new water pumps.

The SUV body style is pretty stupid. Much less room than a minivan. Much, much less versatile. Cramped. Terrible visibility.

My Explorer's rear view is like that of a submarine. You can't see anything. If it weren't for the camera, backing up would be just about impossible.

Working on an Explorer under the hood is not really possible. You can barely fit a hand in there.

A baby seat doesn't really fit in an Explorer. That's astonishing. The rear legroom is pathetic. You have to push a front seat way up in order to get a baby seat in. My wife and I are shooting for a second child, so we have to get rid of this thing. If we tried to put a second seat in, I would be driving with my face pressed against the windshield.

With a minivan, I can put two baby seats in with no problems at all, and if I need to, I can haul a full sheet of plywood.

Most people who pick SUV's over minivans do it because they like the look better. If you're not towing or off-roading, it's probably a dumb move.

I'm planning to buy a Honda Odyssey. I'll be able to move the seats around and have whatever seating arrangement I like. Everyone will be comfortable. The side doors will slide back, making it very easy to get in and out and put the baby in, even in tight spaces. The floor is lower, so cargo is easier to deal with.

I'm not insecure about what I drive, so it's perfect for me.

It will have to have the timing belt replaced at 90,000 miles, and that is a black mark for Honda, but it won't cost $2,500. It has some stupid eco-features that shut the engine off during stops and shut down some of the cylinders when cruising, but Honda made the car so these things can be disabled with cheap parts that are easy to install.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

I should add that my car has 290 horsepower and can only tow 1500 pounds. Nice, Ford. Upgrading is not possible.

An Odyssey can pull 3500.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't shop for mid-size SUV's based on their tow rating. Seems like I'd be looking for something the size of a Suburban if I was needing to tow.

 

[walnutman]

If you want safety, Volvo

Tahoe or Suburban

 

[rontaki]

I like it! But really, it is just a copy of the Ford Bronco. Actually, the lines remind me of the last generation Ford Bronco which was based on the F150.

Hopefully it will be more dependable than the new Ford Bronco. Can't believe how many videos I've seen of those new Broncos being towed out of the back country...mostly electronic problems but also that independent front suspension breaking. Here's what one owner posted:

View attachment 5575547

And a great picture, not even on a difficult off-road trail:
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Notice the street sign in the background: LEMMON DR. Makes me wonder if this is a real image, or AI.

 

[Duds13]

Tahoe or Suburban

Not sure I'd call either of those mid-size.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

A true SUV is something with a rugged body on frame design and high / low range 4x4.

As I recall the Jeep Cherokee XJ was the first vehicle to be referred to as an SUV.
And it came complete with a unibody. Thankfully it had live axles, though.

Can you get a V8 in the Explorer?

I know the Jeep GC and Durango you can, or at least could . .

Starting in '26, to get a Durango with a V6 you have to go through fleet sales. The normal choices are now a 5.7, a 392, or the Hellcat engine.

 

[dodge man]

We have had a pickup truck for over 25 years so towing is not an issue. I don’t tow a lot and when I do it’s around home. Baby seat? I suppose grandkids are a possibility but with our two adult kids not soon. We have traveled 3 or 4 times and took our truck because of the chance of winter weather where an SUV would have been better.

We have rented a mini van at least twice on vacation, nothing wrong with them, just not in the mix for us.

The new Jeep Cherokee is a turbo motor, doesn’t thrill me but I’d buy one if it was good otherwise. I’d prefer a slightly larger naturally aspirated engine but not set on it.

 

[CH4Ohio]

We have had a pickup truck for over 25 years so towing is not an issue. I don’t tow a lot and when I do it’s around home. Baby seat? I suppose grandkids are a possibility but with our two adult kids not soon. We have traveled 3 or 4 times and took our truck because of the chance of winter weather where an SUV would have been better.

We have rented a mini van at least twice on vacation, nothing wrong with them, just not in the mix for us.

The new Jeep Cherokee is a turbo motor, doesn’t thrill me but I’d buy one if it was good otherwise. I’d prefer a slightly larger naturally aspirated engine but not set on it.

Grand Cherokee is larger and no turbo. Check out one of the top 3 trim levels. Much more comfortable and better equipped.

 

[WinterDeere]

If you want safety, Volvo

We have loved each of our Volvo's, I've owned three. The only reason we're not driving a Volvo today is that our local Volvo dealers kinda suck, and our local Dodge dealer is much closer and better. Great cars, but do get opinions on your local dealer.

We have rented a mini van at least twice on vacation, nothing wrong with them, just not in the mix for us.

I wish more people would think like this. I routlinely see people buying the car they need for a once-in-5-years road trip, and then suffering through it 1800 days in-between. It's honestly one of the biggest factors killing EV sales, but that's a whole other conversation.

Buy the car that suits your 99% need, and rent for the 1% occasion.

 

[Noah]

We are renting a Toyota RAV4 now and I’m hard to impress but I like it. It’s a Hybrid, 2.5 liter engine. I wouldn’t be that thrilled with it except for the fuel mileage. It’s getting 39mpg mixed driving. It’s maybe a little small but maybe not. They make a Highlander which looks like it gets 35mpg. It looks like Honda makes the CRV in a hybrid but that’s it for them. The CRV looks similar to the RAV4 in size. I think I’d prefer Honda or Toyota but I’m not brand loyal. Any other ones we should look at?

I have a 2024 RAV4 that replaced a Corolla. I like the extra room and a little larger interior. Fuel economy is good, mid 30’s mpg. The 2.5 liter has proven to be a reliable engine given the proper maintenance. 5,000 mile oil change not the 10,000 mile internal the dealership promotes. I also have a 2025 Tacoma with the 2.4 liter turbo. That is the same engine that is in the new generation 4Runner. That power train has also proven to be reliable and fuel efficient, mid 20’s unless towing which almost cuts it in half. I believe the Rav is only available in a hybrid configuration in 2026.

 

[DarkBlack]

It should be kept in mind here, that the Toyota Rav4, and Honda CRV , are compact SUV’s, NOT midsize.

 

[Oaktree]

and if the op is a lethbian, an even better choice. LOL!

Where did that come from? None of the women I've known that I suspected leaned that way ever drove one. Always associated Suburus more with Greenpeace types, pseudo-hippies, etc.

 

[Oaktree]

It should be kept in mind here, that the Toyota Rav4, and Honda CRV , are compact SUV’s, NOT midsize.

Wouldn't even call any of those SUVs, even though they're marketed as such. AWD station wagones all.

 

[Duds13]

Where did that come from? None of the women I've known that I suspected leaned that way ever drove one. Always associated Suburus more with Greenpeace types, pseudo-hippies, etc.

It's a well known theme or connection for lack of a better term

 

[dodge man]

It should be kept in mind here, that the Toyota Rav4, and Honda CRV , are compact SUV’s, NOT midsize.

Yesterday a Googled “what class of vehicle is a RAV4”? It came back as a compact midsized SUV, truck, station wagon like car. Not really, it said compact suv crossover, whatever that means .

 

[DarkBlack]

Always associated Suburus more with Greenpeace types, pseudo-hippies, etc.

Yup. We always stereotyped them as yuppie, tree hugger, Bernie Sanders appealing vehicles. You see a lot coming from Vermont.
I just looked it up, yup, Vermont is Subaru’s highest percentage state

 

[WinterDeere]

Where did that come from? None of the women I've known that I suspected leaned that way ever drove one. Always associated Suburus more with Greenpeace types, pseudo-hippies, etc.

lol... you live in a unique bubble there, Oak! Just open Google and start typing, "Subaru official c...", and it will autofill "...ar of lesbians".

I don't know how or why, but the association is undeniable and strong. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

 

[Bill601]

We are renting a Toyota RAV4 now and I’m hard to impress but I like it. It’s a Hybrid, 2.5 liter engine. I wouldn’t be that thrilled with it except for the fuel mileage. It’s getting 39mpg mixed driving. It’s maybe a little small but maybe not. They make a Highlander which looks like it gets 35mpg. It looks like Honda makes the CRV in a hybrid but that’s it for them. The CRV looks similar to the RAV4 in size. I think I’d prefer Honda or Toyota but I’m not brand loyal. Any other ones we should look at?

Jeep just reintroduced the Cherokee as a hybrid. Perhaps something to consider.

 

[rumwrks]

One thing I don't really like about our current aging SUV is that the rear seats aren't true lay flat.

I'd prefer them to actually pop out and have a clean floor (There was one model we looked at back then I'm trying to remember where you had just a flat cargo floor - which I loved but the rear posts were huge - which I did not hah).

But not-quite-flat folded seats are a bit of a pain when you want to slide in some fertilizer or an ice chest. And yeah I have a truck for bigger stuff but sometimes the SUV is a better choice for various reasons.