-June 2024 Special Lease Deals-
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
Options
Nissan Murano vs Toyota Highlander vs Subaru B9 Tribeca vs Honda Pilot
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
In the end I liked the classic styling (yeah, some say boring) of the Highlander and I wasn't too comfortable with the more modern styling of the Tribeca or Murano though both had better technology features than the Highlander i.e. Sat radio , rear view camera etc. The Pilot, while a very nice SUV with a great deal of storage space is a bit too big and chunky looking for my taste. Tribeca is just so new I just wasn't ready to jump on such a new car though it does look like a real winner for Subaru. Thanks everyone and I look forward to seeing this thread evolve.
Pilot: roomiest and most usable 3rd row seating; truck-like ride, which I was unaccustomed to, and really didn't like (I think that the Pilot has a truck-based platform). Worst gas mileage of the three.
Highlander: small 3rd row, which only folds down as a single entity (no 50/50 split). Car-like handling (Camry platform). Very sound car.
Tribeca: small 3rd row, which has a 50/50 split. Nice handling and acceleration (I drove on a winding country road then a 60 mph highway).
My wife and I decided against the Pilot because of the truck-like aspect and gas mileage. Thus, it was between the Tribeca and Highlander. Some more direct comparisons:
Handling: about the same
Ground clearance: T(8.4 in) is better than H(7.3); our family goes on dirt roads for camping/hiking about 3-4 times/year and would like the extra clearance
3rd row: both are cramped and good only for kids or small adults. 3rd row in T is definitely harder to access (tighter access and only on passenger side). One good thing on the T is the 2nd row seats can slide forward, creating more 3rd row legroom, whereas it cannot on the H. Of course, this means less room for 2nd row passengers (but we are a family of 5'8" and under people, so this is okay). We like the 50/50 of the T versus the H. Also, the T has LATCH attachments in the 3rd row and H does not. So if you have two carseats (like we do), you could quickly rearrange the carseats to have one in the 3rd row (you would have to use the seat belts to fasten the car seat in the 3rd row of the H). This is a consideration because if you have two car seats in the second row in either car, you cannot access the 3rd row (the carseats will block the fold down of the 2nd row).
Safety features: you can get comparable safety features on both (AWD, stability control, air bags, etc)
Styling: as said many times before, the H is bland and functional, the T is different than any other car
Price: I roughly estimate the T to be $2-3K more than the H for comparably equipped models (AWD namely).
Conclusion: We liked the T more than H. Better seat flexibility (for those times where we need to drive around 4 adults and 2 kids in car seats ), unique styling, and higher ground clearance. Our family also has a history with Subaru's, and like their cars. However, we hesitate buying a car in its first year of production (wise to the way businesses MAY rush to production and the inevitable bugs that occur). Thus, we are still undecided.
BTW, has anyone compared the Ford Freestyle to the Tribeca? I've read that the 3rd row is actually much better than H or T. However, I hesitate looking at a Ford because of reliability and safety issues (read somewhere that stability control is not available).
PS We also testdrove minivans and decided that we don't need all that space (it would be nice sometimes, but not very often) and wanted a more car-like drive and higher ground clearance.
Steve, Host
Keep in mind Subaru gives you 18"x8" alloy rims standard. Even if you overlook those, to a Highlander Limited AWD you still have to add leather, moonroof, 6CD, curtain air bags, and heated seats.
The Pilot's 3rd row also has no split fold, so it's all or nothing. Plus it lacks side airbags curtains even as an options.
HL's seat does slide fore-aft, like jbollt says. I think they added that for MY2004. The very first year with the 3rd row seat did not have the sliding seat, but now it does.
-juice
Thanks in advance for your help.
-juice
A running change is when they just do a face-lift or give the engine a slight boost.
I'm not sure when Honda is due. The MDX came out first, so we might see that first. I kind of doubt the new Pilot would be ready by 2006.
-juice
Thanks for the correction about the sliding 2nd row seats. I guess that I didn't remember that correctly. BTW, the Pilot brochure does mention the 3rd row has a 60/40 split.
About the Toyota a-la-carte options: you might pay more for the sum total of the options than the standard equipment on the Tribeca, but in the end, you could be saving money by not getting stuff that you don't want or use seldomly. For instance, on the Tribeca, I wouldn't want the moon roof and heated seats, but you don't have a choice. That's over $1000 worth of invoice price.
Toyota will cover a much wider range, lower price with less content, and higher price with more content.
However, when I compare, I try to equip both vehicles as closely as possible.
While I don't "need" heated seats, boy, they sure are nice when you do have them.
-juice
Bob
Strangely, my mirror on my Forester has gone cloudy in recent days, as if water was causing a tear drop shaped spot inside the mirror. There is no water, and this tear drop moves around over time. Can't be normal and dealer is checking into it.
But all joking aside, an MDX at about the same cost as a B9 would be almost a no-brainer (to get the Acura) if you can live with the exterior bulk. Also, wouldn't there be similar incentives for the less expensive Pilot. If budget is a consideration, then that again would merit strong consideration over a B9.
Congrats by the way. The kid, I mean. Well, the MDX also.
But I have 2 kids and the Tribeca is lighter and feels sportier, so for my smaller family (and occasional 3rd row use) I'd still go with the fun one.
-juice
Also test-drove the Murano SL/AWD, not as smooth a ride as the Tribeca or the Lexus, but lots of bells and whistles, unfortunately, not standard as in Lexus and Tribeca, but still cheaper than Lexus. No daytime running lights....what's with that, and a little higher to get into. Also some visibility questions.
The Lexus is very nice, all around, almost too soft a ride. Same visibility questions.
So everyone out there...which would you recommend........I am making a purchase in two weeks and I like them all. I even printed out the comparison sheets and what one has the other doesn't.......HELP. :confuse:
The window tinting covers all the windows behind the front row, I don't think other SUVs are any different. State laws limit how dark they can go and on which windows.
Ask yourself which is more important - the features you found missing, or the driving experience? Pick the Tribeca if it's the latter.
-juice
Personally I think that's a feature, not a bug. My full sized Outback spare barely fits where the spacesaver tire used to live. I don't check the air pressure in it any more frequently than I do the tire that lives underneath my minivan.
Maybe check out the Pilot too?
Steve, Host
I must say the pick up on the Murano and Tribeca are really nice. I was also hesitant about purchasing a car 'in its first year', but the Tribeca utilizes so much of what makes Subaru good, it's not really a question. Just a little higher to get into than the Murano or Lexus....wish I could get all three.
You lower the spare down from the inside, I believe, so I doubt it would be that easy to steal.
-juice
Keep in mind that SOA allows you to pick your options individually and not as part of a package that require you get and pay for things you don't want but must take in order to get a certain item.
I looked at everything from Lexus, Murano, BMW X5, Infinti and chose Tribeca.
The frustrating part is they will likely add those items next year, or shortly thereafter. If I bought one in this year and they add those items next year, I would be pissed big time. :mad:
I must say the pick up on the Murano and Tribeca are really nice. I was also hesitant about purchasing a car 'in its first year', but the Tribeca utilizes so much of what makes Subaru good, it's not really a question. Just a little higher to get into than the Murano or Lexus....wish I could get all three.
Thank you for setting me straight on the spare tire....I must still be in the dark ages.
Murano does have a lot of standard features. I absolutely love the CVT transmission. It's so smooth - and with the 245 HP, you are at 80 w/o realizing it. DRL? Not sure that it a big issue - but the Xenon light are bright and level. I do have visibility issues with the back ( I don't have the rear backup camera), but I think all SUV's have this issue. Other than that, I think there is ample visibility.
Good luck with your decision!
Lease one for 2-3 years and then you can buy it at the end of the lease or get something else. Subaru is gambling on very high residuals so this is probably safer if you might trade it in a couple of years from now.
True, B9 does aspire to be in the class that makes those features standard, but so does it's price. You gotta pay to play. If prices came in at $35-42k people would have freaked out and it would have been an all-out hysteria.
Just like people freaked when the first Outback VDC arrived and broke the $30k barrier.
This is their first model, v1.0, they're testing the waters. If people feel comfortable with Subarus in this price range they'll surely add more content, like they have in other models.
For instance, since 1998, the Forester has added as standard cruise, then power mirrors, then a 2nd odometer, then a temp gauge, then a CD player, then bigger rims, then an aluminum hood, then aluminum bumper beams, then .... etc.
You're right about them likely adding things as time goes on, so lease!
-juice
The launch was important - Baja had a slow start and never really recovered.
-juice
I noticed on Edmunds that Subaru is offering $339 on 12,000 miles for both 24 month and 36 month leases. Is it generally better to go with the longer term lease or the shorter term lease? (Yea, I know I need to research this further).
Also, which of these vehicles offer the most comfortable ride? My 6'2" hubby is very uncomfortable on long rides in our Odyssey.
Thank you!
Dawn
But I generally purchase out right so I'm not a good person to ask. :-)
-juice
Dawn
Steve, Host
I thought I had read that DRL was to be standard on all vehicles, as a safety feature.
Still investigating.
What do you think about that vehicle?
Thank you,
Driving Mom
That's your choice.
-juice
The Highlander is very nice, but the options add up fast, as they do in many Toyota products.
The Nissan Murano and Subaru B9 have many of the same options included in the vehicle as standard. Adding it all up, the Highlander with comparative bells and whistles can be more expensive.
I did not have trouble seeing out of the back of B9, a little in the Murano and RX, would have to totally lower or remove the headrests.