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Nice techie useful CUV
I am looking at getting a CUV pretty soon. I have looked at everything from the RDX w/tech all the way down to the Compass (pretty loaded). So far my favorites in terms of options are the RDX and the Outlander.
I am hoping to get at a minimum Bluetooth, power seats, typical luxuries, etc. Navigation is not a must but the voice recognition on the RDX would be a must if I got it.
My only problem with the RDX is its towing capacity.... On the other hand my problem with the Outlander is the mitsu dealer, I hate them; and actually that is something else that I like about the RDX, the service dept at the dealer is great!
So are there other CUVs I am ignoring? what about the Enclave? or MKX? Vue?
I am hoping to get at a minimum Bluetooth, power seats, typical luxuries, etc. Navigation is not a must but the voice recognition on the RDX would be a must if I got it.
My only problem with the RDX is its towing capacity.... On the other hand my problem with the Outlander is the mitsu dealer, I hate them; and actually that is something else that I like about the RDX, the service dept at the dealer is great!
So are there other CUVs I am ignoring? what about the Enclave? or MKX? Vue?
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I like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, I think it's pretty nice. The infiniti FX or Nissan Murano (pretty much the same car) seem pretty good. Apparently the Hyundai Veracruz is pretty decent for the money, but I don't know what features it has. The newly redesigned Subaru Tribeca looks pretty nice, and subaru is a great company. The new Highlanders look pretty good, and have some nice features. And the Volvo XC90 is always worth a look.
If I had the money, I would have seriously looked at the Subaru Tribeca, Subaru is a great company, I know many people who always go back to subaru, and the new Tribeca looks pretty nice. And also the Acura, as it is a honda and they are known for quality and it seems to come with pretty good features.
But if you want a pretty good, decently equiped, sporty CUV for a decent price, and don't need it too luxurious, then I would consider the outlander. The dealer I bought my car from gave me a better initial price than I was prepared to negitoate down to. I haven't taken it to the dealer yet to be serviced, so I can not comment on that, but they seem pretty good to me, but maybe I have a better dealer than most?
You can get a loaded 4WD Outlander XLS with leather, Nav, 650W sound, Bluetooth, sunroof, Sirius, etc for under $30,000.
A similarly equipped RDX will be at least $5,000 more.
I've driven both, they are similar. I prefer the driving characteristics and reliability of a V6 over a turbo 4.
You'll learn a lot.
I said that before and say it again Outlander offers a lot for a lot less in CUV market.
If, I wanted to spend extra $15k I would get FX, even though it's due for redesign, it still looks awesome.
Santa Fe, which has a bit more power and room and less
toys. But both of them are in a lower class and are not to be compare to EX35.
EX is cool not because it has first in a world Around View Monitor(AVM) system or Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system. IT is cool, because it's not a "luxurious Rogue".
EX is a Big Power in a Small Package' CUV. Unlike Rogue, which is build on a small Sentra platform, it's build on the same platform as G, M and FX (you like). It has the same V6 Aluminum Block 3.5l 290-297 hp engine, as G35 and FX35, that Mitsu or Hyundai can only dream about. Take FX35, squeese it to 182.3 X 71" and make it on 4" lower, but leave the same engin. You'll get adventage in weght, so in fuel economy. Also add exquized interier. That will be EX.
To tell you more, you do not need extra 15K. Base AWD should be 32K and Journey AWD some 3K more. At least I hope so.
Go: Forums - Browse By Dicussions box. You'll get a lot of vidios, pictures, interviews, specs and comments. It's fun.
Again, personally Nissan/Infinity are mostly ugly looking cars and EX is no exception. FX would be the only car for me worth considering.
Paying premium price for a luxury car and think about fuel economy is a joke. If I needed power I would get a sports car, budget CUVs offer enough of that.
Also, pricing is just speculation at this point, but I don't see it being cheaper then RDX.
This nice looking CUV definitely deserve more attention, than it is. But almost all of them are SUV-wanna-be styling, espacily front. To distinguish CUV Toyota did not bad job with RX , then Infinity with FX, now Buick Enclave and Mazda CX. Infiniti said: "Style on EX was inspired by the sport coupe G37", which is simply gorgeous. It is actually cross with FX styling, which you said is awesome.
So, I believe, you will like EX styling too.
Btw, I did have 06 TSX (traded in for Outlander) w/ voice navigation and it was cool to impress my friends, but in reality I found little use for it. (Only used "Go Home" feature, but I didn't see any point for "What's time is it" or "Temperature set to 70") I think Outlander navigation is a lot better in terms of other features.
'First Drive: 2008 Infiniti EX35' article by Ron Kiino.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0712_2008_infiniti_ex35
Outdated 5-speed transmission?
opens the throttle to match the rpm for smoother gear changes."
This transmission isn't award winner like their engine, but
showed very good performance and reliability for a last few years on G and FX. And because EX is nothing, but mix of two of them, Infiniti puts the same transmission into EX.
Nissan are testing now their "say good-bye to gears, revolutionary X-tronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) on Altima. Nothing can beat CVT - it's for sure. So, it will find its way into Infiniti soon.
Anyways, I finally realized the Outlander is missing too many things that I don't want to give up on so I am back looking at other CUVs. I am thinking RDX, or a edge/mkx with sync! who knows, its back to square 0 for me.
Whatever marketing verbage they use, the bottom line is: it's only a 5-speed transmission on the "luxury" car. Shame. The true luxury Mercedes uses 7-speed transmission, BMW and Outlander use 6-speed.
fully loaded is $15k more then fully loaded Outlander
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=123139?tid=edmun- ds.il.home.photopanel..1.*
A lot of room, features and towing cap. too.
Go cars.com - Reaserch - Buick Enclave - Owners and Expert
reviews. You'll get 9 expert reviews. Check out what owners say. After that, go to Edmunds Buick Forum.
A lot of Optional equepment (6 packages).
Some people, who don't use 3rd-row seat much and keep it flat-down, bought 2nd-row split-folding seat, instead of two captain chairs, got $495 back.
I'd say, Enclave is a 'techiest' CUV around. Just try it and you will fall in love with it.
But 45K, probably, is right.
Only problem is, that when you said, that fully loaded EX35 cost 15K more than fully loaded Outlander, it sounds like for the same equipment we have to pay 15 grand more. But point is: fully loaded EX has much more than Outlander.
Technology Package, including: Around View Monitor System (with 4 cameras);
Lane Departure Prevention System (not just warns you, but automatically applies one side brakes to push you back to your lane);
Intelligent Cruise Control (also applies brakes, if you too close to a vehicle ahead).
Just this package alone can cost close to 5K.
Or Adaptive Front Lightning System (headlamps move in the direction of a turn).
Or Voice Recognition System.
Or Bi-xenon Auto-leveling Headlights (against regular xenon headlights).
Or Leather appointed center console and doors with African Rosewood and Structured Aluminum trim (against cheep kids automobile plastic on the doors of Outlander). And more
We know: EX35 will come as Base RWD, Base AWD, Journey RWD and Journey AWD.
Pricing still is not clear yet, but I do have Sunday issue of Chicago Tribune (Nov., 28) with Jim Matija review on Journey AWD model. It said – 35K. But again - its estimated price.
A lot of, what fully loaded Outlander has, is a regular stuff, while just standard equipment on Journey AWD is top notch or highest quality, like premium lather and black lacquer trim, or
Power sliding tinted glass moonroof with one touch open/close/tilt and with sliding sunshade (against regular power sunroof).
Some standard on Journey AWD equipment fully loaded Outlander does not have at all: LED taillights; Auto dimming mirrors; Power folding/unfolding rear seat.
Ad to this “Scratch Shield”, special elastic stuff in the finish, which helps erase small scratches in one to seven days and 297 hp engine and will be understandable why better to pay 5K more for EX35 Journey AWD (of cause, if price really will be 35K), than 30K for fully loaded Outlander.
Prices Buick Enclave
2WD CX 32,055/29,971 (invoice)
AWD CX 34,055/31,841
2WD CXL 34,255/32,028
AWD CXL 36,255/33,898
I learned 2WD CX is the most demanding model and long gone,
but it was few month ago.
Pricing is very aggressive to bit MDX and RX.
Buick is hopping to start new life with Enclave, back to those days when Riviera and Reatta were prestigious cars and
everybody knew expression 'Buick-Quality'.
So far, people are very happy with New Enclave.
I'd say than pay 30K for small RAV-4 (6 cyl.), Santa Fe or
fully loaded Outlander, maybe make sense to ad 4K for AWD CX, especially, if you have GM MasterCard
The AWD Outlander XLS with navigation, sunroof, bluetooth, fast key, keyless start has MSRP of $30k
According to Edmunds.com, base AWD EX35 + navigation, sunroof, bluetooth, fast key, keyless start has MSRP of $46k.
Of course the EX35 has better interior, more horses and a couple of features such as adaptive front lightning and bi-xenon autoleveling headlights (against regular Outlander xenon headlights), but I am not sure if it all worth extra $16K considering that with EX35 you still getting outdated 5-speed transmission, no music server, shorter warranty, bad mileage (15/22) and premium gasoline.
The CR-V and EX35 shouldn't share anything, now the CR-V and RDX might share something and the EX35 I guess might share stuff with the Rogue.
Small SUV
Best: Honda Element, Mitsubishi Outlander
Worst: Dodge Nitro, Jeep Wrangler (four-door)
Midsize SUV
Best: Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot
Worst: Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Range Rover Sport
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071017/BIZ/710170334