Best Milage SUV

[yohan4ws]

Hey guys,

Time to get something different... love my lude but more and more (with snowboarding especially) I need more room, trunk space, and passenger space. One thing I will miss is the milage and wondering what the best of both worlds is ..

budget is min, Acura MDX 2002 can be found in the states for around 12,000 .. but its a v6 3.5L ..

CR-V is best mileage SUV I've seen, but out of budget for the most part ..

Anybody have insights on what SUV's get great milage exempt the brand new hybrids (out of budget)

thanks!

[TomcoPDR]

Is size being taken into consideration? Or are you just wanting the BEST fuel efficient "SUV"? Or are you comparing best fuel within each size class?

Compact = Escape, Jeep Compass
Mid = 1st gen Durango, Blazer/Jimmy
Full = Expedition, Toyota Sequia

If you're looking for cheap, Escape/Mazda Tribute I-4 (no balls tho)... or a 2002 style CRV, 2003 Murano's are really really smooth (compared to other SUV within that year) but could still be pricy I think $16,000+

[HRD2PLZ]

We used to have an MDX and I think according to the computer it averaged out to using 12.3L/100km which is about the same as my RX. I think most 6-cylinder SUV's with full-time 4WD/AWD are going to be around this range.

If your looking for a used MDX, make sure the transmission is okay. When we got rid of ours, it felt like it was starting to go and quite a few people we know who have or had 2002-2004 MDX's, Pilot's and Odyssey's experienced transmission issues.

[yohan4ws]

Auto or Manual ?? ... Honda's of every generation I think have always had auto trannys kicking out starting at 120-150km

err crap, mdx takes premium fuel ... im out on that one .. shite.. if only it had the 4 cycl the cr-v had.. if i found a rolling chassy i could swap in the crv 4 cyl maybe.. hmm..

[rc2002]

Your best bet on used is a CRV or Rav4. The Murano has CVT so that would help offset it's larger engine size. Keep in mind that just about every SUV with low gas mileage is going to be gutless and wouldn't be my choice to drive on the highway.

On a side note, the CRV should be able to rival your Prelude for mileage. Prelude is actually a pig on gas compared with other Hondas.

[blownz]

If you need the space but want decent mileage why not consider a wagon?

[S4maniac]

I have a '07 Ford Freestyle and its getting +30 mpg hwy. Used they can be picked up for around $20k. They have AWD, third row and can be tricked out quite nicely. Had mine for a year so far with no issues (thats for the Ford bashers).

Ford no longer makes them 07 was the last year. It used the same space frame as the Volvo x50 if you want an idea of what they look like. Its not an suv nor a wagon.

[benyl]

Ford does still make them. It is called the Taurus X now.


http://www.ford.ca/main/default.asp?Language=en&section=2&sVehCategory=FordSUVs&Model=Taurus+X&session={C9104EE3-C0F8-44E1-9B88-EB67804DE74A}

[afrotl]

How about a Nissan X-trail?

[Masked Bandit]

We've got a 2003 CR-V and it's no racer but it's got plenty of zip for driving around the city. If you are on a tight budget, look for a 2000 or 2001 CR-V. The HP is only five less than the 2002 - 2007 BUT there should be a pretty good price break as it is now two generations old.

We get 10 L / 100 KM city and highway (cruise set at 120).

[yohan4ws]

My x has an x-trail, I'm not too fond of it .. its too huge inside and feels all plasticy and cheap .. not a vehicle for me.

I've been surfing today like crazy, the Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Forrester have pretty good mileage, 22 / 28 and take regular fuel .. the interiors just aren't as classy as the MDX ..

it's a bitch finding an interior in all black for used (searching with US auto trader)

I have driven protege5 before and love the style etc. but shifting in it just felt wierd ... I have to do some test driving for sure.

keep the recommendations coming.


Acura MDX: 3.5L V6 250hp 17/23

Toyota Rav 4: 2WD 25/31 , 4wd 22/27 148hp

Subaru Forester: 22 / 28 4cyl 165hp / Turbo 19/23 210horse/235tq

Honda CR-V: 22/26 2.4L 160hp

mazda tribute: V6 200hp , 19/25mpg

[yohan4ws]

Anybody have thoughts/opinions of the PT Cruiser ?

and how reliable has the ford escape been ?

[trieu]

We have PT Cruisers at my work, don't get it. They are slow, the interior is ugly, the outside is ugly and there is too much plastic everywhere. :thumbsdow

[Masked Bandit]

Some close friends of ours had an Escape. It was in the shop so many times in the first year that Ford bought it back from them AT THE SAME PRICE THEY PAID A YEAR EARLIER.

Three tranny's for sure and a bunch of other misc. stuff.

J-U-N-K

[Kaos]

Get the Honda Element!!!!

[Redlyne_mr2]

rx400h?

[ryuen]

Have you considered the Jeep Patriot?

23/28 for the 2WD and 22/27 for the 4WD

2WD starts at 17k and 4WD can be bought for under 20k

It's also not bad looking. The interior is a bit cheap but it's expected at this price point.

[HondaRice]

buy honda/toyota if u want it long term not just gas milege and also if you want great resale.

[yohan4ws]

patriot / compass ... great recommendation, but still outside of the budget ..

hondarice: i agree with you there, just hard finding a cr-v / rav4 with all black and leather interior .. yea im being picky but I deserve to be :) ..

this is turning out to be quite the escapade..

RX300 is awesome, but only 19/23 mileage..

Honda Element is like.. all plastic inside, i like that is veristile but i want something a bit more .. cozy .. am i allowed to want cozy in a suv ? :dunno:

[yohan4ws]

I've decied, thanks all for your input!

2005 Mitsubishi Outlander Limited 2WD: $14,000 US

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=234049565&dealer_id=69446&car_year=2005&model=OUTLANDER&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&start_year=2004&keywordsfyc=__aGVhdGVk__&keywordsrep=104101097116101100&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=MIT&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceASC&address=90021&advanced=y&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1274

MSN specs: http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/spec_Exterior.aspx?year=2005&make=Mitsubishi&model=Outlander&trimid=-1

Limited model has leather heated seats, defog mirrors, 6 CD in dash changer w/ infiniti 7 speaker sound, AWD gets 21/26 city/hwy mpg and runs on regular. 4disk brakes also on 2005+.

160hp inline 4 @ 5750 , 162torque @ 4000rpm. Similar power band to what my prelude had BEFORE I swapped in Vtec.

It weighs more than the lude by 200lbs (3329, lude is 3100 or so.) Takes regular fuel so that will be $$ savings since I use premium now.

All I nee to do now is go test drive one here to know for sure I like it ... get cash in order, hit the states and its road trip time. booya!


http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/gallery/c451238a.jpg

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/gallery/c451243a.jpg

[Decoder]

The nissan Rogue, is the most fuel efficient CUV on the market, it beat the compass and patriot.
and has more HP and TQ

[yohan4ws]

The rogue actually only boasts a 2.5L inline 4 with 170HP mileage is 22/27 w/ a 2wd transmission. 21/26 w/ AWD.

If I was goign to buy new in that price range:
2007/2008 Honda CR-V : 23/30
*** The sticker in the dealership said 36 hwy mpg for the Honda CR-V ???

2007/2008 Mits Outlander: 17 / 25 .... dealership sticker said 33 .. wtf?

Anyone know the difference of what MSN puts for mpg vs. the dealership stickers?

[blownz]

^ Canadian and UK gallon is about 1.2 US gallons which is why the Canadian mileage figures always look much better.

[yohan4ws]

ahhh thats right ... that being said the mileage on the vehicles looked a lot more attractive and i almost decided on an 07 cr-v or outlander...


after i did more research on autos.msn.com my final decision is to go for a 2005 Outlander 2WD Limited edition

leather, heated seats/mirrors, 7 speaker infiniti system(incl. sub) 22/26mpg.

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by blownz
^ Canadian and UK gallon is about 1.2 US gallons which is why the Canadian mileage figures always look much better.

US gallon is 3.78 L

Imperial gallon is 4.54 L

[blownz]

^ which is exactly 1.2

[Masked Bandit]

Same fence, other side eh?