Girlfiend wants a CR-V

[exar333]

Here is what my girlfriend is looking for:

-small crossover/SUV vehicle
-decent storage
-budget of 22k
-moonroof (I know, I know, but this is a deal-breaker for her..)
-safe, reliable, and wants to have this car for 10+ years

Other vehicles she likes:

-Kia Soul
-Nissan Rogue

After doing research, it really seems that the CR-V is regularly the best in class for this type of vehicle. My GF likes the Soul, but is a little wary of the Kia name and it's relatively unknown reliability. The budget seems right, and she doesn't care too much if the car is 2WD or AWD/4WD. She would prefer a manual, but the CR-V doesn't come in a manual anymore (sad). The Kia does come in a MT, but it didn't seem very good to me, and the MT reviews are less than stellar.

To make a long story short, is the CR-V the best? Any other car considerations? She really dislikes Toyota (thinks they are boring) so they are out. My experience is limited with the new gen of the CR-V, but when we test drove it, I did think it was pretty good.

Update: Test drove the Tuscon, CR-V, Forester, and Soul. The CR-V drove the best, hands-down. The Forester was pretty close, and the Soul was surprisingly decent. The Tuscon, however, was very impressive UNTIL you drive it. The interior was very nice, the price was good, but the car drove like ass. If you like excessive body roll like you are driving a 1985 Caddy, then this car is for you. The odd thing was you feel most road bumps AND the suspension is soft when maneuvering. This car sucks.

I believe we will be getting a CR-V EX 4WD (red) in the next couple weeks. The car was suprisingly nimble, suspension was firm but not hard, and handled very well. The car was comfortable, and the build looks like it will hold together forever. Great car. Time to haggle on the price now...

 

[mafia]

Have you considerd the Suzuki Grand Vitara? My uncle owns one, it is very reliable, and its assembled in Japan.

You can get a fully loaded one for dirt cheap.

link

 

[exar333]

Have you considerd the Suzuki Grand Vitara? My uncle owns one, it is very reliable, and its assembled in Japan.

You can get a fully loaded one for dirt cheap.

link

Are Suzukis known to be reliable in the long-term?

 

[mafia]

Are Suzukis known to be reliable in the long-term?

Every car is reliable if you maintain it well.

 

[mafia]

Are Suzukis known to be reliable in the long-term?

Suzuki provides a three-year/36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. You buy used, you still have warranty, nothing to worry about. It doesn't have countless electronics like the Germans do, and its Japanese. You maintain it well, change the oil, brakes, air filer etc... it will last many years. Hondas are over rated, so your paying mostly for the name, while getting less.

 

[jpeyton]

Suzuki's cars have horrendous depreciation rates; worse than Kia.

Tell your GF to test drive two cars:

2010 Hyundai Tucson
2010 Honda CR-V

The RAV-4 is overpriced, the new Outlander is okay...I wouldn't even bother with the Sportage or Grand Vitara unless you're buying used because the first year depreciation hit on them is staggering (yes, even more staggering than the typical depreciation on a new car).

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0912_2010_hyundai_tucson_review/index.html

 

[exar333]

Suzuki's cars have horrendous depreciation rates; worse than Kia.

Tell your GF to test drive two cars:

2010 Hyundai Tucson
2010 Honda CR-V

The RAV-4 is overpriced, the new Outlander is okay...I wouldn't even bother with the Sportage or Grand Vitara unless you're buying used because the first year depreciation hit on them is staggering (yes, even more staggering than the typical depreciation on a new car).

It didn't seem to make much sense to get a used CR-V after checking the prices; they stay pretty expensive. Unless you want a 5 year+ with a lot of miles, they stay pretty expensive.

Maybe we will test drive the Tucson. Didn't really think about that vehicle, but Hyundai has been pretty good lately.

 

[hans030390]

Maybe we will test drive the Tucson. Didn't really think about that vehicle, but Hyundai has been pretty good lately.

You do know that Hyundai owns Kia...right? If you're cool with Hyundia, put Kia back on your list.

BTW, recent reliability reports put Kia pretty high on the list.

 

[mafia]

Suzuki's cars have horrendous depreciation rates; worse than Kia.

Tell your GF to test drive two cars:

2010 Hyundai Tucson
2010 Honda CR-V

The RAV-4 is overpriced, the new Outlander is okay...I wouldn't even bother with the Sportage or Grand Vitara unless you're buying used because the first year depreciation hit on them is staggering (yes, even more staggering than the typical depreciation on a new car).

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0912_2010_hyundai_tucson_review/index.html

His GF is going to keep the car for 10+ years. So they won't be selling it. Use the bad depreciation values as a advantage to get a good deal. Only used, never buy new. Regardless of brand, you will still loose money (and lots of it). Even if you buy a new Honda.

 

[jpeyton]

His GF is going to keep the car for 10+ years.

Exactly. Drive your average 10 year old Honda, and compare it to a 10 year old Kia or Suzuki. I'll take the Honda.

You do know that Hyundai owns Kia...right? If you're cool with Hyundia, put Kia back on your list.

The new Sorrento looks decent, but the OP is looking for something smaller. I'd take the Tucson over the Sportage, regardless of the fact that they come from the same company. Just like I'd take an Acura over a Honda (if I could afford it).

 

[dug777]

Exactly. Drive your average 10 year old Honda, and compare it to a 10 year old Kia or Suzuki. I'll take the Honda.


The new Sorrento looks decent, but the OP is looking for something smaller. I'd take the Tucson over the Sportage, regardless of the fact that they come from the same company. Just like I'd take an Acura over a Honda (if I could afford it).

I know and have known people with Vitaras of varying ages, (including one comfortably over the 10 year mark), and they have had nothing but praise for them. Of course, you have to maintain them, but it's not like you don't have to maintain Hondas

Got a drive in a mate's brand new Grand Vitara the other day, with the turbo-diesel. Seemed to have plenty of pep and the interior seemed pretty reasonable (I think it was fully loaded or close to).

Remember that in this instance the OP's gf will own the car, and maintain it from new. Ten years is nothing for modern motor vehicles, if maintained properly.

On the early ones the interior plastic was a bit cheap, but excellent vehicles and not at all bad off-road either, I would wager they would obliterate any of the other options mentioned above once you get off the bitumen. That may or may not matter here, I suspect the latter

EDIT: No intention to be rude, but I may have come across as such. My apologies.

My folks also owned two (in the Solomon Islands of all places), a short wheelbase and then a long wheelbase. Both seemed excellent, and they were quite a bit more comfortable than the Sierra!

 

[exar333]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. It sounds like the best choice would be either to get a new CR-V or a slightly used Kia Soul/Suzuki Vitara. She doesn't have to get a new car, and I agree 100% that the depreciation makes it hard to bite on the Suzuki or Kia when used prices come down so quickly. My GF is looking to get a car in the next year, so potentially a 1-1.5 year old Kia or Suzuki might do the trick, if she doesn't find a CR-V she wants to get.

 

[Demo24]

Suzuki's aren't exactly known for being worth much here in the states.

If she wants a manual then check out a Subaru Forester. Should fit the budget and is roughly the size of the CR-v, maybe a bit larger inside. I think it looks a whole lot better though.

I think this tells the story quite well. I would not recommend a Suzuki:

btw, Subaru's are very reliable especially in base form which is what she would be getting. Their number gets a bit elevated due to their performance models.

 

[exar333]

Suzuki's aren't exactly known for being worth much here in the states.

If she wants a manual then check out a Subaru Forester. Should fit the budget and is roughly the size of the CR-v, maybe a bit larger inside. I think it looks a whole lot better though.

I think this tells the story quite well. I would not recommend a Suzuki:

btw, Subaru's are very reliable especially in base form which is what she would be getting. Their number gets a bit elevated due to their performance models.

Thanks, that is very helpful. My GF is coming from a VW now, and although the drivetrain has been reliable, something else goes wrong, or falls off every few months. She loves VW, but I don't think she would touch any more with a 10-foot pole. She was complaining that my 20-year old Prelude had less problems...LOL. Her VW has had multiple things snap-off in the cold, interior dash lights fail, etc. Not the worst, but still annoying.

 

[desy]

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/Reliability.jpg

Heres a story too
SX4's are very reliable, I wouldn't discount any BRAND look for individual vehicles
Usually buy New Hondas or Toyotas or used anything else, cause yes, they depreciate and you can take advantage of that.

A 07 Saturn Vue has huge depreciation and the same powertrain as a Acura MDX cause Honda doesn't offer the v6's in CRV

 

[mafia]

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/Reliability.jpg

Heres a story too
SX4's are very reliable, I wouldn't discount any BRAND look for individual vehicles
Usually buy New Hondas or Toyotas or used anything else, cause yes, they depreciate and you can take advantage of that.

A 07 Saturn Vue has huge depreciation and the same powertrain as a Acura MDX cause Honda doesn't offer the v6's in CRV

Grand Vitaras are very reliable. On the other hand, XL-7 is ruining the reliability score, its basically a rebadged GM car.

My uncle had the Vitara for 2 years already, road trips, crazy winters, no problems at all. Its also has a better warranty than the Honda so if something should go wrong, you'll be covered. Though, IMO Hyundai has the best warranty. But in terms of getting a good deal, you should consider Suzuki.

 

[Jinny]

chevy equinox

 

[boardsportsrule]

i'd dump her personally... wouldnt be seen driving in a cr-v...ever.

subaru forester turbo diesel

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0809_2010_subaru_forester_diesel/index.html

good milage; fun; and not a honda...

 

[The J]

Don't have a ton of experience in this area, but I've been happy with my Ford Escape. The 4-cylinder models can be had with a 5-speed manual, which is why I mention it.

Mine's an 02 V-6 with auto and has been very good to me for the year I've owned it.

 

[exar333]

Don't have a ton of experience in this area, but I've been happy with my Ford Escape. The 4-cylinder models can be had with a 5-speed manual, which is why I mention it.

Mine's an 02 V-6 with auto and has been very good to me for the year I've owned it.

I was curious about the Escape; the hybrid is priced too high, but the standard 4-cyl looks OK. I didn't know it had a manual, I might have to mention it.

 

[StageLeft]

Keeping it for 10+ years says she's practical. And yet buying a banal vehicle new says she isn't. Does not compute.

 

[mafia]

I was curious about the Escape;

Get a Chevy Runaway instead, I heard it was pretty good.

 

[exar333]

Keeping it for 10+ years says she's practical. And yet buying a banal vehicle new says she isn't. Does not compute.

What doesn't compute? It makes sense to get some of the vehicles listed here used (Kia/Escape) but it would be more foolish, IMHO, to get a 2-year old CR-V for 3k less than a new one. If you read the thread, I never said it has to be brand-new, but if it is used, having some of the factory warranty left would be preferable.

 

[exar333]

i'd dump her personally... wouldnt be seen driving in a cr-v...ever.

subaru forester turbo diesel

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0809_2010_subaru_forester_diesel/index.html

good milage; fun; and not a honda...

Sorry, a Forester is not any more fun than a CR-V. She is looking for a small SUV vehicle that will be dependable. This engine for the Forester isn't even available in the US, from what I can find.

 

[boardsportsrule]

Sorry, a Forester is not any more fun than a CR-V. She is looking for a small SUV vehicle that will be dependable. This engine for the Forester isn't even available in the US, from what I can find.

While it may not be more fun, the AWD offers a bit more practicality, and the fact you're not in a CRV is quite nice as wel...

Looks like it isn't available in the USA, thats unfortunate.

How about the mazda3 touring?