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Quoted: Budget? View Quote I’m not really in the market. I’m sort of a “car guy” and get dragged into conservations/asked for advice. But this is a segment I have zero experience/knowledge of vs some other niches. The people ranged from people sending kids off to college, people whose kids were getting their first jobs, people sick of the depreciation on their luxury SUVs, people sick of increasing gas prices in their 17mpg vehicles, people that don’t need to put 4 kids in car seats plus two other kids in the vehicle anymore, and 20-something young professionals about to start making like 97th-98th percentile individual incomes but while concurrently starting a family, buying a home, and having massive student debt to pay off. Probably 35K and under despite the ability to drop far more into it. |
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Quoted: I'd be checking out the Crosstrek. View Quote Back in late 2014, I had a Scion TC sport coupe and was looking at getting something with AWD again, and checked out various vehicles online and found this video of the 2013 Crosstrek being tested at the Range Rover course. Seeing it go on to 3 wheels at one point as it followed the Rover through the course, I figured it would do perfectly fine getting me around in the city streets or the lake roads I live on now in the winter. I ended up getting a new 2015 in January of 15 and still have it as my daily driver. And it looks like the one in the video, though I ditched the big chrome grill and put a custom black mesh one one that I made, modified from the one Subaru offered, plus added the rear spoiler to it myself. The Subaru XV takes on the Land Rover Defender |
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Quoted: @Josh Are you saying the 4 Runner is an upgrade over the Highlander? I've been looking at Highlanders and haven't considered a 4Runner View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: My hybrid highlander has done great work on all the snow and ice around northern VA the last week or so. It’s 13 years old, has a quarter million miles on it, routine maintenance and I’d expect it to go another quarter million with zero problems if I weren’t about to trade up to a 4Runner. The AWD is literally idiot proof, it just works, no buttons or any reason to think about it at all. Just drive. @Josh Are you saying the 4 Runner is an upgrade over the Highlander? I've been looking at Highlanders and haven't considered a 4Runner The Highlander is an Avalon with an SUV body. It's a car that looks like an SUV (obviously it's got better ground clearance, bigger tires, and such). The 4Runner is a truck. It's completely different in powertrain and everything else really. The 4runner also is 4WD, not AWD (the Limited trim level does have a semi-AWD like Torsen center diff as I recall). If I'm going to put someone like my wife into a vehicle she can drive around and be able to get through shitty roads, I want her in an AWD vehicle, not a 4WD. 4WD requires a lot more skill to drive effectively, AWD is designed to require essentially zero input from the driver, it's all computerized and just does what needs to be done to keep you from doing something stupid. Plus 4WD vehicles are primarily RWD, which is not good for novice drivers in inclement weather. |
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Quoted: You price one lately? They aren't really in the price range of what he is looking for. View Quote Passport with AWD starts at about 40k. Budget wasn't initially stated but now 35k. Just giving my 2 cents based on shopping and buying one in the last year. Best bang for the buck was the Passport based on my opinion. From 35k budget to 45k range is a huge improvement for what you get, and going up anymore from there is diminishing returns unless looking for some sort of status symbol. |
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Quoted: Didn’t know these were on the horizon! They look good! Hopefully they use the same components that make the CX-5 reliable. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126656/A1D14FD7-E188-4C04-9E2C-EE7D1E2304DB_png-2231751.JPG View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Yep people over look Mazda. The CX-5 is up his alley, but so is the new CX-50. Didn’t know these were on the horizon! They look good! Hopefully they use the same components that make the CX-5 reliable. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126656/A1D14FD7-E188-4C04-9E2C-EE7D1E2304DB_png-2231751.JPG The term SUV has really shifted. I think we need to bring back the term ORV to help clarify. |
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Quoted: Back in late 2014, I had a Scion TC sport coupe and was looking at getting something with AWD again, and checked out various vehicles online and found this video of the 2013 Crosstrek being tested at the Range Rover course. Seeing it go on to 3 wheels at one point as it followed the Rover through the course, I figured it would do perfectly fine getting me around in the city streets or the lake roads I live on now in the winter. I ended up getting a new 2015 in January of 15 and still have it as my daily driver. And it looks like the one in the video, though I ditched the big chrome grill and put a custom black mesh one one that I made, modified from the one Subaru offered, plus added the rear spoiler to it myself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdQqMRdTrs View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: I'd be checking out the Crosstrek. Back in late 2014, I had a Scion TC sport coupe and was looking at getting something with AWD again, and checked out various vehicles online and found this video of the 2013 Crosstrek being tested at the Range Rover course. Seeing it go on to 3 wheels at one point as it followed the Rover through the course, I figured it would do perfectly fine getting me around in the city streets or the lake roads I live on now in the winter. I ended up getting a new 2015 in January of 15 and still have it as my daily driver. And it looks like the one in the video, though I ditched the big chrome grill and put a custom black mesh one one that I made, modified from the one Subaru offered, plus added the rear spoiler to it myself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdQqMRdTrs im actually pretty impressed with my girlfriends crosstrek. it gets my vote. |
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Quoted: I'd be comparison shopping CX-5, Rav 4, Forrester, and maybe a Hyundai/Kia variant since their new AWD system doesn't suck. View Quote This is the correct answer. We chose the CX-5 over the Rav4 and CRV, and it was substantially cheaper even though that didn't factor in to the decision. Auto transmission compared to the CVT was a plus as well. I would not overlook the KIA/Hyundai as well. Going up a size, the Telluride is a homerun and destroys everything else in its class/price. |
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Quoted: Nah, OP was descriptive. Mazda CX-5 sounds up his alley. Incredibly reliable, not as expensive as some of the competition, and holds value decently. And they look nice, to boot. I personally feel from the description, a Japanese car should be very high on your list. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126656/B0B85E13-2D48-4644-89AD-97088AEB7D1F_png-2231743.JPG View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Half the replies in here will be Jeep the other half will be Tacoma’s with a snorkel… anything less you may die Nah, OP was descriptive. Mazda CX-5 sounds up his alley. Incredibly reliable, not as expensive as some of the competition, and holds value decently. And they look nice, to boot. I personally feel from the description, a Japanese car should be very high on your list. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126656/B0B85E13-2D48-4644-89AD-97088AEB7D1F_png-2231743.JPG This. And...available with a turbo. Turbocharge all things! |
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Quoted: Passport with AWD starts at about 40k. Budget wasn't initially stated but now 35k. Just giving my 2 cents based on shopping and buying one in the last year. Best bang for the buck was the Passport based on my opinion. From 35k budget to 45k range is a huge improvement for what you get, and going up anymore from there is diminishing returns unless looking for some sort of status symbol. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: You price one lately? They aren't really in the price range of what he is looking for. Passport with AWD starts at about 40k. Budget wasn't initially stated but now 35k. Just giving my 2 cents based on shopping and buying one in the last year. Best bang for the buck was the Passport based on my opinion. From 35k budget to 45k range is a huge improvement for what you get, and going up anymore from there is diminishing returns unless looking for some sort of status symbol. |
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Crosstrek with a 2" lift... My boss is getting one built and that thing will do all you are asking, and then some, when it is done.
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Quoted: It's German (Rebadged Opel Insignia) and looks better than a Mercedes of the same style. 2.0L GM turbo engine, AWD, tons of room, aisin trans. View Quote You can remove the plastic cladding and they look good Attached File |
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Quoted: The Highlander is an Avalon with an SUV body. It's a car that looks like an SUV (obviously it's got better ground clearance, bigger tires, and such). The 4Runner is a truck. It's completely different in powertrain and everything else really. The 4runner also is 4WD, not AWD (the Limited trim level does have a semi-AWD like Torsen center diff as I recall). If I'm going to put someone like my wife into a vehicle she can drive around and be able to get through shitty roads, I want her in an AWD vehicle, not a 4WD. 4WD requires a lot more skill to drive effectively, AWD is designed to require essentially zero input from the driver, it's all computerized and just does what needs to be done to keep you from doing something stupid. Plus 4WD vehicles are primarily RWD, which is not good for novice drivers in inclement weather. View Quote Yeah, the 4Runner is a true SUV with superior off road performance. It lacks the sophisticated full time AWD on bad road conditions as, say, an Acura MDX SH-AWD. It also has a very dated drivetrain, that, while reliable and adequate is not near on par with current competitor mpg/hp/torque profiles. |
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Quoted: Yeah, the 4Runner is a true SUV with superior off road performance. It lacks the sophisticated full time AWD on bad road conditions as, say, an Acura MDX SH-AWD. It also has a very dated drivetrain, that, while reliable and adequate is not near on par with current competitor mpg/hp/torque profiles. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: The Highlander is an Avalon with an SUV body. It's a car that looks like an SUV (obviously it's got better ground clearance, bigger tires, and such). The 4Runner is a truck. It's completely different in powertrain and everything else really. The 4runner also is 4WD, not AWD (the Limited trim level does have a semi-AWD like Torsen center diff as I recall). If I'm going to put someone like my wife into a vehicle she can drive around and be able to get through shitty roads, I want her in an AWD vehicle, not a 4WD. 4WD requires a lot more skill to drive effectively, AWD is designed to require essentially zero input from the driver, it's all computerized and just does what needs to be done to keep you from doing something stupid. Plus 4WD vehicles are primarily RWD, which is not good for novice drivers in inclement weather. Yeah, the 4Runner is a true SUV with superior off road performance. It lacks the sophisticated full time AWD on bad road conditions as, say, an Acura MDX SH-AWD. It also has a very dated drivetrain, that, while reliable and adequate is not near on par with current competitor mpg/hp/torque profiles. Yeah, it's a truck. It's highly capable off road regardless, it's one of the most sought after vehicles for it. |
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Quoted: There was also talk of the RAV hybrid being perfect because it was a great mpg AWD, decent resale/depreciation, and a 7500 dollar rebate for being a hybrid. Not sure if that is still true, there was also talk of some brands of EVs not getting a rebate anymore. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: There was also talk of the RAV hybrid being perfect because it was a great mpg AWD, decent resale/depreciation, and a 7500 dollar rebate for being a hybrid. Not sure if that is still true, there was also talk of some brands of EVs not getting a rebate anymore. Our non-hybrid routinely gets 32-33mpg with me driving now after 5K miles on the odometer. My GX gets 19mpg after the first 1K miles so far. |
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Quoted: The Highlander is an Avalon with an SUV body. It's a car that looks like an SUV (obviously it's got better ground clearance, bigger tires, and such). The 4Runner is a truck. It's completely different in powertrain and everything else really. The 4runner also is 4WD, not AWD (the Limited trim level does have a semi-AWD like Torsen center diff as I recall). If I'm going to put someone like my wife into a vehicle she can drive around and be able to get through shitty roads, I want her in an AWD vehicle, not a 4WD. 4WD requires a lot more skill to drive effectively, AWD is designed to require essentially zero input from the driver, it's all computerized and just does what needs to be done to keep you from doing something stupid. Plus 4WD vehicles are primarily RWD, which is not good for novice drivers in inclement weather. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: My hybrid highlander has done great work on all the snow and ice around northern VA the last week or so. It’s 13 years old, has a quarter million miles on it, routine maintenance and I’d expect it to go another quarter million with zero problems if I weren’t about to trade up to a 4Runner. The AWD is literally idiot proof, it just works, no buttons or any reason to think about it at all. Just drive. @Josh Are you saying the 4 Runner is an upgrade over the Highlander? I've been looking at Highlanders and haven't considered a 4Runner The Highlander is an Avalon with an SUV body. It's a car that looks like an SUV (obviously it's got better ground clearance, bigger tires, and such). The 4Runner is a truck. It's completely different in powertrain and everything else really. The 4runner also is 4WD, not AWD (the Limited trim level does have a semi-AWD like Torsen center diff as I recall). If I'm going to put someone like my wife into a vehicle she can drive around and be able to get through shitty roads, I want her in an AWD vehicle, not a 4WD. 4WD requires a lot more skill to drive effectively, AWD is designed to require essentially zero input from the driver, it's all computerized and just does what needs to be done to keep you from doing something stupid. Plus 4WD vehicles are primarily RWD, which is not good for novice drivers in inclement weather. Technically the 4Runner Limited and the GX 460 use a full time 4WD system with a 60/40 rear/front bias and they have a true Hi and Lo range. They also have a Torsen locking center differential to make it a 50/50 split. The fact that there are no levers involved led me to the GX 460 as I didn’t want the leather or X-REAS of the Limited and I didn’t want to mess with standard 4WD engagement methods either. I’ve only been able to mess around with it a bit in the snow so far, however, moving from dry pavement to snowy areas and back again without having to change anything is awesome. |
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Ford Escape/Bronco Sport
Ford Maverick - what I'll be getting next Mazda CX-5 Subaru Forester |
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Quoted: Technically the 4Runner Limited and the GX 460 use a full time 4WD system with a 60/40 rear/front bias and they have a true Hi and Lo range. They also have a Torsen locking center differential to make it a 50/50 split. The fact that there are no levers involved led me to the GX 460 as I didn’t want the leather or X-REAS of the Limited and I didn’t want to mess with standard 4WD engagement methods either. I’ve only been able to mess around with it a bit in the snow so far, however, moving from dry pavement to snowy areas and back again without having to change anything is awesome. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: My hybrid highlander has done great work on all the snow and ice around northern VA the last week or so. It’s 13 years old, has a quarter million miles on it, routine maintenance and I’d expect it to go another quarter million with zero problems if I weren’t about to trade up to a 4Runner. The AWD is literally idiot proof, it just works, no buttons or any reason to think about it at all. Just drive. @Josh Are you saying the 4 Runner is an upgrade over the Highlander? I've been looking at Highlanders and haven't considered a 4Runner The Highlander is an Avalon with an SUV body. It's a car that looks like an SUV (obviously it's got better ground clearance, bigger tires, and such). The 4Runner is a truck. It's completely different in powertrain and everything else really. The 4runner also is 4WD, not AWD (the Limited trim level does have a semi-AWD like Torsen center diff as I recall). If I'm going to put someone like my wife into a vehicle she can drive around and be able to get through shitty roads, I want her in an AWD vehicle, not a 4WD. 4WD requires a lot more skill to drive effectively, AWD is designed to require essentially zero input from the driver, it's all computerized and just does what needs to be done to keep you from doing something stupid. Plus 4WD vehicles are primarily RWD, which is not good for novice drivers in inclement weather. Technically the 4Runner Limited and the GX 460 use a full time 4WD system with a 60/40 rear/front bias and they have a true Hi and Lo range. They also have a Torsen locking center differential to make it a 50/50 split. The fact that there are no levers involved led me to the GX 460 as I didn’t want the leather or X-REAS of the Limited and I didn’t want to mess with standard 4WD engagement methods either. I’ve only been able to mess around with it a bit in the snow so far, however, moving from dry pavement to snowy areas and back again without having to change anything is awesome. Yeah, I didn't want full time 4WD, I'm going with an ORP 4runner. |
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Quoted: What’s funny is that even being a V8 and full time 4WD the GX is getting the same mileage as my 4Runner did. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Yeah, I didn't want full time 4WD, I'm going with an ORP 4runner. What’s funny is that even being a V8 and full time 4WD the GX is getting the same mileage as my 4Runner did. The 4runner is notorious for that unfortunately. |
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Quoted: I'd be checking out the Crosstrek. View Quote This. OP already has a bigger vehicle so an outback is redundant. Crosstrek has the ground clearance and AWD to get through a lot of crap. But get the sport or limited with the better engine. More fun to drive than the underpowered regular model. |
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Quoted: Crosstrek with a 2" lift... My boss is getting one built and that thing will do all you are asking, and then some, when it is done. View Quote I saw one in the Kansas Subaru showroom last year that had the lift and it made me want to see about doing it to my XV. It looked good lifted with some nice black wheels and bigger tires that they had on it. |
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Quoted: And turbo. I'm currently dailying an AWD turbo Mazda 3 hatchback. Great daily especially with snow tires in this season. I really like the new CX-50 coming, though, so I'll probably end up in that. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: I saw an AWD Mazda 3 the other day; didn't know they came in AWD. And turbo. I'm currently dailying an AWD turbo Mazda 3 hatchback. Great daily especially with snow tires in this season. I really like the new CX-50 coming, though, so I'll probably end up in that. Mazda3 hatchback owner checking in. Ours is FWD and the year before the turbo came available. Mazda3 is fun if you want a car (sedan or hatchback). If you want some more ride height, look at the CX30. It's essentially a lifted Mazda3 hatch. Both are available AWD, and with turbo. |
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I took my 2021 Hybrid Touring CR-V scouting with me looking for elk. It handled the switchbacks and grades of the mining & logging roads without issue. Compared to other similar vehicles I thought it was the quietest and most comfortable ride and felt it gave me the best bang for the buck when I bought it last year.
The paint even held up against the briars. Attached File |
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Quoted: I took my 2021 Hybrid Touring CR-V scouting with me looking for elk. It handled the switchbacks and grades of the mining & logging roads without issue. Compared to other similar vehicles I thought it was the quietest and most comfortable ride and felt it gave me the best bang for the buck when I bought it last year. The paint even held up against the briars. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/338344/269709364_5002378033106856_4052114251717-2232488.JPG View Quote |
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Quoted: Half the replies in here will be Jeep the other half will be Tacoma’s with a snorkel… anything less you may die View Quote Attached File |
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What really amazes me is how close in size and features some of these are to other cars/CUVs from the same maker.
Is there really that much difference between a Corolla Cross vs RAV4, the KIA that’s a little smaller than the Sorenro, the Outback vs Forester vs Crosstek, etc.? |
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Tips
Never buy a CVT auto (Nissan) Honda has had issues with gas getting in the oil (CRV) Mazda and Toyota are tops for reliability Mazda will be slightly cheaper. Mazda has transitioned to AWD in everything. |
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Outback is superior to the other Subarus simply from a cargo capacity standpoint. You can fit a lot in the back behind the seats, where a Crosstrek or Forester will fit about the depth of a standard size suitcase turned sideways. Fold the seats down and you can fit a lot. Subarus roof bars are toolless and overall pretty useful.
RAV4s have gotten really popular, good luck getting a deal. The Mazda SUVs are fine, but where they shine is their sedans and hatches. If you want a car that'll cruise 80+ comfortably and get 30 mpg + doing it, they are great. We run ours 7 hours across a very windy state on a regular basis, and the low profile makes the wind not push it around near as much as an SUV. Big ass trunk too. No experience with the Hondas, but many I know have CRVs and like them. |
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One spec I wish existed is driver seat height from the ground. One of the things I hate about my Impreza is how low it is. I'd love to see how they all compare with some kind of baseline.
Quoted: Tips Never buy a CVT auto (Nissan) Honda has had issues with gas getting in the oil (CRV) Mazda and Toyota are tops for reliability Mazda will be slightly cheaper. Mazda has transitioned to AWD in everything. View Quote As an option or everything they build is AWD? |
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Quoted: What really amazes me is how close in size and features some of these are to other cars/CUVs from the same maker. Is there really that much difference between a Corolla Cross vs RAV4, the KIA that’s a little smaller than the Sorenro, the Outback vs Forester vs Crosstek, etc.? View Quote Cost of ownership over 3/5/10 years? |
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Buddy has a CRV hybrid and he loves it so far.
I like the CX5 but the CX50 is |
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Quoted: One spec I wish existed is driver seat height from the ground. One of the things I hate about my Impreza is how low it is. I'd love to see how they all compare with some kind of baseline. As an option or everything they build is AWD? View Quote Attached File I can't stand low cars for dailying |
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Quoted: Interesting. I wonder how the SH-AWD of an Acura RDX would have done vs the RT-AWD system of the CR-V. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIxcArAOprM Interesting. I wonder how the SH-AWD of an Acura RDX would have done vs the RT-AWD system of the CR-V. The intelligent, torque vectoring AWD systems do quite well against Subaru. |
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I don't like Subarus.
Best value sporty car is a Civic Si or the turbo Mazda3 Best value mid sized is a Mazda6 Best value small SUV is either the RAV4, CX5, or CRV depending on local deals. Best value mid sized SUV is the Pilot Best value sports car is the Corvette There are no "Best value" full size or extra large SUVs. Best value in smaller cars is a toss up depending on what you want. Best value luxury car is the Genesis lineup and it isn't close. |
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Quoted: Yeah, it's a truck. It's highly capable off road regardless, it's one of the most sought after vehicles for it. View Quote This. I almost soiled my pants the other day shopping Land Cruisers. 5 year old vehicles with a bunch of miles for $100k+. Yikes! Off topic: That’s why the GX460’s are a steal at $50k. TC |
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Quoted: One spec I wish existed is driver seat height from the ground. One of the things I hate about my Impreza is how low it is. I'd love to see how they all compare with some kind of baseline. As an option or everything they build is AWD? View Quote They say everything. I think it starts in 22 model year. |
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I've owned two crosstreks, two outback's, currently wife drives the Ascent. I have also had an Escape, Rav 4, and Sorento for work cars.
I would look at a new crosstrek, forester, or Mazda if I was looking today for that type vehicle. I saw a Hyundai Santa Cruz yesterday. As much as I wanted to make fun of it it looked pretty good and might be in that segment. |
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