Jason was very excited to finally get the very cool and retro-styled Ford Bronco, but then he realized that the functional space wasn’t much different than his ten-year-old CR-V. He wants to consider some other options in the 4×4 space, so what car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
My wife and I agreed to get into a new Bronco, but after sitting in one during one of the “Road Show” events, we realized that the interior dimensions are nearly identical to her 2014 Honda CR-V. We need more space (us, kid, dog, and assorted life type stuff), want something that is FUN to drive, and has the ability to tow. 4wd/AWD would be a plus, and won’t cost an arm and a leg to repair.
Our CR-V has been bulletproof. We’ve had it for 5 years and put 125k on it without a single major fault. That being said, it’s the most boring car I’ve ever owned. I like the idea of German imports, especially wagons, but we’ve gotten a bit gun shy, as our previous Jetta TDI Sportwagon’s turbocharger ate itself the day before our wedding. I also have not had good experience with GM and Stellantis products so I would like to avoid those.
I’m liking what I read about the Explorer ST, and my wife is leaning toward a Telluride or Sorento. We have a budget of around $50,000
Quick Facts:
Budget: up to $50,000
Location: Central California Coast
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: 4×4, some towing capacity, good for family stuff
Doesn’t want: Something unreliable or expensive to maintain
Expert 1: Tom McParland – A Middle Ground
You aren’t the only one who has found the Bronco to be big on the outside but too small on the inside. I’ve spoken with several buyers who just couldn’t pull the trigger on Ford’s cool 4×4 because the actual usability was a downgrade from a smaller crossover.
I was about to tell you to stretch your budget and get the new Land Cruiser, but I compared the interior dimensions to your CR-V and found that yet again the older car was still roomier. Since the Sorento and Telluride were already on your list, how about the Hyundai Santa Fe? It’s got that “boxy” look that some buyers feel is a bit polarizing, but it certainly stands out. For $50,00 you get a top-of-the-line Calligraphy trim which has every option you could ask for, or you could keep a few grand in your pocket and opt for the the more rugged XRT. We found the Santa Fe to be way better off-road than it needed to be. You will get plenty of room for the family, a long warranty, and an easy to live with SUV.
Expert 2: Bradley Brownell – What Are You Afraid Of? Ze Germans?
I’m here to talk some sense into you. If you want a fun SUV that is capable off-road, gets decent fuel economy and can tow a reasonable amount of weight, the only good choice is a Porsche Cayenne Diesel. Porsche has been building the best SUVs in this category for twenty years, and the diesel-powered examples are the best of the breed, in my extremely humble opinion. I absolutely love my 2013 Cayenne Diesel, and as luck would have it, I have actually driven this exact car currently on eBay, and I can attest it’s very well built.
Just because a German car broke down at an inconvenient time doesn’t mean you should write off all German cars forever. Sometimes you just get unlucky. It could have been any car and it could have been any day. This particular one is on the expensive side (but still in your budget) because it has been modified with expensive parts, but there are plenty of less expensive Cayenne Diesels out there. We got ours with 70,000 miles on the odometer for $21,000. Look around and you’ll find a good one.
Expert 3: Collin Woodard – A Tactical Retreat
As happy as I am to recommend the Honda CR-V to people who want a practical daily driver, you’re definitely right that it’s not very exciting to drive. I also prefer fun over practicality, so I get it. I mean, I drive my shitty Forester so little, I should probably have it on a trickle charger since I’ve already had to replace the battery once this year.
Unfortunately, you’re looking for something big, and the downside of going big is that those vehicles just generally aren’t very fun to drive. Porsche uses incredibly expensive engineering magic to make it possible in the Cayenne, but that’s one of the few exceptions to the rule. If you really want the Explorer ST, go ahead and get it, but I suspect that when you test drive it, you’re going to realize it doesn’t quite scratch that itch like you were hoping it would. Not because there’s anything wrong with it but because it’s just a big, heavy vehicle, and there’s only so much that engineers can do about that.
So instead, I say get the Telluride (or Palisade.) It’s what you’re looking for, your wife already likes it, and your budget will cover either a very nice new one or a fully loaded used one. Despite what the press photo may imply, it’s about as fun to drive as any other minivan, but it’s also got all of your other bases covered. You’ll be happy you own it even if you aren’t thrilled to drive it, and that’s OK.
It isn’t clear whether this will be the only vehicle your family owns, but assuming you have a second car, let that one be the fun one. Replace it with a Kia Stinger GT or something somewhat practical but still significantly more fun to drive than the Telluride. Or get a motorcycle. Compared to cars, motorcycles give you way more fun for your dollar. I’m sure plenty of people will yell at me for suggesting a motorcycle to someone with a kid, but plenty of dads still ride. Just promise me you won’t crash and die.
Expert 4: Amber DaSilva – Just Get The Thing You Want
Jason, my lovely coworkers have spent this entire post telling you different ways you can compromise on your wants. You can get something with less performance, or a heavily modified German diesel, or something else that won’t have the fun factor you’re looking for. I’m here to present a different take: What if you just got the thing you’re looking for?
Jason, my friend, this is the Acura MDX Type S. It’s from the Honda/Acura family that you already know and love, but a step up in size from your CR-V. Oh, and it has a 355-horsepower turbocharged V6, nimble suspension for its size, and Acura’s fancy performance AWD system.
Normally an MDX Type S would run outside your budget, but there’s a CPO model over at Acura of Modesto that firs in your price range with room to spare. You want the comfort, the performance, and the Honda reliability — why compromise on any of those? Just get the car that fits your needs.
