473 messages,
Last post on Sep 17, 2007 at 6:06 PM
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Mercedes Benz M-Class Forum.
What is this discussion about?
Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Ford Explorer, Buick Rendezvous, Acura MDX, Car Safety, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV
May 28, 2001 (3:20 pm)
As requested, here is the 7 passenger mid-size luxury or near luxury SUV comparison topic. Feel free to compare the pros and cons of each vehicle, but please keep it civil and agree to disagree if need be. As mentioned, all of these SUVs are available with either standard or optional 7 passenger seating.
Thanks!
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
May 28, 2001 (8:35 pm)
You forgot one Mid-size near luxury SUV with 7 seats as an available option, The Land Rover Discovery. They have had 7 seats available since 1994. This predates all of the others.
May 28, 2001 (11:31 pm)
might as well add the mitsubishi montero ltd..lol
#4 of 473 Another addition
by skimmel
May 29, 2001 (11:58 am)
What about the Toyota Landcruiser?
#5 of 473 Landcruiser
by tincup47
May 29, 2001 (12:00 pm)
Has 7 seats, but is much more expensive. Nice vehicle though.
#6 of 473 Bottom line
by tonychrys
May 29, 2001 (2:31 pm)
You get what you pay for. The MDX and ML simply out class the other vehicles, the ML in terms of body-on-frame vehicles and the MDX in terms of unibody vehicles.
This topic is done before it even started.
If you are looking for the "cheapest" vehicle, that's another story.
#7 of 473 re: Bottom line
by bjk2001
May 29, 2001 (3:48 pm)
Tony:
Which one is better ML or MDX?
#8 of 473 Here we go....
by proteus456
May 29, 2001 (3:50 pm)
Well, I'm reposting this from a post I made on the rendezvous board. As I see it, here is how they rank...
RDV=Buick Rendezvous, ML=Mercedes ML320
MDX=Acura MDX, Explorer=Ford Explorer/Mountaineer
Safety - ML,MDX,RDV,Explorer
Power - MDX, ML, Exp, RDV
Handling - ML, RDV, MDX, Exp
Interior - ML, RDV, MDX, Exp
Refinement - ML, RDV, MDX, Exp
Versatility - RDV, ML, MDX, Exp
Towing - Exp, ML, MDX, Rdv
Overall, I'd have to say ML in the 40k range, and Rendezvous in the 30K range.
Explore has questionable quality, fit and finish are terrible. Handling is "mushy" with little to no road feel. One can easily tell its a gussied up Ford Ranger.
Rendezvous has a fold flat rear seat that is actually usable by adults. Good build quality,great fit and finish, unfortunately underpowered. A good budget choice.
MDX is great, as long as you realize 3rd row is for young children only. Access is very poor, and interior is typical Honda..good fit, good integrity, but thin leather, fake wood and cheap switchgear. Nice engine though.
ML seats 7 adults, but not as much luggage room as others. Good sedanlike handling, good acceleration, good offroad ability. Overall the best choice IMO.
May 29, 2001 (3:54 pm)
IMO..it depends what you need seating wise. Both are good vehicles, with good handling, brakes, acceleration. If you need versatility with cargo, MDX is the way to go. Fold flat seats(both rows), lots of room. However 3rd row seats are almost unusable by adults,and access is very tricky.
If you need 7 adult seating, good offroad ability, towing >3500lbs, then ML is the way to go. However, MDX has much more room for cargo, and is slightly cheaper too...
Drive em both.
-Mitch
#10 of 473 Explorer Last in safety?
by tincup47
May 29, 2001 (6:42 pm)
I don't think so, it tests very well. The 2002 has side curtain airbags along with all the regular safety features. The Rendevous comes from a very checkered platform that has tested miserably in IIHS tests, and it's sibling the Aztek has mediocre results at best. In real world statistics the Explorer has a very low death rate for SUV's. Proteus has been trashing the Explorer on every board I've seen him on, certainly he does not give objective advise.