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Nissan Murano vs Toyota Highlander vs Subaru B9 Tribeca vs Honda Pilot

800 messages,  Last post on Mar 02, 2010 at 10:36 AM

You are in the Honda Pilot Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Murano, Toyota Highlander, Subaru B9 Tribeca, Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, Volkswagen Touareg, SUV

Messages Page 80 of 80

#791 of 800 Re: 5 Criteria for AWD (not 4WD, but AWD) [samiam_68] by steve_ HOST

Feb 12, 2008 (10:01 am)

Replying to: samiam_68 (Feb 12, 2008 8:58 am)
I'll go page Tidester.
 
I don't see that any of these rigs are really trail ready anyhoo - they may be fine for getting to the ski hill, but Moab?

#792 of 800 Subaru AWD by ateixeira

Feb 12, 2008 (3:09 pm)

Sorry, guys, I'm not trying to stray off topic. I'm specifically discussing Subaru's AWD systems, including the Tribeca. The Outlander is not in this thread, but its AWD system is being compared to the Tribeca's, which is.
 
Why not to take your Forester through the snow
 
I did that plenty of times, it was a ball. My family grew and I needed a lot more space so I replaced the Forester with a minivan. No more fun in the snow, the van can't hold a candle to what the Subaru could do, so....
 
We are now shopping for my wife and I will look at another Subaru. I will consider an Outlander but I'd like to see if it can pass the ramp test, i.e. if the AWD is truly capable of distributing power to each wheel, enough to get it to climb in those slippery scenarios.
 
Personally, we've owned one Mitsu and 2 Subarus, and had a better experience with the Subarus, but I'm open minded.
 
I could care less that you dismiss those videos. I certainly don't. To me they prove the AWD system simply works.
 
I wish you'd be up to the challenge and take your Outlander on such a ramp, then at least I'd know if it is as capable as you claim. Go for it, why not? What are you afraid of?
 
You are talking ice. I’m talking snow
 
Yes, because your video really says more about the tires. A Mustang with studded tires could do that. The ramps test the AWD system, not the tires.
 
The 2009 Forester has more clearance than the Outlander, and those are the models I'm cross-shopping, among others.
 
2008 Forester DOES have traction control standard
 
Nope, that's a different model, the XT Sports has VDC, but the one on the ramp is a basic X model, with no traction control. There are many ways you can tell - the lack of a hood scoop (not a turbo), the wheels, the mirrors are smaller, and a few other differences.
 
Doesn't really matter because the Forester test is only measuring front to rear AWD distribution, not side to side. It would make it up with or without traction control.
 
As proof, the Tribeca (which does have traction control) makes it up the ramp effortlessly.

#793 of 800 Re: Outlander vs. Forester [ateixeira] by chelentano

Feb 12, 2008 (11:30 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Feb 12, 2008 3:09 pm)
I moved my responce to another thread

#794 of 800 09 Murano vs. 09 Highlander Sport by ironjeff

Sep 27, 2009 (1:46 pm)

I was pretty sold on the 09 Highlander Sport 4x4 (though I'll most likely wait for the 2010s to come out) with all the features like nav and leather etc... and then yesterday I test drove a Murano LE fully loaded and it seemed a lot more responsive in terms of steering, acceleration, and control.
 
I'm sort of on the fence right now because price wise they are really very similar, so I wanted to see what others have thought of the two cars, but I don't need the 3rd row of seating, I really only require AWD for going to the mountains to ski and also some room to take my dog places.
 
Here's what I've found:
Highlander Pros
  * Bigger cargo area
  * More roomy
  * Better NAV/dash system
  * Exterior looks nicer - more manly
  * I trust toyota more as a brand for things like maintenance and quality.
 
Murano Pros
  * Interior seems nicer, more luxurious
  * The acceleration seems better ( same engine, but seems lighter )
  * The rear camera has lines that show you how far things are away.
 
Is this consistent with what others have seen? Am I missing something?
 
Thanks in advance.

#795 of 800 Re: 09 Murano vs. 09 Highlander Sport [ironjeff] by jayrider

Sep 27, 2009 (3:25 pm)

Replying to: ironjeff (Sep 27, 2009 1:46 pm)
If cargo space is a big concern then opt for the highlander. The rest is more subjective than objective.

#796 of 800 Re: 09 Murano vs. 09 Highlander Sport [ironjeff] by scottgb

Sep 28, 2009 (2:25 am)

Replying to: ironjeff (Sep 27, 2009 1:46 pm)
I just went through the same comparison you did, and ended up buying a loaded Murano SL AWD. I've had nothing but Toyota's for the past 15 years, and the Murano just felt better to me. The Highlander is nice, but the interior left me cold. Good luck in your decision, I don't think you'll go wrong with either one.

#797 of 800 Re: 09 Murano vs. 09 Highlander Sport [ironjeff] by ateixeira

Sep 29, 2009 (11:48 am)

Replying to: ironjeff (Sep 27, 2009 1:46 pm)
I don't like that the HL's 3rd row doesn't split fold, but that's not an issue for you.
 
If the Nissan felt better, you should pick that.

#798 of 800 Re: 09 Murano vs. 09 Highlander Sport [ateixeira] by morey000

Dec 01, 2009 (10:52 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 29, 2009 11:48 am)
Certainly no bad choices in this bunch, and your pro/con list is right on.
One thing that I'd add is that you can actually take the Tribeca off road. The AWD system is far superior in poor traction conditions, dirt AND snow. The Murano is probably the best road feel/handling of them. Also the best looking.

#799 of 800 Driven almost everything listed; this thread is headed toward FAIL by iomatic

Mar 02, 2010 (10:05 am)

… in various combinations of snow, dirt, racing. And in racing, you can translate a lot of learned information and physics to the more mundane driving world.
 
All the silly armchair analyses here miss a couple things:
 
a) it's not the car that wins these WRC examples, it's actually … drumroll … the driver/team.
b) it's the tires
c) and then it's the suspension, body-weight ratio, and finally, maybe of the least importance: AWD/4WD system.
 
You give me the above, say, caged, prepped Ford Fiesta with FWD, and you take a big, fat SUV with summer tires, dual-zone aircon, seat heaters, chrome bumper and blingy wheels on a dirt road, and I'm pretty sure I'd win. Heck, my preteen kids would handily beat you.
 
So we ended up with a Highlander because 90% of the time it's pavement, and the rest is dirt, mud and snow. We thought the Land Rover Discovery would be overkill.
 
Love,
io

#800 of 800 Re: Driven almost everything listed; this thread is headed toward FAIL [iomatic] by ateixeira

Mar 02, 2010 (10:36 am)

Replying to: iomatic (Mar 02, 2010 10:05 am)
Well, the driver is the same (you), and all the tires here are probably M+S rated, so the difference on the road will end up being (c) above.

Messages Page 80 of 80

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