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SUVs Crossover SUV Comparison
7126 messages, Last post on Nov 18, 2009 at 1:27 PM
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| Talking about the new Ford Flex, a stretched and widened Freestyle/TaurusX platform, the Flex actually gets only 1 MPG less in the city/hiway EPA cycles as my '05 Freestyle. Thats not bad since the Flex is about 2 inches longer, 5 inches wider, and has a bigger engine, compared to the Freestyle. To equal the Freestyle in fuel economy with a new crossover of comparable size, you have to buy a 4-cylinder Dodge Journey, not a good option for a lot of people since Dodge has the worst reputation, as the Journey is actually based on the unloved Dodge Avenger car platform. Its hard to get worse than that in today's competitive market. However, the Journey invoices at about $19k with the 4-cylinder, so one could buy it and save some money. | |
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Hi all, I've been reading through this board as I've done my CUV searching. After months of looking, driving and other people's (not necesarily wanted) oppinions, I've decided to get the Acadia. I just want to give my reasoning for my decision (as I'm sure everyone is so interested). I have always had my eye on the Acadia, from when a lady at my church replaced her Suburban with one and has been raving ever since. But I wanted to test the other competitors just to be sure. First I drove the Highlander. It was uninspiring,and too small. I was extremely disapointed by the lack of inovations, like a split third row. I drove the Q7, which was too truck like for me, and the new MDX, which even though it was sortier, I felt it was a step back from my MDX. I'm not a big fan of the CX-9's styling (and styling is high on my list- behind safety and comfort, because I can't wake up to something I don't like to look at everyday), but it did handle nice. The third row was not comfortable, especially for a vehicle the size of an Acadia. Just to do something, I tested the Taurus X, even though I knew there was no way I would buy one. It took second place in seating comfort and I liked how peppy the engine was in traffic, but I was dissapointed in cargo space for a vehicle that big, and I hate that shaving razor grille. However, I would get that before I get the Flex, which is just heavier, slower and more expensive(from what I've read), withough adding much room inside. And I think Ford stole the idea of reinventing the minivan in stylish(?) wagon form from Mercedes. I liked the R-class and thought it was a ridiculous amount of Mercedes for only 45,000. I may be among the few who like the styling as I think it looks like Mercedes took a minivan and gave it some CLS styling. It was one of the most comfortable passenger wise, but then I started comparing it to the Buick Enclave, which despite being slightly shorter in length, was larger in every interior dimension, and when comparably equipped, the Enclave CXL prices at 39,000 while the R350 would cost 58,000 (!!!!). So the Enclave won that. I was also impressed when some friends who's son goes to school with our kids said they compared it with big luxury players like the Lexus RX/GX, Audi Q7 and the Mercedes Benz GL and the Enclave was their choice. But I like the way Acadia looks more than the Enclave so I was back at the Acadia. I looked at the Journey, but I already knew it was too small inside to be a real contender. The only other CUV left to drive was the new Pilot. That CUV completely turns me off, but not only did my wife beg me to drive it, but when I said yes, she brought one of her best friends who is a diehard Honda person. I knew my wife would think of me as the bad guy after I said absolutely not after her girlfriend had her convinced the Pilot was the best choice. But the car had no pickup and handled truck like. The interior was way too busy. Her friend actually agreed with me and said she didn't like it. She like her '06 Pilot better. I was totally shocked. I finally took my wife to drive the Acadia and she loved it. The vehicles I am replacing are a 1999 Grand Caravan and a 2004 Acura MDX. The Acadia almost seamlessly replaces both. No vehicle is as versatile or comfortable as a minivan, but the Acadia does it best. And my wife and I love the MDX's bad weather handling and upscale interior so much that we sometimes fight over it (and my daily driver is a Mercedes E350!). The Acadia drives just as well and is almost as quick. I was dreading us test driving it in the rain as it might affect my wife's oppinion of it, but it really showed out. It should be just as quick as our MDX quick when GM puts the new direct injection V6 under the hood. I felt it had a great ride, and the interior was high quality. I also liked the seating configuration like that of a minivan. So this fall I will be getting a GMC Acadia, though I'm still not sure if I will trade my MDX in with the van.
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Replying to: kellz (Jul 19, 2008 9:31 pm) If you want a big one, the Acadia is a good choice. I have an '05 Freestyle (TaurusX ancestor) and it has plenty of room and weighs just under 4000 lbs, getting between 20 and 27 MPG with a smoothe CVT tranny. The Saturn version of the Acadia, the Saturn Outlook, is a little cheaper than an Acadia so I'd check that one out. I think you are right waiting for an '09 model with direct injection. The fuel economy should go up by 1 MPG with direct injection. The '09 Chevy Traverse, yet another flavor of Acadia, comes out soon and might be priced right where the Saturn is. A sale/discount on an Acadia might make it competitive with the Saturn/Chevy versions. The Enclave seems to be for those who like their GMC-clones gold-plated and are willing to pay for it. I usually like to buy my cars stripped of frivolous options, so the base price means a lot to me. I got my Freestyle new 3 years ago for $22,500 at a discount, a base model except for traction control and extra side/roof airbags for safety.
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My FIL was complaining about his '07 Veracruz Limited the other night. Specifically the way it handled on the highway and how much body roll/lean it has. He said it rolls/leans so much that he feels he has to slow down around some of the larger bends on the highway. His previous 2 vehicles were Explorers (an '04 and an '06 V8) and he had no complaints about them. At least not with the handling anyway.  Anyone else experience this in a VC? I haven't driven it yet and was wondering if the handling was a little sloppy or if he's just not used to it yet. But it has been in his garage nearly a year now. |
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Replying to: baggs32 (Jul 21, 2008 5:31 pm) My FIL was complaining about his '07 Veracruz Limited the other night. Specifically the way it handled on the highway and how much body roll/lean it has. He said it rolls/leans so much that he feels he has to slow down around some of the larger bends on the highway. His previous 2 vehicles were Explorers (an '04 and an '06 V8) and he had no complaints about them. At least not with the handling anyway Perhaps that is why it is called Veracruz and not a Veracorner.... Seriously though, the Veracruz is a unibody vehicle with suspension tuning to be more like a car than a truck. Your FIL is probably used to truck like cornering from the body on frame Explorer. There is probably nothing wrong with the suspension on the Veracruz. It's just the way it is tuned. Hyundai seems to tune all of their suspensions to the soft side. I have had experience with a Sonata rental that was very soft. It comes down to preference, and since like your FIL I prefer a firmer more confident ride I bought a Ford Freestyle that handles very well. - Chad
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Replying to: coldcranker (Jul 21, 2008 3:07 pm) |
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Replying to: saabturboid (Jul 22, 2008 7:53 am) That's nearly exaclty what I told him. I was just surprised to hear that the handling was worse than that of a BOF SUV. I tried to talk him into a CX-9 or an Acadia when he was shopping but he liked the VC for some reason. Maybe the price appealed to him more or something. Seriously though, the Veracruz is a unibody vehicle with suspension tuning to be more like a car than a truck. I would say the opposite. A unibody should corner better than, and with less body roll than, a BOF SUV. Mostly because they tend to sit lower to the ground and usually have more complex suspensions.
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Replying to: baggs32 (Jul 22, 2008 8:32 am) |
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Replying to: baggs32 (Jul 22, 2008 8:32 am) Seriously though, the Veracruz is a unibody vehicle with suspension tuning to be more like a car than a truck. I would say the opposite. A unibody should corner better than, and with less body roll than, a BOF SUV. Mostly because they tend to sit lower to the ground and usually have more complex suspensions. Body roll is a function of the suspension tuning, not the body structure of a vehicle. On a softly sprung vehicle like the Veracruz you may get more body roll than the more truck-like Explorer. This doesn't actually mean it handles worse, but it leans more into the corners, which I suspect is what your FIL doesn't like. I also suspect that the Veracruz would indeed out handle the Explorer in ultimate grip at the limit, but the Explorer likely feels more planted up until the point it lets loose because of the firmer truck suspension. It is more perception than reality that the Veracruz doesn't handle as well. - Chad
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Replying to: baggs32 (Jul 21, 2008 5:31 pm) |
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