<p>What about the VW Tiguan? Anyone have experience with it?</p>
<p>Another vote for the Toyota Highlander. After 20 years of minivans we bought one used with only 13K miles on it and this SUV has been great. We now drive long trips we never made before because it is so comfortable on the road. Gas mileage has not been bad, certainly no worse than the minivans.</p>
<p>We rented a Hyndai SUV over the graduation weekend. I can’t remember which one, but I think it fell in the Standard SUV category for rental cars. The mileage was very good, and the handling was surprisingly good too. The interior was more than basic (had connections for USB and something else other than cig. lighter adapter). We really enjoyed renting it. Seats were very flexible in that we could lower everything to help D move stuff out of dorm…and she had a lot of stuff.</p>
<p>We’ve had a lot of SUVs through the years - Jeep, Mercedes, two BMW X3s, three Lexus, two Land Rovers, one Range Rover, an Acura, and we’re replacing my current Lexus with a Porsche Cayenne. The best one for handling, comfortable ride, ease of parking was the Range Rover. I loved the Acura - great value for the money - and also loved my Lexus’. My one complaint is that they have stupid little things that are annoying, and which drive my H crazy. He’s a car guy so is really looking forward to the Cayenne. My brother has a Honda CRV which he likes a lot and which has been very reliable.</p>
<p>I just recently got the 2012 Kia Sorento and I love it! It’s super quiet and roomy and there are so many options of things you can get put in or taken out. For example I could have had the option for a third row of seats but I chose not to because I’m only in High School and I really don’t need it. As for gas mileage I get around 25 mpg on the highway and around 20 mpg in the city. It’s not the best in this economy but all the other features makes it worthwhile! Also it’s not as expensive as a Lexus or Acura and Kia is really growing as it is the sister partner to Hyundai! Okay I hope that helps!</p>
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<p>Be careful, though. Some people have reported on car forums of certified used cars that have been in severe crashes or have other problems. The quality of the screening and certification is dependent on the skill and honesty of the dealer doing the certifying.</p>
<p>I have a Toyota Highlander Hybrid…has been trouble free for over 100 K (knock wood)…and gets better gas mileage than the Ford Escape our S has (and loves). But my next will be smaller SUV…don’t need or use our third row. As long as the golf clubs fit, it will be big enough…</p>
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The Tiguan is being revamped as well so there’ll be a new design out shortly. It’s supposed to get larger and have a 3rd row of seats.</p>
<p>I don’t think Volkswagen in general has had the best reliability.</p>
<p>We’ve had a Ford Explorer, a Land Rover, and a Toyota Highlander. The Highlander wins on comfort, economy, and reliability all around.
I’ve had my Highlander since 2001, and it still drives and looks like a new car. (My DH had it detailed for Mother’s Day) The new ones are a bit larger, though, and I prefer the original style. I’d like to keep mine until the wheels fall off.</p>
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<p>Having been burned once, I will never buy another used car without first investing in a vehicle history report.</p>
<p>The redesign of the Subaru Outback and Forester recently has turned them into essentially mid-sized SUVs.</p>
<p>We have 2 Ford Escapes in our family- hubby drives a 2002 and DS has a slightly newer one in S Cal. Both have been great cars- they are especially good for tall men- DS is 6’4", hubby is 6’1"</p>
<p>Purchased a Subaru Forester to son in May. He is very happy with it and it is ranked high. Prices are not bad either. Safe and reliable.</p>
<p>Also, Costco has a new car program. Our Subaru dealer filled out a form for Costco. Once we purchased the car, I filled out my form, had a Costco phone interview (short and easy) and rec’d the $500 Costco card in the mail in a few days!! (If you are not a Costco member, it is worth the $59 as I think other brands of cars are in this promotion. I don’t know when the promotion ends, but its a nice perk.</p>
<p>Just bought a 2013 Mazda CX5 which competes with the RAV & Honda CRV. Fun to drive 6 speed manual. Claim to get the best mpg for the suv class including hybrids. So far so good. 34 mpg. DD has a Ford Escape - which is similar space. I was replacing a well loved Sable wagon.</p>
<p>Another vote for the Toyota Highlander. We have a 2003 4 cylinder. Gas mileage is good, pick up is good. It has survived a wreck that totaled the front end (other driver’s fault). The entire front crumpled, but there was no impact to my legs. The repair guy told us they were designed that way, to take the brunt of the impact and protect the driver. I love that car.</p>
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<p>That may not report everything bad that could have happened, such as lack of maintenance, abusive driving, crashes not reported to police or insurance companies, etc…</p>
<p>The type of information reported can vary by the state(s) that the vehicle is registered in. These reports generally have at least title and registration information, but the information in a state with periodic safety or emissions inspections may be more extensive (if odometer mileage is reported at each inspection, that is better at detecting odometer irregularities) than in a state without.</p>
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<p>All cars and light trucks (including SUVs and minivans) are designed that way, since they have to be to pass minimum standard crash tests to be offered at all in the US and do well in higher standard crash tests that many people look at before choosing a car. (The NHTSA crash tests with the star ratings and the IIHS crash tests are both examples of the latter; the NHTSA also has less publicized minimum standard crash tests as well.)</p>
<p>Thanks all. Ended up buying the Ford Edge at a dealer w the Costco discount. </p>
<p>Looked at GMC Acadia, Ford Explorer and Ford Escape and decided Edge was the best size for us.</p>
<p>I have a highlander as well. it has 155K miles and I just replaced the timing belts. It is still tight, runs great. couldnt be happier. I chose it because it was a smoother ride than the rav4. But when I get a new car, will look for smaller SUV as long as I like the ride.</p>
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Boy - that didn’t take long! You don’t waste time!</p>