What should I get? New Family/Daily Driver

Tim

Tim

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My F150 is getting a bit worn out. It's the current 'pile the family in the car and go' vehicle and my daily driver.

I'm looking for something else to use for family/daily driver that is a bit better on gas but still comfortable to drive every day. Basically, I want a Tahoe with the MPG of a Prius...is that too much to ask? =)

Requirements:
- Comfortable for a 6'4 250# guy to drive everyday with regular hauling of 2 teenage boys and the wife
- not a sedan, SUV/Crossover type is more likely. MAYBE something like the bigger Subaru is as small as I'd go
- enough luggage area for family vacay and range trips
- not too terrible on gas

What's good?

Prefer used, but new is not out of the question. I'm not spending $80K, but understand that prices are what they are these days.
 
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We’re similar in size and I have the same uses. I’m very happy with the Jeep Renegade limited I bought 4 years ago. It’s the family ride and grocery getter, but I love the Duramax for the workdays.
 
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Look at the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid
41/38 Est. MPG

www.toyota.com

2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Toyota.com

Explore the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the perfect blend of efficiency and performance. Discover its advanced features, fuel economy, and innovative technology designed for the eco-conscious driver.
www.toyota.com www.toyota.com

Or Highlander Hybrid slightly larger 36/35 Est. MPG

www.toyota.com

2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | Efficiency Meets Style

Official 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid site. Find a new hybrid SUV at a Toyota dealership near you, or build and price your own Highlander Hybrid today.
www.toyota.com www.toyota.com
 
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I will say it will be hard to get the same room as a crew cab truck in an SUV. Yes you make up in space with a trunk but nothing a tonneu cover can't fix. The tahoes are nice but theyre pricey. The inside still seems dated to me. I test drove granted this was in 2020
 
Used cars are still tooooooo high right now. I market has slowed a little but I swear the way the Fed rates are going and depending on how the Mid-Terms come out the market might actually break more. My cousin has ‘19 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (it really is station wagon not an SUV) that is a great vehicle for all her family and stuff. She loves it and it’s a 2-2-3 seater for 7 people if need be. Her husband is only about 5’10” but he goes a good 230-240lbs … he fits nicely. An AWD Hybrid Highlander might be worth a look … but I say don’t rush I really think the market is getting ready to have an adjustment.
 
Can't go wrong with Toyota. The highlanders are awesome and not too big.

Also Jeep Grand Cherokees from 2012 and newer are awesome cars. My mom's first one went to 250k miles before she traded it in on her current one. I have 6 or 7 other family members driving one and they all love them.
 
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Tim said:
I have my eye on a 4 Runner. Thoughts?
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I rented one when my jeep grand cherokee was getting repaired. I absolutely hated it. I'd recommend test driving one. We took a trip in it and it was not comfortable at all. The only thing it had going for it was the back window rolled down.
 
We have a Honda CR-V and it is perfect for us, 2 people. But, I would get a Honda Pilot just for something bigger.
 
Kia Telluride followed closely by Honda Pilot if you don't care about towing capacity. The Hyundai Palisade and Telluride are the same, just different aesthetics. Stay away from the Subaru Ascent, it has the worst reliability rating of just about anything out there. I don't know how they could do so well with the smaller cars but whiff so abysmally on the 3 row.
 
Tim said:
I have my eye on a 4 Runner. Thoughts?
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My wife has a 21 Highlander Hybrid and it great for long drives. We have a 15 and 17 year old that fit in fine. I’m 6ft and well over 250 and its very comfortable even on longer drives. I drove it back from VA Beach yesterday. The 35 mpg might be a little exaggerated if you have a lead foot but if you drive the “eco” mode you can definitely get that or better. But its pretty roomy and definitely nice for longer trips. My buddy has a ‘22 Forerunner and it’s nice but it feels cramped as bigger guy. But it has 4 wheel drive etc.
 
I had a Prius for a few years as a DD. It was a reliable car until the head gasket went. I repaired it but I'd had enough of the Prius life. Too many dudes cat-calling me at stoplights, turns out most of them are good friends with Chad! Weird.

I thought I'd settled on getting a hybrid Highlander, but the price and availability (new or used) is absurd. No thanks. Then I thought about regular Highlander, they were easy to find but again the price was ridiculous. It's not that great of a car and the boring interior gave me flashbacks of the Prius.

I finally found a new Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus and jumped on it. It will carry the family including the dog with luggage, through the snow while pulling to boat. Get's up to 30 mpg and it's fun to drive. They're made in Alabama at a plant jointly owned with Toyota.

IMG_3414.jpg
 
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Tim said:
I have my eye on a 4 Runner. Thoughts?
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Just bought my wife one. A TRD off road premium. Has all thr creature comforts but also has the off road extras like rear locker, crawl control etc.

Can’t say how they are for larger/bigger guys as I’m 5’ 6” but we love it. We’ve had 6 4Runners over the years and everyone of them has been driven for years then sold at at or just below what we paid for it. This one being new vs the previous new ones I’m sure will not be the same. That said the they really hold their value. MPG we average 17-19 around the Raleigh area and around 16-17 when at the mountain cabin.

They are dead reliable as Toyotas been using the same drive train in them for a decade now. 4.0 and a 5 speed transmission. You will pay MSRP for one right now though. Size wise I think they are a perfect compromise between a RAV4 and a sequoia or Tahoe sized vehicle.

I’d look at the 4Runners and also the new highlander hybrids. Incredible MPG for something that size. Good luck

5338413C-D2FB-43DC-95C8-3C08416C0081.jpeg
 
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Another 4Runner vote.
 
I'm going to say it. Minivan. Roomy, comfortable, roomy as hell. Good mileage from most of them. Plenty of power too. The only negative anyone can EVER come up with about them, is the fact it's a minivan🤣
But seriously look into one. It's the answer.

On the Toyotas. You pay upfront for that vaunted resale value and reliability. I personally found the 05' ones to be pretty enjoyable to live with. But after 12' or whenever the last major change (which was nothing major I don't think) they are just meh to me. They are super popular and everyone who has one always makes sure to mention reliability and resale value...

All the new GM trucks and SUVs kind of remind of the mid 90's GM's. Still kind of cheap feeling on the inside and full of quirky little design weirdness. Boss picked up a brand new Tahoe AT4 that looks sharp. Rode in it for a couple hours. Meh. 80k SUV that felt like one from 1997. Not bad by any means but not what I would expect a brand new premium trim rig to be like.

SIL has a new Traverse. Looks sharp as well. All kinds of tech and features. It is nice, really. But after riding in it and driving it a bunch. It also grades a meh. GM seems to be missing an "it" factor in their new stuff. Especially for current prices.

What has impressed me the most lately are the Dodges honestly. I picked up a 2016 1500 and love the thing. Power, comfort, tech. It's nice. Even our new diesel work trucks are just "nicer". Hard to describe but we have new GM and new Dodge Diesel toolbox body trucks outfitted the same and I'd rather grab a dodge.

Which is funny because I'm technically a Ford guy. Neighbor has a newer Navigator, brother has a new Ecoboost expedition. While both are a little nicer in my opinion to a GM equivalent. Both still rate a meh to me for what they are,🤔
 
Tim said:
- enough luggage area for family vacay and range trips
- not too terrible on gas
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These two things don't typically go together.

I think all the Toyota Siennas are now hybrids (minivan), I think they get 30+ mpg. If you have a family.... especially a busy family, it's convenient. You can leave regularly used sports equipment in the back, snacks, water, etc.

Rav4 would be next choice, but not as roomy.

4 runners are GREAT vehicles, but like said above, gas mileage isn't great. It wouldn't be much different than the F150.
 
Diesel Yukon should give you 25mpg on the highway.

Our former Prius V's provided around 42 mpg. They were the station wagon version of the Prius and we had no complaints about them.
 
Subaru has A TON of leg room. Even our Impreza has plenty and I’m 6’1”. Take a serious look at an Outback.
 
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Outback worth a look and drive. Agree with chief.
Surprising rear legroom. I’m 6-2 210 and it’s one of the few cars I’ve owned where I don’t have seat all the way back. If I put the seat all the way back I can barely reach pedals. It bombs speed bumps and whatnot better than trucks I’ve had. Road behavior in inclement weather is downright impressive. Plows through giant puddles at 70+. Or so I’ve heard….. 😇

Plus, you’ll be hella respected by the lesbian community.
 
chiefjason said:
Subaru has A TON of leg room. Even our Impreza has plenty and I’m 6’1”. Take a serious look at an Outback.
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The wife has a 2013 Outback. It’s OK on space, that’s the smallest I’d go.
 
NKD said:
Plus, you’ll be hella respected by the lesbian community
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The feature we've all been craving.


Scsmith42 said:
Diesel Yukon should give you 25mpg on the highway.
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My gas Tahoe gets 24 at 65, but drops to 20 at 75.



Trevillian said:
All the new GM trucks and SUVs kind of remind of the mid 90's GM's. Still kind of cheap feeling on the inside and full of quirky little design weirdness. Boss picked up a brand new Tahoe AT4 that looks sharp. Rode in it for a couple hours. Meh. 80k SUV that felt like one from 1997. Not bad by any means but not what I would expect a brand new premium trim rig to be like
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Honestly their premium trims don't have anything for me. My Tahoe is an LS, which was the base trim in 2017. It has everything I could possibly want except front parking sensors, and cost far less than the High Country or the LTZ trims.

My complaint is that it has very little vertical room because it's a body on frame truck, whereas a smaller one would be a unibody tub with more height inside.
 
Find yourself a used Sequoia. MPG is not much worse than a 4Runner, you get more room and the power of a V8. Those Toyota V8's seem to run forever. They are pricey but everyone I know with one seems to love them.
 
chris69 said:
Find yourself a used Sequoia. MPG is not much worse than a 4Runner, you get more room and the power of a V8. Those Toyota V8's seem to run forever. They are pricey but everyone I know with one seems to love them.
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Are you invested in Shell or something?
 
Rav4 on the smaller side non-hybrid is giving us 32.3 mpg. Highlander for a slightly larger choice. Sorry, but you just cant beat a Toyota. They will cost you though. I have 2 Toyota's and a Lexus in my driveway.
 
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This might sound a bit nuts, but my wife loves her Chrysler Town and Country.
Her previous vehicle was a loaded Dodge Grand Caravan with Stow and Go seats and many options that went over 230,000 miles without any issues.

The T&C has front and back AC, two dvd Screens, headphones for the kids, Stow and Go leather seats, power doors, windows, and hatch, 120 volt outlets, backup camera, etc and is ignored by the cops. - I was traveling on Rt 95 with about 5 cars at 90 mph and the cops pulled us over. As I was stopping they just smiled and waved me on.
 
KIA Telluride. Son and his wife bought one last year. I have driven it several times and really like it. I have an Audi Q7 and wish I had bought a KIA/Hyundai and
spent the difference on ammo….Haha. No reliability problems and seems to be as tight and rattle free as when new. My $.02. Good Luck Tim (PS we’re the same size, give or take a few lbs.)
 
A lot of good suggestions made already but my wife has a Kia Sorento and it ticks all your boxes. It will fit you easily, you’ll get mid 20s without being careful, has plenty of room in the second row for adults and, if you don’t have people in the third row, a good amount of storage. That or a Toyota Highlander/Honda Pilot would be high on my list
 
amnesia said:
I will say it will be hard to get the same room as a crew cab truck in an SUV. Yes you make up in space with a trunk but nothing a tonneu cover can't fix. The tahoes are nice but theyre pricey. The inside still seems dated to me. I test drove granted this was in 2020
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This. Adding the tonneau cover to my last truck was the best money I ever spent on that truck.
 
Burt Gummer said:
This. Adding the tonneau cover to my last truck was the best money I ever spent on that truck.
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I remember when we put the camper top on the ram 1500. We told the guy we would take it off when not in use. He said it will come in handy so much that you’ll never pull it. He was right. With the new ride I went with the tonneu cover over the camper and it looks great.
 
Tim said:
I have my eye on a 4 Runner. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Can’t speak for the newer models…no experience with them, but….

If you manage to find a 3rd Gen with 100K or less, jump on it. If you do find a 3rd Gen with 100K or less and don’t jump, lemme know where it is and how much they’re asking for it.👍
 
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Dale Gribble said:
Can’t speak for the newer models…no experience with them, but….

If you manage to find a 3rd Gen with 100K or less, jump on it. If you do find a 3rd Gen with 100K or less and don’t jump, lemme know where it is and how much they’re asking for it.👍
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How does one define a “3rd Gen”?
 
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