Choices for a family sized SUV - just sharing my search

[therock]

I've always wanted to own an SUV, with the commanding position, high hip point for entry and good boot size.

So I recently decided to take a walk around the showrooms, with a basic search and some requirements:

- five seats minimum, seven is a bonus, but basically a good size rather than a tiny one

- high hip point

- good boot size

- not too slow 0-100 (under 11)

- I'll need storage, good safety and things that a family with a young baby will appreciate 

I don't speed, but sometimes you need a bit of zoom to join traffic and drive up Genting or overtake and I do go to M'sia often. That also means EVs are a bit more tricky

My mileage is low, 10-12k a year on average.

Now, my car isn't due for another 3 plus years, but I wanted to see what's out there and I'm just sharing my findings here and my choices are purely personal, as YMMV..

I didn't have a specific budget, but I soon realised that most of the choices hover around the 200k mark, and this is almost twice what they used to cost due to the COE.

Hybrids aren't my first choice due to my low mileage, and the cost of a battery replacement is a big deal, so even EVs are a bit tricky, but the number of petrol only cars are limited. 

The EV motors are also not great for the Malaysia jaunts, and CVTs are less desirable than autos, but you have to be careful which DCT you choose.. 

Cheers

Edited August 22, 2023 by therock

[therock]

First stop was at Toyota

1- Corolla Cross

- decent power

- decent legroom

- plasticky but seems built to last

- tiny cup holders in the rear door, but no real pockets

2- RAV4

- decent power

- good legroom

- plasticky but seems built to last

- huge boot

Dynamic CVT is interesting and their FC is good

The bad bits, are they are only hybrid and the battery warranty isn't for ten year

Few soft touch materials

Price is rather high

Sales staff are the usual Toyota style, take it or leave

Main no no was that I couldn't get comfortable with their seats, somehow the steering and seat adjustment didn't make it comfortable

My current ride is very easy to get in, drive and get a nice seating position, which is why it was the most popular middle aged man's car in Germany at one point..

Edited August 22, 2023 by therock

[Lala81]

7 seater. Cx8. Sorento. Kodiaq. 

Or else the usual 3 German 1 swede suspects for 5 seaters since you won't want a GLB based on your criteria. 

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by Lala81

[therock]

Then I walked over to Mazda and saw the CX 5

- great build quality, the fit and finish was something akin to a BMW

- only petrol only engine I could find with the power

- six speed auto, I like that more than a CVT

- good legroom, much better than the first version and the boot is generous too

- a real spare tire, wow

- the more basic version lacks auto brake, which is a bit stingy

under 190k

- very nice driver setup and ergonomics

- doors open widely for baby seats

- decent storage spaces

- very friendly and non pushy sales guy - Glen

Edited August 22, 2023 by therock

[Mkl22]

Cross as in Corolla cross.  Not Yaris cross which is tiny. 
yeah, most Toyotas are plasticky.

The harrier hybrid is nice. Not slow at 7-8sec. Saves fuel. 
you do need a 2.0 hybrid to get some low end torque vs the turbo you are used to. 
having sample quite some Japanese over the years and tearing into the doors and some parts of the car with DIY.  Honda and toyota and still tops in terms of build quality and engineering. Mazda has been improving by quite some, would give them maybe 1.5tier. However their prices have also crept up by quite some. Nissan Mitsubishi suzuki Subaru are what I consider 2 tier. 

[therock]

The third showroom
The Subaru Forrester

- real SUV looks with AWD to add real offroad capabilities, but it's like tennis sneakers, how many of us really play tennis

- heavy body, high FC and not that spritely on the road despite the mini EV motor

- very attractive price under 185k

- generous legroom, big boot

- fit and finish very decent, Jap made with fittings done in Japan

- better safety features in this version

- you can also get the non hybrid version, which cost more ironically

- great seat adjustments again and easy to get out of, best of the lot so far

- good storage in the cabin

[therock]

On 8/22/2023 at 9:15 PM, Lala81 said:

7 seater. Cx8. Sorento.

Or else the usual 3 German suspects for 5 seaters since you won't want a GLB. 

 

The CX 8 was too $$ and very huge

The GLB was interesting, but being Mexican and using a Renault engine, plus all that touchscreen / digital stuff, it was not like the older Merc... I'm more analogue haha

[therock]

The following day

- Honda CRV

They have a 1.5l turbo CRV, wow, I enjoyed my Honda Civid FD very much

- the plastics are the worse of the lot so far... the Thai made car is in a different league... like Singapore National Football team vs EPL when you compare it to the rest

- when my FD was due, the first car I tried was the new Civic and man the plastics are one of the worst... creaky or hard - the CRV isn't much better IMO

- in the 5 seater, TWO AIRBAGS!!! fail...my wife will kill me

- no auto tailgate

- good legroom, and large boot, and a spare

- I couldn't get comfortable in the driver seat though.. the steering kept getting in my car, I have a long torso and I like to sit upright, plus the view out of the front wasn't as commanding or as good as the best thus far - CX 5  / Forrester

- not cheap, 215k for the 5 seater, bleah

- electric seats with no memory settings - what??

A replacement / refresh is coming year end, so maybe things will get better

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by therock

[therock]

Hyundai

This was an interesting and educational trip

 

Kona

- this is a much more grown up version, with a decent size and fairly large cabin, but the driver's setup is also not to my taste, again, I think it's my body, haha

Tucson

- now this car has a six speed auto, with a 1.5l Turbo and hybrid

- nice cabin, decent fit and finish 

- good seats, highly adjustable and I can get comfortable in it

- battery warranty is only 8 years, but it seems they will change this to ten soon

- 215k and up... not cheap

- auto tailgate takes 4 seconds, so if it rains, you'll be in trouble

 

I also tried a different kind of car

The Ioniq 5

- this is more like a sedan crossover, but why not?

- very impressive price - under 190k for the most basic, BUT, many things / features are missing from the basic version, so many end up spending another 15k more for the mid tier cat A version

 - free wall charger for landed owners

- made in Singapore - pride

- excellent legroom and boot

- low range = 384km for the entry level

- 10 yr battery

- if you're younger and more flexible it's easier to enter and get comfortable, the door aperture is smaller than the SUVs like the Tucson

- breathtaking acceleration 

- many storage options and gizmos

- many real buttons to use instead of just touchscreens like the Tesla - like

Edited August 22, 2023 by therock

[therock]

I have not gone over to the conti cars as much, as I'm getting older and I prefer reliability, which is why I made Toyota my first stop

I was a bit disappointed that I could not get as comfortable, and the prices were steeper

I don't mind the hard plastics as much nor the less than warm welcome, so let's see

I will go and check out the Skoda or even the Seat options, I've never owned these brands or even VW, so I don't know much about service and support and whether the external workshops will support them especially the Seat.

But the Seat Arona pricing is very attractive.

The Kodiaq was very impressive, and years back I went with bro @Carbon82 to try it, and I was highly impressed 

[Stratovarius]

I was looking at glb35 awhile back before the coe shoot beyond our solar system. Lol. 

How about the harrier? Or the Lexus NX? 

[Theoldjaffa]

@therock try BYD Atto3. It’s quite impressive.

I like the Tucson & Kodiaq too.

 

[Hamburger]

Personally I feel the best VFM is Seat Tarraco

Packed with full features and not too big nor small.

 

[Benarsenal]

If you can get Skoda, they are very nice cars.

Otherwise, Mazda CX-5 is excellent too. Subaru Forester very dated le.

[therock]

On 8/22/2023 at 10:34 PM, Hamburger said:

Personally I feel the best VFM is Seat Tarraco

Packed with full features and not too big nor small.

 

How's their service and support? Vertex has moved on..

I'm not too enamoured with features especially as I get older... simple is ok if it means less visits to the workshop..

But the Ateca is a decent sized and the run out prices are also impressive...

I wonder if the Tarraco or other models can be serviced as easily as the Kodiaq etc.. I think it's already gone...

Edited August 22, 2023 by therock

[Ct3833]

On 8/22/2023 at 10:34 PM, Hamburger said:

Personally I feel the best VFM is Seat Tarraco

Packed with full features and not too big nor small.

 

@therock i could be wrong, thought there is no more Tarraco ,  Seat has atopped producing this model  ? 

Go for larger SUV lilke Harrier, CRV, XC60, GLC  etc, dont look at small SUV like vezel or whatever  toyota cross, those are too small

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by Ct3833

[therock]

On 8/22/2023 at 10:13 PM, Stratovarius said:

I was looking at glb35 awhile back before the coe shoot beyond our solar system. Lol. 

How about the harrier? Or the Lexus NX? 

I saw the harrier.. 😢$$ 

And hybrids cost money- my low mileage means I won’t enjoy the full benefits but the battery is a liability 

[Mkl22]

On 8/23/2023 at 6:29 AM, therock said:

I saw the harrier.. 😢$$ 

And hybrids cost money- my low mileage means I won’t enjoy the full benefits but the battery is a liability 

Still more reliable than a conti turbo. See the countless Prius running around. Go speak to a few workshops about Prius maintenance and you will know that they typically can travel 300k km without  much work needed. I only heard of a coolant pump replacement. Even the brake pads don’t need any work done on them before 200k km. If you are looking for reliability they are best around. 
If you are after reliability then Japanese NA engines. But they lack power so you need a hybrid to boost the low end. Here is where the toyota 2.5 hybrid wins. I would say get the harrier if buying now. Cx5 is a nice car but dated. It’s already a 10year old car.