My mom is looking for a new SUV. It will probably be her last real vehicle that she can enjoy so she wants something "upscale." Can you guys give me thoughts/suggestions for something in this category? I don't think she really has any specific requirements. Something with a nice interior that gets decent gas mileage. Nothing huge. She would probably pay up to $53k.

Currently, shes looking at:
Lexus RX 350
Audi Q5
Volvo SX60
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland-"seats were too hard"

[Edited on August 25, 2015 at 11:54 AM. Reason : .]

8/25/2015 11:50:28 AM

Acura MDX.

As much as Acura is mediocre these days, this one model is actually top of the class.

8/25/2015 11:59:54 AM

MB GLK350

8/25/2015 12:05:08 PM

I like the looks of the GLK but I just didn't know about the reliability of those and how much regular maintenance costs.

8/25/2015 12:09:11 PM

Volvo XC90

8/25/2015 12:55:16 PM

Sorry I meant XC60. She drove that and liked it, but I don't know much about them.

8/25/2015 1:06:53 PM

FYI, there's a brand new Lexus RX350 coming out this fall.

8/25/2015 1:48:26 PM

Question: Is this something she wants to buy new and have a warranty with, so she doesn't have to deal with inevitable luxury vehicle repair costs?

8/25/2015 3:00:34 PM

Quote :

"Volvo XC90"

That XC90 is fricken sweet.

What about the Infiniti QX60? That's priced in the upper $40s.

8/25/2015 3:56:37 PM

nissan makes some junk, and the infiniti SUV's are some of the ugliest vehicles ever made

8/25/2015 4:10:52 PM

MDX was a good suggestion

I would also recommend, if it were my mom, that she at least sit in some optioned out Toyota Highlanders or Ford Escapes or some of the Mazda ones, etc. Save some money and would probably have a pretty decent level of refinement and gadgets to enjoy.

8/25/2015 4:14:29 PM

Yes she is planning on buying it brand new

8/25/2015 5:09:52 PM

My dad has a 2014 (15?) highlander and it is a nice ride.
I know they did a refresh so the newest ones are slightly different.

8/25/2015 6:32:29 PM

The Ford Escape is based on the Focus platform. It's economy car roots show too. I'm not disagreeing that slickwill's mother might be happy with a well optioned non-luxury brand, but if we're talking Ford I wouldn't suggest anything less than the Edge.

The new Volvo XC90 should be out soon. It's a huuuuuuuuge leap forward over the previous, massively outdated, version.

8/26/2015 8:57:59 AM

Brand new generations of XC90, RX, and GLC (renamed from GLK) are coming out soon, so if getting any of those, it would be worthwhile to wait.

Also, first ever Jaguar SUV coming out soon, just an FYI.

Not looking at X3?

8/26/2015 11:30:18 AM

Lexus RX are perfect mom/grandma cars

8/26/2015 12:18:26 PM

I think shes going with a Q5 2.0T

8/26/2015 1:39:40 PM

Tell her to check out the Porsche Macan S.

8/26/2015 2:29:18 PM

Even the MB GLE (formerly M-class) is in her price range, specifically the MLE350. That's the biggest one of all the ones mentioned so far.

But yeah, might as well get a Porsche if you have the money!

8/26/2015 5:13:39 PM

There are a lot more exciting options than the Q5 2.0T that are within her budget:

BMW X3 xDrive35i
BMW X4 xDrive35i (baby X6!)
Audi Q5 3.0 TFSi
Porsche Macan S (Porsche!)
MB GLC350
MB GLA45 AMG (legendary AMG... 355 hp!)

8/26/2015 6:03:57 PM

Quote :

"Lexus RX are perfect mom/grandma cars"

true story.

my neighborhood is fucking full of old people.

and like half of them drive Lexus RX's.

9/2/2015 11:09:44 PM

Selecting a crossover is about as interesting and appealing as choosing a new iron.

9/3/2015 9:17:11 PM

Saw a BMW X6M today. Looked surprisingly badass.

9/4/2015 12:53:14 AM

^ between that and the MB GLE63 AMG Coupe, which one looks more badass to you? which one would you get between those two?

whoops, i thought TKE-Teg made the post above, and i know he is an MB fan. but that's ok, both of you can answer

9/4/2015 4:44:04 AM

Don't blend in, stand out from the crowd!

Get this:

9/4/2015 7:29:36 AM

^that looks surprisingly good.

Quote :

" between that and the MB GLE63 AMG Coupe, which one looks more badass to you? which one would you get between those two? whoops, i thought TKE-Teg made the post above, and i know he is an MB fan. but that's ok, both of you can answer"

I think the MB GLE coupe looks horrendous. If ever there was a horrible example of "me too-ism". Makes me embarrassed for the brand.

9/4/2015 8:38:17 AM

BMW X6--yep, still ugly.
M-B GLE--new, and ugly.

This "coupe SUV" fad confuses the hell out of me. Why? Who are these people clamoring for something that looks like you took a CUV, then gave it the roofline of a Chevy Citation hatchback?

9/4/2015 12:58:17 PM

The funny thing is, Acura, known for being stingy as hell and steadfastly refuses to build anything interesting that is within reach of the masses, actually devoted the resources to making their own SUV coupe, the ZDX. You may not remember it, b/c I think about 11 people bought one.

But hey, that's probably 10 more people than have bought the RLX AWD hybrid sedan...that I've never seen with my own eyes.

9/4/2015 1:31:16 PM

^^^^ haha what is that?

9/5/2015 11:09:07 AM

+1 for the jag. but honestly is there a reason not just to buy the top of the line ford explorer? they pretty much took all the good stuff from land rover and made it work so you might as well get it.

9/26/2015 10:29:19 AM

a top of the line explorer is a terrible purchase because the resale on it is shit, if you spend $50k+ on an explorer you better plan on owning it forever or selling it for a whole lot less

9/26/2015 2:02:45 PM

^^^ The new Jag SUV!!!

It looks hella good, better than any Audi, BMW, MB, or Land Rover, and I don't know how Jaguar did it, but they priced it from 40k!

9/26/2015 6:17:01 PM

Eh...not as stupid as a Porsche SUV, but I'll take a real Jag, thanks.

9/27/2015 2:46:32 PM

Quote :

"a top of the line explorer is a terrible purchase because the resale on it is shit, if you spend $50k+ on an explorer you better plan on owning it forever or selling it for a whole lot less "

true I run stuff into the ground. that said it'll even out with any repairs

9/27/2015 7:18:55 PM

Quote :

"ot as stupid as a Porsche SUV"

And why is this? It participates in motorsports just as much as the X5 and other large SUVs... Its a proven platform with a proven 5.0 V8 motor.

9/27/2015 10:12:21 PM

an X5 is stupid, too, for most people.

[Edited on September 27, 2015 at 10:17 PM. Reason : ^^ anyone who spends $50k for an Explorer probably needs to be involuntarily committed.]

9/27/2015 10:16:19 PM

Quote :

"but honestly is there a reason not just to buy the top of the line ford explorer? they pretty much took all the good stuff from land rover and made it work so you might as well get it."

What exactly did they take? The Explorer is a FWD based platform. Every Land Rover (except Evoque) is RWD based...

9/28/2015 8:17:06 AM

the new discovery sport is based on the same platform as the Evoque (which is basically the Ford EUCD)

[Edited on September 28, 2015 at 8:44 AM. Reason : so basically they are taking from Ford, Ford didn't take shit from them]

9/28/2015 8:43:57 AM

Hill decent, 4x4 terrain modes, safety equipment from Volvo (look at inflatable seats belts)

9/28/2015 3:51:55 PM