I'm shopping for a used SUV and I need help making a sensible decision. Is it smart to buy a 12 year old Toyota Highlander for the same price as a much newer Hyundai or Kia SUV? I'm the type of person that buys a vehicle and keeps it until the wheels fall off. I'm looking at a 2012 Toyota Highlander Base, VIN# 5TDZK3EH8CS062362, 3.5 V6, Automatic Transmission, Front Wheel Drive, 63,000 miles. It is at a "One Price" Dealer for $22K which seems very high to me. It looks very well taken care of and the history report provided by the dealer shows 2 previous owners, no title issues, no flood damage and no accidents. I have test driven it and I was surprised and happy that it has a very good throttle response. This is something I have not been able to find in any of the 2019 and above vehicles I have test driven since I started shopping in April of this year, no matter make/model/engine/transmission. I have not had a mechanic inspect it yet. I am also considering a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL, VIN# KM8SM4HF3KU307358, 3.3 V6 GDI, Automatic Transmission, 43,000 miles for $21K. It is at another "one price" dealer and the history report shows 1 open recall for a fire risk, 2 owners and 1 accident - no damage. This vehicle is also in great shape cosmetically and still has the remainder of the factory warranty. But like all the other modern SUV's, including the 2019 Highlander, the throttle response is absolute garbage even though it is a 290hp V6. I don't understand how all these different makes and models of modern cars have such terrible throttle response and no get up and go. Most of my driving is city driving and I'm not looking for a race car but I do need something that can at least get out of it's own way to avoid an accident. Anyway, I would greatly appreciate your thoughts since I need to make a decision on what to buy very, very soon. My 2003 Kia Sorento LX V6 with 127,000 miles is about to give up the ghost any day now.
Dealer prices are always inflated. Also, there's a reason that Hyundai and Kia are cheaper.
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/hmg/
Thanks Chuck. Yes, I'm aware of Kia and Hyundai's risk of fire and it really worries me. That, and the GDI engine is what has kept me from buying the 2019 Santa Fe XL even though I like the vehicle and I think the price is reasonable.
Most of my driving is city driving and I'm not looking for a race car but I do need something that can at least get out of it's own way to avoid an accident.
Do you really need a Highlander?
If it must be a SUV, how about a RAV4/CR-V?
It doesn't need to be a Highlander or a 3 row SUV. But it does need to be tall enough for me to get in and out of without difficulty since I have back and knee problems. It also needs to have enough cargo space for my disabled mother's wheelchair and walker. My 2003 Kia Sorento served me well for the past 13 years but it's not worth spending money on anymore. I considered the RAV4 because it's a Toyota and the size would work but the acceleration on it is dismal and disappointing. The CRV suffers from the same thing and isn't big enough plus, I'm not a fan of CVT transmissions.
How about a Toyota Sienna?
I haven't tried the Sienna. I've never really liked the look of mini vans.
smart to buy a 12 year old Toyota Highlander for the same price as a much newer Hyundai or Kia SUV? I'm the type of person that buys a vehicle and keeps it until the wheels fall off.
It's unrealistic expecting high reliability from a new Hyundai or Kia. The last couple of years we've all grown accustomed to record prices on nice used SUVs, but that's eased a bit recently.
$22000 is 4-5k too much, even for a nice 11 year old really Highlander. It's still 11 years old.
I tend to agree with you on all points. I haven't had to look for a vehicle in the past 13 years and am utterly shocked at the prices I am seeing and what you get for that price is terribly disheartening. I really like the Highlander but the price is very offputting.
Kelley's Blue Book shows price ranges on vehicles in your area. Just enter the 'vehicle details' and see those current prices. They make a free app for smartphones, you might find it useful.
Thanks Hixster, I appreciate your comments and willingness to help.