Scotty, my wife drives a 2013 Audi Q7 3.0 gas. We bought it with 40k miles and it now has 121k. I have done all the maintenance myself and it has been 98% percent problem free. We are looking to trade it in on something newer before it turns into a money pit. I suggested a Honda, Toyota, Acura, or Lexus but she thinks they all are hideous compared to her Q7. She likes the Ford Explorer but says they are too common. Any suggestions? She wants a new Q7 but I am not buying another car that depreciates so quickly.
Congratulations on getting 120k miles and 8 years out of your Audi!
Have you checked out a Mazda, specifically CX-30, CX-3, or CX-5?
CX-30
CX-5
If you are happy with getting 100k miles out of a car, like @kaizen said, I'd also check out a Subaru Forester or Crosstrek
Also, get a vehicle that is 2-3 years old, odds are it will look the same because of the generation, and you would get better value because of the depreciation.
There is this channel on youtube called "the topher" which reviews many vehicles in a nice way you may want to check it out basically every new car.
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTopher/videos
Thank you for your advice. She drives so much we want something to last 5-8 years and 200k+ miles. I’ll check out the Mazda. It’s a little smaller than what she’s used to but I think I could convince her.
Definitely no to the Ford. The Ecoboost motors they use are cheaply made and combine GDI w/ turbo chargers. Everyone on this forum is going to suggest Lexus or Acura.
Thank you for your advice. I had her convinced on an MKX with a non turboed 3.7 but she decided that was too much of a grandma-mobile. 😂
My vote is for a Lexus RX 350. 🙂
The new Toyota Venza is one nice looking car. It’s not too popular so no one really talks about it.
I recommend putting it side by side with a Honda Pilot. The Pilot isn’t ugly. But the Venza might have the appeal of the Audi when placed next to each other.
The Venza has that fast back coupe like look that is reminiscent of Audi styling.
Only problem with the Venza is that it is hybrid only. They don’t have a gas only version.
I also recommend looking at Subaru. At the very least to give a contrast to the other cars. They are more utilitarian in look than sexy. And if she happens to like the Subaru, all the better because AWD is their thing.
What’s left? The Volvo XC90?
I’d really steer her towards a Lexus. But then again, what the wife wants, is what usually, you want..
I haven’t proposed that as an option. Thank you
Going to butt in for a sec,
if thinking Volvo, XC60 is a great choice as well especially a used 3 4 year old one. They depreciate hard I would NEVER get a new one.
3 year old XC60
Still better than a money pit Audi, which depreciates like an asteroid.
Have you looked at a Mazda?
I haven’t. I don’t have much experience with them. Are they reliable? I want this vehicle to last 10-12 years and to 200-250k miles. We live in the middle of nowhere Ohio, so AWD suv is a must. She drives 40 miles of back country roads to get to work. The roads that are plowed the last in the winter. The Audi has good awd and heavy so she feels safe.
Mazda CX-5 awesome car, I’ve test driven it and it has Toyota technology.....
She “doesn’t hate it” so thats a plus, but she prefers the cx-9 which I believe has a turbo 4 cylinders which we were trying to avoid