Fuel efficient SUV/Car search

[treehugger]

Last year I bought a Toyota 4Runner. Love it, lots of room for all my toys, dogs, and occasionally the kids, but the gas is killing me! Every time I turn around it is out of gas and costs $80 to put gas in.

I bought it 1 year old with ~11,000 miles and got a fantastic deal, so if I sell I won’t lose any money, not worried about that. What I am worried about is nothing interests me. I have 2 large dogs that I take with me a lot, 2 kids, but other than my fun time and work we use my husband’s company truck (gas paid for is so awesome).

I want something that has plenty of room for my toys and dogs (bikes, stand up paddle boards, 2 75 pound dogs) and gets good gas mileage. I think I am going to go this weekend and test drive the Jetta sportwagon and AUDI A3 both TDI get great gas mileage, but is the extra cost of diesel worth it?

Anyone else have any suggestions on a fuel efficient SUV? Would like to get something that gets better than 30 mpg and has good reliability ratings. I am more utilitarian and as long as the radio hooks up to my iphone bells and whistles don’t matter, can’t tell much difference in driving experience or whatever.

[bearishgurl]

treehugger, I would LOVE to have your 4Runner and KNOW what a strong truck they are. However, I too can’t afford to buy $80 tank gas for “city driving” when I only need a mtn vehicle maybe four weeks per year at most … that is … as long as I haven’t moved to the mtns yet, lol.

Good used 4Runners (and even new ones on a lot) are quite rare in SoCal so I’m sure you won’t have a problem unloading it at all.

With your two big dogs and your need to stand bikes up, all I can think of are Suburbans, Tahoes, Escalades and the like. However, your 4-Runner is better vehicle than all of these and probably gets better mileage, IMHO. Why don’t you keep it and just buy a cheap used city kick-around car for $4K to $6K? Your spouse might not always be with the same company and thus you may not always have access to his company truck. If I were you, I might just keep the 4Runner for life. You never know … it could actually outlive YOU.

Just kidding ;=]

[spdrun]

No Prius wagon on your short list?

[creechrr]

Based on what you’ve described, I doubt you’d be happy with a Jetta Sportwagen and an A3 would be even worse. As a Sportwagen owner with two kids, the interior space can get cramped very quickly. In fact, I’ve been eyeing the Ford Flex as a family hauler.

The sportwagen with the diesel is pretty awesome on the highway.

[earlyretirement]

I’m not sure what the affordable SUV’s are but I’d highly recommend getting a diesel version of whatever you are thinking of if they have it.

I’ve never owned a diesel car before getting my Audi Q7 TDI back in 2011. This is one HEAVY SUV, especially considering I got the towing package which is heavier. I think it’s like 7,000 pounds and I still get about 23 miles to the gallon combined with city/highway.

I’m not really the roadtrip kind of guy. Although we did take a roadtrip up to Lake Tahoe in it, mostly I just use it around San Diego with the kids. Gas is more expensive for diesel but the savings with gas mileage is GREAT.

My main point being that getting a diesel SUV is good for gas mileage. I was worried before that there would be enough gas stations that have it. It can be a pain sometimes if there isn’t a gas station right around the corner that has Diesel but it’s not too bad and you can check online or with various Apps.

I only fill up my tank about every 550 miles or so. Granted it does have a big gas tank but I’ve rented some big SUV’s before on vacation where I got REALLY horrible MPG!

[no_such_reality]

I’m assuming the bikes will go on a tail hitch. The paddle boards will go on a roof rack. So you really are only talking about room for two dogs.

IMHO, literally any car will do the job. In fact, you might find an actual trunk for your gear much more effective than the back of a 4runner. SUVs have huge cargo space but it’s actually quite ineffective without careful packing. The space things sit on without being piled on top of other gear really isn’t much different than any hatchback or car trunk.

As for mileage, a lot really depends on your drive. Unless you actually drive free range highway, without urban traffic, just erase those highway mileage numbers from your head. Even if you do, subtract 10-20% because the mileage calcs are done at a slower speed.

If you do a lot of surface streets or stop and go, honestly look at a prius or similar, possible the Lexus RX450h hybrid which gets stunningly good (supposedly) MPG.

[EconProf]

Don’t obsess over gas mileage. Once you run the numbers, it is seldom worthwhile to sell your car just to get one with better mileage.
At 15,000 miles per year, a 5 MPG improvement saves you less than $500 per year in gasoline. A 10 MPG improvement, which is a huge difference in size of vehicle, gets you under $1,000. Weigh safety, convenience, comfort, etc. And transaction cost is too often neglected: time and trouble to sell a vehicle and buy another, wholesale vs. retail, sales tax, etc.

[The-Shoveler]

But it’s so totally worth it to drive 10 miles out of your way to save 5 cents a gallon 🙂
Just kidding.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=EconProf]Don’t obsess over gas mileage. Once you run the numbers, it is seldom worthwhile to sell your car just to get one with better mileage.
At 15,000 miles per year, a 5 MPG improvement saves you less than $500 per year in gasoline. A 10 MPG improvement, which is a huge difference in size of vehicle, gets you under $1,000. Weigh safety, convenience, comfort, etc. And transaction cost is too often neglected: time and trouble to sell a vehicle and buy another, wholesale vs. retail, sales tax, etc.[/quote]

I agree with this, EconProf. And NSR suggested the Lexus RX450h. I’ve researched past years of those vehicles and found them to be prohibitively expensive. And the cargo space in them is very small compared to the 4-Runner. I haven’t checked but the the 2013’s have got to be around $50K.

treehugger seemed like she loved the 4-Runner (what’s NOT to love?) except for it’s everyday gas mileage (17-18 mpg?). I think the best solution is for her to keep it and buy a nice used Camry or Honda Civic/Accord for $4000-$6000 to drive to work and back. Grandma’s car with under 50K miles is out there … for patient buyers 🙂

[no_such_reality]

Well, they could do a Ford Escape Hybrid. The cargo issue comes back though. Basically, both it and the Lexus are priuses on a lift kit.

No point in buying a second car, the $4000-$6000 is 5 years of gas.

I did the MPG search when we bought our vehicle, the reality is there are small cars for mileage and as soon as you step away from mileage being the #1 factor, then the other factors greatly trump mileage.

I dumped my SUV for a mini-van. Got the odyssey. Basically it’s a big Accord Station Wagon with power sliding doors.

Six adults, a baby seat and six carefully packed carryon weekend bags. No problem. Road trip, 28 MPG…

[EconProf]

Everyone has their own priorities in choosing a vehicle–for me it is the seats. Being freakishly tall and driving weekly to and from Yuma, seat comfort and adjustability are everything. I have a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica with the best seats in the world, but also 214,000 miles on it. Have looked and looked for a new vehicle with seats as good as the Pacifica–even sat in 30 – 40 at the Convention Center Auto Show last January. Only pickups and giant SUVs came close.
Then, a eureka moment–a used, low mileage 2007 Chrysler Pacifica (the last year they made them) would have the same seats (plus an improved engine and transmission). Craigslist allows the shopper to filter, so for two months I regularly plugged in “2007 Chrysler Pacifica”, called only on Touring models, low mileage vehicles in San Diego, Phoenix, and Los Angeles Craigslists, and found a match a week ago. The driver’s seat is adjustable every which way, and when tilted it feels like a Lazy-Boy chair. With 51,000 miles, I’ll keep it for many years.
Now, anyone want to buy a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica with great seats? Seriously.

[cvmom]

If you are really a treehugger, consider a plug-in. We have the Nissan Leaf and cram our 4-person family plus dog in there just fine. Yes it is cozy but with the solar panels on the roof of our house, we are not burning any oil or gas to get anywhere (aside from materials used to build the car). And it is so awesome to NEVER visit a gas station!

[Reality]

[quote=treehugger]
I want something that has plenty of room for my toys and dogs (bikes, stand up paddle boards, 2 75 pound dogs) and gets good gas mileage. I think I am going to go this weekend and test drive the Jetta sportwagon and AUDI A3 both TDI get great gas mileage, but is the extra cost of diesel worth it?
[/quote]

My 2009 Jetta TDI had a failure of the high pressure fuel pump. VW had to replace the entire fuel system due to metal shavings from the pump grenading. Mine wasn’t the only one for this generation of the TDI.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=299854

I think Audi diesels use the same fuel pump.

Additionally, the turbo failed on it twice and I kept getting a check engine light for the exhaust temperature sensor despite NUMEROUS attempts at repair by the dealership.

I also owned a 2003 Jetta TDI that was the best car I ever had. I wish I still did. 45 mpg, 650 miles to a tank. But the clean diesel I bought in 2009 was a mess.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=JohnAlt91941]My 2009 Jetta TDI had a failure of the high pressure fuel pump. VW had to replace the entire fuel system due to metal shavings from the pump grenading. Mine wasn’t the only one for this generation of the TDI.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=299854

I think Audi diesels use the same fuel pump.

Additionally, the turbo failed on it twice and I kept getting a check engine light for the exhaust temperature sensor despite NUMEROUS attempts at repair by the dealership.

I also owned a 2003 Jetta TDI that was the best car I ever had. I wish I still did. 45 mpg, 650 miles to a tank. But the clean diesel I bought in 2009 was a mess.[/quote]

Good info, JohnAlt91941. Thank you for your post.

[paramount]

[quote=bearishgurl]treehugger, I would LOVE to have your 4Runner and KNOW what a strong truck they are. However, I too can’t afford to buy $80 tank gas for “city driving” when I only need a mtn vehicle maybe four weeks per year at most … that is … as long as I haven’t moved to the mtns yet, lol.

Good used 4Runners (and even new ones on a lot) are quite rare in SoCal so I’m sure you won’t have a problem unloading it at all.

With your two big dogs and your need to stand bikes up, all I can think of are Suburbans, Tahoes, Escalades and the like. However, your 4-Runner is better vehicle than all of these and probably gets better mileage, IMHO. Why don’t you keep it and just buy a cheap used city kick-around car for $4K to $6K? Your spouse might not always be with the same company and thus you may not always have access to his company truck. If I were you, I might just keep the 4Runner for life. You never know … it could actually outlive YOU.

Just kidding ;=][/quote]

Are you being serious?

1st of all a 4Runner is not a truck, it’s a grocery getter disquised as a truck. The front bumper of my Excursion has more steel than a complete 4runner.

I looked at 4Runners last year, they are cramped and drive and handle like crap (compared to more modern similiar class vehicles).

A Suburban is much better for most, probably gets better mileage and has much more room.

I’ve never understood the market for mid-size SUV’s and pickups – the gas mileage is really no better than a real full size truck or SUV only you get a lot less room.

Besides, for most SUV buyers a modern CUV is a much better choice than a 4Runner – you get better handling, more modern/advanced safety systems and suspensions, better MPG and on and on…

4Runners were great….20 years ago.

[Author]

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