I've driven the 2016 CX-5 when I was considering it as a company car. It was the best handling, most refined feeling small crossover I have driven. It had decent pep with the 2.5 as well.

Also driven the 2016 Ford Escape and the 2.0 turbo really rocks and the handling is pretty decent as well. I like the CX-5 interior the best.

The best SUV out there is the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
http://www.jeep.com/en/gr...&category=standard

kaninja

seth89
The best SUV out there is the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
http://www.jeep.com/en/gr...&category=standard

Except that it will be at the dealer for repairs non-stop.

Shots fired. No wait there isn't because their transportation is still at the shop :/.

 
Dunno.,. if it hasn't got knobbly tires, it ain't a real SUV, at least that's how I used to think before I moved to USA where everyone drives them. I always considered SUVs meant for off-road - street tires on an SUV just seemed completely pointless to me (or low profiles, lol I started laughing first time I saw that), but when in Rome...
 
 

Personally... I would either go with a Porsche Cayanne or a Macan, and if you can't swing those IMO get a top end sedan. Just no real point having an SUV in the US unless you're doing offroad stuff. Take the money you save in the first six months on gas and buy yourself a nice gift.
 
Don't see why so many people get these huge cars and vans and trucks etc, then complain about how the payments kill them and the gas is ridiculous, and half of them are either single or have 2 kids.
 
Intended use is an important question. How many kids? Doing any offroad stuff or pulling anything? Daily driver, backup car?

Yea the SUV thing has always boggled my mind. A car that gets 38-40mpg freeway (the newer civics) are like 18-21k. A new Tahoe is what? 40-50k? And gets 12-18 around town, and 23ish on the freeway? Like what? How does it make sense to own something like that for back and forth to work everyday.

The Ford Explorer is great, just make sure you test drive one at night so you can see how absolutely terrible the stock headlights are....and I mean terrible. I had one as a rental in Boston a few months back and I thought it was totally awesome during the day....but night driving was terrible visibility wise.

I  really enjoyed my Hyundai Santa Fe.
https://www.hyundaiusa.com/santa-fe-sport/index.aspx

They have the option for 2.0T (265hp) AWD models.
 
I had the 190hp engine and that thing had no shortage of passing power.
The 2WD version also did fine in the snow, the computer would take over and keep you straight.
 
Probably going to go back to it after my child is born.
(I am on my third Kia/Hyundai product, their cars/crossovers are hands down the best built/looking out there.)

IMO: how often do you actually totally fill your trunk? Probably not that often in reality. During the school year I was driving 3 gear bags, 5 backpacks, little brother and sister, and other stuff some times, and never once did it invade the back seat. And this was in a Civic 4 door.
 
If you want an honest opinion, go with something like a Honda Accord Sport, Audi A3, BMW 330i or 338i, etc. I think you will find once you get used to it it's a much better option for daily driving tasks. Cheaper insurance because they're safer, WAY better fuel efficiency, you take up less space so parking is easier, low center of mass means faster maneuverability. On that note, I almost plowed into the side of a Camry at 55MPH a month or two ago, and was able to avoid by maybe six inches. I had no time to brake, I knew there were no other cars around and just flung the wheel left when they pulled out in front of me. Doing that at that speed probably would have rolled a fair number of SUVs.

 
We used to have a Honda CR-V, replaced it with a brand new top end Civic as the primary family car, and the gas savings paid for the difference in payments. 
 
Financially you might not be worried about the difference in long term cost of an SUV vs Sedan, but if you take the money you could save driving a sedan and invest in a properly good mutual fund with it, your kids could both graduate college with quite a bit of money in the bank. Just food for thought, and as always YMMV, literally in this case.

Edit: if you can actually utilize an SUV to its fullest, I would recommend Hyundai Santa Fe as my top inexpensive option, otherwise I would lean toward a Porsche Macan. Don't let me stop you by any means, especially if it's what you really want, just trying to give an outside perspective.

Without reading the entire thread, and just answering the thread's headline, this is going to be more of opinion, and what brand you like. For me, I like the Chevrolet Traverse. It has more room, more cargo space, triple seating, nice little nifty compact space in the back.. It holds my equipment for my music perfectly. All the seats go down, and in my stuff goes. So...if there is a specific brand, again, that you're more into, maybe you should check them out and see what they have. Pretty much nowadays, anyways, they're all the same mostly.

So earlier this evening I gave back my 2012 Rav 4, and got a new lease with a 2015 Rav 4. They don't have the 2016's in yet, but I didn't care. I love my new SUV. I'll try to take pics of it this weekend, and post them here.
 
I finally have a sunroof, fog lights, and a rear back up camera. Never had those before, and it's pretty cool. The ride is so smooth. Something I have never known a vehicle to have, and that is it has automatic, and stick shift controls. You can use either one. Although there's no clutch, I think that feature is pretty cool too. The color of it is called "Magnetic Gray Metallic". Nice color.     

Sounds great Xray! Congrats brah. 

 
Thanks guys. I'll post pics this weekend.          =)

wrinvert
Nice bud, enjoy the new ride.

Thanks Wrin.  I am.         =)

 
A little update. So I bought in-channel vent visors for my Rav4: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JFALCVW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00  They look good.
 
I also bought mud flaps for it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KGNX54O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00  However, it is all black, and doesn't say Rav4 like it shows in the pics. (Disappointed) Anyway, my question is, if I got some letter, and number stencils, what kind of white spray paint can could I buy, that would withstand the outside weather conditions?
 
 
Should look like this:
 

 
But came like this: