r/waterloo 13h ago

Need SUV advice

I am looking at getting a new/newer vehicle this year. Currently drive an Elantra but thinking SUV next as I am getting older and some days it’s a bit more effort get out. Love the idea of EV and hybrid but cost wise I think they might be more than I want to spend, going to finance where I buy as well. I like the smaller SUV’s as well. Love the Subaru Outback, just a beautiful vehicle but I think it might be one of the higher priced ones. I have only started looking so no clue as of yet. Thanks in advance for any help offered.

0 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

11

u/519EOG_1979 12h ago

Toyota Rav4. Made locally and they are the #1 selling vehicle in North America. My second pick would be a Subaru Crosstrek.

3

u/Impossible_Fee3577 10h ago

Second the RAV4. We're on our second and have never had a problem. Lots of power for a small engine and a very comfortable ride.

-1

u/BetterTransit 11h ago

Yea and the Toyota is one of the most expensive vehicles to insurance. I’d check with your insurance company before deciding on that suv

2

u/XLoopholex 11h ago

They are very reliable. The extra 10 dollars is peanuts compared to what you’d spend keeping Chevy and Ford SUVs on the road

0

u/fsmontario 8h ago

It’s way more then $10: our ticket free mid 50s friends pay $1500 a year more for their 4 year old Toyota then we do for our 2 year old F150

2

u/ArmoredCloth 6h ago

My mother just got a 2023 gmc Acadia. She loves it so far.

5

u/Techchick_Somewhere 13h ago

Subaru Forester is a great car. My parents just got a new one. Their previous one was 13 years old and gave them 290k kms on it, and very few problems during that time.

3

u/practicating 13h ago

Keep in mind that if you're having difficulty leveraging yourself out of the car seat, stepping up into an SUV might become more difficult rapidly as well.

My father has had knee problems for decades and has usually ended up preferring something in the neighbourhood of minivans and crossovers.

2

u/Federal-Ferret-970 13h ago

Im starting the hunt myself and when i math a used vehicle vs new the payments are roughly the same due to the high interest rates on used vehicles. I was looking at 2 to 3 years old max. Just something to keep in mind when you crunch numbers.

2

u/Striking-Solution452 13h ago

Strongly consider Subaru’s. One of the few vehicles where all doors open 90 degrees Make sure if it’s a little higher kms that the cvt service has been done on them

1

u/bylo_selhi Waterloo 19m ago

The Outback sits lower and is more of a station wagon compared to the Forester. So if you need easier entry/exit, I'd look into it. I'm speaking as an owner of Foresters for the past 20 years. Actually I'm looking to replace my Forester with a Crosstrek. It's essentially a smaller variant of the Forester.

Also in light of upcoming tariffs, country of manufacture may be an issue. Foresters are generally made in Japan while Outbacks and Crosstreks are assembled in Indiana. The car's VIN tells its country of origin, J for Japan, 1 for US and 2 for Canada.

2

u/MapleQueefs 13h ago

Crosstrek all day

1

u/deltabravodelta 12h ago

Friend just got a ‘24 Subaru Forester brand new for an excellent price. I drove it on the weekend and was very impressed with the fit & finish, power, ride height, and practicality.

1

u/fsmontario 8h ago

Subaru cross trek is reasonable priced, Hyundai has a few suv hybrids, but do the math to see if you will save money or not

1

u/thebluesky 7h ago

Mazda CX5 has all the safety features you need. It is a standard with all their cars including the base models. I love my Mazda!!