Seven Seater SUV Advice Please

docians on 02/05/2016 - 16:03
Last edited 02/05/2016 - 16:19 by 1 other user

In the market for a seven seater SUV for the missus

Thinking about the Kia Sorento Platinum or the Hyundai Santa Fe which should cost around $55k
Also thinking about the Volvo XC90, the BMW X5 which cost around the $120k mark.

Just wondering about the thought processes behind ultimately deciding

One school of thought is the Kias and the Hyundais cannot be compared the the BMWs or Volvos

The other school of thought is that the Kia is good enough, and for the price the BMW is certainly not worth twice the amount

Would appreciate your thoughts especially if you had to similarly decide, and what helped you make your final decision

Automotive

Comments

  • SuperC on 02/05/2016 - 16:05

    We have a Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander. Great car, but my question is how often would you be planning to use the 7 seats? As the back two seats are kind of cramped best used for kids that no longer need child seats or boosters. Also, you sacrifice a lot of boot space having the two extra seats up.

  • docians on 02/05/2016 - 16:17

    @ Super C
    usually when we have relatives home and we need to go somewhere eg the beach or a drive down the Great Ocean Road, it save us having to take two cards. But yes for our day to day use it will only be five seats.

    Also we have looked at the Land Rover Discovery Sport and with 7 seats up it has a very tiny boot

    • airzone on 02/05/2016 - 17:07

      How often does this happen?

  • spackbace on 02/05/2016 - 16:39
    +2

    Jees if you're willing to go to that level, buy a Landcruiser 200 series. Best resale value, all the fruit in the top models, tons of space.

    • docians on 03/05/2016 - 20:37

      We did think of the land cruiser at one stage, the missus was not comfy with the size, plus unsure about fuel economy. No we don't plan to tow

      • spackbace on 03/05/2016 - 20:46
        -1

        Size is probably comparable to the other SUVs, and they'll all drink the fuel, not that fuel is very expensive right now.

        But cheap servicing and strong resale would balance out any higher fuel costs.

        • docians on 04/05/2016 - 10:19

          The land cruiser is bigger than the kluger
          I think the X5, XC90 and the Sorento are similar in size to the Kluger

          Fuel consumption wise the Land cruiser is 9.5 L/100km the Sorentos 7.8l/100km
          Granted fuel prices are lowish currently, but they wont always stay the same

          That being said the missus prefers a smallish SUV with the occasional two extra seats; she would not comfy driving the Land cruiser (does not drive like a car, but like a truck), and we don't need off road capabilities. I suppose for 120k, the missus would prefer snoot value over the extra space

        • spackbace on 04/05/2016 - 10:34

          @docians:

          Take the Sorrento overnight and see if you get near that fuel figure. I doubt you will.

        • docians on 04/05/2016 - 10:42

          @Spackbace:
          these are quoted figures on websites, toyota's and kia's

          They always quote ideal figures don't they
          I doubt either of them are real life figures

          Oops I stand corrected, I was comparing the petrol landcruiser to the diesel kia
          will edit my figures appropriately

  • captobvious on 02/05/2016 - 17:04

    Buy a 200 series Cruiser. For 120 you can get a diesel sahara

    I have the 08 saraha diesel, its a boring toyota with all the luxury items, King of the road. it has over 100k km. Resale still about $60k plus.

    Wont get that sort of resale from an x5, wife has an x5, good to drive the kids around the city, not so good off road. Has wank factor that's about all.

    • docians on 03/05/2016 - 20:35

      Honestly in the sixties people were saying who will buy Japanese cars like Toyota. (Yes I am that old) and now that is the common opinion on Korean cars. Sadly we are not in the market for an offroader

  • alphasing on 02/05/2016 - 19:55

    I would go with Sorento. Driving was smooth and quite solid. I also like the design. But do you really need Premium?

    • docians on 03/05/2016 - 20:21

      Can't decide if I want premium or kia. Eg for 120k I could have two sorentos plus 10000 spending money

  • Euphemistic on 02/05/2016 - 21:06

    Whatever you get definitely consider the boot space with the third row occupied. We had a Captiva (I know!) and couldn't fit a stroller in behind the back seats. Our older model pathfinder is much better.

    Have you considered anything in between the two extremes? Kluger, pathfinder, Everest or others?

    • docians on 03/05/2016 - 20:19

      Have seen the carnival and the xc90. Both have reasonable boots with the third seat up. Cant say the same for the X5 or the landrover disco sport or the kluger. Kia does have a good warranty which trumps Nissan and ford

  • JuryWheel on 03/05/2016 - 13:48

    Does it really need to be a 4wd SUV? How about a Kia Grand Carnival - looks cool to me (sorry if i am now a boring old man dad :(

    • docians on 03/05/2016 - 20:15

      Yes it needs to be an SUV. The missus does not like either the carnival or the odyssey. Besides she is 5 10 and the extra height helps her back when she keeps the lil one in her car seat. No it does not need to be an offroader

      • Euphemistic on 04/05/2016 - 09:52

        I understand the height thing for loading kids into seats. We have a Pathfinder, it is so easy for us to load the littlest into his seat, standing up head fits inside the car (truck) as you reach in holding him. Conversely in my Forester I need to stretch out my arms with my head outside the car to get him in, or stoop and bend. Normal sedans/hatchbacks are even lower so harder.

        Given the length of time kids need to be buckled into a seat now it really pays to consider loading the kids when selecting a car.

        • docians on 04/05/2016 - 10:20

          Precisely why the Carnival, Odyssey and the Picasso were outed

  • angelkulit025 on 04/05/2016 - 10:20

    what about a territory?

    • docians on 04/05/2016 - 10:46

      @angel
      The ford lacks the bling factor; and looks dated both on the inside and on the outside
      It drives well but that is not the ultimate criterion for her.

      • angelkulit025 on 04/05/2016 - 11:07

        Fair enough, the new models now looks ok and have changed compared through the years. The Ford Everest is something to consider as well. =)

        • docians on 04/05/2016 - 12:27

          Just looked at the Ford Everest online

          the base model starts at 59k- fabric seats and lacks fruit like adaptive cruise control, sat nav, blindspot detection, sunroof
          has 4x4 capability which we dont need

          the titanium model starts at 85k has fruits, but no isofix, which for us is a no no

          No doubt it is a good car, just doesn't suit our purpose

        • spackbace on 04/05/2016 - 13:23

          @docians:

          Everest is based on the Ranger (like the Colorado 7/Isuzu MUX etc), so I doubt it would give you the comfortable drive you'd like/want anyway :)

        • docians on 04/05/2016 - 16:58

          @Spackbace:

          no clue about the Ranger or Colorado
          but we once did pass an Isuzu 7 seater
          One look and she said it resembled a truck
          haven't driven any of the above

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