When a Honda Fit just isn't the answer
March 30, 2018 3:31 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for a 2-5 year old car with better-than-average ground clearance, good acceleration, and decent gas mileage. I'll have very little time to test drive, so am hoping to narrow down the options early.
I'm going to be moving back to Central America and will have to sell my right hand drive Mazda3, purchase something within a few days in the U.S., then ship it down to my new home. Cars in my current location are sold with different engines and configurations than those sold in the U.S. and don't really do automatic transmission (I'd be happy enough to keep driving a manual but I'm guessing most of the American options will come with automatic as standard, and I know the quality of the automatic transmission can really affect the driving experience), so my chances to test drive the actual models I'm interested in will be limited.
I've lived in a different country in Central America before, and the things that I found to be absolutely necessary were a highish ground clearance for the huge potholes and homemade speed bumps, and enough get-up-and-go to quickly and safely pass the 15mph cargo trucks that clog the curvy, windy two lane highways. When I was there I had a 2007 RAV4 with the (now discontinued) six cylinder engine, which did great except for the mediocre gas mileage. I'd just buy that car back from my dad, who's been happily driving it for the past few years, but the country where I'm going requires imported cars to be 10 years old or newer. My day-to-day driving will be slow with lots of traffic, with regular road trips outside the city on weekends. I liked the roominess and the better backseat comfort in the RAV4, but I don't really need any more space than I have in my current compact hatchback.
Other cars I've liked/disliked: I drove a 2005 Subaru Outback on a six week roadtrip right after giving up my Toyota and was frustrated by the lack of power, road noise, and the fact that it blew a timing belt replaced 40,000 miles before. I'm sure there have been improvements since, but I don't need AWD and am not inclined towards Subarus. On the other hand, I've been pleasantly surprised by some Hyundais I've driven recently - a Grand i10 that was only slightly too small/slow, and a Santa Fe that was super comfortable but way too big. I really like but don't love my five year old Mazda3 (in a configuration and with an engine not available in the US) - it could be a little more comfortable, a little more quiet, and visibility is pretty crap, but it definitely gets the most out of its tiny engine and you can't beat the 40mpg.
Questions:
Based on reviews and specs I'm leaning towards the Mazda CX-5 or maybe Ford Escape - if you have one, how do you like it? Is there something else in the compact crossover class that I'm missing?
Do I actually need a compact crossover? I haven't done as much research into other categories, but maybe there's a high-riding hatchback/wagon or one of these new mini-SUVs out there with enough acceleration and robustness for my needs?
I know that depreciation isn't what it once was and that in some cases buying new can be a better deal than buying in the 3-5 year old range, but I'm guessing that the fact that I'm taking the car out of the country (and therefore won't take advantage of a warranty) negates that. Am I wrong to make that assumption?
I'm going to be moving back to Central America and will have to sell my right hand drive Mazda3, purchase something within a few days in the U.S., then ship it down to my new home. Cars in my current location are sold with different engines and configurations than those sold in the U.S. and don't really do automatic transmission (I'd be happy enough to keep driving a manual but I'm guessing most of the American options will come with automatic as standard, and I know the quality of the automatic transmission can really affect the driving experience), so my chances to test drive the actual models I'm interested in will be limited.
I've lived in a different country in Central America before, and the things that I found to be absolutely necessary were a highish ground clearance for the huge potholes and homemade speed bumps, and enough get-up-and-go to quickly and safely pass the 15mph cargo trucks that clog the curvy, windy two lane highways. When I was there I had a 2007 RAV4 with the (now discontinued) six cylinder engine, which did great except for the mediocre gas mileage. I'd just buy that car back from my dad, who's been happily driving it for the past few years, but the country where I'm going requires imported cars to be 10 years old or newer. My day-to-day driving will be slow with lots of traffic, with regular road trips outside the city on weekends. I liked the roominess and the better backseat comfort in the RAV4, but I don't really need any more space than I have in my current compact hatchback.
Other cars I've liked/disliked: I drove a 2005 Subaru Outback on a six week roadtrip right after giving up my Toyota and was frustrated by the lack of power, road noise, and the fact that it blew a timing belt replaced 40,000 miles before. I'm sure there have been improvements since, but I don't need AWD and am not inclined towards Subarus. On the other hand, I've been pleasantly surprised by some Hyundais I've driven recently - a Grand i10 that was only slightly too small/slow, and a Santa Fe that was super comfortable but way too big. I really like but don't love my five year old Mazda3 (in a configuration and with an engine not available in the US) - it could be a little more comfortable, a little more quiet, and visibility is pretty crap, but it definitely gets the most out of its tiny engine and you can't beat the 40mpg.
Questions:
Based on reviews and specs I'm leaning towards the Mazda CX-5 or maybe Ford Escape - if you have one, how do you like it? Is there something else in the compact crossover class that I'm missing?
Do I actually need a compact crossover? I haven't done as much research into other categories, but maybe there's a high-riding hatchback/wagon or one of these new mini-SUVs out there with enough acceleration and robustness for my needs?
I know that depreciation isn't what it once was and that in some cases buying new can be a better deal than buying in the 3-5 year old range, but I'm guessing that the fact that I'm taking the car out of the country (and therefore won't take advantage of a warranty) negates that. Am I wrong to make that assumption?
If you’re thinking about a wagon or a sedan, perhaps in part for the security a trunk offers, the Subaru models have the highest clearance in their respective categories and you can get a skid plate installed easily. We have a 2012 Outback with the automatic transmission and optional paddle shifters and it’s... fine, but despite the love they inspire as vehicles that work well in both urban and rugged settings, I agree with you about the noise and pickup issues.
Another sedan/wagon option with decent mpg and more zip: a Jetta.
posted by carmicha at 5:32 AM on March 30, 2018
Another sedan/wagon option with decent mpg and more zip: a Jetta.
posted by carmicha at 5:32 AM on March 30, 2018
I’m looking for a similar vehicle ( not for Central America alas) and just fount our that there exist hybrid RAV 4 s. They would seem to fit all your requirements but I don’t know if you could get the hybrid drive train serviced where you’ll be
posted by genmonster at 6:35 AM on March 30, 2018
posted by genmonster at 6:35 AM on March 30, 2018
I had a great experience with my 2010 Honda CR-V. It's an extremely reliable vehicle and left me unscathed after a driver's side red-light t-bone crash. The newer ones have pretty good mpg too.
posted by stinkfoot at 7:46 AM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by stinkfoot at 7:46 AM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have a 2016 CX-5 sport trim with the 2.0L engine and manual transmission. The cargo space, clearance, and fuel efficiency are nice (my lifetime average is 32.5mpg, mostly highway miles) but the acceleration is not amazing. Based on your needs I wouldn't bother with the 2.0L, go straight for the 2.5L if you test drive one.
posted by agentofselection at 10:01 AM on March 30, 2018
posted by agentofselection at 10:01 AM on March 30, 2018
I had a Toyota RAV 4 that was not 4WD, and the high clearance still made snow manageable. It was a terrific car until somebody else totaled it.
posted by theora55 at 10:04 AM on March 30, 2018
posted by theora55 at 10:04 AM on March 30, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said, if you'll be living at a highish elevation, a model with a turbo 4 would be better. Naturally aspirated engines lose a lot due to the lower air density once you get above 4,000 feet or so. The other thing I'd want to consider is whether there is at least a similar vehicle available in your destination country so that parts and people to work on it won't be hard to find. If it's anything like where my SO's family is from, importing stuff can get rather expensive rather quickly.
All that said, you'd be surprised what a sedan can navigate without issue. It never stopped me from using unimproved forest roads back when I had an Accord. Unless the potholes are so deep you're going to high center the car, the extra ground clearance is more help psychologically than anything else. Boulders are a different story, of course.
posted by wierdo at 3:53 AM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]