what is the longest lasting, most durable, reliable SUV out there?

[bostonsmama]

We love, love, love our 2004 Toyota 4-Runner (V8 version). We've only put 10,000 miles on it in 2 years, but it's performed amazingly. We bought it on the recommendation of our friends, who own two 4-Runners, a 1996 and 1999. They had NO complaints to speak of as the vehicles from Toyota are bullet-proof reliability wise and have enough features and styling to take you through years of use.

I would never get an American manufacturered car or SUV....although with Toyota poised to buy out General Motors, I'll be watching with great interest to see if any of their quality or reliability issues improves. All the American cars I've ever owned (Ford and GM) I've had repeat issues with them. I just sunk over $700 into my 98 Ford and it's plagued w/ electrical problems so I'm dreading the future.

My parents' Hondas and our Toyotas have performed brilliantly.

Check out Consumer Reports for the reliability record of certain cars over the years. Toyota and Honda consistently score the highest, while Ford, GM, and Chrysler have abominal records. Frankly I don't know how they get away with the junk they make nowadays. American auto manufacturing is so plagued with problems that when Chrysler bought Diamler Mercedes Benz (now Daimler Chrysler) and assumed production, quality of the Mercedes cars (particularly the C and E class models) went down dramatically.

anyways...all that said, I think the Toyota Highlander is awesome. It gets much better gas mileage than my car, but we needed the towing capacity, hauling ability and interior cargo space. The Highlander is built on a Camry chasis, so it rides smooth like a sedan and has better handling and manueverability. Also, I'm very impressed with the rollover protection, traction/stability control and side curtain and top cabin airbags. It's a great vehicle. Nuff said.

Larissa
who's gettin in the holiday mood

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." -
James Baldwin

[Tondi G]

So good to see other Durango Lovers out there!!!! we love ours and so far everyone we've met that has or had one has really enjoyed theirs! My sister leased one before we got ours and when she turned it in she ended up with a Ford Explorer and now a ford expedition and she misses her Dodge!

~Tondi

[almostamom]

I've owned two 4-Runners - they were both excellent vehicles. I only got the second after the first was totaled in a bad accident (I escaped without a scratch - well, I did break a nail!)- the car did everything it was designed to do as far as keeping me safe. Actually, I remember my dad saying to me after he picked me up from the accident scene, "Well, what color should the next 4-Runner be?" When I was working, I drove about 80-90 miles a day, so my 1998 4-Runner had almost 100,000 miles on it. It never needed service other than routine check ups and oil changes.

Good luck with your decision.

~Linda~
DS 11/9/04

[octmom]

We love our 2003 Toyota Highlander (pre-hybrid, though I'd love one of those!), but I don't think they are as big as a Yukon. Yes, you can get third row seats in the Highlander and in the Hondo Pilot, but IMO, it just makes both back rows seem a bit smooshed. Fine for kids, but not great for adults with long legs.

The 4-Runner is bigger than the Highlander, but I think it drives more like a truck than a car. The Highlander really feels smooth when you drive it. If I remember right, both the Highlander and the comparable-sized Lexus are built on the same chassis as the Camry. My mom has the Lexus and we both prefer my Highlander. Go figure. I use regualr gas (not premium) in my Highlander.

I've heard good things about the Volvo and VW SUVs, but I suspect repair costs are not cheap.

Jerilyn
DS, Sean 10/03
expecting #2! EDD April 1, 2006, but anticipating a C/S in March
Just found out-- IT'S A GIRL!!! :)

"Baby makes days shorter, nights longer, home happier, and love stronger."

[nd93]

We have a 1995 Ford Explorer Sport that had driven across the country and back and is in great shape. We've never had an expensive fix, only routine maintenance (and of course replacing things that wear out like tires or break pads). Even though Ford overall has a bad reliability record, I do think their trucks/SUVs are where they excel. They had early huge success with Explorer that had driven the SUV trend. Really give them a look.

[Toba]

>I would never get an American manufacturered car or
>SUV....although with Toyota poised to buy out General Motors,
>I'll be watching with great interest to see if any of their
>quality or reliability issues improves. All the American cars
>I've ever owned (Ford and GM) I've had repeat issues with
>them. I just sunk over $700 into my 98 Ford and it's plagued
>w/ electrical problems so I'm dreading the future.
>
>My parents' Hondas and our Toyotas have performed
>brilliantly.

>Larissa
>who's gettin in the holiday mood
>
>"Children have never been very good at listening to their
>elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." -
>James Baldwin


Ummm, my brand new Honda Odyssey was built in the USA, as were almost all it's parts (everything except the transmission). This is true of most, if not all, of Honda's vehicles that are sold in the US, I believe. I believe that Toyotas (at least most) are built in Canada. ;)

My union father was mortified that I bought a Honda (my first "foreign" car), and I just had to throw out there that my Honda was probably more American than his Chevy Silverado and my mom's Chevy Monte Carlo.


~Kimberly Anne~
Noah Nevan, March 12, 2004
*the light of my life*

[bostonsmama]

Oh, very true! I know that and think it's great...and I struggled over how to say "American" cars...but maybe I just meant American companies (like Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, GM, GMC, Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury).

My 4Runner is actually made in Japan, but most other Toyotas are made in America. Toyota has a huge manufacturing plant in the midwest that highers American workers (how cool! another reason to buy from them!)...and Ford now produces a lot of cars in Mexico (so one less reason to buy from them!). My bro's 99 Ford Escort has a foreign engine. Amazing!

So, yes, you are right-o!

Larissa
who's gettin in the holiday mood

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." -
James Baldwin

[knaidel]

Ashley,
I know nothing about SUVs. Nothing. However, I recommend you take a look at the Conumer Reports Annual Auto Issue (April 2005). All about cars, and will give you reliability ratings, safety ratings, etc in a very concise format.You can get it online (for a fee) from Consumer reports.org or from your local library. Honestly, I feel that without the consumer reports, we would have spent weeks and weeks researching cars. It can be a never ending project.

for those interested in hybrid SUVs- a hybrid SUV is still an SUV! Money Magazine (maybe nov. or october) had a really interesting article about the shape/aerodynamics of a car and gas mileage. Also, the estimated mpg are not what they're cracked up to be. Worth a read, if you're in the market for a new one.