The wife’s impala is heading down hill. We have started to look for a smaller used suv for her. 2015-2020. Under 50,000 preferably. Something with 4wd/awd. She is a GM girl so we’ve been looking at the Equinox or at least something in that size. Buick would be ok too.
I know they had tranny/engine issues for a few years. Anyone know the problem years? What to stay away from? Any other opinions? Thanks
We have a 2020 buick envision t avenir trim package. Fully loaded every option available. It is a very nice ride. Awd. I think it has 15,xxx on it now. As expected no issues. Not enough miles to know if it will show any flaws. But I enjoy driving it and so does the lady. Not cheap though.
We have a couple of Equinox SUV’s in our work fleet. They are only the 4 cylinder models. I do not care for them. They are under powered and the mileage is poor.
My wife drives a 2017 Ford Escape with 2.0L ecoboost. I much prefer that vehicle. It has AWD. The one item I don’t care for with it is the size of the fuel tank. I think its only 15 gallons. Wish it was 18 or 20.
Those years are supposed to be better, time will tell. The years before that they were about the biggest piece of poop you could own from repair cost and reliability. Like I tell everyone if you can afford it look for a Highlander or a Pilot, roughly the same size vehicle and will cost you more upfront but you will be happier in the long run.
My wife had a ’14 Hyundai Santa Fe she liked. We owned it from about 30k to 110k miles. We sized up this past summer to a ’21 Chevy Traverse and have about 10k on it.
I didn’t care much for the Hyundai, probably just because of its size. It was a darty little thing with touchy brakes. I would have preferred to drive a car, rather than a small SUV.
The Traverse is much different with the extra length and weight. I really like that thing. Maybe even enough to consider moving into a large SUV like a Suburban myself.
The Equinox is probably the worst vehicle in that segment based on the research I have seen. Rav4, CRV, Escape are the top 3 in that order IMO.
Have had 2 Honda’s and both have been excellent. Currently have a 2017 pilot with 50,000 miles and no issues
We have a Buick Enclave that has been a money pit, we’ve probably put 5k+ into it in 70k miles. My brother had 2 Acadia’s (2018 and 2019 I believe) that were nothing but problems, they were both brand new and returned both under the lemon laws.
The Equinox is probably the worst vehicle in that segment based on the research I have seen. Rav4, CRV, Escape are the top 3 in that order IMO.
I didn’t want to say it but… this^^^
My sister and bil equinox has been great for them. Over 100k I believe. My buddy equinox sometime ago had no issues with his either but all will admit it’s gutless and nothing more than a runaround vehicle.
We have a 2014 and 2015 CRVs and also a 2014 Pilot. All have been very good so far. We just added the 2014 CRV because both my daughters started to drive. Good luck finding a used SUV. There aren’t alot out there. They are very proud of the ones that are. I bought the 2014 about 4 months ago. 120K miles on it and they were asking 15,200. I got it for 14,200.
My sister had an Escape for quite a while and did not like it.
She switched into a Hyundia Santa Fe and said she did like it a lot better.
She didn’t put many miles on it though before selling it.
She now lives in Europe and rides a Bicycle. So she really can’t be trusted.
Look at the Traverse. We shopped for SUV’s in 2019. We test drove many types along with the Equinoxes. Did not like the handling/comfort and heard nothing good regarding them. Went with Traverse and we are very happy.
My sister purchased a loaded equinox a few years back. She got rid of it inside of 6 months as it had issues and handled poorly in any sort of snow. The overall fit and finish seemed poor with tons of plastic creaking, sounds of air when driving, etc. The mileage wasn’t substantially better than bigger vehicles either.
I know it isn’t GM, but I’d give a Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee a long hard look if a smaller SUV is what you desire. My wife’s loaded Grand Cherokee has been great with just routine maintenance. She’s got 60k on it and bought it brand new. I’d bet that thing would go further on snowy roads than 90% of trucks on the road today as well. It just grabs the road. I’m not sure you could drift that thing on glare ice if you tried.
End of Feb, early March we will be selling my wife’s 2019 Jeep Cherokee with approx 40k miles if anyone is interested…
I have had an equinox and Jeep compass as my company provided vehicle. I would never buy either. Both have been in the shop way to much for vehicles that get traded in at 60k
I’m not sure you could drift that thing on glare ice if you tried.
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Well thats to bad. No fun in that vehicle. I’d check that off the list immediately 🤣
Always good as an OP to throw in a budget.
To compare a $35k vehicle is not fair to the $25k vehicle.
Lots of vehicles in this thread that simply are on different levels of performance due to that fact.
My Pilot has been great.
Best SUV? No brainer – Subaru!! I love my Subarus. I had an Outback for years with over 238,000 miles on that bad boy. Upgraded last year to the Forester, which is more of an SUV rather than the stationwagon style that is the Outback and I absolutely love it. I test drove the new Ascent, which is Subaru’s largest SUV, and it’s excellent. But I didn’t need the extra room for the added cost.
I have a Ford Explorer and love it. My second one. I got over 200K miles on my first one. Explorer may be bigger than what you want but if she gets hit she may be glad to have the extra metal.
Idk if the equinox is similar to the GMC Acadia, but stay away from them!
I would seriously look into Toyota or Honda.I’m not a big fan of the Equinox.The years your looking at don’t have the motor issues the earlier ones had but the Toyota and Honda are still a better vehicle.
The Jeeps i’ve found out recently had some head-valve train issues in the V6 13-17 year frame.
Idk if the equinox is similar to the GMC Acadia, but stay away from them!
I have 152k on an Acadia. Only mechanical problem was a differential seal that was fixed under warranty at 12k miles. Since then it’s had nothing but routine maintenance.
Will almost certainly buy another.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>LabDaddy1 wrote:</div>
Idk if the equinox is similar to the GMC Acadia, but stay away from them!I have 152k on an Acadia. Only mechanical problem was a differential seal that was fixed under warranty at 12k miles. Since then it’s had nothing but routine maintenance.
Will almost certainly buy another.
Grouse, I work in the industry and can tell you they are not a good vehicle. There are always going to be some people that have good luck with them. They have timing chain issues and transmission issues. Part of the reason they have timing chain issues is oil change intervals and knowing you a little from your posts I am sure you are not following the longer intervals they suggest and doing it every 3-5k. They are nice vehicles, its to bad they can’t make them better or at least tell people to change the oil sooner.
We have a buick enclave too. Wife wanted it. It’s a fine car. No major issues to report. Tows a load just fine and still looks nice when shined up. Perfectly fine for a suburban grocery getter. Could be better on gas though. If you’re looking at a third row suv, make sure you try out that third row and ask yourself if you or anyone you know that would ride in that third row would ever be comfortable.
If you’re looking at a third row suv, make sure you try out that third row and ask yourself if you or anyone you know that would ride in that third row would ever be comfortable.
This is good advice. Wife and I looked at a Honda pilot. She liked the styling and how it drove but those back seats were tiny. Ended up going with a minivan
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>luttes wrote:</div>
If you’re looking at a third row suv, make sure you try out that third row and ask yourself if you or anyone you know that would ride in that third row would ever be comfortable.This is good advice. Wife and I looked at a Honda pilot. She liked the styling and how it drove but those back seats were tiny. Ended up going with a minivan
Really wish they would bring back the Astro Awd. Man’s minivan, great payload, great motors, ran em for years for work. I wanted full seats as well and ended up with an Yukon xl bc I need to tow.
Really wish they would bring back the Astro Awd.
Agree. Those were sweet
We did some SUV shopping this weekend and it was an eye opener. With 2 kids my wife wants a 3rd row mid-size SUV. Anything a year or two old on the lot was 5-10k over the new model MSRP, so new looks to be a better option. Toyota didn’t have anything new on the lot, and 6 months to a year to order one. Kia stopped taking orders on the Telluride, and estimated about a year to get one. Hyundai Palisade is the leader in the clubhouse, and that’s about a 6-8 month time frame to get what we want. Jeep had a few of the Grand Cherokee L’s available but she didn’t really like them. Thankfully we can ride out her Enclave for a while yet, but probably need to take a # and get in line for it’s replacement sooner rather than later with these lead times.
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