Hi guys, can you recommend a mid-sized SUV?  I need it large enough to fit two car seats and other kids stuff, so Im going with mid-size (don't want a huge Tahoe/Escalade type of beast).

I was liking the Volvo ohhgourami recommended, but the advice of not picking a brand new design until it provides itself makes sense.

I have no driving/handling requirements, and only want an interior that is comfortable and a car that is reliable.  Price range is flexible.

Acura MDX
Kind of on the bigger side, but good for growing family and has third row of seats. Good brakes and engine for its size. Wife feels safe. We picked this over the larger Buick Enclave. The Enclave's brake and overall larger sized GM handling and feel didn't give my wife any confidence. Great motor. Latest models have been transmission that don't slog as much as the prior years. Shit mileage.

Honda Pilot
Honda version of above. Honda finally improved on the brakes to be close to the MDX. Doesn't drive as well as the MDX. Gimped motor not as good (unless they changed it.)

Acura RDX
Smaller version of the above two. No third row. Nothing fancy. They got rid of the POS V4 turbo and replaced it with a V6. To be considered if you can haggle one down for cheap.

Toyota Highlander
Holy shit, these are getting big. Third row seats. I was impressed with the driving feel (I think maybe the newer Lexus approach is rubbing off). Acura is getting stupid expensive so this may be a smarter option. This would probably be my current pick to replace the MDX; and honestly the trim isn't much worse than the Acura. There are some design elements with the seats, ergo, interior packaging, etc. that are better executed (we are talking family stuff).

Toyota RAV4
Smaller version of above. Get this if you want a small/mid sized SUV. Yes, they have gotten bigger and bigger over the years. Probably the most sensible purchase listed here. But sensible can also be boring.

Lexus RX450
Nice, but neither the interior or driving dynamics super impressed me that I would want to spend a premium over the Toyota. Chinese buy this so can tell their friends they have a Lexus. Japanese take advantage of such vanities. If you want a Lexus, go for their sedans or station wagon.

BMW X3
Best driving dynamics. Lease only. If you like burning money and keeping up with the Jones' in a pseudo kind of way, this is it if you want something that isn't huge. Fewer compromises in performance, so not as much utility and interior room as above choices. If I had money to burn, this would be my mid-sized SUV. Actually, I take that back. I'd get the Porsche Macan Turbo. May as well go full douchebag rather than poser douche.


These opinions on based on my personal experience with them (owned, leased, family friends, kids' friends' parents, test-drives, etc.) and not via magazines or Internet, etc.

2016... I still don't what it is about the Lexus SUV interiors that make them look (and feel) less impressive than their sedans or one wagon.

I love the new Mercedes C class interiors though, with the exception of the 287 buttons, strange Atari Missile Command controller thing, and Samsung quality tablet (screen - no touch) awkwardly attached in front of the dash just over the vents. The sound system was pretty good after EQ tweaks (my wife volunteers me to do these things for her friends.)

2016... I still don't what it is about the Lexus SUV interiors that make them look (and feel) less impressive than their sedans or one wagon.

I love the new Mercedes C class interiors though, with the exception of the 287 buttons, strange Atari Missile Command controller thing, and Samsung quality tablet (screen - no touch) awkwardly attached in front of the dash just over the vents. The sound system was pretty good after EQ tweaks (my wife volunteers me to do these things for her friends.)

Actually depending on which color and trim options you select, the new RX has some pretty nice interior details. I still don't think it's a match for the Volvo or Audi, but it's MUCH MUCH better than the outgoing car. Toyota started cost cutting its interiors to the bone in the mid '00s, and the previous RX definitely suffered from that. The new one doesn't.

I just bought a Durango. I wanted something bigger than a Highlander and it was cheaper too. Got it for $5000 off MSRP (worked out to 12.23% discount) and 0% financing, couldn't resist.
Replaced my 10 year old Durango.