What NEW SUV with towing + good space for sub 40k exists?
Posted by TangerinePaladin@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 42 comments
So i have 2 dogs. #150 and #165 that i WANT to haul around a lot and take hiking/local travel and need to accommodate their size
I also have a farm and trailers that i could regularly haul up to 3500 lbs for an odd job every now and then
And i also have a motorcycle that im wanting to invest in a 12x7 enclosed trailer and set it up with a very bare minimum living quarters that i can lay down or sit while at a track or on vacation
So ideally i need space for 2 very large dogs
Tow capability
And MUST have a warranty, so 2023 or newer
My budget is limited to 40k, but i would be much better served if i can find 30k or even 35k. Ive looked at the small SUVs and the 1.5L and 2L engines in most cases dont allow for good towing or good space. I can sacrifice a little of 1, but not both. And closer to 30-35k the better but 40k isnt off the table
What would you suggest?
ProfitEnough825@reddit
A couple vehicles that meet your needs:
1) Toyota 4Runner. You should be able to find a preowned 2023 or 2024. It's not going to ride well, but it'll tow well, and it's going to be the easiest to service and repair long term. The 1GR engine is a simple and overbuild engine for the power output. This is the choice of vehicle for someone who wants to have a vehicle that's affordable to repair and maintain 20 years down the road.
2) Jeep Grand Cherokee with the V6. It's not as bulletproof as the 4Runner, some do have issues with the engine. But it's no worse than the turbo direct injected engines from many others. Repairs are typically cheaper as well, just not as cheap as the 4Runner. The transmission is also decent, which is pretty important when it comes to towing.
3) Toyota Highlander. I'm not a fan of small turbo engines, especially when towing. Toyota's is probably reliable, but repair costs are often a lot higher on turbo direct injected engines. You mentioned you had a C6 Corvette with expensive repairs, modern direct injected engines are more complex than the C6 and more challenging to work on. Even a basic thermostat replacement can have 500+ in labor.
Odd_System_3375@reddit
I was thinking Grand Cherokee as well. There are CPO ones in the 2021 model year available for under 25k with low miles
SaveMelMac13@reddit
Honda Odyssey
lermandude@reddit
See if your dogs can fit in the back of a maverick. With ecoboost and the towing package it fits all your criteria as long as the dogs fit.
yami76@reddit
This is it right here
Positive-Rutabaga-78@reddit
Honda passport Honda pilot
Toyota Highlander Toyota Grand Highlander Toyota sienna (don't knock a minivan until you've owned one, plus you can get them in AWD, although it will likely push out your budget) Toyota runner
Avoid ANYTHING with a CVT transmission if you are going to tow, (I'm looking at you Nissan)
Ayyy-yo@reddit
Check out the Honda passport. It’s the same as the pilot just with two rows instead of 3 and a bit sportier in my opinion. Huge truck that will fit two big dogs and can tow up to 5000lbs with the tow kit installed. Has great AWD and a proven v6
Babeast88@reddit
Just picked up a 24 passport a few months back, the more i look around at the state of the market, the more i feel like i got a unicorn!
Passport for sure fits the bill here and the J35 are great engines.
You could even get a new one if you could stretch to 45K
Ayyy-yo@reddit
I got mine in feb of this year and I couldn’t be happier with it. My dream was a 4Runner but I couldn’t justify the price.
Having owned my passport for less than a year but I absolutely don’t regret a thing. Comfortable ride with enough ruggedness to handle easy to moderate trail situations
Babeast88@reddit
I like toyota generally, but i did rent a 4runner once in Denver and the V6 struggled on I70, we drove my Accord some time later on and it handled the mountain roads well
And then i started seeing what these new Toyotas cost!! Yeah they start cheaper than honda, but they go WAY higher as well.
Ayyy-yo@reddit
Yeah I felt the v6 in the 4Runner was a bit inadequate in certain situations when I drove it as well. The 5 speed was a real dog
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
Will investigate, thank you
Embarrassed-Advice89@reddit
They don’t lol
ribrien@reddit
Yeah OP is asking the world and not expecting to spend it. CPO Ford Ranger if the dogs can hang in the bed haha
spikehiyashi6@reddit
if you are 100% dead set on getting a brand new vehicle... you don't have a ton of options. You're either going to get a smaller, or less reliable vehicle than you otherwise could get. But, here are some sub 40k new SUVs with 4k+ tow capacities, space, and no small turbo engines... Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Nissan Pathfinder, Chevy blazer (V6), VW Atlas cross sport (V6), Kia telluride, Hyundai palisade. I'm sure there are others, but this is what I found.
if you're okay going a few years used, id look at 2022 Highlanders. that was the last year they used a v6 which I'd expect to be way more reliable than the turbo 4 that replaced it in 2023. they have a 5000 lb towing capacity and are around 30k depending on trim/miles. I would buy one of these before I even considered any of the other above options, except for maybe the Durango.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
F-150 with a bed cap.
xSpeed@reddit
Thats at least 50k
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
I've known people with big dogs, give it a month and you won't notice the difference between new and something with 30K miles on it already.
xSpeed@reddit
2.7 or 5.0?
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
I'm seeing a mix of 3.5s and 5.0s on Cargurus. Tons available that are 2023s or newer, under 40K, just have to get over having 25-30K on it already.
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
Id buy a car with 100k miles if it had a full wareanty from the factory, but that doesnt exist
The warranty means more than the miles, because i want to pay virtually nothing on repairs. Ill gladly maintain a vehicle, but fixing broken stuff and getting stranded is taxing
susan_meyers@reddit
Nissan frontier
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
A Carguru search showed more than two dozen within 200 miles of me under 40K, assuming you don't have any other constraints.
Heylookitscaps2@reddit
Explorer
secondrat@reddit
Almost any SUV will tow 3500 lbs.
skiitifyoucan@reddit
Subaru Ascent can be had under 40k brand new, pretty well equipped.
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
I was trying to look at that, but i got conflicting results on tow and trim ratings...
skiitifyoucan@reddit
You need to get the Premium model to get to the 5K towing capacity. It also doesn't include the hitch so factor that in.
tyson_002@reddit
honestly just buy a used suv😂 the new suvs depreciate insane amounts, you’d be better looking at used
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
After spending $20k in repairs and maintenance on a c6 corvette im realllllly burnt out of used vehicles
o0Spoonman0o@reddit
Sure but that's a domestic sports car from the mid 2000's.
If you were to look at a used suv/truck in reasonable condition from the mid 2010's onward it's highly unlikely you'd need anywhere near 20k in repairs. I'm pretty sure I could replace the engine and transmission in my truck for less than that.
The depreciation hit on new vehicles is just obscene these days. I'd look for something used in good condition and set the rest aside in some sort of interest gaining account in-case-shit-happens.
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
It was a 2012 grand sport 3LT with 66.5k miles in manual transmission :)
It was the most responsive and in control car ive ever owned, but it got notoriously bad to drive with going into a shop for a month and driving for 2-3 days a week i got insanely unlucky with it every step of the way
SkylineFTW97@reddit
But you're not gonna get what you're asking for new at that price point. And as someone who works on new cars, they're gonna be even worse when the current crop becomes used.
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
Well new is going to have a warranty with it so ill atleast have a couple years to recoup my finances
And it is a high expectation for price point, but looks like ill have to justify a 40k vehicle
SkylineFTW97@reddit
You know CPO vehicles typically still retain at least a portion of the factory warranty as well right?
Just maintain whatever you buy (plus doing research to get something that will outlast the warranty with maintenance) and you won't have to worry about that. That's 90% of the problems people have come back to. They do nothing but oil changes every 8-10,000 miles (which is too long. 99% of people have no business going past 5k) and wonder why their car acts up.
Rapom613@reddit
That is a fairly low tow rating that many vehicles on market will meet. Though there are a few questions that need answered.
How long do you plan to keep said vehicle, how many miles do you anticipate putting on it, what is your mechanical competence, and what is your tolerance for maintenance and repairs?
Without knowing those, my suggestion would be a Toyota 4runner. It will likely be in the higher end of your budget, but it will be a fantastic vehicle
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
Im wishing to own it for atleast 3+ years. Id love to own it for 5+ years or even longer if it stays healthy and reliable
And i will probably do between 12k and 20k miles a year which 20k would be a pretty strong outlier of me
Maintenance? I can do pretty much all of it, diagnoses and repairs? Not great. Im worried about breaking something and only have about $4-5k in tools and certainly not enough to do everything, so repairs will go to a shop, like i did with corvette. Hopefully under warranty
Ive been eyeing up the 4runner the most, it looks like it has everything i want even at the lowest trim, vs a small suv at a higher trim
revocer@reddit
Double check that this meets your towing stats.
It seems like you need something truck like or truck based, so that rules out all unibody SUV.
The 4Runner is basically a Toyota Tacoma underneath. (Or really, the Tacoma is a 4Runner underneath.)
I would look for a previous generation 4Runner, the one that has been around for the past 12 years. Not the new one coming out soon.
It’s an SUV, it can haul decently.
If you need more power, consider a previous generation Tundra or Seqouia, not the the latest generations.
TangerinePaladin@reddit (OP)
It's definitely been my go to lead so far, didnt know if there was something else out that compared
tolas@reddit
It won't be new at that price, but the Land Rover Discovery is an excellent tow vehicle. I have a 2018 with air suspension and regularly haul 5500lbs of race car, gear and trailer. $30-40k could get you a really nice used one. I've had no issues with mine and it's currently at 68k miles.
itsthechaw10@reddit
For your needs it sounds like you’re more in the need of a crew cab 1/2 ton truck than an SUV.
Crew cab truck would be plenty of space for your dogs while also easily towing 3500 pounds.
With the cost of vehicles right now 40k is really a stretch for something 2023 or newer. I honestly don’t know if you’d be able to find either a truck or SUV that meets all of your criteria.
I think 55k would be a much better budget. You’d be able to look at some used trucks and SUVs then that would fit your needs. Maybe adjust your model year to be 2021 and newer and you may be able to find some of the higher end trim levels with whatever vehicle you decide to get.
Any 1/2 ton crew cab truck or a larger SUV like a Tahoe or whatever is the comparable model in other brands.
o0Spoonman0o@reddit
These were my thoughts as well. I'd just look at something older, spend 25k and put the rest aside for repairs. A mid 2010 1/2 that's in good shape should not be super expensive to maintain given his stated use cases. You can replace a lot of shit on a truck for 10-15k
As you've eluded to typically with towing you want to avoid getting something that maxes out at 3000lbs to tow something that's 3000lbs.