erod550 wrote:Any interest in a Santa Fe? I think they look pretty good on the exterior, a step below the CX-5 but a step above the Escape in looks imo, and Hyundai has seriously stepped up their game on their interiors, plus still comes with the 10yr/100k warranty. When it comes time to replace my wife's Impreza, we're going to be seriously looking at one, and possibly a Grand Cherokee, but I'm guessing she will think the GC is too big so we'll come down in size to a Santa Fe.
I took a look at the Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, CX-5, and the Escape last week at the Auto Show.
[*]I crossed of the Rogue, didn't care too much for the interior.... it felt kinda meh, like I was in my Aunts Nissan Quest. I haven't looked too much into it but at the Auto Show they had only one Rogue and it had a built in 3rd row seat. I don't know if that is standard but it was pointless and a waste of rear trunk space even with the 3rd row folded down. Not practical.
[*]The Escape I like but can't get over the windshield sprayers being on the hood. It feel so 80s/90s to have them exposed like that. I could relocate them but then it's just money wasted to do that.
[*]The Sportage didn't make the cut. After looking at the CX-5 and Santa Fe Sport the exterior just wasn't exciting. I decided if I don't like looking at it everyday then it's not for me.
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[*]The Hyundai Sata Fe Sport was a surprise to me. Not super impressive on the outside but I did like it more than the Escape and Sportage. My only issue is that if I decided to get it I would spring for the 2.0T and that would drive the price up if I equip it similarly to the CX-5. But I get more power!
[*]I nearly forgot to mention the Lexus NX 200t F...... The exterior of that car is something to drool over. It could have been worth the extra money only if it were not for the interior. I was not impressed one bit by the inside of this car. I didn't have that high end Lexus feel that you would expect. It just didn't feel premium or any more premium than a GT CX-5 or the Santa Fe Sport. Costing about $8k more than the other cars I was looking at I just couldn't see jumping into it just because of the interior. It's only 235HP where as most of the others are around 170-190 except for the Sportage SX and Santa Fe Sport. 40 more HP and a crappy interior just won't do. It says a lot for the interiors of Mazda, Kia, Hyundai and Nissan. I even saw some Mercedes and BMWs where the interior was not what I would expect. Also the rear space was pretty small even compared with the CX-5. I would go as far as to say it may have been smaller than the Rogue with the 3rd row folded down.
[*]And..... for my number one choice I have decided that the CX-5 will fit me just fine. I can stand to look at the exterior for 10+ yrs. The interior of the 2016s are a bit nicer than the previous model. Not by much, but, the little they did change makes it feel more premium. Compared to the Santa Fe Sport the CX-5 visually looks quit a bit smaller even though their numbers are similar. The interior of the Santa Fe is a bit larger. I'm not looking for a huge SUV but something manageable.
I'm currently looking at a 2016 CX-5 G, Titanium Flash, with the Tech Package and I-Activ Sense (Fully Loaded). Comes to about $33k. I'm hoping that Adding the I-Active Sense Package for $1,500 will help drive the price of insurance down. We'll see how negotiations go at the dealer. Right now the only one with this package and color is at McDonald Mazda. Fall back color is the Deep Blue Crystal but it only comes with a beige interior. I prefer black. Looking at picking one up at the end of this moth or end of May. I will update with a new post and pictures when it happens.