Full size suv you recommend?

[Doug2000]

Some people pick the vehicle with an iPad as a stereo, I Google TOP 100 LONGEST LASTING VEHICLES. I hate leaving my vehicle for weeks at the dealership while they figure it out. Pick a vehicle with no turbos, no start stop, no cylinder deactivation. When you pick your vehicle, go on their forums to see what actually goes wrong with it, what are people complaining about.

Check the NHTSA, how many complaints and recalls?

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/T...U%25252FEC/4WD

I became very biased after working in the auto industry for Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. Some auto manufactures just don't care about you.

[azjack]

Love my Durango R/T with a Hemi engine. It looks great and drives even better. We first put nearly 100,000 miles on a Jeep Grand Cherokee and wanted another but didn't want 4wd so went to the Durango with 2wd, 8 Spd and a Hemi. This summer we made 3 trips into and all over CO, a lot of time at or above 9000' and it performed flawlessly with great gas mileage with the pedal down. About 24 not towing and 16 to 18 towing.
AZJack

[Doug2000]

Compare real world fuel economy on the web page Fuelly.com

Browse All Cars | Fuelly

[jennykatz]

We had a 07Sequoia and it was awesome 14-15 mpg around town and 19 hwy towing about 10-12 It had 130 k on it when we traded for a 2018 expedition much better mpg over 25 mpg hwy and 20 around town. 14-15 towing a E21
If going with a expedition go with a 2017 or newer they are 2nd generation v-6 eco boost engines less carbon buildup on intake valves Jim
Good luck in your quest

[jeffrow]

Originally Posted by Dave&Kathie

That pretty much sums it up. That being said, we love our V8 Toyota 4Runner. We have towed our 21 up and down the west coast and all the way around the US. Comfortable to ride in and solid as a rock. Really we get about the same gas mileage as most folks do towing. Wish it did better around town though. We have 140k and expect to get that much more but if we ever have to replace it I think we'd be looking at the Sequoia. The Lexus is a little too spendy. Good luck!
Kathie

Pretty much describes our 07 4wd v8 4Runner..... awful MPG and bullet proof. Its perfect for the back country driving I like to do when out camping.

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by jeffrow

Pretty much describes our 07 4wd v8 4Runner..... awful MPG and bullet proof. Its perfect for the back country driving I like to do when out camping.

I just bought a 19 Tundra 4.6L 4X4 DC and love it. Same fuel mileage as my 08 Tacoma DC 4X4.

Now to find an Escape 19

[cpaharley2008]

An interesting comparison.. https://www.autoblog.com/2019/02/08/...de-comparison/

[Janet H]

You might consider looking for a used Mercedes ML 350. They are rated to tow 7200 lbs and a great ride. You might be pleasantly surprised at the prices you find.

[rjbny]

Audi Q7 with the tow package:

2011- 2016 3.5 L V6 = 6600#
2017 - current 3.0 L Turbo V6 = 7700#

[Ksambor]

I tow w a 2018 Armada and is great.
Plenty of power, tow mode and auto downshift work well. Mileage from 10 to 15 depending mostly on wind. Weight distribution and sway bars are essential and make it ride like a one piece outfit. Really no downside for me.

[Lee.Artman]

trailer life magazine has an annual review of towing vehicles both as TOV and dingies. It is available online

[Losangeles]

Take a close look at TORQUE #'s as well as Horsepower.

We towed a 21' Escape with an Acura MDX, and merging onto a busy freeway up a gentle hill was NOT fun. Not enough torque.

I dont know how long they have made them, but a Dodge Durango with the bigger engine and with a factory tow package would be good, i would think.

I forget who it was, but someone here used to tow a 21' with a Durango (with bigger engine) and said it was great.

just my 2c.

[Farther]

I think the OP needs to be more specific. The thread title says full-size SUV but then goes on to discuss midsized. Full-size SUV field is not so crowded. Chevy Suburban XL, GMC Yukon XL, Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia/LandCruiser, Infinity QX80. It's hard to make a bad choice if you have the money.

I'm partial to Toyota products for full size and Honda products for midsized.

[cpaharley2008]

Regardless of model SUV, you will not have a full sized spare tire in 90% of them that is capable of being used while towing, so a good road service company that sends 2 trucks will be needed.

[Artlady]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

Some people pick the vehicle with an iPad as a stereo, I Google TOP 100 LONGEST LASTING VEHICLES. I hate leaving my vehicle for weeks at the dealership while they figure it out. Pick a vehicle with no turbos, no start stop, no cylinder deactivation. When you pick your vehicle, go on their forums to see what actually goes wrong with it, what are people complaining about.

Check the NHTSA, how many complaints and recalls?

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/T...U%25252FEC/4WD

I became very biased after working in the auto industry for Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. Some auto manufactures just don't care about you.

Doug, We’ve ordered a 21’. Pulled our 19‘ with a Chevy traverse, and it performed wonderfully. Although gas mileage would vary considerably.

Now, we’re thinking of the Ford expedition V6 with eco-boost. With your experience and knowledge, what do you think of this one as a tow vehicle for the 21‘?

What would be your next choice after this one? Trucks are much too high off the ground for me to get into them. Don’t want a V-8 either.
Thanks!

[GILLMOS]

We recently bought a Dodge Durango with the factory tow package that has a 6,200 lb tow capacity. It's one of the few mid-sized/reasonably priced SUV's that goes over the 5,000 lb threshold. Works really well with our Escape 19 which is 3,200 lbs plus about 1,000 lbs of us and our gear. We bought a new 2018 model year in 2019 from the local Dodge/Jeep dealership for $32,000 and saved $6-7,000. Love it.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by jaygee

We recently bought a Dodge Durango with the factory tow package that has a 6,200 lb tow capacity. It's one of the few mid-sized/reasonably priced SUV's that goes over the 5,000 lb threshold. Works really well with our Escape 19 which is 3,200 lbs plus about 1,000 lbs of us and our gear. We bought a new 2018 model year in 2019 from the local Dodge/Jeep dealership for $32,000 and saved $6-7,000. Love it.

Is that the Durango with Pentstar V6?

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Regardless of model SUV, you will not have a full sized spare tire in 90% of them that is capable of being used while towing, so a good road service company that sends 2 trucks will be needed.

Made me go out and check- it is a full-size spare on Expedition. Just turning 2K on trip odometer and in Utah and mostly Colorado this 3.5 EcoBoost engine is exceeding my wildest expectations. MPG: 14. Downhill braking: unreal. Pulling out into traffic is like a hot rod.

[cpaharley2008]

Ross,
Is the wheel and tire the same with what is on your vehicle? My spare is on a steel wheel and the tire is 17" although I have 20's on the truck. It says on tire temporary use only. I went out and bought a matching wheel and put on a matching tire and carry it in my truck bed. I'd be leary if the rim and tire does not match the other 4.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Janet H

You might consider looking for a used Mercedes ML 350. They are rated to tow 7200 lbs and a great ride. You might be pleasantly surprised at the prices you find.

note there's different generations of these, the first ones, 97 to 2005, were body-on-frame, these were mostly ML320, although there were larger engines (320 == 3.2 liter)

the second generation were completely new, and unibody, came with the 3.5L as a ML350, also various v8's, and a stretched version was called GL350 etc,

2012+ is a third generation and has a lot in common with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, and they were rebranded GLE in 2015 to better map to the 'new' mercedes naming conventions (GL == SUV, E == 'e class' or mid size. GLS is large/super luxo, GLC is smaller 'compact', and GLA is subcompact).

an aside, I've heard a lot of horror stories about expensive engine problems with the early 'blutech' diesels starting circa 2009. mercedes diesels before blutech were excellent, and I've heard they've got the blutech systems sorted out now, but I'm not sure what years to avoid.