Thinking about ditching the Outback, what's good these days?

Depends what you want it to do. Needs/budget/wants go!

Seats 4, room for sports stuff, work stuff, but small enough to be able to park in a typical parking garage. The Outback was great size wise, but the dealership and factory are make the beast with two backsing us around with an oil consumption problem.

I'm anti GMC , Chevy, and Dodge,...I hold bailout grudges.

My CR-V has been flawless.

Utterly uninspiring, but dead reliable.

You sound like small foreign SUV-highlander, CR-V-something like that should be fine.


I can bring the old subaru to dimby if you'd like. 

These would be my choices in order of increasing performance and price but decreasing cargo space in the Subie size range.

Ford Edge
Honda Crosstour (2015 was the last year I think)
Porsche Cayenne

I'd avoid anything Audi

Quote from: Johnny OrganDonor on January 30, 2016, 03:43:15 AM
I'd avoid anything Audi

Why?  (Just out of interest.......).

We're real happy with our Escape.

Quote from: ungeheuer on January 30, 2016, 04:01:12 AM
Why?  (Just out of interest.......).

Very happy with my SQ5. Audi is fine.

I assume AWD too -- coming from Subie you probably think everything is AWD.

My wife has the Kia Sorento EX AWD (2011 model) and it has been flawless, bought it new in 2010.

We test drove everything in the same class that year and would buy it again, unhesitatingly. 

There are some quirks which they've worked out since then.  Things that I consider to be "korean market" things like there is power controls only on the driver's seat.  Ours is a first-year desgin model and the suspension is truck-like.  THey softened it up quite a bit and the current model is lower riding

We are looking to replace it with a smaller SUV -- that means Honda CRV, Ford Escape or Edge or Kia Sportage.

The Kias do not get the best-in-class MPG compared with identical class motors, but the motors are well designed.  Pete Schreyer from Audi is their designer and they look like older model Audis to me.

If MPG is your thing, look at the Ford Escape, it gets the best in class but it has a 1.6 motor.  Hondas are indestructible but they are the most expensive.  We did not like the finish on the Toyodas.

'15 and up CR-V has the newer direct injection iirc.

Go test drive stuff Joel, and when you're done, just bring me the Subaru and I'll handle the burning duties.

Mazda CX5 . . . Ford Escape . . . Honda CR-V . . .  MB GLA 250 . . . Nissan Rogue . . .

Golf R Wolfsburg Edition

VW Jetta Wagon . . .

Quote from: DarkMonster620 on January 30, 2016, 06:26:02 PM
VW Jetta Wagon . . .

Which is now called the Golf Wagen

Still happy with my (bought new) 2010 A4 Avant.  Unfortunately the newer ones are almost All Roads and are a little taller.