2012/2013 Durango/Highlander or...

[Slide Panda]

Noooo

[Triple J]

Nissan Xterra? If you get the Pro-4X model then it should have heated seats (my Frontier does). I've had several Nissans and they've all been dead reliable. Only downside is fuel economy.

I agree that CVT sucks.

[Slide Panda]

I know previous iterations had a supercharger that required Premium - doesn't seem the case on the '12s. Any notion there?

[Triple J]

Previously they made XE, SE, and Supercharged (SC) Xterra models. I put 100,000 miles on an SE model before trading it in on my Pro-4X Frontier (no supercharger). It never had a problem.

I'm not sure if they still make the supercharged models...I don't think so. I bought the SE back in 2004 because I didn't want to deal with the supercharger and premium gas. The new models now have more hp than the old supercharged models. My SE had about 180 hp (SC model was 230 I think)...my new Frontier (and the new Xterras) have about 260 hp.   I tow my race bike around quite a bit in a 6x10 enclosed V-nose trailer and it does well...better than my Xterra used to.

They're still a little bare bones (relatively speaking)...but they're supposed to be, and I like that. That said, my Pro-4X has leather seats, a Rockford Fosgate stereo system, heated seats, traction control (fairly useless IMO), and an electric rear locker. It's nice, even if not as nice as some other vehicles (also not as expensive).

[Slide Panda]

2013 has a substantial redesign - doesn't seem like nissanusa.com has quite caught up. Only X and S models on there at present. They might be on a different release cycle I guess

[Triple J]

They're showing a Pro-4X model (2012 though).
http://www.nissanusa.com/xterra?next=header.vehicles.postcard.vlp.image#/models/

Doesn't look like the Frontier or Xterra will be changed in 2013.
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/new-cars-for-2013-nissan-news

[Slide Panda]

Ah, I figured it out. They don't display the Pro-X until you select 4x4. 4x2 is default display tricked me... which is not so good as I do web design and UX for my job. Tut, tut nissan - let folks know what's out there up front.

[Pedro-bot]

I don't have experience with any of the vehicles you listed.

But you did mention heated seats and spoiled and I have experience with those.

My car was at the BMW dealer last month for repairs and was given a X1 35i as a loaner.

If it's a lease you decide to go with I would put this on the short list.
Great handling, strong twin turbo motor, all wheel drive, great gas mileage, optional heated leather seats, and much more.

Only catch is it comes in just shy of the 4,000 lb tow capacity mark.

Best of luck with your decision. Get some test drives in and enjoy the process of deciding on a new vehicle. 

[Slide Panda]

X1 list tow capacity as N/A. One has to go to the X5 to get over 5k tow rate. But, perhaps an X1 would make it easy for me to talk the wife into using her vehicle for any tow duty.... But I'm looking for more cargo capacity seems the X1 is much like the VW tiguan which has about none without the rear seats down.

Rear seats are a must, as a rear seat only passenger is appearing in later March

[Speedbag]

Ford Explorer Sport. All the goodness of the Taurus SHO in a cushy SUV.

I want to drive one bad. I don't need that big a vehicle though (probably a good thing)...

[lethe]

We love our Audi Q5 but the tow rating is a touch under your goal

[ItsaDuc]

Have you thought of the the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Word on the street is a diesel is to be added to the lineup in 2013 which could b good for gas mileage. I don't have FHE with the new model but loved my '05. Not sure tow capacity of the V6, but pretty sure the V8 handles 5k and also comes with the system that shuts down 4 cylinders for fuel economy when not needed.

[Randimus Maximus]

If you can wait until next fall, the 2014 Highlander looks awesome.

[sno_duc]

I don't have experience with any of the vehicles you listed.

But you did mention heated seats and spoiled and I have experience with those.

My car was at the BMW dealer last month for repairs and was given a X1 35i as a loaner.

If it's a lease you decide to go with I would put this on the short list.
Great handling, strong twin turbo motor, all wheel drive, great gas mileage, optional heated leather seats, and much more.
Only catch is it comes in just shy of the 4,000 lb tow capacity mark.

Best of luck with your decision. Get some test drives in and enjoy the process of deciding on a new vehicle. 

My only pregnant dog with the X1, why can't we (north americans) get it with a manual tranny and the 200hp diesel. If I could get a german spec X1 123d (diesel) with a 6mt, that would be my daily driver. Current dd 135i M-sport 6mt.

[Slide Panda]

If you can wait until next fall, the 2014 Highlander looks awesome.

Got some details on the changes?