New SUV or Truck

[lure lighting guy]

I am currently getting approx 19mpg on average day. Looking to get a 2006 or newer SUV or Truck. Any suggestions?? Looing into full size or mid size pickup but not sure on gas and it needs extended cab. Also searched on Jeep liberty, Ford Escapes and smaller suvs. Use to haul two atvs and that is about it. THANKS A TON

[jltimm]

What are ya driving now? Are you looking to improve on mileage?

[lure lighting guy]

Colorado crew cab is what I currently have. I would like to keep about the same milage if possible.

[deadeye]

The Dakotas have been pretty good, I dont know about mileage on the newer ones but they are pretty reliable. (I got a 03 Durango and it gets about 18-20 on the freeway). There are lots of little SUV's out there that would be able to pull that as well. Those Escapes seem to be pretty decent. The liberty doesnt get the greatest mileage, a guy I work with had his wife trade it in because it only got 14mpg. Its reliable, just thirsty. Lots of the Toyota and Honda stuff get good mileage and can tow good. The RAV4, 4Runner, CRV and Pilot are all great little SUVs and are not so thirsty.

[jltimm]

I don't think the Dakota's will get 19 mpg very often, unless it's a 2 wd on a good day. Are you looking at 4wd's? I'd say the above were good models to look into, other than the Dodges just because I don't believe Dodges have ever been known for there economy on gas?

[jltimm]

Heres a little info on the 2008 Dakota 4x4 with a 4.7 V8 I found on the internet.

Of course, it should come as no surprise that best-in-class V8 power comes with pretty terrible gas mileage. EPA estimates are 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 15 mpg combined. Over the course of 1,270 miles in two identical Dakotas, we matched the EPA's combined number, even though a majority of those miles were on the highway. By comparison, the V6-powered Toyota Tacoma provides nearly the same acceleration capabilities with 3 more miles per gallon in the combined cycle — something to consider if only 6,500 pounds of towing capacity is enough.

[FasterThanYou23]

Buy American

[deadeye]

Ya, I wasnt sure about the Dakotas and mpg. I am pretty light on the gas most of the time with the Durango and it does pretty good for me.

I was just in at the Dodge dealer picking up a part for the Durango and they got all kinds of smaller suvs that are pretty slick. I sat in that Dodge Journey and it was really a nice little crossover. The Big Horn Ram was still my favorite in the showroom. Just a real kick @$$ truck if you ask me. If I only had the money!!!

As far as the American/foreign thing, My Dodge was made in Mexico, my Chevy in Canada, my Toyota in Tennesee and my Mitsubishi in Illinois. I dont know what to think about that anymore. As much of a American Muscle guy that I am, its tough for me understand buying a car that is American but made in Mexico. My cousin works at the Mitsubishi plant in Illinois and makes a pretty good living working there, so who knows.

I would just test drive them all and get whatever one fits you best. Nothing better than beating the heck out of a dealer's car and saying that you want one just like it, but not this one .

[lure lighting guy]

Thanks for the info. I did look into the Dakotas but personally didnt like the look and feel of them. I may look into a Nitro or a Jeep Laredo with the 3.7 v6 however not sure how well they will pull two wheelers the jeep states 3,500lb and the nitro 5,000lb both have the 3.7L v6 and the Nitro is based off of the liberty chassis. What would make that difference and do you think 3,500 tow rate would be sufficient?

[pinkfloyd4ever]

those colorado's look sweet, I've just walked up to people who own them to ask and they all love them, mileage + able to do towing.

I had pickups for 10 years then tried the SUV route, hated it, missed the pick up look and better able to haul/move stuff. Now I am back to an old rusty but trusty pick up for a few years

[solbes]

I guess if you're looking to improve mileage, there's lots of cross-overs and smaller SUV's that could do better. If your looking to tow just a couple of ATV's you have lots of options. I actually just rode in a rental Chevy Traverse (similar to the GMC Acadia). Rode really nice.

If you ever wanted to do more, then you probably need a truck frame and a transmission that's a little more stout. Most full or mid sized pickups won't get you 19 mpg. The Frontier and Tacoma would be in between a Colorado and Dakota for mileage and tow capability. My 4.7 '02 Dakota can tow like a full size, but only gets me 15-16 combined.

[fishorgolf]

The Dakotas have been pretty good, I dont know about mileage on the newer ones but they are pretty reliable. (I got a 03 Durango and it gets about 18-20 on the freeway). There are lots of little SUV's out there that would be able to pull that as well. Those Escapes seem to be pretty decent. The liberty doesnt get the greatest mileage, a guy I work with had his wife trade it in because it only got 14mpg. Its reliable, just thirsty. Lots of the Toyota and Honda stuff get good mileage and can tow good. The RAV4, 4Runner, CRV and Pilot are all great little SUVs and are not so thirsty.

Deadeye, what engine do you have in your Durango. I had one with the 360 in it and I was lucky to get 14 mph on a good day.

[lure lighting guy]

Update: Purchased a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee got a fair trade on colorado and so far it has been a great vehicle 3.7 V6 pulls 2 atvs fine. It is all wheel drive which is nice since my wife never wanted to use the 4x4 in the colorado and went in the ditch because of it. Avg mileage is 18-21, when pulling two atvs its only about 15 mpg. I wish I had the bed of a truck again at times though.

I loved almost everything about my colorado good mileage fair power with inline 5 cylinder fair size, however had several issus with electrical in which chevrolet was not very easy to work with it was in the shop 22 times while under warranty and several of which were same issues they claimed it was not a lemon and then the head gasket was out at under 70,000 miles and I always babied used amsoil etc it so it was time to go. When I traded it in the dealership said it was one of the cleanest trucks with 70k miles.

[PurpleFloyd]

I bought a 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with the V8 after looking at pretty much the same vehicles mentioned on here. It has more power than the 1998 dodge ram 1500 with a 5.9 V8 and the ride and economy are miles ahead of it too.

I average about 18 combined MPG with over 20 HWY and mid teens in the city and it has enough power to pull my 6x12 trailer full of cabinets or a flatbed pulling the UTV.

I just added a topper to keep things like the dogs dry during hunting season.

[gspman]

Toyota Tacoma