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SUVs - USA

TOYOTA & HONDA - Japanese marque. Best car companies in the World. Superior engineering with both performance
& reliability. Both these cars can do easily above 200,000miles on stock parts with good care. TOYOTAs generally are bit
more long lasting than HONDAs, and tend to be more easy on engine maintenance with more mileage. However,
HONDAs, being worlds largest engine manufacturer, tend to have engines with better driving characteristics, and also
better car dynamics. But overall, these two companies are leagues ahead wrt other car brands across the globe.

MITSUBUSHI - Japanese marque. Their car division is just one part of their group. So, even though they have that
Japanese finesse you see in perfection & engineering, they still fall short of other Japanese brands like Toyota, Honda &
Mazda. They are not known for their reliability, and might need occasional visits to garage during car ownership.

SUBARU - Japanese marque. Has cult following among car enthusiasts. They are the only company that sold Wankel
(Rotary) engines, and still all their product portfolio uses Boxer Engine. So, all their cars have superior balance, and very
smooth handling capability. Being Japanese, they are also best in engineering, and are just slightly behind TOYOTAs,
HONDAs, & MAZDAs. However, typical boxer engine has more components, and simple repairs sometimes require
removing engine out of car, hence maintenance costs can get higher. They are also very well known for their AWD, thus
preferred in mountainous & snowy regions.

LEXUS & ACURA - LEXUS is a luxury division of TOYOTA, and ACURA is luxury division of HONDA. In Japan, these
brands don't exist, they are sold under their parent brand. But in outside world, people tend to not associate them as
luxury cars, hence they created these brands. They have exactly same characteristics as their respective parent brands.
LEXUS tend to be more luxury oriented than ACURA, and also is the best luxury car company in USA for many years.
Quick note, cars sold under these brands are not same models that are sold with TOYOTA or HONDA, atleast in majority
of models, unlike VOLKSWAGEN-SKODA-AUDI group.

GERMAN BIG 3 - MERCEDES-BENZ, AUDI, BMW are German luxury marques. They generally have slightly better
looks & performance than TOYOTAs & HONDAs, but like most European brands, these suffer from reliability issues
down the line. And after expiry of warranty, they tend to develop all kind of issues. Also another reason why they are very
cheap in used car market. BMW have peppy engines, but in the past are known for their rust/corrosion issues in chassis,
engines can either be hit or miss in terms of quality. AUDI, uses tech mostly from VOLKSWAGEN, hence also brings
their issues, better than BMW, but still have their niggles & wiggles. BENZ is best of the three, but has higher premium in
their cost compared to other two.

VOLVO - Swedish marque. Known for superior safety for decades. Generally have more quieter & luxurious feel to their
cars than their counterparts. But like other European brands, can be pain in the ass with their reliability. Better to get car
with good warranty.

GENESIS - Korean marque. Luxury car division of HYUNDAI. They seem to have good footprint is USA. Taking their
parent company into consideration, these generally are good cars, but not superior compared to Japanese. They still
have their little issues here and there popping up in the long run of ownership. Tend to fall apart after a decade of
ownership, but still good cars. Notable things with HYUNDAI; Their steering is absolutely worst (doesn't weigh up with
speed), and also most of their models don't have good gearing, so can feel sluggish.

OTHER NOTES:

SUVs - USA 1
 Looks, & feel are subjective. Hence I recommend test drive and get a feel for this. I won't rate cars based on this but
will provide some notes

Being admirer of Japanese Engineering, my reviews generally get skewed towards their brands, so keep this in mind

AWD: All Wheel Drive (computer adjusts power to all wheels depending driving conditions on each wheel) | FWD:
Front Wheel Drive (2X4) | RWD: Rear Wheel Drive (2X4) | 4X4 : on flat surface, in ideal conditions on all 4 wheels, it
splits power between all 4 wheel equally, will have extra gear-shifter to switch between 2X4 & 4X4

DSG - Dual clutch transmission (new tech, best fuel efficiency & performance too, in most cases out-performs
traditional manual, but part costs are higher) | TC - Torque converter (oldest & most matured automatic transmission,
fuel thirsty, costs are lower) | CVT - kind of mix of both worlds, but not fast shifts. However TOYOTA & HONDA have
very good CVTs

Engine, NA- Naturally Aspirated | TC - Turbocharged. TC cars need more care

Didn't rate on safety, with assumption that they have good safety due to their price

The table shows from most preferred to least preferred

Base Est. Drive

Car Powertrain Warranty Notes Preference
MSRP mileage Options
Good towing capacity. Heated
front seats in all except one
variant, only limited variant has
heated steering. Best off-road
capabilities in its segment (but
3years /
not to extent of 4X4). Has
36,000 miles
2.5ltr 4-cyl NA Petrol manual models in CVT. Very
Subaru 26-33 (basic)
$25,194.00 Boxer 182bhp, 176lb-ft AWD good price & very well made, 1
Forester mpg 5years /
CVT robust car. Has many safety
60,000 miles
tech & features. Different drive
(powertrain)
modes for snow, dirt, etc.
Amazing ingress & egress in
rear, ample head room, &
legroom. Good 5-seater car.
Good boot.
Has Hybrid powertrain with
CVT & AWD. Has front
heated/ventilated seats &
3years / steering as additional package
36,000 miles to XLE (higher variant) only.
2.5ltr, 4-cyl NA Petrol
Toyota 28-35 AWD (basic) Very good rear legroom &
$27,645.00 203bhp, 184lb-ft 8- 2
RAV4 mpg FWD 5years / adequate seating room. Good
speed DSG
60,000 miles 5-seater car. Very good
(powertrain) practical car, one of its best in
its class. Has good safety tech.
Definitely neither sportier nor
luxurious.

SUVs - USA 2
 Base Est. Drive
Car Powertrain Warranty Notes
MSRP mileage Options Preference

Luxurious, a segment higher,

competes with Audi Q5, BMW
X3, Volvo XC60. One of the
best selling luxury compact suv
out there. Sportier Engine,
good handling, gives a smile
on your face. Most preferred
varaint (A-spec) can go
4years / $44,950MSRP (FWD),
50,000 miles $47,150MSRP(AWD). Heated
2.0ltr 4-cyl TC Petrol AWD
Acura 22-28 (basic) front seats on all variants, rear
$39,300.00 272bhp, 280lb-ft 10- 3
RDX mpg FWD 6years / in some, steering is A-spec or
speed TC
70,000 miles advanced. Very good rear
(powertrain) legroom & seating room. Very
good 5-seater car. Touch pad
needs some time to get used
to. Not most ergonomic.
Reports of electical issues by
few users, with most reporting
bluetooth device draining
battery. Has many safety tech
& features.
Has variant with 400bhp+,
hybrid-/electrical. Very good
Has prepaid interiors. Clean. Touch-screen
2.0ltr 4-cyl TC Petrol service is apple-esque. Spacious,
Volvo 23-32 187bhp, 221lb-ft AWD options, and practical, very roomy. Safety -
$34,100.00 4
XC40 mpg (FWD) 248bhp, 258lb- FWD plans to its a VOLVO!! Plenty of ADAS
ft (AWD) TC Gearbox cover entire systems. 112mph electronic
car default speed limiter!!!
Premium, Luxurious & Comfy
car.
5years / Has heated/ventilated seats
60,000miles &steering in most variants. Can
(basic) feel under-powered & sluggish,
Mitsubushi 1.5ltr 4-cyl TC Petrol 10years / but still adequate. Not the
26-29 AWD
Eclipse $23,695.00 152bhp, 184lb-ft 8- 100,000miles roomiest car, very good for 4- 5
mpg FWD
Cross speed CVT (powertrain) people, but 5 can get cramped.
5years Boot is adequate. Very good
roadside price, and interiors look clean,
assistance with amazing engine warranty.

3years /
36,000 miles Has front heated/ventilated
(basic) seats & steering as additional
5years / package to XLE or higher
60,000 miles variant only. Not good for
(powertrain) towing / not recommended for
Toyota 37-40 2.5ltr, 4-cyl hybrid-
$32,890.00 AWD 8years / towing. Very good rear legroom 6
Venza mpg petrol NA 219bhp CVT
100,000miles & adequate seating room.
(hybrid) Good 5-seater car. Good
10years / infotainment system. Has good
150,000miles safety tech. Definitely Lexus
(hybrid like stylish looks.
battery)

SUVs - USA 3
 Base Est. Drive
Car Powertrain Warranty Notes
MSRP mileage Options Preference

Has AMG version with

300+bhp, but can go beyond
$45,000. Best interior. Period.
Feels very premium. Very
compact car, ample rear
4 years /
legroom, 5-seater. Very comfy.
50,000 miles
2.0ltr 4-cyl TC Petrol Premium extra pay for addition
Mercedes- 25-34 AWD (basic) Has
$36,230.00 221bhp, 258lb-ft 8- of apple car play /andrioid 7
Benz GLA mpg FWD prepaid
speed DSG auto!!! Suspensions is spot-on.
service
Cabin is silent at speed. Car
options
shouts premium, luxury, &
niceness at you from its every
corner. Gives a smile on your
face with its ride. Bad warranty
package.

Its Tiptronic gearbox is

traditionally known for its good
driving characterstics, but lacks
refinement in this model by
some people. Has higher
4 years / power 228bhp engine too. Top
50,000 miles speed electronically limited to
2.0ltr 4-cyl TC Petrol
23- (basic) 130mph!!!!! Bad warranty
Audi Q3 $35,900.00 184bhp, 221lb-ft 8- AWD 8
30mpg 4years package. Very compact car,
speed TC
roadside ample rear legroom, 4seater (5
assistance can get cramped). Very comfy
though. Exterior & interrior
looks & quality are amazing.
Clean design of interior
package. Luxury car, good
interior & ride package.

Has Diesel variants. Luxury

car, very premium, and
2.5ltr 4-cyl TC petrol expensive too. will go beyond
304PS, 43.0kgf.m 10years / $50,000 with additional
(RWD/AWD) 100,000 packages. Powerful engine,
——————————- AWD miles Fast car, sportier ride.
Genesis 19-26
$41,000.00 3.5ltr V6 TC Petrol (powertrain) Luxurious interiors, feels high- 9
GV80 mpg RWD
380PS, 54.0kgf.m Free tech. Has BENTELY feel.
(AWD) maintenace Bloody expensive to buy, and
—————————— packages not much data on running
8-speed TC costs!!! Competetor to Acura
RDX, definetly feels richer than
RDX.

SUVs - USA 4