Which luxury SUV for my parents?

[floridaorange]

Looking for any advice on a newer used luxury suv/crossover for my parents, they are in their 60's, want all wheel drive for mountains, legroom for my Dad and decent ground clearance for easy access for my Dad, he's a big guy - not fat just big and has football injuries. Looking to keep it close to $40k.

They are open to:
BMW
Mercedes
Volvo
Acura
Lincoln
Audi

Any ideas? My first thought was a well equipped VW Atlas. But I can tell my Mom wants luxury brand so thinking Mercedes. They won't appreciate a bmw so I can't in good conscious recommend that to them.

[particulardude]

Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Maserati Levante or Quattroporte (Ghibli is not big guy friendly)

Audi Allroad

Volvo V90 Cross Country

[Germanauto]

Idk man they've just gotta test drive different cars and see what they like best and what makes reasonable financial sense.

Acura and Lincoln are a cut below the other brands you listed. I got up close with the new Aviator at their "experience center" in Newport Beach and it's a solid car, but outside the price range you listed.

[chassis]

The Atlas is quite a large vehicle. If your dad is a big guy, this will suit him well. However it is not a luxury marque, so mom is not happy. I had a recent model Touareg, and the Atlas is noticeably larger than the Touareg.

The Mercedes GLE is the comparably-sized model to the Atlas and the BMW X5. I have a GLE350 and like it a lot. The base model seats are relatively flat and large-bottomed. I imagine larger folks will find the seats comfortable. I am 6' and average/leaner than average build, and find the seats enjoyable.

A 2016-2017 GLE350 in the $40k range should be reasonably easy to find, check CarGurus.com. For that price and year(s), the model will likely not be highly optioned.

The GLC and C-Class are nice vehicles in my view, nice looking and fun to drive, but are lower to the ground and have a smaller feel, might not be the best for dad.

E-Class generally carry higher price tags, so either older or higher mileage examples would be expected. While larger than the C-Class, the E-Class doesn't feel to me like a "big" vehicle.

The S-Class is the ultimate big guy car with very comfy seats, but expensive and complicated suspensions that are expensive to maintain as they age. A $40k S-Class will be a few years old with high-ish miles.

No experience with the other brands listed.

[stevenvillatoro]

My neighbors (mid-60s age) got a BMW X3 sDrive30i and love love love it. My experience in their car includes trips to Los Angeles a couple of times, and around town. It is really nice, well built, comfy, sporty, and would fit your parents' needs.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Looking for any advice on a newer used luxury suv/crossover for my parents, they are in their 60's, want all wheel drive for mountains, legroom for my Dad and decent ground clearance for easy access for my Dad, he's a big guy - not fat just big and has football injuries. ...
Any ideas? My first thought was a well equipped VW Atlas. But I can tell my Mom wants luxury brand so thinking Mercedes. ...

When I was shopping for a car for my mother back in '99 (she was 76 or so at the time), I first started looking at SUV's, but decided to just get her a nice Toyota Camry. Look, she was 5'2" tall, and climbing up into an SUV with weak upper body strength wasn't going to work for her.

Your father and mother need something that they can open the doors on, sit down on the edge of the seat and then swing their legs into the car. Some SUV's might be ok, but don't go too high.

[HyeWarrior]

New or used?

You can find some nice Audi Q7's under the $40k mark. If they're looking for AWD, thats what I would go with personally. We found a 2014 Q7 with 9k miles on it back in 2015 for a steal at a Mercedes lot, someone had traded it in

[floridaorange]

They will buy low mileage used - thanks for the ideas I appreciate it.. She'll buy it outright and drive it for at least 10 years - so that's why it's nice to hear ideas from other car ppl as a starting point. The GLE and Q7 we will test, thanks again.

[MrSmartyPants]

They could always go to Carmax and sit in multiple cars. Helped my wife narrow down what she was really interested in without visiting 6 dealers and dealing with all the follow up calls/ emails.

[particulardude]

Used Evoque

[FlaPatsFan]

Op....what about the Infinity QX80? Is that luxury enough? Pretty damn nice SUV, and big. I see a lot of them in my area of Sarasota.

[overcoil]

Any vehicle my parents drive have a back-up-camera, parking sensors front & rear.

And with emergency braking and cross traffic and blind-spot - those would be pretty enticing.

[ShocknAwe]

Don't want to hijack... Wife and I have been looking for a second car and this thread fits us.

I thought Merc trucks were horrible for reliability? Is there one with decent engine output that has proven itself that I missed? Weren't even going to consider Merc at all.

[floridaorange]

^no worries...it's a question I have too. My father in law drives an older merc suv m class with loads of miles - so if the new ones aren't as reliable that would be good to know.

The Evoque definitely looks the best I think. Cheers everyone - the Infiniti I thought of too - that might be a better option since they are used to Japanese cars.

[psuibmw]

I have been in a 2019 Acura RDX and it is a nice ride, looks awesome and drives very well. It fits your requirements very well

[quick]

Elderly people with weakening legs and lower upper body strengths, I'd personally stay away from SUV's, period. Getting in and out would be a problem not to mention the stiffer ride.

I am going to say, they SHOULD/MUST try, Toyota Sienna (AWD with all the comfort features ....recliners with leg extensions in the middle row....and with lower entry points) and or try Subaru outback or Lexus RX series

[Golddots]

MDX should be easily under $40k used. My wife drives one and it handles surprising well for an SUV.

My MDX has not had one issue and is almost 60k miles.

I'd imagine the older folks don't want to waste time going to the dealership because they're car is broken

[Drop the hammer]

QX80 and done. But they should test drive for an afternoon or even overnight to get a good feel for it.

[dauble2k5]

Take a look at the MB GLC300. Great size for a few people and 2018 dealer demos can be found with massive price drops, just north of $40k though. Avoid the 2016 model, they had problems with screeching rear brakes. It was fixed in 2017.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Drop the hammer

QX80 and done. But they should test drive for an afternoon or even overnight to get a good feel for it.

Easily the ugliest thing on four wheels. And why would two people need something that large?

[FlaPatsFan]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Easily the ugliest thing on four wheels. And why would two people need something that large?

Ummmm, no where near as ugly as MB G-Class. I will never understand the rich upper classes fascination with that god awful toaster on wheels.

[chassis]

floridaorange, imo the BMW X3 is not the car for the parameters you have given. While my wife and I enjoy her G01, because of its narrow-ish seat width, it is not for older and larger people. There are many posts on this in the G01 forum, regarding seat comfort. Generally smaller people find the seats enjoyable, generally larger people do not.

Shockandawe, the M176 Mercedes 3.5L V6 gasoline engine is well proven in the GLE. Reading the Mercedes forums will support this.

The W166 GLE platform is now a few years old, and is solid. The 7G-Tronic transmission has been around for a while, is used in multiple platforms and is robust. Now is a good time to buy a low miles example, because the 2020 model year is a new platform for the GLE. Lease turn-ins and dealer leftovers should be available for the next 6-12 months at attractive pricing.

Avoid M-B air suspensions and diesel engines. Mercedes has the same diesel problems as Volkswagen had/is having. I had a dieselgate VW Touareg, and reading the M-B user experiences is like reliving the Touareg experience.

The GLC is a good vehicle, but didn't fit my needs for towing, another nice thing about the GLE. My wife and I shopped the GLC, Lexus NX and G01 X3, and she chose the X3.