Best Luxury SUV Bang for the Buck

I was contacted by a gentleman who was in the market for a new luxury SUV for he and his wife. He stated that he was 7 years into his own business that was doing very well and he wanted something to show for it as well as something else to drive in addition to his other car, a 1992 BMW 525i that was starting to get long in the tooth.

First and foremost, I felt that had to ask him some very frank questions regarding cost.

Whenever buying anything, my primary focus is always on how much the buyer can afford to spend and making sure that the customer gets the most bang for the buck while at the same time injecting the discretionary amount of passion.

1) How much do you want to spend? No more than $35,000 to $40,000.

2) Are you aware that most large SUV's get significantly reduced gas mileage in comparison to most automobiles? Of course.

3) Are you aware of the basic upkeep and maintenance costs for such a vehicle. Fuel costs are higher as will be just replacing a set of tires. Understood.

..and with that out the way, it was time to find out which vehicles they were interested in.

Below is the list:

Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE

Starting price $57,235
Fuel Tank Capacity: 23.3 gal
EPA Mileage Estimates: 14 mpg / 20 mpg
Range in Miles: 326.2 mi. / 466 mi.
4.4 liter V8 engine rated at 300 hp 19 x 9.0 in. wheels with 255/50R19
Temporary underbody mounted spare tire
ABS w/Stability Control
Dual front side-mounted airbags & front and rear head airbags
Tire pressure monitoring
5 person total seating capacity
In Car Entertainment Harman/Kardon premium brand stereo system AM/FM 14 speaker in-dash 6 CD player with CD MP3 Playback stereo 550 watts stereo output 14 total speakers & DVD navigation system w/voice activation - pre-wired for phone Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free phone.

What Edmunds.com says:"It might not be the sportiest, hottest performer in its price range, but it remains one of the most enticing luxury SUVs available. If you're after classic British 4WD heritage, capability, comfort and style integrated into a slightly leaner and sleeker, more driver-oriented package, the 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport carries over as the natural, top-of-your-list choice."

Pros: Solid and refined road manners, powerful supercharged V8 engine, theoretically able to handle off-road conditions, distinctive styling.

Cons: Standard model remains sport-"lite", tighter accommodations inside than the standard Range Rover, poor fuel economy, some hard-to-reach controls.

Editors Rating: 7.0 out of 10.0Average Consumer Rating: 9.3 out of 10 (9 Reviews)http://www.edmunds.com/landrover/rangeroversport/2007/ratings.html


BMW x5 SAV 4.8i -"The Sport Activity Vehicle"

Starting price $45,900
Fuel Tank Capacity: 22.5 gal
EPA Mileage Estimates: 15 mpg / 21 mpg
Range in Miles: 337.5 mi. / 472.5 mi. 4.8 liter V8 engine rated at 350 horsepower 6 speed automatic transmission
18 inch Wheels with 255/55 H rated run flat tires & 4 wheel
ABS w/Stability Control
Dual front side-mounted airbags & front and rear head airbags
Tire pressure monitoring 5 + 2 person total seating capacity AM/FM in-dash 12 total speaker - 2 subwoofer system w/single CD player, CD-controller with CD MP3 Playback stereo w/205 watt stereo output w/diversity antenna auxiliary MP3 audio input & radio data system.

What Edmunds.com says:"In the crossover luxury SUV segment, the 2007 BMW X5 sets the standard for handling and performance. In terms of utility, however, many competitors are still better."

Pros: Nimble on-road handling for this class of vehicle, powerful engines, interior's premium look and design.

Cons: Some may still find the ride too firm, impractical third-row seat, high price, iDrive still more hassle than it's worth.

Editors Rating: 7.5 out of 10.0 (2006)Average Consumer Rating: 8.5 out of 10.0 (28 Reviews)http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/x5/2007/review.html


Lexus GX 470

Starting price $46,815
Fuel Tank Capacity: 23 gal
EPA Mileage Estimates: 15 mpg / 19 mpg
Range in Miles: 345 mi. / 437 mi. 4.7 liter V8 rated at 263 hp
5-speed automatic transmission with descent control
17 x 7.5 in. wheels 265/65R17 S all terrain tires w/fullsize matching underbody alloy spare tire
5 + 2 person total seating capacity AM/FM in-dash 6 CD/DVD stereo 11 speaker + 1 subwoofer w/diversity antenna & sensitive volume control & MP3 audio input radio data system.

What Edmunds.com says: "The 2007 Lexus GX 470 is a luxurious SUV that offers a near-perfect blend of on- and off-road capability."

Pros: Rugged and capable off-road, comprehensively equipped interior, luxurious cabin furnishings.

Cons: Very tight quarters in optional third-row seat, side-hinged cargo door impedes curbside loading.

Editors Rating: 7.6 out of 10.0Average Consumer Rating: 9.4 out of 10 (19 Reviews)http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/gx470/2007/ratings.html


All of the above vehicles come equipped with Xenon high intensity discharge, dusk sensing headlamps w/high pressure washers. Front fog/driving lights, front and rear parking sensors, electronic brakeforce distribution, 40-60 split bench rear seat, power windows, power mirrors, heated mirrors, cruise control, speed-proportional power steering, tilt-adjustable steering wheel and dual zone climate controls.

Tough choice.

I spent some time on the internet doing my research as he and his wife visited a few dealerships in order to sit in each car, take a test drive and see which SUV 'felt' best to them. In addition they could get a look at the color choices as well as the options that were available for each one. In the meantime I mined in order to see where they could possibly get the best deal.

One thing was certain.

There was no way they were going to get into a new SUV with the amount of money they wanted to spend. They either had to be willing to spend more... a lot more.. look at a totally different class of SUV (The smaller BMW X3, Land Rover Discovery and Lexus RX 330 perhaps) or go for a used vehicle where the most bang could be had for the buck. Approximately 30 to 40 thousand bucks in this case.

When I gave them the information that I'd obtained up to that point, they agreed that going for a used or certified vehicle was the best bet.

The Winner!

After reviewing all of the information that I had found and comparing it with their experiences at the dealership. They decided to go with the Lexus GX470. It had all of the options they wanted and provided a beautifully smooth and secure ride. They also decided that their favorite colors would have to be dark.. black or blue in this case.

After doing a little research on http://www.autotrader.com/..
I found their new truck.

This beauty is a 2004 Lexus GX470 with approximately 51,000 miles on the odometer. It is in perfect condition and includes everything the customer wanted... It is blue, it comes with navigation, a DVD player and a rear back-up camera all for the very reasonable price of $30,995.

However, one concession had to be made. Because of the mileage and the year of the vehicle, there would not be much of a warranty left. The client was fine with purchasing an additional 5 year bumper to bumper warranty at the dealership.

They were and are currently very happy with their new baby.