Upcoming mid-size SUV's for towing
I'll be replacing my 2009 Mazda CX9 soon, and I'm looking at several new mid-size SUV models that will be coming out soon. I tow a 16' enclosed trailer, 3500 lbs, dual axle with electric brakes on al...
Forum Discussion
Guys, thanks for all the advice. For those of you who speculated about my trailer weight, it is a custom-built all-aluminum low-profile trailer. Empty weight is 1600 lbs. Loaded weight is right at 3500 lbs, no more. I realize I need to factor in the weight of passengers & cargo in the tow vehicle, but we're not talking about a 5000 lb trailer or a 7000 lb trailer.
Also, all the vehicles I listed are rated to tow 3500 lbs (or more) -- except for the 2015 Edge Sport, which is strangely rated at only 2000 lb even though it has the 2.7L Ecoboost V-6, which has more HP and torque than the other two engine choices (which are rated at 3500 lb). Honda hasn't published the tow rating for their upcoming 2016 Pilot, but the current Acura MDX (same platform and engine) is rated at 5000 with the factory tow package, so I expect the Pilot will be similar.
The Durango and gas Highlander appear to be good choices for towing, but not so good for MPG when I'm not towing -- which is 85% of the time.
Diesels make no financial sense at all. They are generally $5000 to $8000 higher price, yes the MPG is good but that's not the real story ... the real point is FUEL COST. Around here, diesel costs 40% more than regular gasoline (yes, you read that right, 40% more in Pennsylvania). Diesel MPG is nowhere near 40% better than the same vehicle with a gas engine (well, maybe while towing -- but certainly not the rest of the time). So, after paying $5k to 8k more for the privilege of owning a diesel, I would be paying thousands more for fuel over the life of the vehicle. It's senseless.
Hybrids have lower fuel cost, but the payback on the higher initial price is about 10 years. And I now lack confidence in the ability of the High/Hy to routinely tow 3500 lbs. So I think I've crossed the hybrids off my list.
So that leaves me with "conventional" gas models, but a desire for better MPG -- which points towards the Ford Ecoboost models, or the 2016 Pilot (V-6 with cylinder deactivation). The new Volvo XC90 has GREAT stats (towing capacity, HP, torque, and MPG) but my price would be over $50k, which is a deterrent.
Or I could just neglect my desire for better MPG, and go with the Durango or gas Highlander with mid-level trim ... both seem comfortable and are highly rated. The Ford Explorer gets rather mediocre reviews, unfortunately. I dislike the styling of the Santa Fe, inside and out, just a personal thing but that eliminates it for me. The VW CrossBlue concept sounds like a strong contender, but the spec's aren't out yet and it sounds like it's more than a year away. And I have found very little information about the next generation Mazda CX9 -- I like my old one, but not sure what direction they will go with the next one.
I wish the Edge came with the 2.3 Ecoboost ... that would probably hit the sweet spot for me. Oh well.
Thanks for all the info on your experiences with towing and MPG with these vehicles. Any additional comments/advice appreciated! This has been a very useful discussion for me.
Also, all the vehicles I listed are rated to tow 3500 lbs (or more) -- except for the 2015 Edge Sport, which is strangely rated at only 2000 lb even though it has the 2.7L Ecoboost V-6, which has more HP and torque than the other two engine choices (which are rated at 3500 lb). Honda hasn't published the tow rating for their upcoming 2016 Pilot, but the current Acura MDX (same platform and engine) is rated at 5000 with the factory tow package, so I expect the Pilot will be similar.
The Durango and gas Highlander appear to be good choices for towing, but not so good for MPG when I'm not towing -- which is 85% of the time.
Diesels make no financial sense at all. They are generally $5000 to $8000 higher price, yes the MPG is good but that's not the real story ... the real point is FUEL COST. Around here, diesel costs 40% more than regular gasoline (yes, you read that right, 40% more in Pennsylvania). Diesel MPG is nowhere near 40% better than the same vehicle with a gas engine (well, maybe while towing -- but certainly not the rest of the time). So, after paying $5k to 8k more for the privilege of owning a diesel, I would be paying thousands more for fuel over the life of the vehicle. It's senseless.
Hybrids have lower fuel cost, but the payback on the higher initial price is about 10 years. And I now lack confidence in the ability of the High/Hy to routinely tow 3500 lbs. So I think I've crossed the hybrids off my list.
So that leaves me with "conventional" gas models, but a desire for better MPG -- which points towards the Ford Ecoboost models, or the 2016 Pilot (V-6 with cylinder deactivation). The new Volvo XC90 has GREAT stats (towing capacity, HP, torque, and MPG) but my price would be over $50k, which is a deterrent.
Or I could just neglect my desire for better MPG, and go with the Durango or gas Highlander with mid-level trim ... both seem comfortable and are highly rated. The Ford Explorer gets rather mediocre reviews, unfortunately. I dislike the styling of the Santa Fe, inside and out, just a personal thing but that eliminates it for me. The VW CrossBlue concept sounds like a strong contender, but the spec's aren't out yet and it sounds like it's more than a year away. And I have found very little information about the next generation Mazda CX9 -- I like my old one, but not sure what direction they will go with the next one.
I wish the Edge came with the 2.3 Ecoboost ... that would probably hit the sweet spot for me. Oh well.
Thanks for all the info on your experiences with towing and MPG with these vehicles. Any additional comments/advice appreciated! This has been a very useful discussion for me.
