SUV: Explorer vs Montero vs Pajero vs fort vs others

[rsa]

Hi, my mom is looking for a new car(suv). I would appreciate your honest suggestions, we have no idea about cars.
It would be our 1st purchase. Our budget is around 2.5M. My mom loves the white but dad loves black.
We are 5 in the family. The car will be used for going trippings and daily drive. Will be driven by driver(mostly) or us.
She wants to try driving but I think shes nervous.

Points
1. ride/comfort (she dont want a bumpy ride)
2. reasonable gas consumption
3 functionality
4. Good after sales support
5. maintenance
.... feel free to add other factors

Our purchase will be around last week of nov. or 1st week of dec. Hopefully we can get the unit for family trips.
Thanks a lot

[renzo_d10]

Since 2.5M ang budget, i'd suggest that you creep away from the common. Hence, disregard the Fortuner, Montero and whatever SUV falls on its price range.

I believe that the BK sucked in terms of ride comfort. So, your mom might not want this.

I haven't read any reviews nor tested the new Explorer myself. But judging from its predecessor, it is a great car to have. Comfortable, impressive acceleration and if you're easy on the gas you're going to end up with (still) 1 figure consumption which is playing around 4-5km/L city, 6km/L highway. Hence, I believe that the new Explorer (excluding the good looks) will still be at par, if not better as the old one performed. And its price is very reasonable, too.

I would have suggested the Mazda CX-9 and the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, but I believe those fall beyond your price range already.

[rsa]

Mmm. mom's age is 50+... our budget is not more than 2.5m cant go higher... We saw the new explorer it looks good. The cx9 is also good. How about the supply? if we buy can we get the vehicle right away? How much does insurrance cost?

[Retz]

I'd pick Prado.

[rsa]

our budget is not more than 2.5m. Thanks for the comments. All noted

[cripple_rooster]

Why not a Ford Escape as a more economical alternative for an Explorer?

[rsa]

I see... the cx9 is out of the budget thou we can add we will use the money for other things... Suppose we get the explorer is therw discounts? free items? availability? maintenance cost???

[niky]

Insurance should be around 60-80k, not quite sure.

The Explorer is much, much, much more comfortable and luxurious than the Fortuner and Montero Sport, but it's a gasoline V6, so don't expect any miracles in terms of economy.

[renzo_d10]

Yeah, I was impressed with the new Explorer's styling too. Very different.

On the other hand, the CX-9 is also a joy to drive. And a stunner as well.

As regards to the supply, I believe they are readily available, I'm not so sure of this so you would want to make sure by calling their respective dealers.

Insurance cost? Hmmm. Probably nearing a hundred for a premium.

[ghosthunter]

Hi, my mom is looking for a new car(suv). I would appreciate your honest suggestions, we have no idea about cars.
It would be our 1st purchase. Our budget is around 2.5M. My mom loves the white but dad loves black.
We are 5 in the family. The car will be used for going trippings and daily drive. Will be driven by driver(mostly) or us.
She wants to try driving but I think shes nervous.

Points
1. ride/comfort (she dont want a bumpy ride)
2. reasonable gas consumption
3 functionality
4. Good after sales support
5. maintenance
.... feel free to add other factors

Our purchase will be around last week of nov. or 1st week of dec. Hopefully we can get the unit for family trips.
Thanks a lot

2011 Toyota Fortuner:
Although Toyota claims an improved suspension for a more comfortable ride, it is still a bumpy SUV. Better, but not yet "there". "There" being the ride comfort level you get in a Montero Sport. Beyond the suspension change, this vehicle is mechanically the same, meaning fuel consumption should be the same as older fortuner units.

2011 Mitsubishi Montero Sport:
The ride is comfy but slightly bouncy at higher speeds (exceeding 100kph) on uneven roads. The new 2.5T engine feels somewhat slow to accelerate but actual acceleration numbers say the opposite, it's faster than the Fortuner. Maybe it's the smoother power delivery from the variable turbo engine. As for fuel consumption, with a smaller diesel engine, expect a slight improvement in fuel consumption.

2012 Ford Explorer:
The ride reminds me of a smaller Ford Expedition, quite comfortable to drive and very quick to accelerate (for a vehicle with this amount of mass), faster than the Montero Sport. Ford claims the 3.5L V6 gasoline engine is fuel efficient, but with stop-go traffic in Metro Manila, I doubt if you can get beyond 5km/L... but once you hit the highways, it should greatly improve. The amount of luxury and gadgets in this vehicle is more than worth it's P2.4M price tag. This SUV can be a two or three row SUV. The 3rd row seats folds up/down with a press of a button, nice trick to impress people around you and also makes it much easier for us as well. Plus the 3rd row seats are comfortable enough for two full sized adults with actual legroom. My only major complaint is the vehicle touch screen control. AC, radio, etc are controlled through it and it's very confusing to use. It actually makes the effort of turn something on/off a major effort in trying to understand how it's done.


IMHO, from the three listed above, you're best choice would be the Mitsubishi Montero Sport and then followed by the Ford Explorer. Although the Ford Explorer is a much better vehicle, it's much higher price tag and higher fuel bill makes it a lesser choice.

[Walter]

Mazda gives huge discounts on the CX-9. Ask the dealers about it. My vote goes to Ford Explorer.

[spotdog11]

Based on your budget, I would also vote for the Ford Explorer. Its the best SUV for that price range. The downside would be the high fuel consumption and low resale value. That should not matter though if you can afford it.

[niky]

If fuel consumption is an issue, the CX9 is even worse than the Explorer. But the CX9 is a great car.

Any gasoline powered car with over 3 liters of engine will give you under 5 km/l in traffic (heck, 2.4 - 2.5 pa lang, mga 5 km/l pag bumper-to-bumper). The only question is how much less than 5 km/l you will get.

With the diesels, with an automatic, expect also 5-6 km/l in traffic... but at least diesel costs cheaper. You'll be paying extra for engine maintenance in the long run (around 100-150,000 kilometers), but the economy is worth it.

[rsa]

We understand that suv drinks gas. Want we want is something reasonable. She prefers the explorer, mont and fort... she also mention safety. For gas i think its just a small issue... But we are now leaning to the explo... which ford dealer would you recommend? But we are still open for any models...
Thanks for your reply sirs ...

[renzo_d10]

We understand that suv drinks gas. Want we want is something reasonable. She prefers the explorer, mont and fort... she also mention safety. For gas i think its just a small issue... But we are now leaning to the explo... which ford dealer would you recommend? But we are still open for any models...
Thanks for your reply sirs ...

Why pick the Montero or Fortuner when you can have a car that's a notch higher in class?

Of course those two will give reasonable fuel consumption but that's about it. Class, style and everything else, the new explorer wins it.

Ford Edsa-GH.

[Walter]

Safety ... Get the Explorer.

[hinDMaxsiado]

Get the new Explorer sir RSA if you're tied-up with 1st of December 2011 to settle for an SUV.

Since you meant safety pala (i take it this is above all other aspects), aside from the all-new PhP2.40 M Ford Explorer, check out also the 7-seater Hyundai Santa Fe R-eVGT 4x4 (PhP1.78 M).

You get all what you're mum is looking for, i.e. the Santa Fe is recognised worldwide as:

1. Earning the highest 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating against severe impact (all sides equipped with airbags and much more about its chassis and body characteristics);

2. Comes with a 3rd- or 4th-generation CRDi diesel engine technology, and therefore it is more powerful and fuel-efficient;

3. Best power in the class of locally-available midsize SUV's/CUV's, (around 200 hp with 435 Nm torque);

4. Best suspension and best manoeuvring manners even at high-speeds amongst all locally-available midsize SUV's/CUV's; and

5. Comes with a 5-year warranty that you won't find in any Fortuner, Montero Sport, Alterra, Everest SUV's and it is better than any of them, performance- and safety-wise.... And you get all these features for only PhP1.78 M.


GOODLUCK! ;)

[niky]

If safety is a primary consideration, go for a unibody SUV like the Explorer.

The Santa Fe and Sorento are also worth a long, hard, look. The 2.2 liter 190 hp diesel that the two SUVs share (Hyundai and Kia are sister companies) is powerful and relatively frugal. They also have good interior space and more useful third row seating than the Fortuner and Montero.

The Sorento is a more refined vehicle than the Santa Fe, with better handling.... but the Santa Fe is cheaper, spec-for-spec and has a comfortable ride.

It's also worth noting that handling and braking for the Santa Fe, Sorento, Explorer and CX9 are much better than with the Fortuner and Montero Sport.

[Retz]

Get the new Explorer sir RSA if you're tied-up with 1st of December 2011 to settle for an SUV.

Since you meant safety pala (i take it this is above all other aspects), aside from the all-new PhP2.40 M Ford Explorer, check out also the 7-seater Hyundai Santa Fe R-eVGT 4x4 (PhP1.78 M).

You get all what you're mum is looking for, i.e. the Santa Fe is recognised worldwide as:

1. Earning the highest 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating against severe impact (all sides equipped with airbags and much more about its chassis and body characteristics);

2. Comes with a 3rd- or 4th-generation CRDi diesel engine technology, and therefore it is more powerful and fuel-efficient;

3. Best power in the class of locally-available midsize SUV's/CUV's, (around 200 hp with 435 Nm torque);

4. Best suspension and best manoeuvring manners even at high-speeds amongst all locally-available midsize SUV's/CUV's; and

5. Comes with a 5-year warranty that you won't find in any Fortuner, Montero Sport, Alterra, Everest SUV's and it is better than any of them, performance- and safety-wise.... And you get all these features for only PhP1.78 M.


GOODLUCK! ;)

Okay ang specs ng Santa Fe. No doubt about that. Problema ko lang mdyo old na rin kasi ung exterior design ng Santa Fe, Sana 2013 na.

[111prez]

chevy tahoe would have been nice but its out of the budget