My wife drives an Isuzu Trooper and likes the high seating position. I think it's OK for what it is, but nothing great.

I have been thinking about replacing the Trooper with a new MDX (I know a few ppl here have bought them already). But there is someting weird about this minivan/SUV cross.

Well yesterday I was walking thru a mall and they had 3 LR3s on display, and I have to say there is something about them that look more honest. Has the looks of a SUV and it can go off road.

What is there about the LR3 that would be worth the extra 1000 lbs and worse mileage? FWIW the MDX is rated at ~19.5 MPG (combined) and the LR3 V8 ~15 MPG (combined).

Looks like they both can fit people in the 3rd row, but the LR3 has more room (in the 3rd row), the MDX strictly for kids in the 3rd row (from the measurements, I haven't been in one yet).

One thing I dislike about my Trooper is that it's getting ~14-15 MPG so similar to a LR3 would be, while the MDX would be closer to 19-20 MPG so figure that's ~$600 per year in extra gas.

So most things point me towards the MDX, but one of the reasons for a SUV is the tough go anywhere image which the MDX does not project.

My long-winded question is something like this: what's rational to buy a heavy guage SUV such as a LR3 or Land Cruiser instead of a more minivan with exra ground clearance like a MDX?

 

IMO, the LR3 looks really nice, but the new MDX creams it in almost all aspects.

 

if you don't plan on taking your SUV offroad, then you don't need one that has the capability. so in that sense, there IS no rationale to choose an LR3 over an MDX, unless you really prefer the styling of the LR3 and/or prefer the Land Rover name.

 

Have you considered the Toyota FJ cruiser? Only SUV i'll consider buying, very rugged.

 

not for me, I'm looking at a 3-row mid/full size SUV. I figure if I have to have a one at least let it be able to carry 7 from time to time.

Here is a snap of the LR3 with 7-passangers:

 

you already covered the reasons you are looking for - more room and more capable. What else do you want?

If the weather in your area ever impacts your daily travel plans, a "real" SUV is far more important. If you tow trailers or go camping alot, you need a "real" SUV. So it isn't just the off-road capability that sets them apart.

 

[QUOTE=no_really,Nov 19 2006, 08:26 PM] If the weather in your area ever impacts your daily travel plans, a "real" SUV is far more important.

 

check out the audi q7 if u need to haul 7 ppl around.

 

or the benz GL. the GL won the MT SUV of the year award, if that matters. according to MT, the GL can fit full sized adults in the rear comfortably and has some off road capabilities.

 

We had our 03 MDX for 4 years. It drove through reasonable amounts of snow just fine......and we took it to the outbanks and drove in the sand just north of Corolla (not the super soft deep sand, or it would still be there)...... it was certainly not meant for mud bogging or rock crawling....so we never did any of that.... I have a F250 if I want to drive through mud.....

We had a 99 landcruiser with 3 different locking diffs...... none of them ever got used.... total waste of ability...... MDX is much better as an all around vehicle.

Not sure how you drive, but those milage ratings never seem to work for me.... I put the cruise on 79 mph when I am in a 65 zone (no tickets at 79mph).... I got 19mpg with the new MDX.... around town my wife gets 15mpg or so but she drives 1 mile, shuts it off.... drives 2 miles in traffic and shuts it off,..... etc....

I am sure those Land Rovers are great offroad but about 2% of the owners will actually take them offroad beyond a flat field.... plus don't they suck at reliabilty?