Need recommendations

[NQAS]

We have two fairly large vehicles for work. Now looking for a small, run about style of car.

Looking for the usual stuff: good gas mileage, relatively safe, Comfortable to drive. No really specific needs in terms of cargo or special features. Just a decent car. Gas, not EV. Nothing particularly sporty in terms of, for example, ground clearance.

I’m beginning to focus in on the Subaru cross trek. Price range, new and used, seems about right.

Another post mentioned that they gad ordered an Impreza. I was thinking about that but it’s got low clearance and getting in and out of cars is a problem due to recent surgery.

I am interested to know what other folks have recently purchased or are thinking about.

I don’t have any particular bias for or against any brand, except maybe Chevy, but for no reason other than I don’t think of myself as a Chevy driver. The Kia range seems to have ridiculously good mileage, but I’ve never driven one and haven’t really looked at them locally. I think I just probably need to go into the dealership, find something that’s reasonable, and just drive away, because thinking about it and over thinking about it is really a pain in the neck.

[CentralMass]

1. The Ford Maverick is a very interesting.

[Kali]

2. if you have any kind of size, or trouble getting in and out of cars, try a Kia Soul.

fits my 6'4" son, fits my fat ass. love driving it. mileage is decent I do 30 - 33 most of the time.

[CentralMass]

4. I own a Kia Soul and they are great little cars.

[global1]

3. I Recommend The Kia Soul.....

I have one and I love it. I'm getting around 34-35 mpg on the road and about 29-30 mpg in the city.

The car is spacious for its size. I have one that has a sunroof; heated and cooling seats; a great gps system very user friendly and when driving it's like being in a fishbowl with respect to visibility around all sides. I'm getting very close to my 100,000 mile warranty - so I'm going to be in the market soon to replace this car. I'm only hoping that they are available as some cars are hard to find lately.

The only thing I think that can improve this Kia Soul is if Kia came out with a Hybrid Model of the Soul.

Now I'm a Senior Citizen and I believe it's the perfect car for us Seniors. I know that the young drivers go for the Soul as well. Kia could be sitting on a gold mine if they came out with a Hybrid.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. I'm considering getting a gently used one

I drove a 2006 Scion xB for 14 years and loved it. I gave it to my niece and traded up to a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The thing is, I drive so little, maybe 500 miles a month, that it seems like a hybrid is kind of a waste. I got my RAV4 right before car prices started getting crazy a couple of years ago and found out it's actually gone UP in value! So I'm thinking about selling the RAV4 and getting a Soul.

[usonian]

6. Four years into a Forester.

Living in the Sierra Foothills.

A. A deer crossing a major highway totalled my pickup of 20 years (A Toyota, of course)
B. AWD is a must and an SUV was the closest thing costing less than an AWD pickup (rather pricey)
C. It had to be able to pass cars on upgrades, because there are some real slowpokes out there.
Toyotas were made for reliability at the cost of 4 cyl power and it was a monster struggle. Can't speak for the new gas models or any electric.

So this works, but I miss my pickup like crazy.
But it keeps the cargo dry. And there's plenty of cargo room with the rear seat folded down.
I get about 30 mpg up and down and around the foothills. 2700 ft. elevation.

I *LOVE* the visibility. The Forester is such a throwback compared to other cars, which feel to me like driving in a submarine with a tiny periscope. Lots of glass and you can see all around.

I have not measured highway mileage, but for fun, got 60 mpg downhill from the foothills to the central valley. 2018 model, so not internet connected and not spying on me in real time (black boxes are standard anyway), and that suits me just fine. (I know, the cell phone tracks everyone)

[Auggie]

7. Volkswagen Golf

[ms liberty]

8. This

I loved the first one so much that I'm on my 2nd, although it's a GTI Autobahn, and my first was a GTI VR6. Mine have been reliable, relatively good on gas, and a lot of fun to drive. My husband wanted me to look at the Subarus, and I wanted to as well but we stopped at the vdub dealer first, and then it was all over, lol.

[Auggie]

11. I have a Cabrio, basically the convertible version of the Golf

They stopped making them in 2002. We bought ours new in 2000 and still have it, now with over 230,000 miles. It's going to be tough to part with it for all the reasons you mention. Plus (and this will sound really silly), it's family.

[Martin Eden]

10. I drive a 2016 S with 5 speed manual transmission

Absolutely love it. Thought about a GTI, but the Golf has loads of fun to drive factor and is quick enough with the 178hp turbo.

Very practical and economical as well. Good cargo capacity for a small car, and I always get 30+ mpg. 40 mpg on interstate if I keep it at 70mph, but I tend to go faster. Fairly refined for a little hatchback. Bought it new for $16k.

Too bad they stopped selling it in the USA. Replaced by small SUV Taos, economical & practical but less fun to drive.