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comfortable and reliable car for my retirement

The Right Car for Me | TrueDelta

driver340

2018 Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 is what I have been looking at

Priorities: Front seat support & comfort / Reliability & durability / Brand reputation & image

Need minimum of 4 seats

Will consider new cars only

Maximum price: C $ 70000

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Response from NormT

10:53 am September 12, 2017

At US$43,,000 for a 2017 the quietest and smoothest would be a Buick Envision Premium l. With it's Hyperstrut from suspension and among the twin-clutch AWD it achieved 55.5 mph in Consumer Reports emergency test or on par with Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-pace. Along with handling it has the best braking for it's segment according to Car & Driver testing. It is also quieter than a Lexus RX according to C&D. This same cuv at US $49,000 before discounts offer all electronic safety features including articulating headlights that are also adaptive high beams, cross traffic alert when backing up, vibrating safety seat, forward and backward collision alert and stopping....

It has real leather seats with heat front and rear, along with heated leather steering wheel. The tri-zone climate control will have you not freezing yourself while trying to keep your rear passengers cool like most of the other SUVs. Unlike most at this price it has cooled front seats. The HUD-heads up display is a nice feature where I keep the speedometwrfloating low on the windshield.

At a discounted $33,000 the Envision is over $10,000 less expensive than a Lexus NX200T where some of the options are not available at any price but are offered on the Buick.

The Cadillac XT5 is the next step up from the Buick and can offer similar features.

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Buick Envision
Cadillac XT5

Response from richardaz

11:48 am September 13, 2017

Although I have owned six volvos over the past (many) years, i watched the quality and reliabiliy slip as the technology increased. Three years ago, I "went German" with the purchase of a Mercedes for my wife.So far no issues at all. You mignt wish to look at the new GLC.

In 2015, I purchased an Audi SQ5 for myself when I retired. Both my wife's E63S and my SQ5 have very comfortable seats - almost up to the comfort of our older Volvo's. Both cars are used for drives from Scottsdale to La Jolla a couple times a year and find the seats very comfortable on long trips.

Both cars are "sport" versions with low profile tires so don't expect the softest ride, but from our experience, I think you would be happy with an SQ5. From what I have read, the GLC Mercedes (which is at a similar price point) should be another good option- perhaps with a slightly softer ride if you don't go for the AMG version.

Happy test driving!

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Audi SQ5
Mercedes-Benz GLC

Response from LectroFuel

8:20 pm September 17, 2017

You can't expect Volvos and German cars to be reliable and cheap to fix because they often are not. Lexus, Buick, and a few Acuras and Audis are the only reliable luxury brands.

Definitely test drive the Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5.

The Mercedes is tuned for luxury more than sporty unless equipped with the sport packages. The Audi is a good balance between both sides. I believe the GLC has more standard features like the active safety suite. You can get the GLC 43 AMG close to fully loaded within your budget. Based on what you said you wanted, look at the non-AMG GLC 300 4Matic. Journalists have loved it for it's comfort, quality, and technology. It doubt Consumer Report's excellent reliability rating for this car. Mercedes hasn't been that reliable for a long time. The seats are said to be extremely comfortable and supportive.

Audi has held it's spot in the top 10 reliable brands for a long time now, so that's a good sign. It doesn't mean repair costs will be cheap though. The Audi Q5 has a more firm ride, but still comfortable. The interior is more cramped than the Mercedes. I like the Virtual Cockpit in the gauge cluster. The seats are said to be a little worse than the Mercedes. Something worth noting is that Audi has a rust warranty of 12 years/unlimited miles. Mercedes has 4 years/50k miles for the rust warranty. Just because you are in Canada and it probably snows.

I would get the Audi because I like the design, tech, and driving dynamics more, but you seem to prefer comfort, so you should go for the Mercedes.

The 2018 Volvo XC60 looks beautiful and the seats are probably superb, but the ride will probably be stiff based on Volvo's latest products. Test drive everything first.

Other SUVs worth looking at are the Lexus RX and Buick Envision. Although the Buick Envision doesn't compete with these cars I've mentioned, I've heard it's comfortable. It's much cheaper than the cars I've mentioned, but it will also feel cheaper. The Lexus RX is super comfortable, but doesn't have sporty driving dynamics.

Good luck!

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Mercedes-Benz GLC
Audi Q5
Lexus RX
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