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slighly-fancy feeling sedan, good mpg

The Right Car for Me | TrueDelta

Member4193

I'm looking for a car that's slightly stylish, lots of safety features, and good MPGs that my family won't be embaressed driving in. I currently own the last generation impreza hatchback, and my kids and wife hate being in it. I don't like it for its CVT, loud interior and external styling - I want something more refined though performance doesn't matter to me. Everyone wants to be in her Pilot and when we're scooting around town, but there's no reason to get 15 MPG.

All of the higher trims on the top mid-sized sedans include all the features i'm looking for, and the designs these days look nice too. Jumping to luxury brands is another alternative but I'm hesitant for a few reasons
- I'm subject to my state's car use tax
- I resent paying an upcharge for maintenance items
- I don't want to get premium fuel
- Higher insurance

As you might be able to tell, for no good reason, the car's value vis a vis the purchase price is important to me. The 4 items I just listed feel like extra costs for nearly no utility.

In a nutshell I think I'm looking for a Camry XSE in Mercedes sheet metal.

Priorities: Fuel economy / Exterior styling / Quietness

Need minimum of 5 seats

Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 75000
Maximum age: 4 years

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Response from LectroFuel

12:39 pm January 2, 2018

I think you are looking for a Toyota Avalon, which is a Lexus ES350, but you pay 10 grand less to get a Toyota badge with the same features. What is your budget?

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Response from NormT

11:28 am January 3, 2018

This where Buick lands, in between entry Chevrolet and luxury Cadillac. The LaCrosse offers everything the Chevy Impala has but has a nicer interior, richer looking exterior, and all wheel drive as an option. Something the Avalon does not offer.

The LaCrosse has been compared to the Lexus ES but the journalist pick the Buick in the end.

The XTS is similar size but offer much more prestige with used prices of the 2014 models as those listed above.

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Buick LaCrosse
Chevrolet Impala
Cadillac XTS

Response from ejulien6

1:31 pm January 3, 2018

You may want to consider the 2016-2018 Mazda 6 GT. It has an attractive exterior and interior. Also, it checks all the boxes you listed including value for your dollar and great mpg. If you prefer RWD a bit more power I would also suggest the 2015-2017 Chrysler 300 with the V6. Both are great values and have real automatic transmissions instead of the CVT.

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Mazda Mazda6
Chrysler 300

Response from sashea77

4:22 pm January 3, 2018

I agree with the member above that a Toyota Avalon is one great choice. I actually just purchased a used Lexus ES300h. The price premium for the upscale nameplate and hybrid platform is reduced because of buying used, and if you chose to do so, you could have it serviced anywhere that can service a Toyota (for maintenance, of course, not bodywork). I love my Lexus, and I honestly think it's worth it so far. The car is roomy, comfortable, well-appointed, powerful (depending upon what you're comparing it to), and very fuel efficient.

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Lexus ES

Response from LectroFuel

6:35 pm January 3, 2018

My mom drives a 2017 Avalon Hybrid Limited and she loves it. It is the same platform as the Lexus ES, but you don't get the L badge. It is very torquey from a stop, giving the feeling of a V6, but it really has a 2.5L and a battery. It is a big car and is probably the closest new car you can get to driving a boat. It has a lot of body roll, but it totally feels safe to drive, nothing unsafe about it. With this body roll comes a suspension that soaks up bumps better than almost every other car I've been in. Super quiet and luxurious. I drove it to work one day and got 41 MPG going a constant 80 mph. You feel like you are going faster than you are; I caught myself going 95 mph, but it felt like 75 mph.On the 2017s and newer, all the active safety features are standard on every trim. It is an elegant looking car being a car designed in 2013. It also comes in a V6 that gets much lower MPGs and is a little quicker.

The Buick is not as good as the Avalon because of reliability alone, which is "Poor" for the Buick. Also, you don't get the brand rep of a Toyota or Lexus; you get the reputation of GM. I'm not saying the Buick is a bad car, but it certainly isn't as good as the Avalon. Not everyone needs AWD. The Avalon is available in a hybrid that gets 41 mpg.

The Mazda6 is a great car, but I don't think you would want one because of the excessive road noise and the ride is firmer.

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Toyota Avalon

Response from NormT

10:00 pm January 3, 2018

J.D. Power only gives the Avalon a 3 out of 5 in features/acessories, where the LaCrosse gets a 4 out of 5, and four or five in everything else.

http://www.jdpower.com/cars/study/2017-Vehicle-Dependability-Study/1882ENG/Large-Car/1093


My Mom has a 2011 LaCrosse 2.4l base and motor is quite a spry handling car with the lower weight 4-cylinder without the battery assist or V6. She sees mid-30's highway and 28 mpg in all city with is very good without the battery complication.

I believe Car & Driver saw only 30 mpg highway in their 2016 Avalon Hybrid test. The Lexus ES is the most ticketed car. And the most ticketed car is...

And the most ticketed car is...

The top 20 vehicles by rank/make and model that have received the most amount of traffic tickets based on an Insurance.com survey.

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