Rule 1: the car must be white – that’s got the best resale value

What I need in a car

• foot-“hand” brake
• high resolution cameras to fully record the environment (no car has this feature)
• Cruise control – check the model
• Decent safety rating 
• A large boot (sometimes a sedan can have more space than an SUV)
• good ground clearance
• Servicing every 15K/ one year
• NOT turbo (noting that turbo is better at high altitudes since it gets more oxygen, but unfortunately its repair costs are much higher).

SUV experience

Sm has driven Kia Carnival, Holden Captiva, Toyota Tarago, Toyota Prius (sedan). One potential problem noticed in Kia: The handbrake goes off automatically after few seconds of starting the engine – not a very safe option.

SAFETY

ANACAP RATINGS: “A person driving a one-star vehicle is almost twice as likely to be killed or seriously hurt than someone in a five-star car.”

Do read this first: http://theconversation.com/ive-always-wondered-are-suvs-and-4wds-safer-than-other-cars-98559

BUT NOTE THAT ANACAP RATINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT: https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/safety-confusion-when-five-stars-isnt-five-stars.

Ex-rental cars

https://www.thrifty.com.au/carsales

The specific models being compared are:

2019 Subaru Forester 2.5i-S [RULED OUT DUE TO VERY POOR DURABILITY]

2019 Hyundai Tucson Highlander

2019 Ford Escape Titanium [RULED OUT DUE TO BRAND]

2019 Nissan X-Trail Ti [RULED OUT DUE TO BRAND]

2019 Mazda CX-5 GT Turbo

2019 Kia Sportage GT-Line

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI Comfortline [RULED OUT DUE TO BRAND]

2019 Holden Equinox LTZ-V [RULED OUT DUE TO BRAND]

2019 Honda CR-V VTi-LX

2019 Toyota RAV4 GXL 2

Reject RAV-4, HONDA CR-V.

Ground clearance

Subaru XV/Subaru Forester: 220mm [not reliable, 3.8 on productreview]

Honda CRV: 208mm [4.6 on productreview]

Mazda CX-5: 200mm [4.3 on productreview]

Suzuki Vitara: 185mm [4.2 on productreview]

Toyota RAV4: 176mm [4.1 on productreview]

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: 175mm

Kia Sportage: 172mm [4.5 on productreview]

Recommended Options (brand new with minimum 10% off by shopping around):

Sedans or HATCHBACK of these versions:

Hatchback offers the best all round visibility. Sedan offers the best safety from rear collision.

• Honda Accord
• Toyota Camry
• Mazda 6 or Mazda 3

SUVs:

A major benefit for city-based SUVs is the elevated ride height, which offers drivers improved forward vision and a dramatically different line of sight, unmatched by a sedan or hatch

• Kia Sportage
• Hyundai Tucson
• Mazda CX-5

KIA SPORTAGE IS COMING OUT ON THE TOP

But Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5 are pretty close in terms of popularity among buyers (which is proof of their quality, presumably).

These three are almost equally wide, with Kia the widest and Honday smallest (but by a mere 15mm)

Rejected 

SUBARU EYESIGHT IS A POWERFUL TECHNOLOGY – AVAILABLE AT LEAST SINCE 2014 (2014 video)

The Forester is one of the best-equipped SUVs in its price range in terms of active safety, with all versions equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight package that relies on stereo cameras at the top of the windscreen. BUT: Constant false alarms with lane keeping & auto braking.

BUT it has very bad reviews about quality and durability. Not a Toyota by a wide margin. Things start falling apart and then costs skyrocket. Its spare parts are among the most expensive as well. Also very uncomfortable in long distance driving. And its power is feeble and can’t pull up hills adequately.

• Toyota RAV4 (6.41 seconds on above video) – simply not good automatic braking

RULED OUT ARE also TWO WHEEL drive SUVs

• Holden Captiva (from $27,990), Hyundai ix35 (from $26,990), Kia Sportage (from $26,490), Mitsubishi ASX (from $25,990), Mitsubishi Outlander (from $28,990), Nissan Dualis (from $24,990), Nissan X-Trail (from $28,490), Renault Koleos (from $29,990)
• Suzuki Vitara
• Suzuki Vitara is small but doesn’t have critical safety features. It is easy to park, small turning circle etc., but best left alone.Toyota CH-R is also in the small SUV category but best ignored. Both have tiny turbo charged engines.
• Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

SERVICING COSTS

https://www.canstarblue.com.au/vehicles/running-costs-popular-cars/

• Maintenance costs are lower for Toyota as their parts are more common. Most independent mechanics know Toyotas better, since Toyota is the best-selling brand globally. Servicing intervals for both are every 10,000 km’s (except for sedans like the Camry, which is every 15,000kms) but capped price is available.
• SUVs with AWD are more expensive to maintain because the AWD system is more expensive to fix if it breaks. Also, when tyres are changed, all 4 may have to be changed at at the same time.

SIZE

• The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV are 4WD. Both are big cars, but not too big for city driving. If you go beyond these sizes, you’ll get more power but city-driving will be too difficult.

GROUND CLEARANCE (Avalon has 114mm)