Jacob’s X5 diesel was stolen while he was on holiday. He loved that car and is looking for a similar replacement that offers both high-tech and comfort. He is also open to hybrids if they can offer the same fun factor. With a budget of around $40,000, which car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
Fast Facts:
My 2014 X5 35d was stolen while my wife and I were on vacation in St. Louis. I’ve been looking at another X5 35d as it offers a really great combination of comfort, performance and fun, but I want to see what else is out there.
I love diesel vehicles, so diesel is at the top of the list. I’m also open to hybrids as long as they’re fun. We strive for fuel economy on the highway (and perhaps not killing in the city) and comfort. Maintaining the same level of comfort (HUD, technical equipment and the like) is also a priority.
An SUV isn’t essential, but room for three to four people (and their weekend bags) is a must. We’ve gotten used to the legroom in the x5 and now the Explorer, so that’s important to us too. Sedans, SUVs and trucks are ALL on the table as long as we all have room to spread our legs.
Finally, and most importantly to me, it has to be fun to drive (or at least not as powerless as the Explorer). I’ve driven BMWs most of my adult life, from an e38 740il to two 335ds, both tuned, to the x5 which was on its way to being tuned. The combination of fun, fuel economy and comfort of these cars was unmatched.
To recap:
*Diesel (or fun hybrid)*
*Good highway mileage*
*Comfortable on long trips, with some good tech options – HUD, ACC, Carplay, etc.*
*FUN TO DRIVE*
Budget about $40,000
Budget: About $40,000
Location: Houston, Texas
Daily Driver: Yes
Want: Ideally diesel power, space for four people, driving pleasure
Do not want: Something boring
Expert 1: Tom McParland – The SUV that doesn’t drive like that
Jacob, those X5 diesels were pretty good, and with the shift to electric powered diesel models, deals are pretty rare unless it’s a pickup truck. There are several hybrid options, but at this price point I wouldn’t call any of them “fun.”
If you’re okay with a similar model year, you can try to snag a Porsche Cayenne Diesel. Porsche knows how to use some of that sports car wizardry to make its large SUVs seem much smaller and more maneuverable, so it should be an improvement over the BMW. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter diesel that produces a respectable 240 hp and 406 tons. However, there is good aftermarket support as this TDI engine is shared with Audi, so it doesn’t cost much to crank up the boost.
Oil-powered Cayennes with reasonable mileage are rare, But you can get something like this right in your budget zone in 2015 for around 53k.
Expert 2: Andy Kalmowitz – Audi is different
What’s wrong, Jacob? I do like you because Jacob is my middle name, and that means I feel a certain kinship with you. This means I can give you the absolutely right answer to your search straight away. What you need, my friend, is an Audi A8 LTDI. Even though it’s not an SUV, it’s the perfect upgrade over your beloved X5 Diesel.
This car will fulfill all your wishes. It’s fun to drive with its powerful 3.0-liter diesel engine that produces 240 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque and is paired with Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel drive system. Inside, you’ll find every luxury feature you could imagine given that this is a flagship product from Audi. As far as comfort goes, Jacob, it will be second to none. This is basically a sedan built to cruise down the highway at breakneck speeds in complete comfort. In a word: it is perfect for what you are looking for.
Because we share such a strong similarity in names, I even found the perfect A8 LTDI for you, close to where you live. Of course, with your budget you won’t buy a brand new A8, But I found this fantastic 2015 example with less than 90,000 miles on it. I know maintenance costs can be an issue for anyone, so I found one So under your budget of $25,995. This leaves a lot of money for maintenance (or modifications if you want to make your high-torque diesel even more powerful).
This isn’t just the car you need, Jacob. It’s the car you deserve.
Expert 3: Logan Carter – MazDUH
Hey Jacob, I’m so sorry to hear about your X5, this is really a nightmare situation. While my colleagues have revealed some nice choices, I’m looking for something that will satisfy your desires to be roomy enough for the family and their luggage while pampering the gang with fancy options while offering good driving dynamics for everyone who sits behind the steering wheel enjoy. This Mazda CX-50 Turbo Meridian Edition is a great choice for you and your family and maximizes your desires with the added benefit of great reliability and relative novelty so you will still turn heads.
The CX-50 is a great all-rounder with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get you from 0-60 in the mid-to-low 6-second range, and this particular model is brimming with optional features like adaptive cruise control and other active safety features to keep you and your family safe. Of course, being a Mazda, it also offers dynamic driving dynamics that admirably replicate that of the X5. You can find low-mileage turbo models well under your price limit, and it gets nearly 30 mpg on the highway, although it still runs on boring old gas.
Instead of relying on an old German car that will inevitably cause headaches when something goes wrong, you could snag a nearly new, reliable, efficient and fun to drive Mazda CX-50. This choice speaks to the head and heart, you just have to sign on the dotted line. Good luck to you and your family!
Expert 4: Collin Woodard – It’s a crossover of sorts
Well Jacob, you have two options here: diesel, which is what you asked about, and a non-hybrid, which you didn’t ask about. So apparently it’s up to me to suggest one of those fun-to-drive hybrids you’re also interested in. If you weren’t regularly carrying that many people and their luggage, I’d probably suggest a new Prius, but something tells me that won’t be big enough.
Still, Toyota is fundamentally the best in the business when it comes to hybrids. So if you want to get a hybrid, this is probably your best choice. So I say, let’s get a little crazier and look at the Toyota Crown. It’s a big, roomy sedan that also happens to offer the higher ride height you get with a crossover, and there’s a lot more Lexus in the cabin than you’d expect.
If you really want to spend less than $40,000, you can find it many crowns that fit your budget. While they do get great fuel economy performance, the downside is that they aren’t what you really want. The Crown you actually want is the Crown Platinum, which will probably require you to stretch your budget a bit. However, in return you get a total system output of 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. If that’s not enough to sell you a hybrid, I don’t know what will be.
Here’s a 2023 Toyota Crown Platinum with 30,841 miles for $43,901. Depending on how many people are actually interested in Toyota’s version of the Volvo S60 Cross Country, you might be able to persuade them even further, but even at the current price it’s still a fair deal. Sure, it’s a strange car, but just consider that your right foot has 400 lb-ft of torque and still gets 30 mpg. You can switch back to diesel if you want, but the Crown Platinum will be hard to beat, especially when long-term maintenance costs are taken into account.