Our five-year-old BMW X5 is showing its age and I’m looking for a new SUV. My husband and I want something sporty and fun to drive. We have two kids and would like spend less than $100,000. – Christine
Richardson: Wow – this is every salesperson’s dream! Open to SUV ideas and a hundred grand to spend. I’m thinking Porsche Macan GTS for the full experience of sporty, fun and a bit of practicality. How about you, Jessica?
Leeder: Great minds think alike. I can barely type for the sheer excitement of this question. I happen to be quite skilled at spending money. I love the GTS and one I drove recently rang in at about $85,000. But its trunk space was sparse and made me wonder if you could really call it an SUV. How about upsizing to the Porsche Cayenne? Audi’s SQ7 would also be great if it were actually sold in Canada.
Richardson: The SQ7 will come here soon enough, but why wait when there are already so many choices? Premium-performance SUVs are the fastest-growing market segment in Canada. The Porsche Cayenne started the trend in 2002 and now everyone’s trying to get in on the profits. The Cayenne is larger than the Macan, so it will cost more, but Christine will get more for her money with the hot new Macan.
Leeder: I still have googly eyes for that car. Just starting its ignition made me quiver. But let’s give Christine an alternative to Porsche. I really like Jaguar’s new F-Pace. It’s Jag’s first (and long-awaited) SUV. And my, it was worth the wait. There isn’t one angle that makes this vehicle look poorly. It’s beautiful. There aren’t many on the street yet, which makes it more unique. And the top-of-the-line “S” model (380 horsepower with a supercharged V-6) puts it in square competition with the Macan, the Cayenne and the X5 (although it doesn’t have a third row of seats). Still, trunk space is great and the ride is sporty.
Richardson: My only issue with the F-Pace is that it’s so new. It’s usually a good idea to wait a year or so after any brand-new introduction, to get long-term feedback from owners and make sure any teething pains are covered. And what is it with you and trunk space? Why go for the BMW X5 when you can choose the more attractive X6? It has a sportier profile, thanks to shaving off some of that boxy back end.
Leeder: And in shaving off that boxy back end, BMW took the “u” right out of sport utility. Why bother having one of these things – not to mention spending the extra gas money – if it isn’t going to be useful when you have to haul stuff? It’d be less frustrating to cram the whole family into a Porsche 911.
Richardson: BMW doesn’t call the X6 a sport utility but a “Sport Activity Vehicle.” Sure, it’s semantics, but it lets you haul stuff – not as much stuff, granted – and look good while you’re doing it. But neither of us are going to win this one: The X5 is more popular with female buyers and the X6 with male buyers. So let’s get back to the Porsche. I’d choose the GTS trim for Christine because it’s the right blend of handling and power. It’s sportier than the base model, not so absurdly powerful as the Turbo and comes in comfortably below $100,000 even after you add all the optional, feel-good doohickeys.
Leeder: Let’s agree to agree on the GTS. You can’t go wrong with that Porsche, especially when it rings up under budget.
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