My 2013 Prius 4 is going off lease soon (paying 330 with 9% CA tax, zero drive off, 29.5 msrp, 36/12)…I really like the car, as does my family, but really dislike the new prius…yes, it drives better, but it’s truly ugly, and the interior is cramped and low, as opposed to airy and big! Buying the car doesn’t make any sense…
So I’m looking to get a new car…city mileage is important, as 90% is in LA traffic, not freeway. I’m not a huge fan of sedans, so would prefer some type of crossover/suv. I’ve had Audi Q5/Allroad/Avant in the past - like them, but they’ll be closer to 600. My other car right now is a 2015 Ford Edge, which I really like.
Looking at a Subaru Forester, but find the seats uncomfortable and it’s really not too attractive. Ford dealer offered me nice deal on C-Max Energi. I hear Volvo has some nice offers.
My wife has a cmax energi. Not too bad. The electric range is somewhat irrelevant. We plugged it in like twice. The turn radius sucks too. We curbed it in a u turn. It does have nice acceleration and is comfortable enough. The economy tires don’t grip well in turns. And it has negative sex appeal. She likes it more than I do so that is what matters. Great prius alternative. I would prefer any other ford.
If you know what you are doing you can get a 320 or 328 for that money, might have to get a loaner or a demo, but much nicer than whats been discussed.
While I appreciate all the responses so far, it would be nice if people actually read my post…I specifically mentioned good mileage and no sedan - so naturally two replies are about sedans!
As for nice, I actually like my Ford Edge (first American car I’ve ever bought) more than the Q5! (Though the turning radius is dreadful…don’t know why most manufacturers don’t pay more attention to that).
I would counter the 320 and 328 get excellent mileage, 26 city 36 hwy if i remember correctly, plus gas is so cheap coming close to recouping the expense of a hybrid or an electric in a 3 year lease is laughable, unless Trump somehow wins and starts a few wars.
I was trying to point out that your $400 dollars a month would go a lot further in a luxury sedan, not a small cramped one like the prius. But by all means if you want a smallish suv (wagon in drag) like the 122 million other people out there go for it, but you will pay more for it than a similarly equipped car.
That being said the Hyundai Santa Fe leases REALLY well right now, but that may be too big and doesn’t get great gas mileage. There is a reason there were minimal responses to your post, because there are not many good deals on what you are looking for, because every one else says they want the same thing. Supply-Demand.
Having leased E series, 5 series and plenty of A4 derivatives (sedan, convertible and wagon!), I agree that the german luxury cars are nicer…however, a couple points. A 328 has no more room than a Prius (at least previous generation)…and actually feels much smaller due to the smaller windows…back seat especially feels more cramped -ask my kids! And of course cargo room can’t compare, especially with seat down! Plus living here in Los Angeles, a 3 series BMW has virtually ZERO cachet - one might even argue that a 50 year old driving a 3 series (vs a 5 or 7, or x5) might actually be projecting a worse image than driving a Ford - it’s like I want a luxury status, but can’t afford the big boys
I just leased a Nissan Murano SL about a week ago and really like it so far. 36/12 lease, $39k MSRP, $385/month with just first month out of pocket. We also test drove the Sante Fe that someone mentioned above and the Murano seemed like a higher quality vehicle, though slightly less bells and whistles for the same price.
I don’t know about CA, but at least one dealer in the NY area is advertising a zero down (not zero drive off of course) lease on the Q5 for $378. But sounds like you probably don’t want another Q5 anyway.
