To catch up from last month, the Acura RDX starts at $32,995, does 19 miles to the gallon in the city and 23 miles to the gallon on the highway. This month the Toyota Highlander is pure midsize SUV and the high-end Mercedes just doesn’t get any better than the fun-loving R320CDI.
Toyota Highlander
For starters, the Highlander is comfortable with a fair amount of seat space, cargo room and the ability to take whatever the road offers rain or shine. A fold-a-way third seat means there is plenty of room to ride and if you want sporty, the sport trim offers all that and more. Another good feature on the Highlander is the hybrid option coming in for the mid-size category, however the traditional can be had as well with 2WD or 4WD. As for the engine, it’s a 155-hp, four-cylinder engine or a 215-hp, V-6. The hybrid engine is available with a 268 horsepower 3.3-liter V-6. More good news, the Highlander boasts not only stability control, but traction control and anti-lock brakes as well. Safety is not overlooked either and the side and curtain side airbags are standard on all 2007s. Options that are available are plenty with a sunroof, DVD entertainment system and a navigation system, which is available in the Limited and Limited Hybrid, just to name a few.
Pricing: Starting at $24,800 and making its way up to $32,210.
Gas Mileage: About 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway, not great, but as average as the competition.
Mercedes R320 CDI
Mercedes is always a good choice (can you say brand marketing) and in the R320 CDI there are options for engines depending on your needs, which makes it a likeable car from the beginning. The six-seats are also family-convenient, friendly to the tykes and the adults. Diesel-fueled, this Mercedes really saves on the gas and as with all R classes, its classy – this one in that station wagon/SUV sort of way. The highest points I give this Mercedes is the size, big enough with plenty of room inside for, well just about everybody. Big families, you’ll love it with three rows of two-passenger seating and they’re all comfortable too. The 320 CDI offers 17-inch wheels, heated outside mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control and a COMAND interface and a CD player. But, that’s not all as options can be added like the Panorama sunroof, power rear quarter windows, a power rear liftgate, park assist sensors, an adjustable air suspension, adaptive xenon HID headlights and an AMG Sport styling package with 19-inch wheels. The engine sings with the “diesel-powered” 3.0-liter turbocharged engine giving the driving at least 215 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Standard suspension also makes it a pretty ride and the body motion of the car is easily controlled with the Mercedes’ Airmatic air suspension system that makes it all possible.
Pricing: The R320 CDI that I drove was about $40,000 and that’s always good for a Mercedes brand no matter what you say.
Gas Mileage: Another good thing, I got 21 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway – big wow factor there!