RSS
Home
Ask Uncle Spinout: Lexus GX470 drinks premium. What's big, luxo, big and runs on regular?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Dear Uncle Spinout,
I currently drive a Lexus GX470. The lease will be up in 6 months. Even though it burns premium gas, my wife and I dread turning it in, and we will not buy it at the end of the lease as the buyout cost versus the actual value is no where in the same hemisphere.
Due to an auto accident in 2007, my wife and I want to lease a vehicle at least the same size, if not indeed bigger! Living in Eastern PA and frequenting NJ ("death race 2000") often, size is huge! Our caveats are safety ratings and the ability to burn regular gas.
In talking to many people, I believe that there are many people who do not look forward to dumping their larger SUV, even if it means paying more for fuel.
Scott
You’re my kind of Scot, Scott. You don’t care how much your friends drink, just as long as they don’t drink your good stuff. Here’s a tip. Let the first glass or two be the expensive hooch, then switch over to the Bud Light of whatever they’re drinking. They’ll never know the difference.
Unfortunately, that won’t work with internal combustion engines. As a result, you’ve scratched all of the European and Asian alternatives from your guest list. They all demand high test.
You don’t say so, but I’m guessing you want to party in the same neighborhood as you did with the Lexus. That cuts your choice down to two, the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Both have that Yugo crushing weight you crave, but the Escalade has—wait for it—a hybrid version. Using GM’s Two-Mode hybrid system, the 6.0-liter V-8-equipped 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is EPA rated at 20/21 mpg city/highway. In our test, we didn’t score those numbers but in an earlier test of an ’08 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid we did match the EPA estimates. Still, you’re going to get better gas mileage than with a regular ‘Slade. And it runs on regular unleaded.(We’d suggest you consider the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, but they only went into production in October and the plant they’re built in closes December 31: Instant orphan).
Which brings us to the bling factor. Can someone who has spent the last two years in a Lexus drive a Cadillac? Durn tootin’, yes. The Escalade was one of the first models to benefit from GM’s quality renaissance, and we think they got it right.
So how can you go wrong? The Escalade is priced just about the same as the Lexus GX470, it’s on par for all the luxury stuff, it runs on regular, it’s a hybrid, and it has a five star crash rating by NHTSA, plus ABS, stability control, side-curtain airbags. And run the flag up the flagpole, it’s American made. Hold the bailout, congressmen. Scott just bought a Cadillac.
Uncle Spinout
| Have a question for Uncle Spinout? Send it to AskUncleSpinout (at) gmail.com |
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
There are three questions people ask about the Nissan Altima Hybrid and for them we have four answers. The questions are, of course, what is it like …
Take that, reputation of cheap and chintzy. We almost tried to start the engine but realized the it was running--thanks, Mr. Tachometer--just before …
- 2010 Reviews
- 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS
- 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
- 2010 Ford Taurus Limited AWD
- 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
- 2010 Hyundai Elantra SE
- 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
- 2010 Kia Forte
- 2010 Lexus HS 250h
- 2010 Lexus IS 350 C
- 2010 Lexus RX350
- 2010 Lexus RX 450h
- 2010 Mazda CX-7 i Sport
- 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3
- 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic
- 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
- 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S
- 2010 Toyota Prius
- 2010 Toyota Prius II
- 2009 Reviews
- 2009 Acura TSX
- 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0T quattro
- 2009 Audi A6 3.0 TSFI
- 2009 BMW 135i Coupe
- 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive 3.5i
- 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 4WD
- 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 1LT
- 2009 Chevrolet Kodiak pickup truck
- 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
- 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
- 2009 Chevrolet Traverse FWD LTZ
- 2009 Dodge Journey SXT AWD
- 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad 4x4
- 2009 Ford Fiesta
- 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD
- 2009 Ford Fusion SEL I-4
- 2009 GMC Acadia SLT-2
- 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
- 2009 Honda Fit Sport w/Nav
- 2009 Honda Ridgeline RTL
- 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8
- 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
- 2009 Infiniti M45x
- 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury
- 2009 Jaguar XKR Porfolio Coupe
- 2009 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4
- 2009 Kia Borrego
- 2009 Kia Borrego EX 4x4
- 2009 Land Rover LR3
- 2009 Lincoln MKZ
- 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 Sport
- 2009 Lotus Exige S
- 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S
- 2009 Mazda Mazda6 s Grand Touring
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300
- 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD
- 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Touring
- 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport
- 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD
- 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z
- 2009 Pontiac G6 4-cyl
- 2009 Pontiac G8
- 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
- 2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD
- 2009 Porsche Boxster RS60
- 2009 Saturn Aura XR 4-cyl
- 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid
- 2009 Scion xB
- 2009 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited
- 2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover AWD Technology
- 2009 Toyota 4Runner Sport Urban Runner
- 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Highlander/Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS
- 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4-cyl. 4WD
- 2009 Toyota Sequoia Platinum
- 2009 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD
- 2009 Toyota Venza 4-cyl. AWD
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
- 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Matic
- 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI
- 2008 Reviews
- 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell
- 2008 Bentley Continental GT
- 2008 BMW X6 xDrive 5.0i
- 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
- 2008 Kia Amanti
- 2008 Lexus IS-F
- 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT
- 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR
- 2008 Nissan Cube JDM
- 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line
- 2008 Scion xD
- 2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo
- 2008 Volkswagen Toureg V8
- 2008 Volvo XC70 3.2
- 2008 Volvo XC70 D5
- 1971 Honda N600
