My folks are in the mid-80's and have been driving a 2012 Venza. Well, it was obliterated in the College Station hail storm. They spend half the year in India, so I use it when they're gone.

They live in Houston so I want a small SUV that has a good backup camera, blind spot monitors, and a power rear hatch.

Budget is 25K drive out, wanting to keep mileage under 40K. We will put on 12K miles per year. Under consideration:

Mazda C5
Nissan Murano

I think the CRV and Rav 4 will be too expensive. What am the thoughts on the two I mentioned? What vehicles am I missing? Is there a Kia or Hyundai that is a good value?

Thanks!

mazda is a good bet, I would avoid anything nissan personally.

a 2-year old certified pre owned rav-4 might fit the budget too.

Telluride?

ETA- Sorento? Telluride likely 5k outside your budget for that mileage.

A Kia Soul is especially easy to get in and out of, much like the Venza if I remember right. Murano's are garbage.

My 78 y/o mom drives a Ford Edge and likes it.
It's easy to get my 88 y/o dad in and out of.

My mom had a Mazda CX-5 and it was a good car, easy to drive, safe and reliable. No issues during her 2 years of ownership. Would recommend.

Thanks, all. I've also been looking at Hyundai Tucson's. Lightly used ones are pretty affordable but I'm not sure how they hold up long term.

My parents drive the GMC Acadia because it is smaller and easy for them to get in and out of - for what its worth!
They are 81 and 82.

TMfrisco said:

---

My parents drive the GMC Acadia because it is smaller and easy for them to get in and out of - for what its worth!
They are 81 and 82.

---

My parents drive a Buick Enclave which is basically the same vehicle. It is small, but not too small.

HollywoodBQ said:

---

My 78 y/o mom drives a Ford Edge and likes it.
It's easy to get my 88 y/o dad in and out of.

---

Ditto. After years of driving Lincoln sedans, Mom was having knee problems needing injections and the mkz was too low and stressing her knees getting out. She got the ford edge as it was the perfect Hight to get in and out of with knee problems. Later needing a Walker and now a wheel chair after a fall, the ford edge is still perfect, with plenty of room to store the needed accessories in the back. Has been problem free over 4 years.

I'd add the Subaru Forester to your list of cars to consider. Great visibility, great safety features, great AWD, higher seating position plus ground clearance makes ingress/egress easier. Not the sexiest CUV, but neither is a Venza.

Sorry for the derail but what do they do in India for half the year? That sounds interesting.

Dogdoc said:

---

TMfrisco said:

---

My parents drive the GMC Acadia because it is smaller and easy for them to get in and out of - for what its worth!
They are 81 and 82.

---

My parents drive a Buick Enclave which is basically the same vehicle. It is small, but not too small.

---

My parents may have the Enclave as well - I don't remember exactly. They are pretty similar.

Mas89 said:

---

HollywoodBQ said:

---

My 78 y/o mom drives a Ford Edge and likes it.
It's easy to get my 88 y/o dad in and out of.

---

Ditto. After years of driving Lincoln sedans, Mom was having knee problems needing injections and the mkz was too low and stressing her knees getting out. She got the ford edge as it was the perfect Hight to get in and out of with knee problems. Later needing a Walker and now a wheel chair after a fall, the ford edge is still perfect, with plenty of room to store the needed accessories in the back. Has been problem free over 4 years.

---

Too funny about the knee because my mom had knee problems and got a knee replacement a couple years ago. Made a big difference in her life.

Dad has gone from rollator to walker to now a transporter chair. All of that stuff folds up and easily fits in the back of the Ford Edge.

spieg12 said:

---

Sorry for the derail but what do they do in India for half the year? That sounds interesting.

---

Retired. They spend 6 months where they grew up in Vadodara and the other 6 months in Houston.

Ended up with a 2018 CRV EXL with 32k miles. One owner. Very clean.