BMW X1 and X3? Other small SUV thoughts?

I LOVE my Subaru Outback and it is a great car with seriously great reliability and resale value.
The RAV4 was going to be my first choice but it was much more expensive then the Subaru, so I went Subaru when I bought in 2020.
My mom has the Mazda and she loves it. It is smaller than the Subaru obviously, but it is actually quite comfortable. My nephew is very tall (6 feet) and he can sit in the backseat just fine.
It probably doesn't matter at your age but my family likes my Subaru best for getting in and out of.
My aunt has severe mobility issues and has to use a stool to get into my mom's car and my cousins SUV. My car is the only one she can get into without any aid and my mom constantly comments on how comfortable my car is and how easy it is for her to get in and out as well.
The only complaint my mom has about my car is at the doors are" heavy. I imagine it is because they are sturdy and well made and will keep her safe in the event of an accident.

I love my Volvo XC40. It's just lovely. If I still had a kid (DS is 21), I probably would have gone for the XC60.

I drove the X1, Audi Q3/Q5, as well as the Forrester, but the Volvo was hands-down the best for me.

I drive a BMW X3, it is the fourth BMW that we have bought and certainly in my mind the best.

I like that it has a little more height than a sedan so getting in and out is not a problem, the car seats are easy to install and remove (grandkids so not a permanent fixture) and the rear has plenty of room for ‘stuff’.

it has great economy and is comfortable for road trips. If I was in the market for another car I would probably replace with another of the same.

I found the X1 a little small for the same comfort factor. 

I also love my X3. I have had it since 2015 and (knock on wood) I have not had any major problems. I didn't think the X1 had enough room in the back for me. One of the things I liked about the car is that it is lower to the ground than the other SUV's I looked at. I'm barely 5 feet tall and it is easy for me to get in an out of. The only thing that I am not crazy about is the navigation/connectivity, but that has probably improved in later models.

I really like my Audi Q5. I think they have a smaller crossover now also. Mine is 2013 and drives exactly like it came off the lot.

Drove a Suburban for years; then drove an Audi Q9; then an Acura MDX and now a Subaru Outback and the Outback is my favorite car of them all. I don’t think I’ll ever own another brand - it’s been so reliable and easy to drive. I absolutely love it.

I can comment on Subaru and Mazda and I would recommend either.  I am on my second Forester and I do like it. They are not as zoom zoom zoom as my Mazda was, but more like the work horse.  Which as I grow older is not terrible.

My first SUV was after having a sporty little Mazda3 that I love love loved.  But after years of having to drive home from work at midnight on often unploweded roads and some pretty good hills I needed something with higher clearance.  I was undecided between the Mazda CX-5 and the Forester.  

I truthfully thought that I would end up with the Mazda.  Both had good snow ratings and like I said I loved my Mazda3.  I thought the Subaru had a better turning radius and I got a better deal, I think I would have been happy with either. 

I think that the Mazda rides better, but an outback is a step up from the Forester so that may not be a factor.  I do love my Subaru though, and if you drive in any winter weather I would highly recommend the Subaru.


ETA- Another big plus (to me) is that the Forester has a huge windshield and I feel like I can really see well in it. I have had people comment on how big it is.   And as an added bonus with a large moonroof/sunroof (?) it feels so open and airy.  Especially in the winter when I am craving sun. 😄

I have the Mazda CX-5 and love it. It is the perfect size for my needs and it drives beautifully.

I’m glad gorgeouskid posted this - I was going to suggest adding Volvo to the list of possibilities if you haven’t looked into them before.

I had to (sadly) let go of an 11 year old Mercedes which I loved after an accident, and ended up in a Volvo, which had never been on my radar.  I’d always loved heavy German cars, mostly for their safety ratings, but the Volvo’s are even better and this is by far my favorite car I’ve ever owned - it checks every single box in addition to being safer than the ones I swore by for years. Even though it’s a big, heavy car, it’s great on gas, has plenty of pep, is roomy and comfortable and both drives and rides like a dream.  

My own experience with BMW (my parents have had at least 8 of them, my daughter has one now) is that they are great cars, but the cost of maintenance is higher than any other I’ve seen and their service departments don’t often have the best reputation.  My daughter’s is years old, out of warranty and we have a private mechanic (who we’ve trusted for many years) do all of the necessary work because I would not pay what the dealership charges if my life depended on it. 

I have a Subaru Forester that I love. The Outback is classified as a Station Wagon, while the Forester is an SUV.

we have owned two Lexus SUVs and have loved them. smooth and comfortable ride. drives like a car but is an SUV.