[4sallypat]

So now that my lease end is arriving, I started looking for a replacement to the DS.
I would get another DS if there were more engine choices (like the European 4 cylinder diesel version)...

Since there is only one engine offered in NA, I am looking to replace it with either the same brand or different brand.

Here is what I have test driven so far:

• Land Rover Discovery (full sized LR4 equivalent) looks great with choice of either the 6 cylinder Supercharged or 6 cylinder turbo diesel.
• Jaguar F Pace diesel
• Land Rover Velar diesel
• Volvo XC40
• Porsche Macan

Does anyone have any suggestions on other brands / models ?

 

[2Fly]

Just bought a 2015 Range Rover Sport with the supercharged 6 and it is a sweet drive.

 

[Paul]

Not sure about your priorities....and what you value most in a car....
I am seriously disappointed by DS due to its pathetic engine / transmission performance..or rather lack of it..... I have been complaining here about some other issues and would probably forgive it all, if it had supercharge V6.
Granted this is my first SUV...been always a sedan guy....but after over 6 months of ownership and I know one thing: NEVER AGAIN an SUV with 4 cylinders
In any case....If I ever buy another SUV (instead of a sedan)...I will be looking at Audi SQ5 or BMW X3m

From your selection above...Porsche and Jag should be good choices....however, as much as I am cool with Diesel. and have high regard for the technology...I worry that in a few years there will be so many new regulations and restrictions....owning a diesel will be for life...you won't be able to trade it in or resale.

 

[AzjaST]

I was facing similar decision two months ago. Long story short, today I am happily driving 2017 Discovery HSE Si6, purchased as CPO. Similar to OP, I was considering all mentioned above cars and decided F-Pace to be too sporty, XC40 and Macan too small, Velar too expensive for offered features. The only problem with Discovery it is big but if I can find parking in Brooklyn, you should be able to park it anywhere.

 

[Discosal]

I'm in the exact same spot where you are now - my lease have still few months left and I started my search - so far the winning one is the F-PACE V6 engine, after you try it anything else including BMW & AUDI will not do it for you.
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[Paul]

I'm in the exact same spot where you are now - my lease have still few months left and I started my search - so far the winning one is the F-PACE V6 engine, after you try it anything else including BMW & AUDI will not do it for you.
\

Are you referring to the Audi and BMW models I mentioned above ?
If so - we need to be fair....Jag F-Pace comes in several trims.... the base is I4 with 0 to 60 of 9sec....that's slow like **** and nowhere near Audi SQ5 with 5.1sec
Now if you think of their top of the line F-Pace SVR...that's a beast but it's $80,000 if not more.... so not really fair to compare to SQ5 at $60k

 

[4sallypat]

Great feedback from DS owners here.

If money were no object, then the logical step within the same brand would be a Range Rover or Discovery with the bigger engines and better tranny.

Since I am trying to keep the budget similar, I am restricted by the price point & MF/Residual.

Diesel: not concerned about the resale or depreciation since the recent scandal but I have had very good success with 2 diesel engines from BMW (335d & X5d) plus it's a lease so the manufacturer gets it back.

F Pace: yes the 6 cylinder supercharged 35t is amazing - it's a pocket rocket for sure - had a 35t loaner 3 months while the DS was in the shop. Problem I am discovering is that it lacks the Entry / Exit convenience seat feature so I keep bumping my head on the frame/headliner getting in/out. So it's off my list....

Velar & full sized Discovery: pricey but VERY NICE !!!

Audi SQ5: fake exhausts moulding is a big turn off for a $60k car.

Volvo XC40: roomy just like the DS but the demand is outstripping supply. Many issues with the online subscription lease program leaving people hanging and even overseas delivery with free air tickets is pushed back to January 2019.

Porsche Macan: base 4 cylinder drives amazing - no turbo lag and a very wide power band due to the powertrain programming. Love this car as it has a good feel of the road thru the steering and seat. Price point is amazing - dealers offering discounts up to $5,000 available which brings it to the affordable level. My needs (14 way seats without pano roof) found a custom order is the only way to get it. Only other drawback is the higher MF which translates to higher monthly leases. Macans are better if financed...


Test drives with American and Japanese brands:
- Cadillac XT5 AWD: drives well but seating is stiff and finding an AWD version is tough in So Cal. Pricey at $60K with $12K dealer discounting due to new XT4 coming out this fall. Will see if the new XT4 will be test driveable soon ??
- Buick Enclave AWD: $10,000 lower cost copy of the Caddy XT5 with all the features but has a better driver's seat, easy entry/exit seat, and 3 row seating. This is definitely NOT your grandfather's Buick LaCrosse - the Enclave is a performance crossover! A definite plus to my list!
- Acura MDX w/ SH-AWD: drives well but engine is slow to respond. Pricey for a loaded trim which is what I would want.
- Acura RDX AWD: a boring sleeper car - no fun - too small. Found out 2019 version being released is a new 3rd gen RDX is larger, SH-AWD, made in the USA and the 2L 4 cylinder is peppy is what I have been told. Will have to wait for a test drive on this 2019 incoming model...

Audi test drive:
Q3: Too small, laggy engine, awful turbo and decrepit 6 speed tranny. Can't believe Audi can sell such a dumpy crossover.
Q5 Diesel - 2016 MY but new - very strange - seems like this one got caught in the diesel scandal - drives with a much more robust feel but steering is numb.
Q7 2.0 & 3.0: Nice full sized CUV - drives very well, has the drive mode feature to stiffen up the steering and suspension with the air suspension (3.0) and the 2.0 4 cylinder engine really blew me away!

 

[Discosal]

4sallypat did you also got hit hard with the DS residual / negative equity in the DS lease?
This is the very first thing I faced when I initiated my search for my next SUV.

 

[4sallypat]

4sallypat did you also got hit hard with the DS residual / negative equity in the DS lease?
This is the very first thing I faced when I initiated my search for my next SUV.

Yes, the contracted DS residual was overinflated when the lease contract was initiated and currently I am upside down.
There are 4 options:
1. Wait until the end of the lease and turn her in - walk away with a final disposition payment of $395.
2. Lease or finance another JLR product and get the disposition fee waived.
3. Early lease termination - manufacturer or dealer sponsored is the best as it waives a couple of months payments and gets you into another JLR product.
4. Extend the lease for a couple of months to get a better deal on an incoming car.

Unlike Audi and Porsche where the residual comes out positive in your favor near the end of a lease and you can use that equity to either cash out or put it towards drive off fees on another Audi/Porsche product; LR have a serious deficit causing negative residual.

This negative residual is also the case for MBZ and BMW - I have had to experience the same...

 

[Discosal]

Yeh, it seems like option 1 is the best and cheapst as all others will result with much higher monthly payments due to the current sagnificant negative equity...

 

[4sallypat]

It's a shame the 35t Jag F Pace is no longer available - quite a monster rocket car!
I spent 3 months of total service loaner time in the 35t and loved the takeoff torque.

But the only negative for me is the lack of easy entry/exit seat feature on the Jag.....

Now going to test drive:

Just released 2019 Acura RDX Advance w/ SH-AWD & old 2018 style Lexus RX350L....

Will report back..

 

[4sallypat]

Test drove over the weekend:

Lexus RX350 & RX350L: sloppy, soft, numb steering, and felt like a big pig going around corners. Did not like the front torque steer powering around corners and turning acceleration from stop. Definitely a soccer mom type car. Could not believe it is pricey at $51/$58K loaded. For that money I could get into the GX. RX is off my list.

Acura RDX (2019): test drove the new 3rd gen RDX AWD Advance package with new chassis, bigger body, and compares very well with the DS. Drove like a champ, great road feel, adjustable ride settings (love the crisp Sport + mode), good wide powerband between torque, HP and gears, 10 speed auto was smooth as butter. This model is a huge improvement over the older RDX with the re-introduced SH-AWD, new HUD, wider track, longer wheelbase, improvement from the Honda CRV size, and better powertrain. For $48K fully loaded it was a game changer! The RDX (2019) is now on my top 3 list so it compares very well between performance, price point, and features. Very well done Acura!

 

[TheSalamander]

Interesting perspectives listed. We just replaced my wife's LR2 with a 2018 Discovery Sport HSE Dynamic. I tried to get her to consider other cars but she wanted to stick with JLR. Her main reasoning being she wants to sit up higher and have good visibility in a small SUV. I would agree that having had a LR2 then moving to almost anything else in a similar size has a far lower seating position. Even the Discovery Sport is not so good for visibility etc, although this is somewhat offset with the improved technology e.g. BSM.

I did manage to get her to sit in a Honda Passport, but after a quick test drive of the Discovery Sport Dynamic her viewpoint was clear.

It really depends on what you are after in a car, for my wife performance was not a major concern - we only got the Dynamic as I decided I liked the styling enough to warrant the additional $.

TheSalamander