Kevin is helping his in-laws replace their BMW X5 PHEV which is too big and unwieldy for aging drivers. They are looking for something smaller, but still in the luxury space and like the idea of having a hybrid powerplant. With a budget up to $70,000, what car should they buy?
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Here is the scenario.
Quick Facts:
My in-laws live in Florida (and spend several months a year with us in Maryland) and own a 2020 BMW X5 plug-in hybrid. It is entirely too big for them. Just in the month that they’ve been staying with us in Maryland, my father-in-law damaged a quarterpanel on a parking bollard at Trader Joes, then today he backed into a retaining wall by our driveway and tore a chunk out of the sidewall on a rear tire. I think they need a smaller car and want to know what they could the X5 in for.
My FIL has always been a luxury car guy – for as long as I’ve known him, he’s had either a BMW or a Mercedes (both SUVs and sedans). He’s not going to be happy with anything he views as a ‘crappy’ car, so the new car needs to have some degree of luxury cachet. They don’t know how to use 3/4 of the tech on the BMW, but they do like the hybrid aspect, so having that in the new car would be good, even if the other tech bells and whistles go away. It can’t be too low to the ground, so nothing super sporty or they’ll never be able to get out of the car. And, they’ll want to get a brand new car – they’ve never been much for buying used. Their budget is between $60,000 -$70,000
Budget: up to $70,000
Location: Maryland
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Luxury, hybrid, Brand New
Doesn’t want: Something too big
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Swedish Luxury And Comfort
It seems the X5 is a bit overkill for the needs of your in-laws. Fortunately, there are some solid alternatives to the big BMW, and while I typically recommend buying used luxury cars to get a better value out of the purchase, a new car it is.
Volvo makes several models with its T8 PHEV powertrain. The XC60 Recharge would be the natural step down into the “compact” crossover category. Prices start at around $60,000 with standard equipment that includes all the sensors and gizmos to hopefully help them avoid an accident. Volvos have a spacious interior and some of the most comfortable seats you can buy.
Inventory is plentiful, and there appear to be some rebates from the factory to make some competitive prices possible. Here is a new XC60 T8 Plus in the region with a moderate level of equipment right within their budget range.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard – It’s The Obvious Choice For A Reason
My first instinct with these questions is usually to start looking for something creative. That’s partly to keep things interesting and also because Tom usually takes the best answer for himself, forcing the rest of us to scramble. This time around, though, I don’t think you should be getting too creative, Kevin. The last thing you need is your in-laws getting mad at you because you convinced them to buy a new car, and suddenly something breaks.
So what’s the most reliable luxury vehicle that’s easy to get in and out of for your spouse’s aging parents to get in and out of but is also available as a hybrid? Look no further than the Lexus NX. I’d probably recommend the UX, but if your in-laws are anything like my parents, they’ll probably complain that it’s too small. With their budget, they could easily afford the more powerful NX 450h+, but something tells me they don’t need that extra power and won’t want to deal with a plug-in hybrid. Then again, it may just be time for them to hang up their keys, but that’s probably a different discussion for another day.
Go for the NX 350h, and they’ll get a perfectly adequate 240 horsepower, 39 mpg combined and a comfortable, reliable ride. You can certainly find alternatives with more advanced technology, but I also get the feeling the NX still offers more than enough to keep them happy. Plus, they can go wild with the options and still keep the NX 350h under that $70,000 price point. At least as long as your father-in-law doesn’t have an issue owning a Lexus.
Expert 3: Amber DaSilva – So Close, Collin
Kevin, Collin almost gave you the right answer up there. In fact, he even mentioned the perfect car, and then simply chose not to pick it. Your in-laws need a Lexus UX hybrid, and I can prove it with math.
Your in-laws’ X5 is about 194 inches long, and that’s proven to be too much for them to handle. Perfectly reasonable, that’s a lot of car. The XC60 Tom recommended cuts that down to 185, while Collin’s Lexus NX shaves another inch off down to 184. But your father-in-law has been hitting quarter panels and tires, which makes me thing he could stand to shave as much length off his next car as possible.
So, Kevin, I bring you the Lexus UX. Tall enough for easy ingress and egress, yet shorter in length than anything else today — a mere 177 inches long, which will hopefully be short enough to keep bumpers and bollards separate. Plus, the UX is cheap for a Lexus, meaning your in-laws can option it to their heart’s content without ever risking blowing their budget. Smaller is better, Kevin, so make the small choice.
Expert TK: Owen Bellwood – Do This Properly
Kevin, that’s a lot of budget to play around with and is definitely enough to get you a nice car that would suit you and your family’s needs down to a T. My first instinct for you, a man of class, was that you should obviously buy a used Range Rover, because that’s a smart financial decision for everyone. I even found this lovely plug-in hybrid option that comes with more luxury flourishes than you can shake a stick at.
But I get it, you want that new car smell. So instead of a full size, hybrid Range Rover, why don’t you buy its smaller cousin instead: the Velar. Sure, you’ll miss the hybrid powertrain, but with its recent refresh this car serves up a whole heap of niceties for your drives to and from Florida.
This one’s great for you, it’s got a lush blue finish on the exterior to make it stand out from the wave of black and gray Range Rovers on our streets. It also comes with little treats like a heads-up display, panoramic roof and tech like lane-keeping and, importantly, rear cameras and emergency braking to stop any other close calls in Trader Joes.