I am looking to pick up a primary vehicle that I can have a bit of fun with while still meeting a utilitarian purpose. I have been going between the

2022 Porsche Macan Turbo which is now the GTS

2022 Mercedes GLC AMG 63 S

2022 BMW X3M

Now I do not take much storage in the vehicle but having the ability to tow a Maverick Trail SXS with an open tandem braked trailer would be a must and I can do that with any of them. So your thoughts, opinions or experiences would be great to hear.

You might want to budget for a Jeep Cherokee:


https://youtu.be/3gHjS8CFsn8

Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. But dont tell your insurance agent! My non-Hellcat Durango was trouble free while I had it. Just did not need 3 row seating.

Those all look expen$ive, GroundedCLK

I was considering a Porsche Cayenne a few years back. Posted about it here. Responses boiled-down to "Yeah, cool, but get ready to open your wallet." Did some more searching.

Finally ended-up with a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with a 5.7L Hemi. Absolutely love it.

And, yeah, with that Hemi it's hella fun

No AMG experience, but I'm partial to a Merc.

Have had a few GLC300 for a loaner when I had a C300, liked them quite a bit. Very similar dynamic to my C, just taller.

A Macan intrigues me too, love how they look & imagine the drive is great, being a Porsche.

GLC is compact, not mid-size.

I drove the Audi SQ7, GLE5 3AMG and also the Genesis GV80 3.5T about six weeks ago. I ended up buying a Kia Telluride SX-Prestige instead nut mostly because we decided this would be a third vehicle purchase for us vs. my daily driver (I'm going to order a Tesla Model X Long Range for delivery next year for every day).

A friend owns a Porsche Macan Turbo/GTS which she loves.

A few observations; the Audi never felt sporty. The Genesis was terrific but interior was style over substance and handling was ponderous (the twin-turbo V6 was excellent however). The Porsche makes ALL the right noises and fun to drive but is smaller than most inside. The Mercedes was a FREAKING RIOT to drive mostly because it had the AMG Driving Package and the AMG Performance Exhaust.

If I were to choose a gas vehicle for everyday, the clear choice for me was the GLE53 AMG. It was terrific and it felt every bit as expensive as it was in a way that the Audi didn't. The GV80 is a great value.

If you're fine with the smaller side of "Mid-size" i.e. the Macan/GLC/Q5 size, I'd strongly recommend you go check out the new Genesis GV70 (the smaller SUV). It has the same 390hp 3.5T motor but is Macan/GLC/Q5 size and tuned more for performance than the bigger GV80 I was considering.

These are all great vehicles...you really can't go wrong. It just comes down to which one you like better, pricing, options, etc.

Here are some pics I snapped from my test drives (wife hates dealers so she never goes but wanted me to show her what I looked at). https://imgur.com/a/Mh4xn0H

Adding to my above.
Had a GLE350 also, as a loaner. Very smooth, didn't notice I was cruising at >80. Felt like 65-70. Spacious, too, but it had the older generation infotainment, compared to my '15 C300.

No hands on time with MBUX, so can't comment on that. I had the last iteration of COMMAND, I believe & it worked well, for not having a touch screen.

Just drove a Cayenne, a Macan, and an Audi. Ended up special ordering a Macan. No GTS or Turbo, too rich for our blood. Have driven a couple of Mercs too, 350 and 450, but not an AMG. Really looking forward to this Macan, I think we’ll both enjoy it a lot.

The BMW X3 isn’t really midsize. It’s a compact SUV. The X5 is their midsize vehicle, and comes can be had in the X5 M50i and X5M if you’re really hardcore. Similarly, I’d rate the MB GLC as a compact, with the GLE being more midsized.

Agree that the X3 is too small. I have the X2 M35i as my dog car and it’s even smaller than the X3 I tested.

The GLE 53 Coupe is the one I really like. I have a pretty good bit of experience with MB (owned a few and immediate family has owned 10+) and love them and will probably own one forever. The AMG models are just kind of ridiculous in a very fun way. I have a client that has one of the GLE 53s and it's awesome. My FIL, my Mom, and my wife all drive GLEs and the size is pretty much perfect for us.

Also have a friend with a nice Macan but all things considered, I prefer the Merc.

My wife just got a 2022 Audi A4 Allroad last week. Her third of this model in a row. It is a wagon not a SUV but it also drives much much better than any SUV I have tried. Very quick sporty nimble performance. The A4 might not satisfy your towing needs but there also is an A6 version.

quote:

Originally posted by Chowser:
Agree that the X3 is too small. I have the X2 M35i as my dog car and it’s even smaller than the X3 I tested.

That because the X2 is based on the X1, which is a subcompact.

I can't speak to the other SUVs mentioned above, but in reading the various reviews and owner experiences, it seems the JGC is actually a remarkably capable off-road SUV.

Grand Cherokee SRT8 is terrific as is the TrakHawk, though you give up some off-road ability by making them "performance" vehicles. They're long in the tooth though they just got an interior refresh with the new Grand Cherokee L out this year.

That said, the dealer experience at Jeep is nowhere near the other marques (having owned an AEV JKUR, a 300C SRT8 and several Mercedes over the last decade. Chrysler dealers don't like their customers very much).

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I can't speak to the other SUVs mentioned above, but in reading the various reviews and owner experiences, it seems the JGC is actually a remarkably capable off-road SUV.

Is the JGC a body-on-frame (SUV) or crossover utility vehicle (CUV) ?

The GC has been unibody since forever

Just custom ordered a 2021 Macan GTS (375 HP version, moderately optioned for a Porsche), delivery scheduled for November (the GTS is on an allocation to global dealers).
Excited about it but will simply have to wait until November to enjoy.
Too old and arthritically challenged to easily get into my 911 any longer - it is literally painful to enter and more so to exit. The seat level of a small-to-medium sized SUV is at a perfect ass-level for me.
Considered BMW X3 M4 and Audi SQ5 but have had 4 other Porsches and have loved every one of them.
Yes they are pricey, yes they are expensive to maintain - it's part of the decision process to factor that in the final decision.

quote:

Originally posted by PGT:
The GC has been unibody since forever

Thank you Sir.
I know little to nothing about them other than they are quite popular around here.