How to Narrow Down a Used SUV Before the Test Drive

Here at Cathedral City Auto Center, the used SUV conversation usually starts with a specific nameplate and with our friendly staff, we can help expand on your search based on what you need, your lifestyle and your budget. How many people ride along regularly, whether the third row gets used, and what has to fit behind the rear seats will narrow the used SUV inventory faster than a model name will.

Compact models such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage handle four adults and a full cargo area without much compromise. Three-row midsize SUVs make sense when the back seats carry passengers regularly rather than a few times a year.

Model Year Considerations

Standard equipment on a given SUV tends to shift at a redesign or a mid-cycle update, then hold for several years. A larger center screen, wireless phone mirroring, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control all became standard partway through their model lines rather than at the start. Two examples of the same SUV, one trim apart on paper, can sit years apart in technology and safety equipment.

That makes the year on the window sticker worth as much attention as the trim. Hybrid versions followed a similar pattern and turn up regularly in used inventory across the fifteen brands the group represents.

Certified Coverage Belongs in the Comparison

A certified vehicle has passed the manufacturer’s inspection process and carries factory-backed warranty coverage on top of whatever remains of the original term. Our certified pre-owned vehicles are certified through each brand’s own program, since they come from the group’s franchise stores rather than a single in-house standard. Several certified SUVs are usually available across brands and price points.

What Palm Springs Drivers Weigh Most

Fuel economy, insurance and long-run cost to own tend to lead are all considerations when shopping for a pre owned SUV.

So does the monthly payment. Our finance team works with a range of credit situations and can lay out lease and loan terms on more than one vehicle before anything gets signed; the financing options page is a good place to start. Current pre-owned specials can also change which SUVs make the short list.

Drive two back to back where you can. SUVs with similar specifications differ in outward visibility, seat position and cargo access, and half an hour in each answers what a specification sheet cannot. Our sales advisors will pull comparable examples from the used vehicle inventory so the comparison happens in one stop.

Come drive a few. Cathedral City Auto Center is at 68100 Perez Rd in Cathedral City, at CA-111 and Perez Rd, and you can schedule a test drive or ask about a specific SUV by calling (844) 312-9940.