[BlackElantraGT]

Have you considered a Toyota Highlander? I don't know what it MSRP for, but if she was driving a CRV, the Highlander is probably its biggest competition. Plus, it's hard to beat Toyota or Honda when it comes to reliability.

I understand her feelings about Hyundai and Kia. I used to be one of those people. When I thought of Korean cars, it reminded me of a beat up Excel I used to see when walking home from grade school. As kids, we'd use to make fun of it. The only car that got more teased about at that time was a Pinto.

To truly appreciate it, you have to get in one and drive it. And then compare it to the competition and realize its bang-for-the buck factor. And considering her budget is limited, I think she could benefit by being just a little more open-minded and giving it a try. Doesn't hurt right?

Hyundai/Kia still isn't in at the level that Toyota or Honda is at, but they're getting there. If you have the money, I would go for the Japanese maker. In the end, you'll pay less in insurance, have better reliability, and it'll maintain its resale value better. But if you don't have the money now, then a Hyundai might be a good choice because you'll get more car for the same money. But any money you save now you will pay for it in the long run. In the end, a Japanese car will more likely be cheaper to own. So basically it comes down to whether you want to pay now, or pay more later down the road.