What Midsize SUV Should Shelbyville Drivers Consider?

For those of you in Shelbyville and the surrounding area in the market for an SUV, you may have wondered what classifies as a midsize SUV, as well as whether there is a Shelbyville used car dealership with an extensive selection of used vehicles that will help answer all of your SUV questions. To answer that last question: we here at Newton Chevy GMC are a dealership that you can depend on when looking for any used vehicle in Shelbyville. Today, however, is about that first question: what exactly is a midsize SUV? In simplest terms, a midsize SUV is larger than a compact and smaller than a full-size one. However, that doesn’t begin to explain why you’d want a vehicle like this or, more importantly, how a midsize SUV could be the perfect fit for you.

In Shelbyville, getting around town is part of your daily life, whether driving yourself to work, the kids to school or soccer practice, or even grandma to her dentist checkup. A midsize SUV will give you a vehicle that’s big enough to fit the entire family and fit them comfortably without feeling too crowded. If you do your shopping right, you can acquire a surprisingly spacious midsize SUV, and depending on which one you purchase, you can save tons of money thanks to incredible fuel efficiency. Those who live in Shelbyville are quite familiar with Routes 231, 64, and 41A, so if you’re a commuter, say to Nashville even, then a fuel-efficient SUV is what you should heavily consider. So, what midsize SUV models would we recommend to drivers in Shelbyville? Let’s take a look.

The Chevy Blazer

The Chevy Blazer is our first recommendation to drivers in Shelbyville, and that’s because it’s both feature-rich and amply performant. If you’re in the market for a Blazer, you should consider purchasing a model from the first generation, which began in 2018. This means that a handful of models from this generation are already available on the used market, and because of this, you can save money on a pre-owned Blazer that will still perform similarly to new models.

Yes, that’s right: first-generation Blazers will perform identically to the most recent models with the right engine, which is a 3.6L V6. Newer models come standard with a turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine that produces 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, which was an optional engine on the 2021, 2020, and 2019 models. With these models, a 2.5L I-4 engine comes standard; however, it still comes paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and creates 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. And its fuel efficiency remains excellent, thanks to 21 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway.

The benefit to the upgraded V6 engine is its increase in power to 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, which may be worth the upgrade to some. This V6 engine will also net you respectable fuel efficiency with EPA-estimated ratings of 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. This means that you can take the trip up to Nashville via I-81A or 41A, and if driving on a full tank, you’ll have enough to keep going to Kentucky without as many gas station stops in between. Or, if you’re looking to take your SUV down south from Shelbyville to Huntsville, AL via I-231 S, or even taking a brief Sunday drive in the city up North Main Street, or driving by the Duck River, you can expect your Chevy Blazer to give you the type of experience you’re looking for.

All Blazer models from the first generation are also identically sized, which, as mentioned, the size of a midsize SUV is a large draw to its appeal. Midsize SUVs, like many other SUVs, are highly recommended to drivers with families. Not just that, but families who need to store cargo or belongings often, such as bringing their child and their friends to soccer practice or maybe even bringing their friends golfing at the River Bend Country Club, can benefit greatly from a midsize SUV such as the Blazer. With your first-generation Blazer, you can expect a maximum of 64.2 cu.ft. of cargo space with the backseats folded down and 30.5 cu.ft. of space when keeping the backseats folded up.

The Toyota 4Runner

The 4Runner is an excellent value for those Shelbyville drivers who want a midsize SUV capable of handling off-roading tasks. The fifth generation of the 4Runner was originally released in 2009 with the 2010 model year, and this generation has lasted for more than a decade. The 4Runner received a number of upgrades over the years, and a more modern equivalent, while still in the same generation as the 2009 model, will likely be different in one way or another. What you can guarantee, however, is that purchasing a fifth-generation 4Runner means that you’ll either be getting a V6 or V8 engine with available 4WD. Other off-roading amenities are present, either standard or optional, such as a Locking Rear Differential, Crawl Control, and a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, among many more. One of the most useful amenities for off-roading is the Multi-Terrain Select, which allows drivers to select between a handful of modes depending on the type of road they’re traveling on, making the trip much safer year-round.

Whether you’re staying local or taking your 4Runner off to a trail, such as the Cedar Rock Hunting Preserve, it’s important to retain that cargo space. There certainly is no shortage of cargo space for the 4Runner, and this is because, at its best, the 4Runner will give you and your passengers 47.2 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the second row of seats while putting down the second row will give you an impressive 89.7 cu.ft. of cargo space. However, the 4Runner is also available in a third-row configuration, and the differences it makes to cargo space aren’t as drastic as you may think. For example, utilizing a three-row 4Runner means you can have a maximum of 88.8 or 46.3 cu.ft. of space with either the third, second, or both rows folded down. Keeping the third row upright, however, means you’ll have a small yet sustainable 9 cu.ft. of space to work with for a few belongings.

Honorable Mentions

The Blazer and 4Runner are two prime examples of midsize SUVs, and more specifically, these are two midsize SUVs that we can easily recommend to Shelbyville drivers. For the commuter, the family-man, or the off-roader, these two SUVs have got you covered, and you can find an array of midsize SUVs at Newton Chevy GMC. However, there are a few other midsize SUVs on the market that you shouldn’t dismiss either. SUVs such as the Ford Edge are well known for their impressive cargo space coupled with a turbocharged V6 engine and, above all else, have that iconic Ford badging.

The Honda Passport is another midsize SUV that harnesses plenty of power, meaning its towing capacity is respectable and can have up to 100.7 cu.ft. of space with the current third generation. And, Honda vehicles such as the Passport include the Honda Sensing Safety Suite, which you can certainly expect your third-generation model to include. Simply put, there are no shortages of midsize SUVs on the market, and you can find many of them here at Newton Chevy GMC. If you live in or around Shelbyville, TN, come by today, and we’ll show you everything our midsize SUV selection has to offer.