The Best Compact SUV

[Firebird]

Based on what?

It's a Land Rover, it's British... need more reasons to stay the **** away from it?

 

[JCE]

When was the GMC Envoy and Ford Focus considered compact SUV?

I consider the Envoy/Trailblazer a Compact SUV when there are the behemoth Land Cruiser, RX330, Suburban, and X5 out there that are massive. And I was just suggesting the Focus as an alternative to an SUV...it gets far better mpg for starters. Get a Legacy Estate, WRX Estate, or any estate over an SUV...SUVs are really hideous in my eyes. 👍

 

[rollazn]

I consider the Envoy/Trailblazer a Compact SUV when there are the behemoth Land Cruiser, RX330, Suburban, and X5 out there that are massive. And I was just suggesting the Focus as an alternative to an SUV...it gets far better mpg for starters. Get a Legacy Estate, WRX Estate, or any estate over an SUV...SUVs are really hideous in my eyes. 👍

Well - techically you're wrong. It's clear that the Envoy is a MIDSIZE Suv - not a compact. The Land Cruiser and Suburban are known as Large SUV.

As for the Focus - it's like me suggesting a Civic Si as an alternative. This thread is for compact SUVs only. Wagons on the other hand would fall under this category. 👍

Thanks for your input though.

 

[Firebird]

As for the Focus - it's like me suggesting a Civic Si as an alternative. This thread is for compact SUVs only. Wagons on the other hand would fall under this category. 👍

Contradictory much?

 

[rollazn]

Contradictory much?

Oh - so that is what he meant when he said a 4 door Ford Focus Hatchback? In my head - it looked nothing like that. Mainly I just read the Ford Focus Hatchback part - and automatically though of the 2 door versions. I had no idea they had a Foucs Wagon. My mistake. But wouldn't it be better if he just said Ford Focus Wagon?

Edit: When he said 4 door Ford Focus Hatchback... I seem to imagine something like this...

A Ford Focus 4 door Hatchback (ZX5 model)

Edit 2: He did say 4 door Ford Focus Hatchback (He didn't say the wagon - which is ZXW). Therefore I am still correct. The 4 door hatchback is nothing more than a 4 door hatchback.

 

[a6m5]

I love the Focuses too. Only in 5 door(4dr hatch) or station wagon form though. 👍

 

[Joey D]

It would be Foci for plurral, just like a cactus is a cacti.

 

[a6m5]

It would be Foci for plurral, just like a cactus is a cacti.

picky picky picky

 

[rollazn]

It would be Foci for plurral, just like a cactus is a cacti.

Funniest thing I read today. 👍

 

[Sage]

…just like a cactus is a cacti.

Too bad "a" is singular.

 

[a6m5]

Too bad "a" is singular.

Take that, Blazin!

 

[JCE]

Oh - so that is what he meant when he said a 4 door Ford Focus Hatchback? In my head - it looked nothing like that. Mainly I just read the Ford Focus Hatchback part - and automatically though of the 2 door versions. I had no idea they had a Foucs Wagon. My mistake. But wouldn't it be better if he just said Ford Focus Wagon?

Edit: When he said 4 door Ford Focus Hatchback... I seem to imagine something like this...

A Ford Focus 4 door Hatchback (ZX5 model)

Edit 2: He did say 4 door Ford Focus Hatchback (He didn't say the wagon - which is ZXW). Therefore I am still correct. The 4 door hatchback is nothing more than a 4 door hatchback.

That Focus in that picture is exactly the model and color I own--an '05 ZX5 SES. I think it's a fantastic alternative to the compact SUV--but my bias has kicked in full force on this one. But nevermind if that's not appropriate for this thread. Just an idea.

 

[1X83Z]

Oh god...

Let's just say this now - no matter how great the Saturn Vue V6 is - my sister doesn't like the looks. Performance is not important - mind you.

Jesus. Performance isn't important, yet looks are. Basically, I'm finding a small SUV for a woman. I won't waste my own time mentioning the fact that the Saturn Vue is competitive in spec and pricing plus has an unbeatable and absurd power advantage over competitors making it the single best small SUV ever built.

Your best bet here is a 3.5-liter Hyundai Santa Fe GLS, with the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute trio coming in a distant second, but people who discount cars based on looks should be buying what they want, not discussing it with others. Vue V6 is good for those of us who are in to spec, options prices, performance, fuel efficiency, and interior room. Santa Fe's great, but it's no Vue. Liberty is only good with the Sport, and those are sparse on the inside. Escape/Mariner/Tribute are overpriced for the spec they offer.

How about a Land Rover Freelander?

Tell me you're joking.

 

[a6m5]

That Focus in that picture is exactly the model and color I own--an '05 ZX5 SES. I think it's a fantastic alternative to the compact SUV--but my bias has kicked in full force on this one. But nevermind if that's not appropriate for this thread. Just an idea.

Although I liked the look of the old one better, that is a nice Focus! 👍 I've heard it handles really well, is it true?

Tell me you're joking.

Hey, my buddy got a 2003(I think) Discovery. He bought it, despite my warning about the vehicle's reliability issue. It's still holding together though!.

 

[1X83Z]

Hey, my buddy got a 2003(I think) Discovery. He bought it, despite my warning about the vehicle's reliability issue. It's still holding together though!.

Both the Disco and the Freelander ranked among my top ten "worst buys" of last year. Both operate under the same idea: hugely overcharge while offering less spec, less power, less room, and an older design than nearly every competitor. Disco's power loss was almost comical - it's not as bad in Freelander, but the interior more than proves its worthlessness.

 

[rollazn]

Jesus. Performance isn't important, yet looks are. Basically, I'm finding a small SUV for a woman. I won't waste my own time mentioning the fact that the Saturn Vue is competitive in spec and pricing plus has an unbeatable and absurd power advantage over competitors making it the single best small SUV ever built.

Your best bet here is a 3.5-liter Hyundai Santa Fe GLS, with the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute trio coming in a distant second, but people who discount cars based on looks should be buying what they want, not discussing it with others. Vue V6 is good for those of us who are in to spec, options prices, performance, fuel efficiency, and interior room. Santa Fe's great, but it's no Vue. Liberty is only good with the Sport, and those are sparse on the inside. Escape/Mariner/Tribute are overpriced for the spec they offer.

Yes - basically. I just made this thread - to see if anyone else has suggestions on any other compact SUV that I haven't shown to her already. Basically it's down to the Toyota Rav4 or Honda CR-V. M5Power - which do you think is better out of those two?

Also - I know that you use ConsumerGuide as a resource for a lot of things - they gave the Vue not that great of a rating. 5 out of 10 - and they claims that the Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, Ford Escape, and the Mercury Mariner are "the best buy". And their recommended picks are the Honda Element, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Liberty, and Subaru Forester.

From CG - it seems the Vue doesn't get that great of fuel economy. This is the AWD version as noted.

Test AWD V6 averaged 16.2 mpg in a city/highway mix.

Aside from the performance and power, why is the Vue V6 the best? The pricing is about average compared to other SUV in it's class.

The outstanding performance and refinement of Honda's V6 almost offset Vue's deficits in handling, accommodations, and workmanship. Dent-resistant body panels, competitive prices, and Saturn's high customer-satisfaction ratings are other pluses, but we'd still scout the competition.

They claim it's bad in handling, accommodations, and workmanship.

I'm sure you have test driven one of these bad boys and clearly you'll disagree with these reviewers.

 

[a6m5]

Both the Disco and the Freelander ranked among my top ten "worst buys" of last year. Both operate under the same idea: hugely overcharge while offering less spec, less power, less room, and an older design than nearly every competitor. Disco's power loss was almost comical - it's not as bad in Freelander, but the interior more than proves its worthlessness.

He got it "dirt cheap", used.



Very purdy car.

rollazn: Out of two choices, I vote for the Honda.

 

[1X83Z]

Yes - basically. I just made this thread - to see if anyone else has suggestions on any other compact SUV that I haven't shown to her already. Basically it's down to the Toyota Rav4 or Honda CR-V. M5Power - which do you think is better out of those two?

The RAV4. Both are horrible, I wouldn't recommend either, but between one ****ty four-cylinder SUV and another ****ty four-cylinder SUV, I'd pick the one with the all-wheel drive system that actually works and Honda's most certainly does not do that.

Also - I know that you use ConsumerGuide as a resource for a lot of things - they gave the Vue not that great of a rating. 5 out of 10 - and they claims that the Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, Ford Escape, and the Mercury Mariner are "the best buy". And their recommended picks are the Honda Element, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Liberty, and Subaru Forester.

I use CG as a resource for information, not for their reviews, which are frequently off-base. They have the small SUV sector nailed, but they can't get over the poor interior in the Vue - but I'd rather have more spec than better-looking plastics.

From CG - it seems the Vue doesn't get that great of fuel economy. This is the AWD version as noted.

It's got better fuel economy than V6 competitors (19/25 Vue vs. 18/22 Escape), and fifty more horsepower. Remember, Honda builds the engine. It's not joking around. It's a smooth engine and a smooth transmission. There's a reason I recommend this car.

Aside from the performance and power, why is the Vue V6 the best? The pricing is about average compared to other SUV in it's class.

Exactly. Average pricing, good spec, low options prices, lots of interior room, fuel efficiency. Add the best small SUV engine ever into the mix and you've got yourself the best small SUV ever.

They claim it's bad in handling, accommodations, and workmanship.

"Accomodations" and "workmanship" is BS, I'm not gonna lie. What kind of categories are those? Not objective ones, that's for damn sure. Handling I'll give. So what? If I wanted to get something that handled, I'd be damn sure to run far away from anything built anywhere near Spring Hill, Tennessee. But no further than Spartanburg, South Carolina.

 

[rollazn]

M5Power - what about those Subaru wagons? Legacy Wagon, WRX Wagon, and the Forester 2.5XT? How are those?

I'd pick the one with the all-wheel drive system that actually works and Honda's most certainly does not do that.

What do you mean by that?

 

[Danny]

It's a Land Rover, it's British... need more reasons to stay the **** away from it?

As opposed to the maginicent engineering feats of the Canadians?

Tell me you're joking.

No, it's a cosseting soft roader.
I'm not a fan of it, but it's pretty popular over here. I suppose it's good looking-ish.

 

[High-Test]

As opposed to the maginicent engineering feats of the Canadians?

Yes, they happen (I believe) to build the new Chrysler 300's.

 

[Emohawk]

What's that supposed to mean? GM's got it's best plants here, among others.

 

[Joey D]

Well my grammar skills got mega pwned.

 

[Danny]

Mine grammar skills is gooder than yous!

 

[1X83Z]

M5Power - what about those Subaru wagons? Legacy Wagon, WRX Wagon, and the Forester 2.5XT? How are those?

Average, all - and the Forester XT is absurdly overpriced. I wouldn't consider any of those three if you aren't looking for performance, and I'd only consider the WRX if you were. There's better vehicles out there - namely, Saturn and Hyundai.

What do you mean by that?

Honda uses a four-wheel drive system - actually an all-wheel drive system - called "Real-Time 4WD" that transfers power to the wheels that aren't slipping. I have two major problems with this:

a) if one wheel is slipping for a long period of time, friction and the lack of power to that wheel completely stop that wheel from traveling. I've seen one or two CR-Vs driving in this manner and while comical to view, it's unsafe to no end.
b) if all four wheels are slipping, where the hell does power go?

Real-Time 4WD is the kind of all-wheel drive I'd get if I lived in Texas.

No, it's a cosseting soft roader.

Easily the worst small SUV on our market. One of the worst values, too. Just a horrible, trashy, awful, outdated, ergonomically poor SUV. Absolutely awful.

 

[JCE]

Although I liked the look of the old one better, that is a nice Focus! 👍 I've heard it handles really well, is it true?

In a word...yes. I'm having a blast driving it.

 

[a6m5]

Well my grammar skills got mega pwned.

and I got "pwned" by you, so what does that say about me?(don't answer that).

In a word...yes. I'm having a blast driving it.

Right on! 👍

 

[rollazn]

Real-Time 4WD is the kind of all-wheel drive I'd get if I lived in Texas.

Funny thing - we're actually moving from TN to Texas.

 

[1X83Z]

Funny thing - we're actually moving from TN to Texas.

In that case, I'd suggest getting a 2-wheel drive SUV, and I'd suggest getting it off-lease or barely used. There's a method to my madness: you aren't going to need all-wheel or four-wheel drive in Texas, so why spend the extra ~$2000? I suggest off-lease or nearly new because otherwise, you'll get raped when it comes time to sell since the demand tends to favor 4WD/AWD SUVs - let someone else take the hit!

Seriously - this is the first bit of good advice in this thread since my last post.

 

[rollazn]

In that case, I'd suggest getting a 2-wheel drive SUV, and I'd suggest getting it off-lease or barely used. There's a method to my madness: you aren't going to need all-wheel or four-wheel drive in Texas, so why spend the extra ~$2000? I suggest off-lease or nearly new because otherwise, you'll get raped when it comes time to sell since the demand tends to favor 4WD/AWD SUVs - let someone else take the hit!

Seriously - this is the first bit of good advice in this thread since my last post.

My sister wants AWD - because she think it'll help more in the rain. She had an accident on the interstate - while driving around 60mph in the rain. There was a little bump on the road - and well she hydroplaned a little and well we did a 360 and wreck the Infiniti I30t. We got it fixed though.

She think AWD will help a lot- I doubt it'll help that much.