Comparison review: Eight compact SUVs

[bradyholt]

$20,000 for four cylinders and four-wheel-drive (or all-wheel-drive); what will it get you?

Read the introduction to this comparison at the link below and check back throughout the week. A review will go up each day, starting from last place and working towards first.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...s-Introduction


You can also check out two completed comparisons (small sedans and midsize sedans) if you haven't already seen them:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...s-Introduction

http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...s-Introduction

[Neanderthal]

That link got me an Avenger ad.

Thanks for the offer, I'll pass.

[Olds88]

I'd find that list of compact cars more credible if it went in reverse order.

[bradyholt]

Eighth Place: 2009 Jeep Patriot Sport

When Chrysler asks for federal assistance to help it weather the recession, products like the Jeep Patriot seem to beg taxpayers to remind the automaker you reap what you sow.

The Patriot – like the mechanically related Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass – feels cheap and unrefined, giving the overwhelming sense that it was half-baked and halfheartedly designed...

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...s-eighth-place

[Millefune]

The crystal ball says that he'll pick the cheapest and/or ugliest one... again. My big issue with this already is that he has no issues with the stripper Versa, but decides to jack the price of the Jeep up so it's "comparable."

[frenstall]

Why would you do a compact SUV review just weeks before the 2010 Equinox is on lots?

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Millefune

The crystal ball says that he'll pick the cheapest and/or ugliest one... again. My big issue with this already is that he has no issues with the stripper Versa, but decides to jack the price of the Jeep up so it's "comparable."

When the Versa was in a comparison, it had the same equipment as the others. When it was in a stand-alone review, its price was compared to other stripped-down cars.

The only reason I drove the base Patriot instead of the "jacked-up price" model ("jacked-up" with such ridiculous excesses as power windows) was that's what the dealer offered for the test drive. I was not looking to drive the stripped-down model, as it's not comparable to the others.

I also wasn't looking to drive a loaded Mitsubishi Outlander with leather seats, but again, that's what they were willing to let me drive. Would it make more sense to only compare the prices of what I drove or what would actually be comparable?

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by frenstall

Why would you do a compact SUV review just weeks before the 2010 Equinox is on lots?

I thought the Equinox wasn't scheduled to come out until July or August?


In any event, I drove the cars for this comparison last month and wrote it up then, and was just waiting for a good time to publish. Waiting longer for the Equinox would have been problematic. However, I do hope to drive one soon after it comes out, whenever that may be.

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by frenstall

Why would you do a compact SUV review just weeks before the 2010 Equinox is on lots?

Doesn't really matter since the Equinox is larger than all of these compact SUVs and more a midsize. The longest one in this test, the Outlander, is 5" shorter than the new Equinox. The Equinox is longer even than the midsize Ford Edge.

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by cdp326

Doesn't really matter since the Equinox is larger than all of these compact SUVs and more a midsize. The longest one in this test, the Outlander, is 5" shorter than the new Equinox. The Equinox is longer even than the midsize Ford Edge.

Its price and gas mileage do seem to be in the right ballpark, however. It would be a bit more expensive than the others, especially right at launch before any discounts kick in, but if it were available sooner it would have made sense to include it. Especially because the only other GM close to the others in this comparison -- the Vue -- doesn't offer the 4-cyl/AWD combination, and seems hard to come by in AWD in anything less than a loaded 3.6-liter model.

[bradyholt]

Seventh Place: 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara Premium

For a vehicle that ranks so low, the Suzuki Grand Vitara can come off as an awfully nice vehicle.

It’s comfortable inside, at least for four adult passengers. Its engine is quiet and acceptably peppy. Its interior feels upscale of the others in this comparison. Its handling is almost nimble.

But the Grand Vitara suffers from the “excepts"...

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...-seventh-place

[F14CRAZY]

Am I correct that the Grand Vitara has a longitudinal drivetrain layout with low range 4 wheel drive?

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by F14CRAZY

Am I correct that the Grand Vitara has a longitudinal drivetrain layout with low range 4 wheel drive?

That's right, yes.

[Michael_S]

I think your midsize sedan review was pretty good. It would be nice to see how the 2010 Fusion compares once you can test that (is it out yet??)

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

I think your midsize sedan review was pretty good. It would be nice to see how the 2010 Fusion compares once you can test that (is it out yet??)

I've been hearing the 2010 Fusion is on some dealerships in Michigan already, but I haven't seen any out here in the Washington area yet.