Comparison review: Eight compact SUVs

[bradyholt]

Sixth Place: 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander SE

The formula seems strong: a spacious, practical interior combined with responsive handling for around $21,000. With this going for it, the Mitsubishi Outlander seems like it could be a solid choice as the compact SUV for driving enthusiasts or anyone else who likes to go fast around corners.

Unfortunately, a roomy interior and agile handling pretty much represent the sum total of the Outlander’s talents...

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http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...Vs-sixth-place

[red_rider]

I thought these were supposed to have more storage than a Jetta Sportwagen or Dodge Magnum.

[bradyholt]

Fifth Place: 2009 Nissan Rogue S

Nissan was one of the last major automakers that was not selling a compact car-based SUV in the U.S. before it introduced the Rogue as a 2008 model. Needing to distinguish its new product from the established competition, the automaker has marketed the Rogue as something of a sporty utility vehicle.

It isn’t one...

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http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1...Vs-fifth-place

[bradyholt]

Fourth Place: 2009 Ford Escape XLS

The Ford Escape doesn’t have the ride comfort of some of its newer competitors, nor the agility. It doesn’t have their interior quality or versatility either, or their overall refinement.

But for an SUV that first appeared in 2001, it remains competitive as it offers a distinct flavor of basic competence...

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

[bradyholt]

Third Place: 2009 Honda CR-V LX

In many of the market classes they compete, Hondas are very nice but overpriced compared to the competition, as the automaker can use its reputation to charge more than a competitor can for a product that’s as good or better.

But although the CR-V is hardly unpopular – it’s the best-selling of these eight and the top-seller among all SUVs in the country – it isn’t any more expensive than the competition, at $20,610 out the door. And even despite a decent discount off the sticker price, the CR-V is projected to retain its value very well.

However...

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[Millefune]

I KNEW that the top three were going to be Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota!

(Or wait... maybe it'll be an upset with the VUE! Yeah... right.)

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Millefune

I KNEW that the top three were going to be Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota!

(Or wait... maybe it'll be an upset with the VUE! Yeah... right.)

Neither Hyundai nor GM offer a product that meet the comparison's specs of 4-cylinder automatic with 4WD or AWD. So it would be difficult for either of them to earn high rankings.

[Millefune]

Then I'm hoping it's a Subaru.

Is the majority of your audience female? I just noticed that you touch on more of the stuff they care for, than the performance and utility most of us males look for. Oh, and you forgot to mention how crap-tastically slow the CR-V is.

[AMERICA 123]

Lemme guess, this is an advertorial for Toyota and their minority interest little step brother Subaru ???

Given actual market prices available for all product this now seems more than a little obsolete - and contrived.

Btw, who advertises with the Examiner in it's various locations ?

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Millefune

Then I'm hoping it's a Subaru.

Is the majority of your audience female? I just noticed that you touch on more of the stuff they care for, than the performance and utility most of us males look for. Oh, and you forgot to mention how crap-tastically slow the CR-V is.

It's about as quick as any other 4-cylinder SUV.

[AMERICA 123]

Eh, somehow most of the media manages to forget that the 2007 -2009 CRVs are pretty much a full second slower on 0 - 60 times than the previous, 2006 and earlier generation.

More importantly, in certain useful real world situations they do feel and measure a ' bigger ' decrease than that compared to the old one - ie definitely ' slower '.

[Millefune]

Originally Posted by bradyholt

It's about as quick as any other 4-cylinder SUV.

Yes, but while you love pointing it out in the others, you gloss over it (actually, you don't mention it at all) with the CR-V. The Outlander's faster than the CR-V, but you highlight it being slow. The CR-V is even slower, no mention. I also love how even though the Nissan has some "good bits" inside, you still try to focus on the cheaper feeling parts. It's like you want $30K interiors in $20K cars....

It's just your style. You focus a bit too much on "refinement" and noise. Dude, I gotta tell ya, the CR-V sucks. Girlfriend, you know the CR-V is good. You're going to end up buying a Lexus, aren't you?


(There is hope... maybe it's a Mazda that wins!)

[bradyholt]

Second Place: 2009 Subaru Forester X

‘Basic’ is not a word that can be applied to many new cars, especially those over $20,000, at least not in its traditional meaning. A good ‘basic’ $20,000 SUV is one that does everything well but that doesn’t go the extra mile in noise suppression or interior quality to feel like a nice car instead of just a very good one.

The Subaru Forester, recently redesigned for 2009, is a good basic SUV...

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

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Millefune

Yes, but while you love pointing it out in the others, you gloss over it (actually, you don't mention it at all) with the CR-V. The Outlander's faster than the CR-V, but you highlight it being slow. The CR-V is even slower, no mention. I also love how even though the Nissan has some "good bits" inside, you still try to focus on the cheaper feeling parts. It's like you want $30K interiors in $20K cars....

It's just your style. You focus a bit too much on "refinement" and noise. Dude, I gotta tell ya, the CR-V sucks. Girlfriend, you know the CR-V is good. You're going to end up buying a Lexus, aren't you?


(There is hope... maybe it's a Mazda that wins!)

The overall ambiance of an interior can be marred by just a few unfortunate touches. $20,000 is quite a bit of money, and there are very nice interiors you can get for that price.

Also, I don't follow why you equate a high CR-V ranking with an over-emphasis on noise levels. It's one of the car's biggest shortcomings.

Acceleration is not one of its big problems, however. It's on par with the competition in that area.

[F14CRAZY]

I'd comment more on the Forester but I haven't driven a new one yet and they changed platforms, so my input wouldn't quite be fair.