Compact SUV advice

[iwells]

My wife and I have been discussing a car that would be better suited for her. She has bad knees and her current accent is too low for her. Looking to spend around $25K for a 4 cyclinder. BTW, we keep our cars for ever.

Currently considering:

2009 Jeep Compass
2009 Nissan Rogue
2009 Toyota Rav4
2009 Hyundai Tusan

Just started looking but was wondering on people's opinions are.

Wife and I liked Rav4, Roguee, Compass then Tusan.

[djjosee]

Outlander?

[ThePointblank]

I'm about to sign a deal for a Toyota RAV4 this week (have a tentative deal on paper that needs to be signed). The RAV4 won out for me because in BC, the car has a $1000 government rebate on it, for the 4 cylinder, 2WD models.

[ssainani]

the tiguan looks very nice

[mart242]

Forester for AWD in winter?

[lubi]

well, we (I, wife and a son) are shopping in the same category too. We test drove CRV, Rav4, Rouge and BMW X3. Unfortunately, we did not like any of them. Why? CRV has nice interior/exterior/reliability but feels underpowered. RAV4 is excellent on fuel/reliability/design but we hated the swing-open door and the spare tire at the back. Rouge is nice but inside feels cramped and the rear visibility was not that good. X3 is very solid but very expensive and not so smooth on the road.

We plan to test drive Acura RDX but I am already nervous about fuel economy and ride quality.

Oh... we tested Ford Escape too but did not like it either. The interior quality is very cheap. Under the hood, the engine seemed to be duck taped together!

So, for now I am waiting to see if any of these guys will change their design for 2010.

[ThePointblank]

well, we (I, wife and a son) are shopping in the same category too. We test drove CRV, Rav4, Rouge and BMW X3. Unfortunately, we did not like any of them. Why? CRV has nice interior/exterior/reliability but feels underpowered. RAV4 is excellent on fuel/reliability/design but we hated the swing-open door and the spare tire at the back. Rouge is nice but inside feels cramped and the rear visibility was not that good. X3 is very solid but very expensive and not so smooth on the road.

We plan to test drive Acura RDX but I am already nervous about fuel economy and ride quality.

Oh... we tested Ford Escape too but did not like it either. The interior quality is very cheap. Under the hood, the engine seemed to be duck taped together!

So, for now I am waiting to see if any of these guys will change their design for 2010.

Tried the Subaru Forester yet? When I was making my choice, the choices boiled down to either the Subaru Forester or the Toyota RAV4, and the RAV4 won because it became cheaper thanks to a provincial rebate. But I liked the Subaru's handling and rear view visibility, plus the 4WD system, and it would have been a good vehicle for me as well.

[lubi]

We should check it out but I do not know how reliable it is though. I know both RAV and CRV have been consistently ranked very reliable vehicles.


Tried the Subaru Forester yet? When I was making my choice, the choices boiled down to either the Subaru Forester or the Toyota RAV4, and the RAV4 won because it became cheaper thanks to a provincial rebate. But I liked the Subaru's handling and rear view visibility, plus the 4WD system, and it would have been a good vehicle for me as well.

[mart242]

We should check it out but I do not know how reliable it is though. I know both RAV and CRV have been consistently ranked very reliable vehicles.

Even if it's not as reliable, it way more fun to drive than a toyota..

[B0000rt]

well, we (I, wife and a son) are shopping in the same category too. We test drove CRV, Rav4, Rouge and BMW X3. Unfortunately, we did not like any of them. Why? CRV has nice interior/exterior/reliability but feels underpowered. RAV4 is excellent on fuel/reliability/design but we hated the swing-open door and the spare tire at the back. Rouge is nice but inside feels cramped and the rear visibility was not that good. X3 is very solid but very expensive and not so smooth on the road.

We plan to test drive Acura RDX but I am already nervous about fuel economy and ride quality.

Oh... we tested Ford Escape too but did not like it either. The interior quality is very cheap. Under the hood, the engine seemed to be duck taped together!

So, for now I am waiting to see if any of these guys will change their design for 2010.
RAV4 has the Sport Appearance package that comes with no spare tire and runflat tires, but alas it still swings open.

[lubi]

As far as I know, there is no Sport Appearance package offered in Canada!

I am wondering if the folks who have RAV4 are Ok with the door. Any problems when in a busy shopping plaza? or when parked in the garage?


RAV4 has the Sport Appearance package that comes with no spare tire and runflat tires, but alas it still swings open.

[Quiggie]

Kia Soul

[mart242]

well, we (I, wife and a son) are shopping in the same category too. We test drove CRV, Rav4, Rouge and BMW X3. Unfortunately, we did not like any of them. Why? CRV has nice interior/exterior/reliability but feels underpowered. RAV4 is excellent on fuel/reliability/design but we hated the swing-open door and the spare tire at the back. Rouge is nice but inside feels cramped and the rear visibility was not that good. X3 is very solid but very expensive and not so smooth on the road.

Did you check the Q5?

[afretes]

Tiguan, by far!

[kavatski]

Correct - all RAV4s in Canada have the rear-mounted spare.

We're on our third RAV4 ('00, '06, '09). I've never been crazy about the rear door, but you get used to it. There are certain compensations - a low, flat load floor with no lip at the edge so you can slide things in and out very easily, a large cargo bin under the floor, plus a full-sized spare.

If you know you'll need to open the door all the way (90 degrees) you can't park where someone could park behind you because there may not be room. So you have to plan ahead there. Otherwise, if you don't need to open it all the way there's no problem - it has detents in it like a regular door and you can open it partway and it'll stay open while you load groceries, etc.

A hatch would be easier to live with overall, but we like the rest of the RAV4 enough that the rear door just wasn't a deal-breaker. As a former Subaru owner I also like the Forester and its crisper handling, but the RAV4 V6 feels more refined and has a better power/fuel economy tradeoff to boot.

[lubi]

Not yet, but is very pricey.

Did you check the Q5?

[mart242]

Not yet, but is very pricey.

cheaper than the x3.. go take a look, you've got nothing to lose. A friend of mine placed an order for one.

[onecoolloser]

Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape?

If you're looking in the $25k range, why X3, Q5?

If you can shell out a bit more, the CX-7 is worth looking at.