What is the best small-SUV?

[Passions]

I'm checking out 2004 Honda CR-V's cuz they are so cheap, $19k.

What other good ones are there?

No American SUV's though, they break down after a few years.

 

[dabuddha]

rav4?

 

[shiner]

My wife's daily driver is a Rav 4 with 130k miles on it. Bought her a new car recently but she still drives the RAV back and forth to school daily. That damn thing just keeps going and won't quit. Helluva car....it has impressed the hell out of me and I'm not a big fan of foreign cars. That said....I recommend the Rav.

 

[shuan24]

CR-V pwns.

edit: CR-V vs. Rav-4

Horsepower: crv by ~20hp
Space: crv has more room
Gas Mileage: rav4 by ~2-4 mpg
Resell Value: crv higher
Crash Ratings: ~same

Winnar: CR-V

 

[dabuddha]

suzuki and isuzu's line of crap?

 

[Scarpozzi]

How about a Jeep Cherokee.... They're cheap and easy to fix.

 

[Beau]

Click and Clack always seem to recommend the Santa Fe [uke:]

 

[BatmanNate]

I'd vote RAV4, don't the CRV's have some well documented problem that involves them catching fire?

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
I'd vote RAV4, don't the CRV's have some well documented problem that involves them catching fire?

Yeah...but that only happens if you try to drive, smoke a bowl, and eat Cheetos at the same time.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
suzuki and isuzu's line of crap?

Isuzu - makers of the best 4WD systems available. Associated with the worst marketing team available.

Daily driver with 4WD option... RAV4 vs. CRV. I like the RAV4 look better.

 

[Thegonagle]

I'd probably go with the CR-V, but I'd also look at:
The Toyota Rav-4;
The Subaru Forester;
And the Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape. (If either of these was a killer deal to buy used, I'd strongly consider them. If I was definitely going to buy new (that's not like me, but. . .), I probably wouldn't consider them very strongly, unless the incentives were really good.)

 

[TheAudit]

Land Cruiser.

 

[shuan24]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
I'd vote RAV4, don't the CRV's have some well documented problem that involves them catching fire?

I wouldn't say "well documentated". Apparently the problem was caused by idiot mechanics who did not properly replace the oil filter and thus caused to oil leak out on to the exhaust pipe, which inevitably caused a fire.

 

[TheAudit]

Originally posted by: rh71
I like the RAV4 look better.

 

[Svnla]

I am driving a CRV right now. After 4 years plus, ZERO problems. You won't go wrong. If you live in Arkansas, I know a guy can get you a good deal.

 

[loup garou]

Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento (really like the styling)

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Svnla
I am driving a CRV right now. After 4 years plus, ZERO problems. You won't go wrong. If you live in Arkansas, I know a guy can get you a good deal.

Is he your daddy and your grandpa?

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: shinerburke

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
I'd vote RAV4, don't the CRV's have some well documented problem that involves them catching fire?

Yeah...but that only happens if you try to drive, smoke a bowl, and eat Cheetos at the same time.

That settles it, I'll never own a CR-V.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

CR-V's catch fire because Honda's factory somehow assembles the engines so the oil filter gasket sticks to the engine instead of the filter.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: werk
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento (really like the styling)

I really like the Sorrento styling also - but isn't that considered mid-size ?

 

[blakeatwork]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
I'd probably go with the CR-V, but I'd also look at:
The Toyota Rav-4;
The Subaru Forester;
And the Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape. (If either of these was a killer deal to buy used, I'd strongly consider them. If I was definitely going to buy new (that's not like me, but. . .), I probably wouldn't consider them very strongly, unless the incentives were really good.)

I looked at a Forester as a possible replacement...

then I looked at their price tags...

 

Hummer h2.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: werk
Subaru Forester
Kia Sorento (really like the styling)

I really like the Sorrento styling also - but isn't that considered mid-size ?

I think it fits somewhere in between small and midsize. It's a little larger and heavier than a CRV.

 

[preslove]

2004 Saturn Vue... *zips up flamesuit*

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: TheAudit
Land Cruiser.

That's a what, $55k car? Doesn't fit with the $19k SUV market segment