No one responded to my request for opinions on the Ford Escape but I have more questions about other SUV's. In addition to the new Ford Escape we're also considering the Honda CRV, Toyota Rav-4 and Subaru Forester. Does anyone have any info or opinions about any of those? Thay are all in the "compact SUV" category, we don't want anything full size because we just don't need that much and neither of us likes feeling as if we're driving a truck. They are all in the same basic price range, $20,000-$25,000 (although they do go higher if you're looking at the sport packages, turbo, etc., but we're looking at the base models), and most of them offer similar engine size, horsepower, and interior/exterior options. What would you buy if you were trying to decide between those? My boyfriend is leaning towards the Subaru Forester. It will technically be his car but I will be doing a lot of driving in it (read, driving it every day) so we're trying to come to some type of agreement between the two of us while still making him happy (since it is his car).

The only one I've been in is the Escape, liked it a lot, good power, awesome brakes, handles well, and even had no problem off roading.

There's the hybrid version too if gas mileage is your main concern.

Oh yea, forgot I've driven the new CRV's quite a bit, overall they are pretty good, my main beef with them is they only come in 4 cylinders and are pretty gutless.

My dad has a Rav. He likes it and hasn't had any problems with it. I only rode in it once and it seemed OK.

I know it's not much help, but there's my $.02 for what it's worth. :)

Have you looked into the Nissan Xterra? 265HP V6..mmm Or the Murano? I think that Nissan has some excellent products although I haven't driven any yet..

The Murano is nice but more epxnsive than we're looking for (it runs average $30,000). The Xterra is too big, it's more a standard size SUV and is more "truck" than either of us wants.

We test drove the Ford Escape yesterday. It was nice, but I think nothing special. It was attractive outside but the interior wasn't all that special, however we were driving the base model, when we looked into the interior of the Limited Edition it was beautiful inside. It drove pretty well, only had a tiny bit that "tippy" feel going around corners and was pretty peppy. But we're going to keep test driving till we find truly the right one, neither of us feels like we should "settle" for something. Tomorrow we are going to go check out the Subaru Forester and if we have time perhaps we can take the Toyota Rav-4 out as well, those 2 dealerships are right up the road from eachother.

SUV's are teh devil! buy a fuel efficent car instead!

SUV's are teh devil! buy a fuel efficent car instead!
Shut up, hater! :mad:

you support dirty, filthy terrorists in the middle east with your gas guzzeling abomination! :mad:


buy a Rambler instead. built as tough as any SUV, yet smaller and much more fuel efficient! and it's all American. :)

My idea of a compact SUV would be a blazer. I like the Extreme Blazers, they're kinda cool. I don't like the Hondas because of their TEENY TINY driveshafts. If you're looking at buying new, check out (and I hate to say it) equinoxes they at least look cool. Escapes I feel strong neither way about, but I do love my fords :)

you support dirty, filthy terrorists in the middle east with your gas guzzeling abomination! :mad:
My gas comes from Mexico only. :|

buy a Rambler instead. built as tough as any SUV, yet smaller and much more fuel efficient!
They're only fuel efficient because they don't run. :D

They're only fuel efficient because they don't run. :D
shut up, they do too! :P

tell me where your SUV will be in 45yrs? it'll be 20 recycled Toyotas by then. :D

SUV's are teh devil! buy a fuel efficent car instead!

The Subaru Forester gets up to 30 mpg highway, that's more than the sedan I'm driving now.....:|

Ford makes an Escape Hybrid which I would definitely get except that it's quite a lot more expensive than the regular ones :not:

There was just a report on TV how people driving in cars get anhilated by trucks and SUV's in side car crashes because the trucks and SUV's are higher up. Just one more reason to stick my truck :D

I'm not a big jeep fan... at all. But the Jeep Liberty CRD (diesel) looks like the best 'lil SUV on the market to me.

Check out the Equinox

Pontiac will be releasing the "Torrent" later on this year or spring 2006. It will basically be an upscale Equinox.

I'm not a big jeep fan... at all. But the Jeep Liberty CRD (diesel) looks like the best 'lil SUV on the market to me.

I liked the Jeep Liberty until I rode in one, my friend bought a new one and I wasn't impressed, very tiny inside and felt like I was riding inside a truck, very bumpy and loud ride, reminded me of the wrangler.

My dad loves the Escapes, if we had the money, my mom would've gotten one a long time ago. I'm not sure what he really likes about them, though. Probably just because he's a Ford person, and he hasn't had much luck with the Explorer's.

What about a Kia Sportage? :hmm:

I'd check out the Equinox
http://www.davo.com/_248-588-9600_/images/chevy/2005_Chevy_Equinox_Front.jpg
The Honda CRV and Toyota Rav-4 are good choices too, but I'd stay away from Ford 'cause they suck :p

we went and test drove a Subaru Forester today and both of us were very impressed. It seemed a lot nicer both inside and out than the Escape (and about the same price). It just drove so much better, I suppose because it's a little more like a car it drives smoother and tighter and I like that it has a boxter engine. It has a 4 cylinder as opposed to the Escape's V6 but still had way more get-up-and-go.
This is the Forester that we drove today (except the one we drove didn't have the leather interior)
http://www.anchor.sne1.com/mimages/photos/5FBGLO.JPG
http://www.edmunds.com/media/roadtests/firstdrive/2003/03.subaru.forester/03.subaru.forester.int.500.jpg

We are going to go check out and drive the Honda CRV on wednesday.

We went and checked out the Honda CR-V today and it made our decision difficult. It was around the same price, seemed about equal to Subaru in quality inside and out and they both get almost the same MPG. The CR-V was a little bigger so had better storage potential and a little more room for passengers. However it didn't handle as well, felt more like a truck whereas the Subaru was very tight and smooth like a car. The two of them perform similarly although the Subaru has tiny bit more horsepower and since it's quite a bit lighter it has a lot more pickup and feels much zippier. Also as far as safety the Subaru was better, the CR-V had 2 huge blindspots and the glass on the back was tiny so it was very hard to see your rearview, the subaru feels very open with minimal blindspots, plus subaru has gotten better ratings from consumer reviews in safety. Personally I was also a bigger fan of the Subaru's boxter engine, independent suspension and all the time all wheel drive whereas the honda had a standard engine and AWD that kickes in only sometimes (and turns off when you're slowing down which doesn't seem logical to me).

So it looks like we're going to the Subaru dealership on saturday to talk financing :nice:
http://mx.news1.yimg.com/mx.img2.yahoo.com/espanol/autos/forest16-385.jpg

Good choice :nice:

To quote a car magazine

"The Honda CRV is almost as fast as most skyscrapers"

scion xb is closest enough. better then these little roundy domi things riding in the air.

scion xb is closest enough. better then these little roundy domi things riding in the air.


I guess somebody has to give the Hamsters a job...

I agree that the CRV has no pickup and no speed, it was dissapointing.

And ZGrapes I'm sorry to say but those Scions are the ugliest thing ever!!

Suzuki XL-7

It'll give you most features for your dollar.
For under 25 grand, you get a 4WD SUV with 3 rows of seating that seats 7, has a 5 speed auto, 185hp V6 (with hydraulic mounts), 7 speaker stereo, auto climate control AC front and rear, power everything, tire-pressure monitoring system, and plenty of cargo room.
If it ain't 4wd, what's the point of getting an SUV?

Ford Excursion

best

"suv"

ever

get it with a Power Stroke Diesel, you'll get over 20mp AND still be able to haul around 12k lbs

Put 5k lbs behind one of those wimpy tiny suv things, and they'll be lucky to get 20mpg

http://www.kwmuth.com/customers/davidnickerson/3.jpg

http://www.avonhill.com/thumbnails/sport_utility/2002_Ford_Excursion.jpeg

Yummmm...power stroke :D

The Excursion, though totally droolworthy, can hardly be considered "compact".

If you ever want to do any form of off-road driving don't touch a CRV, they are skillfully designed so that the rear suspension arms are quite convenient to rip out on any foot high rocks, tree stumps or other obstacles.

What about the Hyundai Tucson it's pretty capable (Jeep are teaming up with Hyundai to develop new 4x4 systems) and funky. The top of the line tucson, with diff lock, heated leather seats, 7 speaker, 6-disc mp3 sound system, 16 inch alloys etc etc is about the same price as the base model subaru.

If I was looking for a compact SUV the Hyundai would be my pick. But I'll stick with my grand cherokee thanks.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/tucson/trim/asset_upload_file548_6412.gif