9X SUV's. The Ford Escape VS Honda CR-V VS Hyundai Tucson VS Jeep Liberty VS Nissan Rogue VS Mitsubishi Outlander VS Saturn Vue VS Suzuki Grand Vitara VS Toyota RAV4. This is a pretty cool comparison, comparing the different vehicles 'off-road' worthiness! A few surprises here.
1st PLACE: 2008 Toyota Rav4 4X4 4cylinder
Highs: Spacious back seat, Toyota ergonomics, Toyota resale value.
Lows: Noisy at WOT, needs a fifth gear, ought to come with alloy wheels.
The Verdict: Chassis, drivetrain, and body all speaking the same language.
2nd PLACE: 2008 Honda CRV EX 4WD 4cylinder
Highs: Amazing fit and finish, a cockpit as cheerful as an Easter hat.
Lows: Odd-looking nose, could use a manual lock for the rear axle.
The Verdict: Dynamically a TKO. A tsunami of quality, verve, and value.
3rd PLACE: 2008 Nissan Roque SL AWD 4cylinder
Highs: Go-get-’em handling, steering, and acceleration.
Lows: Grim rear visibility, nervous off-road, somber interior.
The Verdict: A stunning example of extracting the most from the least.
4th PLACE: 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander SE 4WD 4cylinder
Highs: Clever liftgate, carlike on pavement, hauls a lot o’ stuff.
Lows: Cheap-looking interior, gritty engine noise, vague steering.
The Verdict: Crisp exterior styling but dynamically bland.
5th PLACE: 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4WD XSport 6cylinder
Highs: Strong in the muck, macho styling, as solid as a tank.
Lows: Cramped interior, noisy at idle, somber and soulless cockpit.
The Verdict: A mini SUV with the heart of a Hummer.
6th PLACE: 2008 Saturn Vue XE AWD 6cylinder
Highs: Luxo interior, soothing interstate cruiser, Euro suspension tuning.
Lows: Daggerlike lumbar supports, smaller inside than it looks.
The Verdict: A handsome lad who is 400 pounds overweight.
7th PLACE: 2008 Ford Escape XLT AWD ?cylinder
Highs: Open and airy cockpit, an accomplished long-distance cruiser.
Lows: Needs more isolation from road noise, could use a fifth gear.
The Verdict: Honest and attractive, but the freshening didn’t go far enough.
8th PLACE: 2007 Hyundai Tucson Limited 4WD 6cylinder
Highs: Vaultlike platform, a bull in the mud, a brand name with cachet.
Lows: Cramped seats and footwells,too heavy, dismal fuel economy.
The Verdict: Happy in the mountains of Montana, unhappy on errands in Minneapolis.
9th PLACE: 2008 Jeep Liberty Limited 4x4 6cylinder
Highs: Vaultlike platform, a bull in the mud, a brand name with cachet.
Lows: Cramped seats and footwells,too heavy, dismal fuel economy.
The Verdict: Happy in the mountains of Montana, unhappy on errands in Minneapolis.
Interesting read.
BTW: Here is a link to the overall scores;
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