Recommended List
8 E( A% a% r8 g3 u% h8 ^$ iCompact SUVs& N7 c4 Q; [8 ^) N8 i( Z2 l: m- c
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Honda CR-V
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#1 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda CR-V:- w P7 }# u( M( c6 m
- #1 Ranked for safety on the list
- #1 Ranked for quality on the list
- #1 Ranked for Expert Review on the list
- One of the top 3 ranked for gas milage
Reasons not to buy the Honda CR-V:( D f8 r F$ }2 |& M2 r, w* S# u
- 10th ranked on the list for cost
- Can get the Hyundai Tucson for around $4,000 less
See reviews for this model7 b ]1 h" ^2 J
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Hyundai Tucson
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| #2 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Hyundai Tucson:1 ~) h' s5 e$ V* y' g- c1 S
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- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- One of top 3 ranked for price on the list
Reasons not to buy the Hyundai Tucson:( B" g7 Y z0 P$ h; x
- has lower horsepower compared to rest
- want the #1 rated Honda CR-v
See reviews for this model
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Toyota RAV4
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! B3 S" |) T: }! X | #3 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Toyota RAV4:* f1 I' k% @& ~: C& F q
/ x |0 `% _/ k' W" E. V- #1 ranked fuel economy on the list
- runner up next to Honda CR-V for quality
- runner up for expert review
- #1 ranked for value on the list
- Agile and economical
Reasons not to buy the Toyota RAV4:
% t/ R( G, m* ]! e( I- want the Honda CR-V
- low horsepower rating
See reviews for this model& N# [# p5 I: a1 A! U* F- K
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Jeep Patriot
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4 J3 S/ P( i( N4 r0 I | #4 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Patriot:- w1 z6 b0 l* U; k" q
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- #1 ranked for gas mileage
- #1 ranked for price
- One of the top ten for safety
- good off road capability
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Patriot:; M- x6 K3 n" K7 s$ ]4 e B7 H+ j
- Cab is pretty noisy
- comes standard with just a one cd system
- small fuel tank
- not a great deal of cargo space in rear
See reviews for this model
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Saturn Vue
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| #5 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Saturn Vue:5 P# S# i& M& g
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- Great Gas Mileage
- Onstar feature
- quiet engine
- Ranked #4 on the list for price
- Good horsepower
Reasons not to buy the Saturn Vue:7 X% K3 ?% I2 d, _1 ?
- low rank under total value
- could get the Hyundai Tucson cheaper
See reviews for this model
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Kia Sportage2 z: N x( t5 Y. y: `
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| #6 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sportage:$ z; T7 j) }- P5 U6 j# V- F6 }5 u
1 |3 g! x H% l2 o4 a- X" U2 V- runner up for best price behind the Jeep Patriot
- decent gas mileage
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sportage:- l/ R1 y, `% o! Y' a# U4 G
- low ranking horsepower
- want the Jeep Patriot
See reviews for this model( i3 `7 h: W7 G1 {+ ?8 }
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Subaru Forester& w; Q( _% K+ i. S' l% ^) e3 O
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| #7 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Subaru Forester:7 L& F0 z- |1 c& l6 n, S( ?
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- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- #3 ranked for value on list
- decent gas mileage
Reasons not to buy the Subaru Forester:! ^, X8 Q5 @! s/ z" x$ h f
- No Acceleration
- road noise
- lack of leg room in rear
See reviews for this model0 m0 a# ~" C) {' W) p2 ~7 ~* X
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Kia Sorento
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. J: h7 S; s: c2 m9 j9 W' t | #8 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sorento:1 n3 u( k3 ]3 E1 ^2 Z! r# T0 c0 X
( ?# ~7 c/ v% a) e @- #1 ranked horsepower on list
- Value
- exterior and interior styling
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sorento:, V$ N8 R, J5 s
- low rank for gas mileage
- low towing ability
See reviews for this model: q# a+ u% Z; c' W
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Honda Element
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8 D5 Q9 W6 A$ y' y4 A. A; K/ J* B | #9 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda Element:4 B& A- x. I7 ~- _$ i
, _- a' ^( P$ U2 G) V- Z: W5 o4 y- good gas mileage
- interior space
- Lots of leg room for front and back passengers
Reasons not to buy the Honda Element:1 F/ F& `) D, g9 P
- some road noise
- low horsepower
See reviews for this model9 D2 m4 j2 ~" A+ \! l
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Suzuki Grand Vitara 0 P# u3 ]2 r" M9 ~0 e
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| #10 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:
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- smooth ride
- decent pricing
- average rank in safety
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:3 h( s5 x4 s8 q- O' {8 W& w5 y
- ranked low on gas mileage
- sluggish acceleration
See reviews for this model
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Ford Freestyle 6 b! l! v9 ?, D' v6 I5 u
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| #11 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Freestyle:5 M$ ?) x; b2 U
& _9 I0 ~5 B8 i) A- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- decent power balance
- car-like ride
Reasons not to buy the Ford Freestyle:" x3 P% E1 z* \! J) \# Z4 w1 T! R% Z$ N
- high priced
- low ranked in value
- could improve in gas mileage
See reviews for this model, K1 i% I* _! G4 m8 O' U
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Pontiac Torrent
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( C) s( u6 M, o& G | #12 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Pontiac Torrent:
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- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- Good overall value for the price
- Nice interior
Reasons not to buy the Pontiac Torrent:
0 g7 h9 T# _8 X. Z5 Q) ~1 T7 ?; G6 O- ranked low for price
- can do better for fuel economy
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Jeep Wrangler 3 T1 H8 p- ~+ t3 j# H
! \* u4 ]& g+ H" C | #13 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Wrangler:
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0 {/ q; D5 w5 a) Y% d* w- #1 ranked in value on the list
- high ranked in quality on the list
- good priced
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Wrangler:
' d. }, \4 z( m2 S$ T- gas mileage not good
- scored low in safety
- road noise
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Mazda CX-7 $ E* I2 w- |- n9 i4 p/ [
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| #14 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mazda CX-7:% K! P3 C9 d! e+ |$ R
* v/ o( ?% l" Y! c5 l; |- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- #3 ranked in expert review
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Mazda CX-7:
. H( ]' [. r- ]/ O& l( a- could do better in gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
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BMW X3 7 _) T n( e- Q( c; b9 @
6 A- l4 }) n4 a9 r& y | #15 Editor's PickReasons to buy the BMW X3:; V# E* l: g6 m, ]/ S
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- great horsepower
- very good value
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the BMW X3:( ^9 c* h2 g% B9 U; @& E) W
- low ranking for safety
- could do better in gas mileage
- #22 ranked for price
See reviews for this model+ D; V* p2 K: |: Z3 ]
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Suzuki XL7
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| #16 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki XL7:
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- #3 ranked for horsepower
- Smooth V6
- exterior look
- controls easy to use
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki XL7:/ O7 L& |2 y" q2 |, H2 W
- low ranked in value
- low ranked in price
- can do better in gas mileage
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Acura RDX . {! w: j# e( R4 J- ]( Z1 j$ M
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| #17 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Acura RDX:" {0 t( t( A, S
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- #3 ranked in value
- #6 ranked in horsepower
- luxurious interior
Reasons not to buy the Acura RDX:
* I' q; j6 w! A9 ]% H5 W- Scored low in safety
- can do better in gas mileage
- extremely sluggish off the line
See reviews for this model1 \; q3 b) ?3 [6 h
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Chevrolet Equinox
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| #18 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:6 C% \5 m, j" }3 m4 D
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- smooth ride
- exterior styling is nice
- has decent interior space
Reasons not to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:
8 k. ?4 r7 M6 G& B* x& S, B- cheap interior look
- can do better on gas
See reviews for this model& D) Q l: Y0 g- H- e
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Mitsubishi Outlander
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| #19 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:# Y3 S% ~& R, n, K3 N. E
6 k0 O1 c- P' n6 ^* V7 u- #3 ranked in value
- has decent horsepower
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:
; W; @+ l3 u" D8 ~ {7 I o7 B- low safety score
- can do better on gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
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Ford Escape
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8 r0 ?% f- l( o5 X. n | #20 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Escape:) P3 f% B( L/ D' j# Q+ ?/ e
/ ?6 b0 Y" d/ s, t( P- roomy
- Great mileage
- comfortable ride
- sporty look and feel
Reasons not to buy the Ford Escape:
& w# P1 Y/ c" J7 ?9 g1 }8 I- lacks in horsepower
- scored low in value
- can do better in safety area
- road noise
See reviews for this model2 ~& j, M( g8 @- p8 n8 S
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Jeep Liberty
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| #21 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Liberty:
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- good low-end torque
- decent cargo compacity
- Rugged, sporty feel
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Liberty:0 P) B; a4 i7 N/ u6 t! A3 i
- can do better in gas mileage
- scored low in safety
- a bit pricy compared to others
See reviews for this model1 u; F, }) ~+ P- ?& d/ G
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Mercury Mariner 4 j+ `& t( H2 }. @7 L3 u
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| #22 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mercury Mariner:1 Y0 _9 [) o& v' l% n
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- decent quality
- ok on gas mileage
- not too bad on price
Reasons not to buy the Mercury Mariner:
1 S5 E1 H4 H' @7 O I q/ i4 Y+ i/ U- low safety score
- lower ranked on horsepower
- scored low in overall value
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