Recommended List
2 j( b: c4 E' b* K* z6 B, S- DCompact SUVs
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Honda CR-V
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' G2 U7 A7 W; i' r$ f" |; U#1 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda CR-V:( Z8 Z8 | |6 i; r4 \6 K/ z% X
- #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:
: A7 X+ m8 m; S/ R- 10th ranked on the list for cost
- Can get the Hyundai Tucson for around $4,000 less
See reviews for this model
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Hyundai Tucson
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; g0 n6 p0 [2 g* x7 e | #2 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Hyundai Tucson:
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- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- One of top 3 ranked for price on the list
Reasons not to buy the Hyundai Tucson:9 n0 B0 F6 e4 U& c) q8 c- n
- has lower horsepower compared to rest
- want the #1 rated Honda CR-v
See reviews for this model
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Toyota RAV4
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, \! E# a S! [: ^ | #3 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Toyota RAV4:
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/ F4 I* X. f$ P! m- #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:
/ Z% E) I1 R2 H: R. I: C- want the Honda CR-V
- low horsepower rating
See reviews for this model
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Jeep Patriot 2 o. k+ H, S' U. h8 m% L2 M- o
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| #4 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Patriot:
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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:
3 g' q0 M" i! s7 U- 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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% i& f% @' T9 t9 A4 T! Y/ |5 Z | #5 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Saturn Vue:1 D/ n5 r! h9 O" A& G. p0 r% X' X
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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:4 Z1 A. [9 `# H% z7 C4 a4 E4 u
- low rank under total value
- could get the Hyundai Tucson cheaper
See reviews for this model
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Kia Sportage+ J; U% z8 c3 p- N( A6 H: S/ w+ z
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' o2 T$ _7 K" _% y | #6 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sportage:- K# K$ h# I4 ]6 F) z# T
8 s7 @" p! D" h# l; s2 r- runner up for best price behind the Jeep Patriot
- decent gas mileage
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sportage:7 d& g l. q Y8 X+ \
- low ranking horsepower
- want the Jeep Patriot
See reviews for this model, ^8 C. I" a; w" ^9 C. K) H
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Subaru Forester# N( m3 s% a' t/ N G& z
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| #7 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Subaru Forester:
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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:
" @$ p+ z$ ~' B8 T9 T& V/ n- No Acceleration
- road noise
- lack of leg room in rear
See reviews for this model
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Kia Sorento
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- M! {) j: M5 x$ u ~% A | #8 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sorento:
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- #1 ranked horsepower on list
- Value
- exterior and interior styling
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sorento:
7 s& u2 `4 J$ [# p. Z% a: V5 T- low rank for gas mileage
- low towing ability
See reviews for this model7 ?0 O% r. L) ~; r+ E* d
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Honda Element
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| #9 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda Element:
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$ R$ R8 L3 w1 @# Y- ^ }- x- good gas mileage
- interior space
- Lots of leg room for front and back passengers
Reasons not to buy the Honda Element:
* { u- B' M) g ]! ^. \# F- some road noise
- low horsepower
See reviews for this model, K( J$ | X. h6 f8 y0 Z7 z* p
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Suzuki Grand Vitara " p: L+ [- N, [- R c. \5 u
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| #10 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:6 n) O1 k0 j( ~2 w* H7 j
* c* `9 H3 D/ \5 x- I- smooth ride
- decent pricing
- average rank in safety
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara: H$ o0 U2 T" [/ [$ q
- ranked low on gas mileage
- sluggish acceleration
See reviews for this model( z O# D" A6 g2 B3 w" o2 Q
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Ford Freestyle
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. s1 x8 r& g2 H | #11 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Freestyle:
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- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- decent power balance
- car-like ride
Reasons not to buy the Ford Freestyle:
$ q& ]5 D% F1 ~! i- high priced
- low ranked in value
- could improve in gas mileage
See reviews for this model
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Pontiac Torrent
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) n1 J" p& i# w6 r. C, v | #12 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Pontiac Torrent:- s( y. Y1 R% ?! Z# `9 Q1 G
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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:
/ s3 [' S8 R2 x0 H- ranked low for price
- can do better for fuel economy
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Jeep Wrangler ; ~* v. Q) ^5 v* E2 G
: a2 [9 X: M& ?9 g8 H9 l4 N | #13 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Wrangler:# e/ s9 t% Y! p8 ?7 `# E! ~' M
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- #1 ranked in value on the list
- high ranked in quality on the list
- good priced
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Wrangler:2 n+ ^7 D" }6 g
- gas mileage not good
- scored low in safety
- road noise
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Mazda CX-7 $ y x/ Q* E- R D5 b" X# V
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| #14 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mazda CX-7:
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1 i# g; {5 j: o% }- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- #3 ranked in expert review
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Mazda CX-7:5 G1 Q) w9 H7 b' v' ]9 \
- could do better in gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
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BMW X3
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* v! E: J/ \ D3 d1 y | #15 Editor's PickReasons to buy the BMW X3:
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- great horsepower
- very good value
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the BMW X3:
( w: E6 C& P4 `; d! z4 P" S$ {0 b- low ranking for safety
- could do better in gas mileage
- #22 ranked for price
See reviews for this model
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Suzuki XL7
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| #16 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki XL7:3 C8 P6 q( \& m. @ f
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- #3 ranked for horsepower
- Smooth V6
- exterior look
- controls easy to use
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki XL7:: v: i$ k! Z# N1 }5 k, ~
- low ranked in value
- low ranked in price
- can do better in gas mileage
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Acura RDX
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| #17 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Acura RDX:* E3 d3 y' m& e2 s
1 w( ~9 f1 b) k0 Q# m5 d8 N5 O- #3 ranked in value
- #6 ranked in horsepower
- luxurious interior
Reasons not to buy the Acura RDX:6 Q( r* G) k& N( S/ l" g
- Scored low in safety
- can do better in gas mileage
- extremely sluggish off the line
See reviews for this model
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Chevrolet Equinox
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| #18 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:
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& }7 g/ q! {, B3 }4 n- smooth ride
- exterior styling is nice
- has decent interior space
Reasons not to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:
( g. d2 }$ [) C% v/ X- cheap interior look
- can do better on gas
See reviews for this model
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Mitsubishi Outlander + I. @8 c/ [8 G1 Q* T/ K7 {% }/ r
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| #19 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:
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- #3 ranked in value
- has decent horsepower
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:
! o( H' P5 e' P- 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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| #20 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Escape:6 Z9 ~# q7 J- _2 f
1 c; i J+ J# K- roomy
- Great mileage
- comfortable ride
- sporty look and feel
Reasons not to buy the Ford Escape:
% e/ x/ N1 J! K! f0 Q- lacks in horsepower
- scored low in value
- can do better in safety area
- road noise
See reviews for this model
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Jeep Liberty
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| #21 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Liberty:6 j4 O* G4 \* H( d, Q( G& U9 V
: ]; L/ T/ J3 b9 S0 {& m/ r! z- good low-end torque
- decent cargo compacity
- Rugged, sporty feel
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Liberty:
0 p" t% Q7 p9 f- j( \, i, e- can do better in gas mileage
- scored low in safety
- a bit pricy compared to others
See reviews for this model
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Mercury Mariner
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8 d E: p6 ?6 {5 M% K | #22 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mercury Mariner: E8 h i) L$ ~- K) O' E; t
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- decent quality
- ok on gas mileage
- not too bad on price
Reasons not to buy the Mercury Mariner:
/ c9 W0 M. M( E2 C4 r% j5 T- h- low safety score
- lower ranked on horsepower
- scored low in overall value
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