Recommended List3 K" ]/ u' n1 m9 n
Compact SUVs. K2 ~* K& {1 u8 q5 b& t" K
|
Honda CR-V 7 u4 h2 R' ~3 S5 p! v2 a
; Q7 l& C% [ n* }2 P0 t) o8 ~& y$ A Q. d
& G0 _2 s& i3 n, ?& s
| % U5 P" S2 k* X' o* y& D7 \3 w. I
#1 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda CR-V:# q3 Y( z, L! T
- #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:
* s/ Z/ e N! S' O& O: |3 J9 B- 10th ranked on the list for cost
- Can get the Hyundai Tucson for around $4,000 less
See reviews for this model# `# f: d; K. F0 k# F* r1 N# O
|
Hyundai Tucson * n! z& P# e2 q& V$ v
6 g+ d2 G5 c0 N

) ^% M8 V0 i8 Z1 G& a J' W+ D! A& y, ]5 x$ u0 M( e
| #2 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Hyundai Tucson:: r9 F+ g/ z& C) ]
4 |/ r3 `' W3 w" p; b5 W- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- One of top 3 ranked for price on the list
Reasons not to buy the Hyundai Tucson:
0 D ]% y5 X, F3 u- has lower horsepower compared to rest
- want the #1 rated Honda CR-v
See reviews for this model
- V; {0 Z1 G& j2 J" Q5 j |
Toyota RAV4 6 z& P. ~: s! O5 H3 c
& d" H8 ~. u8 _8 C . H! Z. f) H: ~9 W3 `
| #3 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Toyota RAV4: D% h: m" z }
% W& L* F) Q" k+ M3 k3 q
- #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:+ J0 c& X m4 X1 Q
- want the Honda CR-V
- low horsepower rating
See reviews for this model% W2 M4 h5 W6 K) F/ F1 q8 D4 z' ]
|
Jeep Patriot
1 `6 J- i, ~( h2 X* \
" Q5 v! l2 x5 L( i( c5 E2 \* V: E U1 S, R9 v, m
4 ]( A& X. c* }- a* @
| #4 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Patriot:8 f; ~4 R( e, L+ {' e( ~. }( R
" ?# x/ d0 ]" ?/ Z1 {) C# Q
- #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:- I2 u( K# B8 ?, r; n8 E3 i2 i# d
- 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 model5 f8 h: ]$ T- \# ?5 Y' j5 f
|
Saturn Vue' t, E- n, A' V. F; _* |& |
( R! G/ m; \4 H/ i
8 J2 |# y& G4 J3 B8 R
( e& o7 C H: ~7 V. @* [ F; [
| #5 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Saturn Vue:
3 w8 a3 I% Q& o5 B: G: P0 q0 l+ z% C9 \
- Great Gas Mileage
- Onstar feature
- quiet engine
- Ranked #4 on the list for price
- Good horsepower
Reasons not to buy the Saturn Vue:
2 `8 ?# U. X' T, b ^$ q- low rank under total value
- could get the Hyundai Tucson cheaper
See reviews for this model
' y% H( C- p4 Y8 y! p& [# \ |
Kia Sportage I0 `' X0 _) Q& g% M% q: ^1 s
5 q ?$ r0 }8 W( A+ [! G 
2 r# u7 N2 `% J* l8 s/ n; B6 i' W' H4 C; }) x
| #6 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sportage:# P: U9 e5 A( v& c; I4 T, C0 L6 I1 [
8 M! n- X6 l8 t/ X P" y+ ^9 T
- runner up for best price behind the Jeep Patriot
- decent gas mileage
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sportage:
+ W. U; i# z- B0 F: L- low ranking horsepower
- want the Jeep Patriot
See reviews for this model
" d/ u# ^7 H! C# m7 L% f+ o |
Subaru Forester
/ ]8 Z# P6 g5 R" r& P8 L6 t! x: p2 t' H3 x+ b4 J1 L* ^' P

9 C9 |5 [; b2 d; [- { | #7 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Subaru Forester:& y' @! \- G' B( j# V2 I
8 t" X$ E* {8 e- Z/ }- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- #3 ranked for value on list
- decent gas mileage
Reasons not to buy the Subaru Forester:
6 h& L" Z6 `- b/ _) @+ y9 F- No Acceleration
- road noise
- lack of leg room in rear
See reviews for this model
0 s; b& k9 g" o5 v/ n7 Z7 D |
Kia Sorento
0 p) m5 w( Z- X, L6 x2 ?% o9 Z& P# `% G4 W; _) X
5 n9 A- u3 a; ~
- N3 r8 r/ c2 ]9 e' h, ?( p! n* y7 ~8 c, d8 a+ Z+ G8 v
| #8 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sorento:! N a; S6 {/ Y
# K8 `1 ]9 [$ X# _: q. v- #1 ranked horsepower on list
- Value
- exterior and interior styling
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sorento:
+ b0 Y0 B7 I, W8 P% g3 S" a [5 s- low rank for gas mileage
- low towing ability
See reviews for this model
7 C& b- x. d0 X/ [0 L' ` |
Honda Element
# u# x+ h, ?9 Q. U/ Z: [
: @; W5 v( J& G9 s) Q 2 E7 J2 J' F+ b( v* z) U
A+ H+ ^4 W; S1 V1 p | #9 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda Element:
7 v3 s% P. J" z& B! y4 }) L, A
3 e9 M _$ @( {% i Q- good gas mileage
- interior space
- Lots of leg room for front and back passengers
Reasons not to buy the Honda Element:1 N! M, q9 O2 [
- some road noise
- low horsepower
See reviews for this model2 n8 O6 P6 E3 c6 ^2 m
|
Suzuki Grand Vitara 0 ~# |- [% Z. n/ s. _; y$ Z
. m5 O( b3 q2 ~8 x | #10 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:/ b) E, O* l2 e; ^" E- R
9 O9 A1 ~* S$ m8 n+ @3 t1 m& ]1 ^
- smooth ride
- decent pricing
- average rank in safety
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:- E2 N* @2 n) q' r
- ranked low on gas mileage
- sluggish acceleration
See reviews for this model
# v, T' }6 z- z, C+ I4 Q |
Ford Freestyle
7 Y- P* a, }1 \+ v3 I; H6 I8 P! _+ J* B" \, I6 m
| #11 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Freestyle:+ k# I1 d5 G7 \
3 s2 x( t1 f3 J: [- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- decent power balance
- car-like ride
Reasons not to buy the Ford Freestyle:$ M/ i+ u4 Z. F/ ?& i
- high priced
- low ranked in value
- could improve in gas mileage
See reviews for this model$ E0 f! n% l: N* g, P) Z
|
Pontiac Torrent
# N) W3 p6 U0 x! [8 _0 X3 y
! w( g0 O/ x, l | #12 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Pontiac Torrent:! P( u, W7 }2 y0 r, `' b# f5 i8 I& L
4 D& l+ v7 _. F# T- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- Good overall value for the price
- Nice interior
Reasons not to buy the Pontiac Torrent:: [4 Y' }& \: ]- m
- ranked low for price
- can do better for fuel economy
|
Jeep Wrangler 6 {' g. V J5 i- T
8 \) @( q [- U0 c | #13 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Wrangler:- y: r6 M) m) i) f" {; }
- _% S# B7 C& Q0 l o/ l- #1 ranked in value on the list
- high ranked in quality on the list
- good priced
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Wrangler:. M( j/ `2 R0 N0 A/ }& ~- Z4 {
- gas mileage not good
- scored low in safety
- road noise
|
Mazda CX-7
: A, x7 I' E, F0 n* [$ u- t6 Q8 ~" ?; J
| #14 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mazda CX-7:1 C) V8 X3 a( i$ N$ f3 n2 z- A! ^
/ P8 n5 L, T3 T8 u2 B! V- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- #3 ranked in expert review
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Mazda CX-7:) w X% b; @3 t! u- x- \& ]
- could do better in gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
|
BMW X3
( {7 T6 ~: r P5 T% A
4 o; T! g+ i" O. z3 [( D! t: f | #15 Editor's PickReasons to buy the BMW X3:
# S0 {4 l! f' X+ ?, |
; j- W4 G+ V8 T+ p# j2 E- great horsepower
- very good value
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the BMW X3:
1 Q8 {, v9 q0 Q% _$ j) C- low ranking for safety
- could do better in gas mileage
- #22 ranked for price
See reviews for this model! c% h: ^( Z3 Y2 L5 L/ p+ T
|
Suzuki XL7 : j: M# B7 ?. q. T% O- i
$ ]6 F, L$ [7 P; u* M | #16 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki XL7:
9 l/ w" g" C1 r& W. o0 `& T: ~& p/ z" v# o- X
- #3 ranked for horsepower
- Smooth V6
- exterior look
- controls easy to use
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki XL7:
# p" [( I4 g' e- low ranked in value
- low ranked in price
- can do better in gas mileage
|
Acura RDX % P# y; `/ M f0 p9 @; P
" o+ J( ?+ C h4 m: H* k: Y! q
| #17 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Acura RDX:; J* { T# Q4 f3 |! ^
2 _1 [; K% l j5 j- #3 ranked in value
- #6 ranked in horsepower
- luxurious interior
Reasons not to buy the Acura RDX:* Y* P2 P; q" T. ^0 u! M& r
- Scored low in safety
- can do better in gas mileage
- extremely sluggish off the line
See reviews for this model. @' g, e s2 O7 _% [' a- r' _# J
|
Chevrolet Equinox
3 K' ^+ {: C! B! ^1 c# A w/ F! c, p: Z" \ \$ M3 X
| #18 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:
- H" c7 j8 u0 }; {5 z W, L- A( m( P& e9 P' {. \
- smooth ride
- exterior styling is nice
- has decent interior space
Reasons not to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:/ w7 F$ t! ?0 y5 U, P, [
- cheap interior look
- can do better on gas
See reviews for this model
; A' M( t7 E$ @5 Y7 u) C8 O) v) w4 m R |
Mitsubishi Outlander
3 B3 Y' Q1 c" Q, N X5 ~! R. J- X: E9 n4 S3 L! ]% J) s
| #19 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:3 w2 \; V0 F" G- `& ?0 F8 V$ ^1 Y" e
' _! \5 }7 Z2 S7 K& j" l
- #3 ranked in value
- has decent horsepower
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:$ q3 l; c" Q2 L
- low safety score
- can do better on gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
|
Ford Escape 6 H' S$ K& V2 h- i5 t) w
{5 o( n6 T9 }5 d% W% t: [
| #20 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Escape:
3 Z B2 V: z0 \1 w2 o) R
' z" Y% L1 s& n: u+ n$ A6 ?: e- roomy
- Great mileage
- comfortable ride
- sporty look and feel
Reasons not to buy the Ford Escape:
' g! W2 b5 X; _/ p4 F: H: H* q9 u- lacks in horsepower
- scored low in value
- can do better in safety area
- road noise
See reviews for this model
6 O I% o& v9 t2 [+ A |
Jeep Liberty
$ O/ T, N# y3 \! a
( O& m8 J2 X+ m3 s( a% W0 Y/ m | #21 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Liberty:2 X% C; _$ z1 D2 L7 b4 J
* _7 t% n1 S! _4 T: {/ U) Y
- good low-end torque
- decent cargo compacity
- Rugged, sporty feel
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Liberty:
: n% ^" B; H% B* \6 {: l3 @- can do better in gas mileage
- scored low in safety
- a bit pricy compared to others
See reviews for this model
) r) U* g: [# D4 U3 G! Q |
Mercury Mariner
! s I0 `4 o+ t7 {% n j3 c* Y( g' @
| #22 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mercury Mariner:$ V3 g6 Q8 V$ X+ x' h
8 Z8 R0 a' i3 L& N% \6 M) F7 I9 A- decent quality
- ok on gas mileage
- not too bad on price
Reasons not to buy the Mercury Mariner:
* C/ i4 k8 n+ u- low safety score
- lower ranked on horsepower
- scored low in overall value
|