What car: small SUV

My best friends sister is looking at a new mini-ute. She's in love with the CR-V, but wants to look at what else is out there. She can get a good deal on Suzuki and Honda because the law firm she works at represents them. I told her to look at both, but I really know nothing about either.

I also recommended the Forester and Hyundai, the only two I've ever really had any experience with.

Your thoughts?

Miata with a tire trailer

If she's in love with the CR-V, that's what she should get. The only things I could say against it are things that are against the entire "cute-ute" bodystyle in general, not anything against the Honda in particular.

Suzuki SX4? I like the looks but that is as much as I know about them.

Make sure she looks at the Suzuki. My wife had a Grand Vitara for a few years and it was a great little SUV. The new ones are very well appointed especially considering the price.

-Rob

rob_lewis wrote: Make sure she looks at the Suzuki. My wife had a Grand Vitara for a few years and it was a great little SUV. The new ones are very well appointed especially considering the price. -Rob

Really? A couple friends and myself rented a Grand Vitara for a road trip to Vegas and that thing was misery wrapped in white paint. The engine had NO power until it dropped 2 gears and the motor tach'd out, and the body roll had me carsick in 5 minutes (or less) if I wasn't driving.

Maybe that was just because it was the rental version?

My sister has a CR-V. Great vehicle. If my Wifemobile (Mazda 6s Wagon) got hit by a meteor, I'd try to talk her into a CR-V.

My wife has a Mazda 6s Wagon 5-spd and my mom has a CR-V 5-spd--I'd rather have the Mazda any day. Not that the Honda is a bad car, just not nearly as sporty and kinda dull. I guess it depends what you are looking for.

I have a 2008 Acura RDX and I love it! I like it much more than 2005 Acura MDX that I drove before it. I really dislike most SUVs because of the way they drive and their lack of handling prowess. However the RDX handles very well for an SUV, Acura's SH-AWD system is great and the turbo-charged 4 cylinder offers great acceleration and OK gas mileage if you can keep it out of boost. The ride is firm but not uncomfortable. Mine is loaded with the tech package and has all the modern goodies one could want, iPod hookup, bluetooth calling, navigation, etc. You can pick up a used RDX for around $25,000.

I got a rav4. 3r row seat for kiddies sold me. essentially its the same as a crv... the v6 is nice, thirtsy, but real nice.

I haven't talked to a Hyundai Sante Fe owner yet that isn't delighted with theirs. The little Tucson is a nice vehicle also. I'm always confused that people don't have Hyundai on their shopping list more frequently. I think they are the next Toyota.

The CRV is ugly. It just looks bloated in every direction. I vastly prefer the older, more trucky one over the latest version. But then, I hate the new Forester and like the old one too.

My daughters friend (16!)just got her license and a brand spanky-new CRV.Pretty nice inside,roomy eough.

I even get to use the cool rear-view camera...every time I have to turn the car around in our driveway for her.

The the "non-knowing" typical car driver, there are few better choices than a CRV. They do everything a non-sporty driver is looking for in a car.

CR-V's are bomb-proof.

No getting around it.

It's preposterous how over-engineered my wife's '99 EX is.

jrw1621 wrote: They do everything a non-sporty driver is looking for in a car.

yup.. like start every damn time and have cold A/C.

Thats all my wife wants.

Dav wrote: My wife has a Mazda 6s Wagon 5-spd and my mom has a CR-V 5-spd--I'd rather have the Mazda any day. Not that the Honda is a bad car, just not nearly as sporty and kinda dull. I guess it depends what you are looking for.

I agree, which is why we have the 6. However, they're not making them anymore (in wagon form), and they're sort of hard to find around here. Hence my meteor comment.

Not only that, but the OP is looking for a CuteUte, not a sport wagon, and the fact that I'd replace my sport wagon with a CR-V is pretty high praise.

Besides, I'm reaching a point in my life where I don't care that much about having a sporty family car. If we want sporty, we can take my RX-8.

"CR-Vs are bomb-proof....."

Weelllll, not quite. I was looking at a used CR-V and the folks at the repair shop I have my Civic worked on said that it is definitely true that the 2nd gen CR-V will grenade it's A/C system. (Several forums on Honda/Acura websites said to avoid the 2nd gen CR-V.) The 1st gen ('97 to 2001) and the 3rd gen. are great vehicles, just steer clear of the 2002 to 2006 models.

I'd go CR-V or Forester. CR-V if you don't really need AWD, and the Forester if you do need AWD.

rob_lewis wrote: Make sure she looks at the Suzuki. My wife had a Grand Vitara for a few years and it was a great little SUV. The new ones are very well appointed especially considering the price. -Rob

I second that. Drove a 2001 from Indianapolis to Tucson with a table strapped to teh roof, two dogs and the wife and I. Imagine a 2'x2' sail attached to the roof.... I don;t care what car it is it sucked. The trip to Vegas from Tucson and back through the back way into Jerome made the whole trip worth it. 4-wheelin in Arizona, 1700 miles from home and knowing it wasn't going to leave you stranded was awesome.

Wife and I both miss that truck.

ReverendDexter wrote:

rob_lewis wrote: Make sure she looks at the Suzuki. My wife had a Grand Vitara for a few years and it was a great little SUV. The new ones are very well appointed especially considering the price. -Rob

Really? A couple friends and myself rented a Grand Vitara for a road trip to Vegas and that thing was misery wrapped in white paint. The engine had NO power until it dropped 2 gears and the motor tach'd out, and the body roll had me carsick in 5 minutes (or less) if I wasn't driving. Maybe that was just because it was the rental version?

I can't say I ever experienced any of that in ours in 5 years. We put 86k miles on it withut a hiccup.

Vehicles to consider:

2010 Chevrolet Equinox. I drove one over the weekend through Oakland county and into Detroit, then back out the highway back to Grand Blanc... It is a really nice vehicle.

2010 Volkswagen Tiguan: Nice but I like the Equinox more.

2010 Ford Escape: An older design but a great Mazda ;)

She decided on the CR-V. I really didn't think I'd be able to sway her much, not that thats a bad thing in this case.

integraguy wrote: "CR-Vs are bomb-proof....." Weelllll, not quite. I was looking at a used CR-V and the folks at the repair shop I have my Civic worked on said that it is definitely true that the 2nd gen CR-V will grenade it's A/C system. (Several forums on Honda/Acura websites said to avoid the 2nd gen CR-V.) The 1st gen ('97 to 2001) and the 3rd gen. are great vehicles, just steer clear of the 2002 to 2006 models. I'd go CR-V or Forester. CR-V if you don't really need AWD, and the Forester if you do need AWD.

First I've ever heard of that. My parents have put 130k+ trouble free miles on their 03. Since the warranty period they've replaced the shocks once, brakes twice, one O2 sensor, and other than that just tires, wipers, bulbs, fluids, and filters. If they could buy a new one today they would do it without the slightest hesitation.

we've had a CX-7 for three years, and it's just about perfect (if only it had a manual!). roomy, comfortable, quick, and handles and stops beautifully...better than most cars.

we considered the RDX as well, but preferred the way the mazda drove.

CR-Vs are nice, dependable cars. my sister loves hers. can't go wrong w/ them, i think.

Buzz Killington wrote: we've had a CX-7 for three years, and it's just about perfect (if only it had a manual!).

A CX-7 with a manual is called a Speed3.

didn't read anything in the thread pretty much, but my vote goes for 99-04 Suzuki Vitara. pretty cheap, extremely reliable, good looking, and tough. body on frame construction.

I don't like the new CRV's. They are big.