Looking for a small to midsized SUV

[Aurora63]

In a few months, my lease will be up, and I'll be getting something else...probably a small-to-mid SUV. So far I have considered the Saturn VUE, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V, Chevy Equinox and Chevy Trailblazer. If you know anything about any of them, or want to suggest something else, please post! I just want something with some room (I've been driving a Saturn Ion) and dependability, as well as decent mileage...I know SUV's are not known for great mileage, but I want something that is definetly not a gas guzzler.

Thanks for all your help. Post away!

 

[lindalinda]

I have the Honda CRV and I like it, but I think next time I'm going for the Toyota Rav4. It gets 30mpg now, that better than what I'm getting (around 26).

 

[poohs_hunny]

I bought a Toyota Rav-4 in July and I it! It is roomy (but not huge), it looks nice, and the gas mileage is decent. The only thing I don't love about it is the silly spare tire on the back. Why can't they just get rid of that?

 

[wickness]

i have 2006 santa fe, havent figured out the mileage thingy yet. I put in 40$ worth a gas a week, usually last me 7 days. If that helps. I love it. Has pick up for when you wanna pass. Tons of room, even for people in the back. And the price was right. I waited till end of Sept to buy mine. And it had 14 kms on it. So it wasnt test driven at all. Looks small on the outside, but its huge inside. Lots of room and hidden compartments throught the truck. Stereo is good easy to get buttons. Oh the driver seat, you can move it in a whole bunch of ways. Heated side mirrors. I am beginning to sound like a car sales women..
awesome warranty also

good luck in your SUV search.

 

[Aurora63]

Wickness, about how many miles do you drive in those 7 days??

Never thought of a Rav-4, I'll have to look into that also.

 

[Blondie]

Have you considered the Mercury Mariner?

 

[SuperSteelerFan]

We have 2 Jeeps - a Grand Cherokee and a Liberty. I love them both and would recommend either vehicle. I really love the Liberty - it's really fun to drive, but the gas mileage stinks. They are both pretty roomy (compared to the Chevy Cavalier I previously drove for 13 years) with the Grand Cherokee being the larger and roomier of the 2.

 

[minkydog]

I second a Jeep. We just ordered a 2007 4-door Wrangler. It's got enough room to seat my 3 big kids in the back & my Standard Poodle in the luggage section--not that I'd drive cross-country like that. I like the tight steering and the height in particular. It's got a lot of get-up-and-go, too

 

[Nala56]

We bought 2006 Santa Fe in September, good price since 07's were out. I love driving it, the drivers seat can be raised, I can see so well. Heated seats, lots of room, great pickup but gas milage stinks. So far about 15mpg, but that is all in town driving. We haven't taken it on a trip yet, so don't know about highway milage.

I looked at 06 CRV, but knew that the body was going to change this year so didn't want an older model. Also look at Rav 4, I really like this car but to get it with all options I wanted would have been too much.

Good luck

 

[DISUNC]

I have a '04 Hyndai Santa Fe!

Cant beat the 10y/100,000 mile warranty! I now have 72,000 miles on it (i get around) just replaced brakes pads and they replaced new water pump(this was warrantied).

I like it alot!!!!!

 

[rie'smom]

My vanagon(van+wagon- my term) is a Chrysler Pacifica. I dearly love this vehicle. When my friends and I go antiquing,all but the largest pieces fit in the rear compartment. It's comfortable when we haul DD and her friends. All of my groceries fit in the back. We have the option of the automatic lift rear hatch. This makes it very easy when I have to carry in groceries. Also because this is considered one of Chrysler's top of the line models,when I bring it in for service,my rental is comped.

 

[Maggi May]

We got a great deal on a 2006 VUE last month and so far we love it. It's just the right size for a family of three, and the cargo area is pretty roomy. We went camping last week with it and and had no trouble fitting our stuff into it.

The mileage has been pretty good, especially since we opted for a 5 speed rather than an automatic. We didn't want to get a big behemoth SUV or van, but just wanted a bit more room and function, and for us the VUE has really fit the bill.

 

[Tigger Fans!]

My vote is TOYOTA!!! The Rav4 or 4Runner would be good choices. Personally, I prefer the ride of the Highlander....smooth

 

[wickness]

Wickness, about how many miles do you drive in those 7 days??

hmm i think i get almost 500 kms a week, and that 1 trip to get smokes thats hour away. Then lots of city driving. ~active shopper.~.

 

[luvflorida]

Another Jeep lover here! I traded my Beetle for a Jeep Liberty a few months ago, and I love driving it. It's sturdy, handles well, and I like the height. I know I'll appreciate the 4-wheel drive feature this winter. I hated taking the Beetle out on snowy roads.

My husband owns a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it's quite a bit bigger than the Liberty, and I don't like driving it.

 

[robinb]

I was looking for the same kind of car a few months ago. My short list included the Vue, the Santa Fe, the CR-V and the Ford Escape Hybrid. We ended up with a Mazda 5 "Space Wagon". It's not quite a minivan and not quite a station wagon. It's small and nimble but with lots of room. It looks like a big Toyota Matrix, but it has minivan doors. It gets about 23 City and 27 Highway.

 

[JR6ooo4]

How about a Chevy HHR starting at about 17K. Leather heated seats, lumbar support, sun roof was about 21K.
It is not as tall as the normal SUV but it is a truck frame and looks real cool. We got this spring addition for DW a few months ago...

http://www.chevrolet.com/hhr/photogallery/

Mikeeee

 

[SplshMtn99]

Not sure what your needs are for room or people....but I LOVE my Subaru Forester. Rides like a car since built on a car chassis & not a truch chassis. Love the AWD. Feels better in snow than any vehicles I've ever had --and I'm always the one who goes into work no matter what I drove. I can stand bicycles up in the cargo area with front tires removed. We pack a ton of stuff into it. I've gotten 9 people into it.....not legally of course....but that's another story .

Lots of awards for years now.

My dad has hated anything I've ever owned if it wasn't a Chrysler product or a Nissan. He's been saying when he's in need of another veh, he's pretty sure it will be a Subaru Forester too. That time is almost here. Now THAT is a compliment / endorsement from my dad the mechanical/electrical engineer who picks EVERYTHING apart about how its built.

 

[KozmicLee]

We have a 2005 FWD Ford Escape Hybrid and I absolutely love it. The back seats fold down flat if we need to move big stuff and the mileage is really great. I would say that it would only seat 4 adults comfortably, being smaller than an Explorer. Good luck finding your new vehicle!

 

[maddiemom]

We are a true Mazda family. You might want to check out the new Mazda CX-7. It is great looking. I would love to have one myself. We have never had any problems with our Mazda vehicles (we have two now and have had 3 others in the past)