Compact SUVs

[Freak Out]

http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicle/

http://www.edmunds.com/

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/automotive.htm

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

http://www.iihs.org/

Just a few of many.

[Scott Campbell]

........and there's another Honda that's a step larger and more powerful than the CRV as well.

I think you're talking about the Pilot. Consumer Reports consistently ranks that as the best small SUV. I have some friends who own them and love em.

[Scott Campbell]

Do most libraries have consumer reports subscriptions?

Yes.

[MJZiggy]

........and there's another Honda that's a step larger and more powerful than the CRV as well.

I think you're talking about the Pilot. Consumer Reports consistently ranks that as the best small SUV. I have some friends who own them and love em.

Thank you. Yes, my cousin has one and loves it.

[Partial]

The Pilot is awesome and once I have kids I will get one. I just don't need that size right now; its pretty much the same size as the xterra except it has the extra row of seats.

[BallHawk]

........and there's another Honda that's a step larger and more powerful than the CRV as well.

I think you're talking about the Pilot. Consumer Reports consistently ranks that as the best small SUV. I have some friends who own them and love em.

If the Pilot is considered a small SUV no wonder we have gas problems!

[Partial]

........and there's another Honda that's a step larger and more powerful than the CRV as well.

I think you're talking about the Pilot. Consumer Reports consistently ranks that as the best small SUV. I have some friends who own them and love em.

If the Pilot is considered a small SUV no wonder we have gas problems!

Yeah, exactly. That thing is quite large.

[MJZiggy]

Not compared to an Escalade...

[GBRulz]

I guess I am in kinda the same boat, looking for a decent smaller SUV. I am kind of loyal to Nissan as my last two vehicles have been Nissans and I love them. I owned a 2002 Xterra until two years ago I upgraded to the new body style (and larger) Pathfinder.

You probably won't read this in any consumer reports guide or anything, but if you are familiar with the new body style of the Pathfinder and it's 3rd row seating, you know how much bigger it is than the old Pathfinder. Believe it or not, it gets much better gas mileage than the Xterra. I am not a car expert by any means, but for whatever reason, the Pathfinder ran at lower RPM's, which I guess is the reason for the mileage difference. On the highway, I am getting about 21-22 with the Pathfinder and got about 17-18 with the Xterra.

My lease is almost up on the Pathfinder and I am certainly shying away from the SUV world. Literally 2 weeks after I got my Pathfinder, that is when gas prices shot through the roof. Now, with them at $3 again and with me on the road alot for work, that just isn't feasible.

There are many like myself, who want good gas mileage but also need a bit extra room than a standard car. I think many companies see this trend as three new models, very similiar in style have come out this year. That being the Jeep Compass, the Nissan Versa and the Dodge Calibur. They are more of a cross-over vehicle, which I am very interested in. While I haven't driven the Versa or the Calibur, I was given a Jeep Compass as my rental car when I was out in Salt Lake recently. I really liked it alot and the back seats fold flat, which is perfect when I have my dogs with me or if I have a weekend project around the house and need the space to haul some stuff home from Home Depot. Gas mileage on the Compass was very good, 28-29 Hwy. had plenty of power to keep up with the crazy Utah drivers who go 90 down the freeway (thought I was in Chicago for a minute there) and when I drove it up the canyons and did some minor off-roading, it handled just fine. If I had one complaint about the Compass, it was the dashboard being too long and you can't see the front of the car. I guess if someone was a little taller than me, that wouldn't be a problem though!

Is anyone familiar with any other "cross-over" type vehicles like the ones I just mentioned? The only bad part is that they are all new models for this year, so the lack of used ones out there is slim. Never again will I buy a vehicle brand new. Would like one a couple years old for depreciation factors.

[MJZiggy]

You just reminded me of the Subaru Forester. I know someone who has one, though she'd never go offroad (at least not intentionally...) but for city drving she loves it.

I don't haul stuff around anymore, so I drive a little go-mobile, but it pays to have friends with mini-vans...