Which compact SUV to buy?

[Mikey]

And if you opt for the 3rd row of seats and make 7 seater, you can actually fit adults i the 3rd row with some comfort and leg room. Even a Landcruiser struggles...

[AU-MUSTD]

Ford escape= old an well and truly outdated.
Holden captiva= brilliant and well suited to my needs. Goes well off road and tow's a decent load daily withoput fuss.
Honda crv=excellent car and quality but sadly only 4cyl and no 7 seats
Mitsubishi outlander=very expensive for leather v6 and rear suspension cope's very poorly at towing and 7 seats look like 1950's designed cardboard bench.
Rav 4= unknown at the present time.
Mazda tribute= Great 10 years ago. Same as escape.
Mazda cx7= Cant stand the god awfull styling. Great quality but poor fuel consumption.
Suzuki vitara= Great style, quality, decent off road but poor outdated v6.
New xtrail= Too much like outdated model style wise. Nissan questionable on quality.
If your budget is good then my pick would be the new freelander for style and off road abilty but no 7 seats. Also the subaru tribeca if you can get past the wierd style.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by AU-MUSTD

Also the subaru tribeca if you can get past the wierd style.

I think they look great, odd yes, but atleast its different. But I like the CX7 aswell....

[XR Martin]

Current Xtrail is garbage, we've got a few at work and the quality is woeful. Theres ones with 20k kms on it and it rattles more than my EL with 15x the kms :

I reckon the Jeep Compass would be worth a look, its a rebaged Outlander but you can get a Diesel. Economy is 6.5L/100kms so nothing comes close in comparison.
Diesel Santa Fe would be a good choice too

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

I reckon the Jeep Compass would be worth a look, its a rebaged Outlander but you can get a Diesel. Economy is 6.5L/100kms so nothing comes close in comparison.

From Car Advice website: caradvice.com.au

"It's our most complained about brand," Alborz Fallah of the website caradvice.com.au said. He claimed he received more complaints about Jeeps than any other make, but the complaints did not stay on the website for long.

"From what our readers tell us, once Jeep finally actually agree to fix the car, they tell the customer they have to contact us and get us to remove the complaint as part of the deal to actually fix the car," Mr Fallah said.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

From Car Advice website: caradvice.com.au

"It's our most complained about brand," Alborz Fallah of the website caradvice.com.au said. He claimed he received more complaints about Jeeps than any other make, but the complaints did not stay on the website for long.

"From what our readers tell us, once Jeep finally actually agree to fix the car, they tell the customer they have to contact us and get us to remove the complaint as part of the deal to actually fix the car," Mr Fallah said.

You must of missed the part where i said its a rebadged Outlander.

Its also rebaged as a Peugeot and Citroen in Europe.

The Diesel is also a Volkswagon unit.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

You must of missed the part where i said its a rebadged Outlander.

Its also rebaged as a Peugeot and Citroen in Europe.

No I didn't regardless of who makes it, it cops the most flack with feedback through caradvice.com.au...
Or the SUV with the jeep badge cops the most trouble with complaints with dealers not wanting to fix the problems.

The other car companies must be happy to fix it before the customer complains.

[charles_wif_xf]

I wouldn't pick any one of those "SUV's". They are all wannabe 4WD's. If you are in the market for something small and don't have an actual need for all four wheels to be powered, then get a Focus or an Astra. The half assed 4WD systems in them will get you into serious strife if you decide to punt one of those monstrosities through the sort of terrain real 4WD's (Landcruisers, Patrol's and the like) eat up for brekkie.

Unless it has a gear driven transfer case and selectable 2WD/4WD with low and high range, then it ain't worth a frogs ar$e in my book.

[AU-MUSTD]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

I wouldn't pick any one of those "SUV's". They are all wannabe 4WD's. If you are in the market for something small and don't have an actual need for all four wheels to be powered, then get a Focus or an Astra. The half assed 4WD systems in them will get you into serious strife if you decide to punt one of those monstrosities through the sort of terrain real 4WD's (Landcruisers, Patrol's and the like) eat up for brekkie.

Unless it has a gear driven transfer case and selectable 2WD/4WD with low and high range, then it ain't worth a frogs ar$e in my book.

This aint hard core 4wd.com buddy and no one's claiming there suv's can go rock hopping over mountain's. What's your point of posting in regards to suv buying???? You wont get 7 seats or a pram with decent luggage space in a focus.
Plus my captiva has been everywere my brothers "hardcore"pathfinder has so these "soft roaders" arnt all bad for what they are intended.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

I wouldn't pick any one of those "SUV's". They are all wannabe 4WD's. If you are in the market for something small and don't have an actual need for all four wheels to be powered, then get a Focus or an Astra. The half assed 4WD systems in them will get you into serious strife if you decide to punt one of those monstrosities through the sort of terrain real 4WD's (Landcruisers, Patrol's and the like) eat up for brekkie.

Unless it has a gear driven transfer case and selectable 2WD/4WD with low and high range, then it ain't worth a frogs ar$e in my book.

You are absolutely correct. That's why the 2WD Territory is such a big seller - because sensible people don't want "pretend" offroad gear in a car that's essentially for onroad use.

Originally Posted by au3 chaser

Rav4's roll to easy. Not just my opinion, but NRMA's, and experience from 3 mates who rolled theirs (well, one of them was their parents car). I don't see why the Territory is too big... Half of these cars (listed) are the same size...

That was the previous model RAV. Toyota got to work on it after litigation and bad press in US for rollovers. The current model didn't perform too badly in the Wheels WASP test. Just poor design, cramped front seat space.

As a rough guide you should also look at the NRMA's vehicle operating cost figures. The weekly cost under this guide of operating a RWD Territory TX is $234.44. A number of small SUVs (including several RAV models) actually have a higher operating cost than this.
http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xch...768EC-26DE47E5

[paulie0735]

Originally Posted by new2ford

- because sensible people don't want "pretend" offroad gear in a car that's essentially for onroad use.

........and exactly when did AWD become the exclusive right of off-road vehicles????? : BTW would you please explain to me where the 'pretend' offroad gear is, I must have missed something on the spec sheet!

Oh and for the record, mine is EXACTLY what I need and suits my intended purpose perfectly.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by paulie0735

........and exactly when did AWD become the exclusive right of off-road vehicles????? : BTW would you please explain to me where the 'pretend' offroad gear is, I must have missed something on the spec sheet!

Oh and for the record, mine is EXACTLY what I need and suits my intended purpose perfectly.

1. Was I talking about AWD? No I wasn't.
2. Pretend in the sense explained by charles_wif_xf. They don't have the full range of gear for offroad work. A bit dangerous because all the marketing hype leads those with less knowledge to believe they can do the same work. Some years ago a lady took her RAV4 into the WA desert, nearly perished when the car failed and had to be rescued - she thought.....

Full time AWD is excellent of course. Ford had this to say when the Territory came out (Wheels Territory booklet): "on demand systems which only switch from 2WD to 4WD when the need is perceived. Some of these are so ineffectual they're almost useless. The Territory's AWD system, in contrast, in truly full time."

What would I do without you to question my every move paulie
:

[paulie0735]

Originally Posted by new2ford

What would I do without you to question my every move paulie
:

LOL, well if ya gunna say it........ than ya gotta be prepared to back ya self up my learned friend.

Your eagerness to agree with this rubbish did surprise me though.

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

I wouldn't pick any one of those "SUV's". They are all wannabe 4WD's. If you are in the market for something small and don't have an actual need for all four wheels to be powered, then get a Focus or an Astra. The half assed 4WD systems in them will get you into serious strife if you decide to punt one of those monstrosities through the sort of terrain real 4WD's (Landcruisers, Patrol's and the like) eat up for brekkie.

Unless it has a gear driven transfer case and selectable 2WD/4WD with low and high range, then it ain't worth a frogs ar$e in my book.

I don't know anybody who thinks they have a genuine off road vehicle in the shape of cross over SUV. People often talk about the case of the inexperienced person getting themselves into trouble with a SUV by attempting to take it where it wasn’t designed to go, but I don’t accept for one second that for every fool in a soft-roader there is at least one in a 4WD. Fools are born and bred, it has nothing to do with the cars they drive!!!!!!!!

[Twinpiston]

Also have a look at the Dodge Nitro, awsome exterior and interior plus has a diesel option.

CX-7 = thirsty machine, TT gets better economy than that and it is a 2.3T v's 4.0T

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by Twinpiston

Also have a look at the Dodge Nitro, awsome exterior and interior plus has a diesel option.

Saw one of these on the road the other day, they are tall but very narrow bodied in between the wheel arch flares, I don't think the room inside would be very good

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Twinpiston

Also have a look at the Dodge Nitro, awsome exterior and interior plus has a diesel option.

CX-7 = thirsty machine, TT gets better economy than that and it is a 2.3T v's 4.0T

Another for the Dodge Nitro, looks wicked, Diesel, RWD + selectable 4WD

[JBomb3000]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Another for the Dodge Nitro, looks wicked, Diesel, RWD + selectable 4WD

Ok so i went down and drove one today, this is what i thought.

EXTERIOR
First impression was it looks a little taller and narrower than from the pics i looked at, probably emphasised by the relativley high window line, front and rear were as i expected. It's a love it or hate it sort of style and personally it works for me. The 20" rims look great and really don't look that big on the nitro, i would hate to see a stocker with the 16" wheels.

INTERIOR
The interior looks good but is poorly put together, the materials feel cheap and things like the indicator stalks feel like they would break very easily. It's fairly poorly designed inside as well no where near as practice or user friendly as a territory. The driving position is also very compromised, you sit way to high and upright which wouldn't be such a problem except the the steering wheel is only adjustable for height not reach, meaning that when your sitting where you can comfortably reach the pedals the steering wheel is just a little bit to far away. Keep in mind i'm 6'3" so i would imagine this would be even worse for shorter people.

DRIVE TRAIN
This is where the Nitro really shines, the 2.8L CRD is an absolute corker, in a higher state of tune than in it's wrangler or cherokee applications it makes 130kw and 460nm, coupled to the 5 speed auto it makes an excellent unit. The engine is smooth, quiet and pulls very strongly right off idle till about 3500 RPM. It will happily go to the 4500 RPM red line but forward progression becomes less rapid than bellow 3500 where the meat of it's torque is. The auto is fantastic as well shifting with smooth precision every time weather it be a full throttle upshift on the red line, a forced down shift using the manual mode or just regular driving in traffic it remained smooth and composed the whole time, never once did i think i wish it had have dropped a gear there or held one a bit longer it really is fantastic. To get a auto to work this intuitively with a diesel engine is a fantastic effort IMO.

RIDE/HANDLING
Given the fact that it has 20's i was expecting the ride to be some what compromised by this (although it has a 50 profile tyre which no doubt helps) but if anything it's actually the other way being a little on soft side. It will pitch and roll a bit when thrown around but nothing to excessive considering what it is, it also looses a bit of composure after hitting big bumps. What it needs is a little more body damping but as it sits now some degree of handling is traded off for comfort. Steering feel is not great either but once again for a vehicle of this type it's acceptable. The ESP also does it job well.

OVERALL
It has a fantastic engine and transmission, love or hate looks, acceptable ride and handling dynamics but is badly let down by it poorly though out and constructed interior and compromised driving position. I can probably deal with the crappy interior but the driving position i'm not so sure about.

My head says Territory but my heart says Nitro.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by JBomb3000

... interior looks good but is poorly put together, the materials feel cheap ...
... driving position is also very compromised...
... the 2.8L CRD is an absolute corker...auto is fantastic as well...
...ride a little on soft side. It will pitch and roll a bit... it needs is a little more body damping... Steering feel is not great either ...
...love or hate looks...but is badly let down by it poorly though out and constructed interior and compromised driving position...

My head says Territory but my heart says Nitro.

Nice write up JBomb and pretty much what I was expected from a US car. All looks and grunt and the rest rather so-so.

If I didn't already have a Territory and was shopping again today a LR Freelander would definetly be on the short list. But why oh why didn't they call it a Land Rover 2 (LR2 for short) like just about everwhere else it didn't sell well originally :

[pb02]

Out of the list I picked the Outlander. I'm looking at changing my pursuit for a Triton, during one of my many visits to a Mitsubishi dealer I had a chance to really look through it. As someone else mentioned, it was packed with features. I thought it was very well laid out and comfortable. I haven't taken a test drive but that would be the difference with me. Narrow it down to three or four and take them all out on test drives.

[paulie0735]

If your actually serious about a purchase than test drive the Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel.

[Eaturbo]

When i drove the CX 7 it was averaging 9l per 100 at 100. I think that the fuel consumption issue has been blown out a bit. The car tests might say 17per100 average but keep in mind that the car would be a low km demo not run in, and it would be driven fairly hard. At 100 its only doing 2000rpm with is 6 spd auto.

[stupa]

Personally I wouldnt bother with any of the toys on that list, if you want small go look at a defender or discovery, rag top wranglers are nice but the ones Ive driven have shocking body roll. other than that go for a patrol or landcruiser. dont bother with anything with a 4cl or a small 6 as they are generally underpowered.

'SUV's' are a soccer mums car. 4wd's get dirty

[naddis01]

Just saw a pic of the next gen kluger on carpoint. :

Same goes for the Rav4, CRV and next gen Xtrail.

[Tles]

If you are after a reasonable level of allround ability including offroad then consider the Freelander2 - pricey but good and comparable to X3
Jeep Patriot when it arrives will offer similar allterrain ability
Wrangler Unlimited is a good left field choice or the new Nissan Xtrail

We have had 2 V6 and 2 2.3XLT Escapes and they are good. Territory is not as big as you would initially think and certainly doesn't steer like it.

[meg]

Cant go past a toyota Kluger, they have good power from the V6's they have reliability and resale over most on the list, they are comfortable even with 7 adults on board and they look good. Would love to drive the rav 4 v6 when it comes out but feel it is still too small to be practical as a 4X4 soft road vehicle.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by meg

Cant go past a toyota Kluger, they have good power from the V6's they have reliability and resale over most on the list, they are comfortable even with 7 adults on board and they look good. Would love to drive the rav 4 v6 when it comes out but feel it is still too small to be practical as a 4X4 soft road vehicle.

Kluger is a medium not compact SUV. And if you wanted a Kluger you would be better getting a Territory - better interior space, better driving dynamics (more car-like=fun to drive), lower operating costs for 2WD (NRMA), better primary and secondary safety (WASP and ANCAP).

[JBomb3000]

Originally Posted by new2ford

Kluger is a medium not compact SUV. And if you wanted a Kluger you would be better getting a Territory - better interior space, better driving dynamics (more car-like=fun to drive), lower operating costs for 2WD (NRMA), better primary and secondary safety (WASP and ANCAP).

Kluger is fair bit smaller than a Territory, it's certainly no bigger than some other cars on his list. I actually looked at a RAV4 and a kluger side by side today and it's barely bigger than the RAV. Apparently the new kluger due towards the end of the year is bigger than the outgoing model and a much close match to the territory size wise.

[Tles]

Jeep Patriot is the sister of the Dodgey Nitro.

[It'sTheVibe]

....................... Length Width Height

Rav4................. 4600 1815 1695
Kluger................4690 1825 1680
Territory.............4856 1898 1714
Tribute...............4400 1785 1770
CX7...................4680 1872 1645
X Trail................4510 1765 1675
CRV...................4520 1820 1680
Outlander...........4640 1800 1720
Sorento..............4567 1863 1810
Grand Vitara........4470 1810 1695
Forester..............4485 1735

And by way of comparison:

Landcruiser.........4890 1940 1890
Patrol................5050 1940 1855
Hummer H2.........4821 2062 1993
Hummer H3.........4782 1989 1872

All dimensions are in mm, and where more than one model is available, it's for the base or most common model.

Sorry 'bout all the ......, but couldn't get it to format correctly.

[uranium_death]

I chose the Mitsubishi because they make good 4WDs and have a decent track record. It may not be as fancy or comfortable as the CX7, but it will do the job well.

My friend's old Pajero (owned since '87 and still doing well...and it has been used offroad a hell of a lot.) is a testament to that.