Personal Picks: Small SUVs, part 2

Continuing our staff's personal insights into the January-issue small SUV test group...

Eric Evarts: None of this month's tested small SUVs makes a compelling choice for my personal pick. If I were in the market for a small SUV today, the smooth, roomy, and tough-looking Toyota RAV4 would be a simple choice. Unfortunately I don't find it very sporty in anything but looks, so I'm intrigued to spend some time in the new Nissan Rogue. The more-expensive Murano is popular around here. [A little too popular here in the blog—Ed.] I'm curious to see if the Rogue lives up to its billing as a more affordable alternative or if it just proves to be an also-ran.

Personally, I would love a Honda Element as a fuel-efficient successor to my old Volkswagen Bus, with its huge interior space and buck-the-mainstream personality. But as a family car, I find the Element's rear-hinged doors a daily nuisance and cargo room is lacking with the back seat in place.

So for my money, among the cars we tested in January, the Kia Rondo and the Suzuki SX4 are the only contenders. The Rondo would make a great space-efficient family car, but Jim Travers takes the joy out of that idea by suggesting putting Rondos into service as New York City taxicabs. So my choice would be the Suzuki SX4, which delivered an observed 27 mpg on my mixed rural/highway commute, is the cheapest all-wheel-drive vehicle on the market, and proved a perfectly livable and handy companion as a daily runabout.

Jeff Bartlett: This was a tough test group for me. The Ford Escape was disappointing in its ho-hum execution. The Jeep Patriot looks great to my eye, with the off-road heritage and military stylings warming my little rock-crawling heart, but this repackaged Compass leaves nothing to love from behind the wheel. I had modest expectations from the Kia Sportage, having driven the original when it first launched, then again with this redesign. But I came to enjoy our '07 test model; it is pleasant to drive, simple to operate, and delivers as promised. The Saturn Vue was a nice surprise, feeling solid, modern, and refined. But the fuel-economy and heavy feel turn me away.

In the end, and you can't know how much this pains me, I agree with Eric. The RAV4 continues to own this segment, and it would be my intellectual choice. On the other hand, my frisky, adventure-seeking pick would be the Honda Element. Yeah, it has its limitations, but don't we all. What it does have is personality. It dares to be different and offer unique abilities in the process. And despite looking like the box a CR-V comes in, the Element still bests these newcomers in fuel economy. Among our January-issue SUV alternatives, I was impressed with the Kia Rondo's smart, efficient packaging, polished manners, and overall value.

Liza Barth:  My favorite small SUV? That's easy, the Toyota RAV4. In fact, I like it so much that I bought one last year, and despite fresh competition, it remains our top-rated vehicle in the category. The small SUVs we tested for the December test group just don't compete with the RAV's comfort, fuel economy, and refinement. However, as an alternative to the small SUVs, I did enjoy the Kia Rondo. I liked the driving position—it was easy to get in and out and the ride was smooth and comfortable. It's also a great price for a seven-passenger vehicle. I'm looking forward to our upcoming hatchback test—specifically the redesigned Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, Scion xD, and Subaru Impreza. These SUV alternatives provide good fuel economy, several have all-wheel-drive, and are roomy and flexible to carry extra cargo.

Read Personal Picks: Small SUVs, part 1
Discuss SUVs in the forums.

Comments

[Rob Usdin]

Dissapointed you didn't include the new Nissan Rogue in your testing.

--*Rob

[David]

Interesting that the Forester is left out of the small "SUV" article. I notice even in the mainstream auto mags that the Forester is usually not included in a field of similar cars for testing. What gives? Is it not included because it's an Impreza with a different body and it's regarded as a car with AWD and not an SUV ? Isn't the Honda CRV simply a car with AWD? CU consistently rates the Forester as the best or close to the best in it's category and yet nobody there seems to like it. Fuel economy is a negative, but overall, the mechanics and reliability of the boxer engine and Subaru's highly-rated AWD and safety ratings should give it a place in your article. Aw, just my opinion.

[Robert Smith]

I agree with David. The Forester doesn't get enough respect. We have taken ours over mountain passes with no chains and oem tires in icy conditions here in central Oregon with no problems. These little cars are quick, tough, and road hugging. This is our third Subaru. We opted for the Forester this time instead of an Outback and find that the high cargo area is more user friendly and the vehicle handles like a go-Kart on a track.
R.S.