Recommended List
2 c+ J" Q( Q; ^& Q, o( ?Compact SUVs
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Honda CR-V
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#1 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda CR-V:3 C! k7 x+ I9 {
- #1 Ranked for safety on the list
- #1 Ranked for quality on the list
- #1 Ranked for Expert Review on the list
- One of the top 3 ranked for gas milage
Reasons not to buy the Honda CR-V:5 r' L3 I1 ]: V7 P7 [
- 10th ranked on the list for cost
- Can get the Hyundai Tucson for around $4,000 less
See reviews for this model4 o; g+ j$ p4 [% X6 R1 L
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Hyundai Tucson
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. T% }9 A8 }+ c$ H" |/ O/ k | #2 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Hyundai Tucson:" p. X2 \- u; A3 j
0 s3 O9 g) z: @% D3 S- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- One of top 3 ranked for price on the list
Reasons not to buy the Hyundai Tucson:3 V8 G8 O" O/ W& U9 h: v
- has lower horsepower compared to rest
- want the #1 rated Honda CR-v
See reviews for this model
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Toyota RAV4
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| #3 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Toyota RAV4:; B2 g6 Z. P1 Z1 J/ O7 r* v
9 z0 s" S$ N7 j, ^/ }4 V8 K- #1 ranked fuel economy on the list
- runner up next to Honda CR-V for quality
- runner up for expert review
- #1 ranked for value on the list
- Agile and economical
Reasons not to buy the Toyota RAV4:
. y! E/ k2 G$ L- want the Honda CR-V
- low horsepower rating
See reviews for this model
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Jeep Patriot + O9 C. q" _! ^$ r/ n; V$ R( ^
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| #4 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Patriot:
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( z6 H D7 j9 E* t+ I- #1 ranked for gas mileage
- #1 ranked for price
- One of the top ten for safety
- good off road capability
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Patriot:
* \. H. U& x7 V/ _, J1 e- Cab is pretty noisy
- comes standard with just a one cd system
- small fuel tank
- not a great deal of cargo space in rear
See reviews for this model) m. G6 ]# P9 X0 F1 C7 S# d
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Saturn Vue
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| #5 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Saturn Vue:
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- Great Gas Mileage
- Onstar feature
- quiet engine
- Ranked #4 on the list for price
- Good horsepower
Reasons not to buy the Saturn Vue:" {5 S v8 w z! t5 f W. H% s
- low rank under total value
- could get the Hyundai Tucson cheaper
See reviews for this model" u. n. [: s: ~& c$ Y6 o
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Kia Sportage
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| #6 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sportage:" H" f- i1 H% u3 w
1 z: b: t8 L$ ^" E: w- runner up for best price behind the Jeep Patriot
- decent gas mileage
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sportage:& R* _9 q; ~2 d, ?* b% P
- low ranking horsepower
- want the Jeep Patriot
See reviews for this model
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Subaru Forester
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- o n' G, x) J; m. e+ b- N& [+ \ | #7 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Subaru Forester:
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r+ h. c9 j k2 N% n- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- #3 ranked for value on list
- decent gas mileage
Reasons not to buy the Subaru Forester:! ?5 H8 _1 s0 H
- No Acceleration
- road noise
- lack of leg room in rear
See reviews for this model' x1 W' ~5 F% r6 C$ f. K f' x+ q
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Kia Sorento7 T E# T' Q* \
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# a# w8 L# y9 T! s8 a! L' \ | #8 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sorento:
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. V) r/ W8 z+ K, d5 Y& ]5 S: o( n- #1 ranked horsepower on list
- Value
- exterior and interior styling
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sorento: `" M \4 `; c" K# I+ k6 f. i
- low rank for gas mileage
- low towing ability
See reviews for this model
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Honda Element
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| #9 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda Element:
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1 @ Q2 R) G, e, p, A- good gas mileage
- interior space
- Lots of leg room for front and back passengers
Reasons not to buy the Honda Element:
" z% }) W7 G$ O8 ^) N- b( z- some road noise
- low horsepower
See reviews for this model5 L7 b) e1 d' g' V0 ^( k0 o. U
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Suzuki Grand Vitara 9 M' J/ l+ u! p9 G# B; O
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| #10 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:7 f2 o5 @ g" r$ b Z
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- smooth ride
- decent pricing
- average rank in safety
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:- p( i |( t* n
- ranked low on gas mileage
- sluggish acceleration
See reviews for this model: e$ n$ j6 w7 {- U7 r
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Ford Freestyle 0 b0 s$ f$ v, k
* t: Z |6 c& i6 d/ z | #11 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Freestyle:2 X: G; C; a$ l$ ?7 d0 S
" @3 Y& _! v+ \, K E$ ^8 k- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- decent power balance
- car-like ride
Reasons not to buy the Ford Freestyle: r# `$ E6 i/ I9 }9 x8 G
- high priced
- low ranked in value
- could improve in gas mileage
See reviews for this model/ I; F& R! S! q8 O
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Pontiac Torrent ( V. s% v, B: C( B; f0 X; E
% a9 Y2 x: Y) s: ~2 l d% s; q5 J | #12 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Pontiac Torrent:
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( c2 F/ ^4 Y+ `# ^5 i* L# d+ D" L- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- Good overall value for the price
- Nice interior
Reasons not to buy the Pontiac Torrent:
9 @! L# X+ u H3 E3 l# N2 D$ l- ranked low for price
- can do better for fuel economy
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Jeep Wrangler
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8 S2 g- `; a7 ~" Y3 Q | #13 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Wrangler:
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- #1 ranked in value on the list
- high ranked in quality on the list
- good priced
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Wrangler:# u$ T9 \# Q& M
- gas mileage not good
- scored low in safety
- road noise
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Mazda CX-7
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| #14 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mazda CX-7:
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- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- #3 ranked in expert review
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Mazda CX-7:4 ]0 g* t0 U" `7 w4 B$ M" Y
- could do better in gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
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BMW X3
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| #15 Editor's PickReasons to buy the BMW X3:7 M) @* N0 C7 ^$ L! j
+ Z( m$ W: M6 G6 s7 C- y, M* I- great horsepower
- very good value
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the BMW X3:( {* X$ G2 e8 V, B
- low ranking for safety
- could do better in gas mileage
- #22 ranked for price
See reviews for this model4 x4 m8 p1 T5 N5 i6 Z5 ]8 g" [
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Suzuki XL7 ; D! e3 y, n) o' ?8 R3 q
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| #16 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki XL7:
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- #3 ranked for horsepower
- Smooth V6
- exterior look
- controls easy to use
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki XL7:
+ L. t0 [. B. |& y& d6 [- G0 P- low ranked in value
- low ranked in price
- can do better in gas mileage
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Acura RDX
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| #17 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Acura RDX:4 O+ V* x" Q# r7 F( g4 e& u& F+ G
( X! v) U$ |' R, Y, }- l- #3 ranked in value
- #6 ranked in horsepower
- luxurious interior
Reasons not to buy the Acura RDX:
3 m* a4 |- Z: C( b4 T4 R* R- Scored low in safety
- can do better in gas mileage
- extremely sluggish off the line
See reviews for this model/ `2 m4 d C" ?
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Chevrolet Equinox
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! \+ b8 g+ S( _, T$ Q" D! s | #18 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:) n; A8 H# Y4 A s8 V% X
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- smooth ride
- exterior styling is nice
- has decent interior space
Reasons not to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:
! y, Q5 P& J1 _9 L/ W! Z) x" |- cheap interior look
- can do better on gas
See reviews for this model
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Mitsubishi Outlander & \5 h8 W- M) ~# R
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| #19 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:! ?. A- Y k4 k& p: S; B) ~& ?
' }8 g7 |+ F# Q- #3 ranked in value
- has decent horsepower
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:4 i5 B: z# j* }: _, A
- low safety score
- can do better on gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
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Ford Escape
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; Z2 b4 a* o% H1 R- B- g | #20 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Escape:! m% e$ Q% c! d5 U; ~' O
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- roomy
- Great mileage
- comfortable ride
- sporty look and feel
Reasons not to buy the Ford Escape:
0 B0 \& U7 N4 [! r: k1 \* W9 ?) i- lacks in horsepower
- scored low in value
- can do better in safety area
- road noise
See reviews for this model" R' e, @, x, r4 n4 g
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Jeep Liberty
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| #21 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Liberty:
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! M* q0 R0 z: y0 Y5 m- good low-end torque
- decent cargo compacity
- Rugged, sporty feel
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Liberty:
. @9 Y8 u! L' u( ~& g- can do better in gas mileage
- scored low in safety
- a bit pricy compared to others
See reviews for this model7 {9 L( b% P7 Y6 v2 a2 i
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Mercury Mariner
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| #22 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mercury Mariner:
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- decent quality
- ok on gas mileage
- not too bad on price
Reasons not to buy the Mercury Mariner:9 Q4 b) k# A$ e% Q4 n, g a
- low safety score
- lower ranked on horsepower
- scored low in overall value
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