Recommended List
+ o% k3 J, V) n& l, NCompact SUVs2 N3 z4 m* u v- d% ?: o
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Honda CR-V
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6 n% u" H, m5 G( P2 g#1 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda CR-V:1 _ j% E/ p, w9 l7 J( R
- #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:6 }- u2 [1 _0 ]3 e8 d
- 10th ranked on the list for cost
- Can get the Hyundai Tucson for around $4,000 less
See reviews for this model
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Hyundai Tucson
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| #2 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Hyundai Tucson:. H" W: k& Y% `, F: S t( H
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- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- One of top 3 ranked for price on the list
Reasons not to buy the Hyundai Tucson:1 A- C% j& t- e' R) C
- has lower horsepower compared to rest
- want the #1 rated Honda CR-v
See reviews for this model: k2 K, U6 J$ E* [1 |' k
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Toyota RAV4 ( F# j- Q) U8 Z5 e6 a
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| #3 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Toyota RAV4:' S# r3 P# z1 o8 n7 d/ F$ U1 }
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- #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:
" S" X7 I. J3 [/ N8 U- Q+ p- want the Honda CR-V
- low horsepower rating
See reviews for this model
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Jeep Patriot
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" H: c' a$ x5 C, r) c' X | #4 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Patriot:
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- #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:
0 ]2 ]/ Y Q* b- 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
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Saturn Vue2 w' M; L, o# a5 x$ T a# W
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; z' g- g: ?/ z# N, M$ e% j E | #5 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Saturn Vue:% G1 U8 r8 P: ?. e m) z
& ]3 z" I/ F f- Great Gas Mileage
- Onstar feature
- quiet engine
- Ranked #4 on the list for price
- Good horsepower
Reasons not to buy the Saturn Vue:
! t5 M! b( ~5 t0 b4 O; y: |- low rank under total value
- could get the Hyundai Tucson cheaper
See reviews for this model, M/ W2 i0 }6 ~% {" O
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Kia Sportage
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| #6 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sportage:: G" E5 k% c* A5 B# M3 F0 J* y* k* B
# L4 Y0 q: R9 j! l9 s- runner up for best price behind the Jeep Patriot
- decent gas mileage
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sportage:. F) c# A' y, r0 |# }3 M
- low ranking horsepower
- want the Jeep Patriot
See reviews for this model, Q& K9 S J3 w& l9 m
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Subaru Forester4 i& D2 [$ {0 v! M
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| #7 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Subaru Forester:# A5 T0 t- f3 K/ P- K" g
3 F9 |8 ]+ `7 y# F" w9 t5 {) Y- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- #3 ranked for value on list
- decent gas mileage
Reasons not to buy the Subaru Forester:
- l6 b7 \& {& e$ g. N1 g- No Acceleration
- road noise
- lack of leg room in rear
See reviews for this model
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Kia Sorento
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| #8 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Kia Sorento:- s2 M. u5 Q% M2 d5 } q
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- #1 ranked horsepower on list
- Value
- exterior and interior styling
Reasons not to buy the Kia Sorento:
! \( T5 U3 d' x V+ f6 V f- low rank for gas mileage
- low towing ability
See reviews for this model
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Honda Element* b6 a8 l. W& E3 z: }+ r
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3 N. t" W& E& H | #9 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Honda Element:) F$ o1 K& ^- y- y; I/ z
/ }3 j. O T% c2 F* Z; J: `8 [/ l- good gas mileage
- interior space
- Lots of leg room for front and back passengers
Reasons not to buy the Honda Element:
0 d% I3 ^% T+ m9 l- some road noise
- low horsepower
See reviews for this model
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Suzuki Grand Vitara
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| #10 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:
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- smooth ride
- decent pricing
- average rank in safety
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki Grand Vitara:
# `( b$ i. a& n, R. n; F5 P- ranked low on gas mileage
- sluggish acceleration
See reviews for this model$ B4 ~: K) l7 n6 y. Z
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Ford Freestyle
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: w6 a5 b7 |$ h! w/ B7 v | #11 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Freestyle:
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- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- decent power balance
- car-like ride
Reasons not to buy the Ford Freestyle:/ p. V1 d% K. t
- high priced
- low ranked in value
- could improve in gas mileage
See reviews for this model* I3 H9 L& Y8 d1 r4 N1 N) X
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Pontiac Torrent
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' Y D. l# l" u. ]0 i | #12 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Pontiac Torrent:1 I( n' Y/ A- m/ h: M
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- #1 ranked for safety on the list
- Good overall value for the price
- Nice interior
Reasons not to buy the Pontiac Torrent:6 w+ x) j3 x' z7 [! F3 f
- ranked low for price
- can do better for fuel economy
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Jeep Wrangler
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. v2 d: y& C( X ]( ^ | #13 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Wrangler:3 x8 y, |( g: n
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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:, ?+ p1 R$ K$ m& e" ^
- gas mileage not good
- scored low in safety
- road noise
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Mazda CX-7 ' y* e5 t! t7 {: i6 C+ }
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| #14 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mazda CX-7:" C& }* x$ H, D1 H% H/ Q
( q* V* y+ R4 z" e& s! h; }- #1 ranked in safety on the list
- #3 ranked in expert review
- #3 ranked in value
Reasons not to buy the Mazda CX-7:2 M+ J. K2 Y y7 p
- could do better in gas mileage
- a bit pricy for the quality
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BMW X3 ' c: Z v/ W6 z. E3 T
3 D5 V* Z5 n' p* M, K: q | #15 Editor's PickReasons to buy the BMW X3:
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% l. k5 B& W+ k) H6 S& o- n5 T9 R- great horsepower
- very good value
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the BMW X3:
# @2 n: G6 Y2 v- low ranking for safety
- could do better in gas mileage
- #22 ranked for price
See reviews for this model
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Suzuki XL7 + x0 C7 y3 j8 f: m' g) [8 p2 Q* a
9 k, u* ]/ D# F$ V. |6 |5 B | #16 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Suzuki XL7:
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3 P$ j# `0 L! a6 ~" }8 H- #3 ranked for horsepower
- Smooth V6
- exterior look
- controls easy to use
Reasons not to buy the Suzuki XL7:+ S% M/ @6 P8 a3 B% U
- low ranked in value
- low ranked in price
- can do better in gas mileage
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Acura RDX 1 F: T N9 l$ D/ h5 x
1 b, M- Q' z7 t- B* u# d( j, L | #17 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Acura RDX:
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, s+ t( F7 ?# R( U$ l( \2 h9 I- #3 ranked in value
- #6 ranked in horsepower
- luxurious interior
Reasons not to buy the Acura RDX:
, M) m g! e- d. J* N5 {- Scored low in safety
- can do better in gas mileage
- extremely sluggish off the line
See reviews for this model
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Chevrolet Equinox
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3 ~1 ~# e, \! ~+ A- {' q | #18 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:
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9 ]- J7 b# Q, J9 J; c) H6 g- smooth ride
- exterior styling is nice
- has decent interior space
Reasons not to buy the Chevrolet Equinox:7 z/ h: v4 i0 P; m5 u
- cheap interior look
- can do better on gas
See reviews for this model* _5 A" h9 ]- g6 t, a, q% J& v$ l
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Mitsubishi Outlander $ g3 s7 x" `* {- `+ B: d3 u
6 F' y: k9 n6 W8 a | #19 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:
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- #3 ranked in value
- has decent horsepower
- comfortable
Reasons not to buy the Mitsubishi Outlander:
: T* M* s' P C9 j3 Q- 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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| #20 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Ford Escape:
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1 i0 c& p6 K# X* H0 X- roomy
- Great mileage
- comfortable ride
- sporty look and feel
Reasons not to buy the Ford Escape:
' c# W6 |( [: b2 O- lacks in horsepower
- scored low in value
- can do better in safety area
- road noise
See reviews for this model
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Jeep Liberty O. s4 L! N; q; ?2 q
6 I4 r5 b8 f$ N& F& m/ Y5 C: ~ | #21 Editor's PickReasons to buy the Jeep Liberty:
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/ k0 Q& w, R. T T6 J3 U; G- good low-end torque
- decent cargo compacity
- Rugged, sporty feel
Reasons not to buy the Jeep Liberty:
: ^2 q0 {: Q, f( a- can do better in gas mileage
- scored low in safety
- a bit pricy compared to others
See reviews for this model/ [! }" ~1 M* [& i) y5 T
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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:* s2 I6 M) r/ l* Q0 y2 T
- low safety score
- lower ranked on horsepower
- scored low in overall value
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