These are decent utility vehicles for single vehicle families with small kids and single people. All have decent space, but do not offer great gas mileage for their size, just better than larger SUVs. Can be taken off road, but are designed mainly for on road use. Smallness of these vehicles makes for a rather choppy ride. Regular gas. 4 wheel drive versions are great for snow covered states.
Toyota RAV4 - Probably the most ideal all around vehicle today. Car based. Excellent reliability and decent gas mileage (30 mpg on the highway), but has grown to almost midsize. Biggest advance is that it has a rear bumper now. Very high quality and reliability. Larger than the Honda CRV. Optional useless 3rd seat. Rear view is limited due to spare tire on back door. 4 or 6 cyl, front or 4 wheel drive. Get the 4 cyl unless you have to tow trailers.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 4 - Swallows large household items 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Honda CRV - Car based vehicle. Not as tippy as some other SUVs. Larger with more interior room than most small SUVs. View out back is somewhat blocked by rear seat head rests. Very high reliability and competence. Luxury takes back seat to utility. 4 cyl with front or 4 wheel drive.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 4 - Swallows large household items 2 - Can tow a small trailer - 4X7 Uhaul/motorcycle/jet ski trailer 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Nissan Rogue - Car based vehicle - specifically the Nissan Sentra. Not as tippy as some other SUVs. Larger with more interior room than most small SUVs. View out back is better than RAV4 or CRV. Very high reliability and competence. Luxury takes back seat to utility. 4 cyl with front or 4 wheel drive.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 4 - Swallows large household items 2 - Can tow a small trailer - 4X7 Uhaul/motorcycle/jet ski trailer 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Subaru Forester - Difficult to call this vehicle an SUV, since it is closer to a station wagon with a tall roofline than an SUV. More room than the Legacy Wagon, but same platform and drivetrain. And same excellent reliability, although the interior is a little plasticy. 4 cyl, 4 wheel drive. Excellent choice for snow covered states. High performance versions require premium gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 4 - Swallows large household items 2 - Can tow a small trailer - 4X7 Uhaul/motorcycle/jet ski trailer 2 - Hauls large boxes, but you have to fit them into the trunk 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Acura RDX - Car based vehicle. Excellent reliability. Gas mileage is decent but requires premium gas. More sporty and luxurious than other small, SUVs. And more costly. 4 cyl turbocharged engine. Four wheel drive.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 4 - Swallows large household items 2 - Can tow a small trailer - 4X7 Uhaul/motorcycle/jet ski trailer 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 4 - Performs well in emergency maneuvers
Mercury Mariner - Same vehicle and Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape, but seems to be better built than those two (but far less reliable and worse value depreciation than Honda, Toyota, and Subaru competitors). Car based vehicle, front or 4 wheel drive. 6 cyl engine is better than the 4 cyl that the Escape and Tribute come standard with. Gas mileage is not that good, but the vehicle is quite competent and strong. Tows 3500 lb with 6 cyl engine. Better choice than other small American SUVs. Hybrid electric version is NOT recommended.
2 - Can keep up with traffic pretty well 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 2 - Good for low initial price/short term ownership/low miles 4 - Swallows large household items 3 - Can tow up to 3500 lb - outboard boat or loaded 5X8 UHaul 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 2 - Can get out of its own way
Scion xB - Car based vehicle. More like a small utility wagon with a high roof, but for its outward size, it has tremendous interior space. Very high reliability and competence. Luxury takes back seat to utility. Price is low and nonnegotiable. Uses the Camry 4 cyl with front wheel drive so power is good, but gas mileage is less than the Nissan Cube gets.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 4 - Swallows large household items 1 - Don't do it 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Nissan Cube - Car based vehicle. More like a small utility wagon with a high roof, but for its outward size, it has tremendous interior space. Very high reliability and competence. Luxury takes back seat to utility. Price is low compared to larger competition. Uses the Versa 4 cyl with front wheel drive so power is somewhat slow, but gas mileage is better than the Scion xB gets.
2 - Can keep up with traffic pretty well 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 4 - 25 to 29 mpg on regular or 28 to 32 on premium fuel 3 - Seats 4, okay for around town, a little crowded for trips 4 - Very good vehicle 4 - Swallows large household items 1 - Don't do it 3 - Easy to load and handles TVs and lawnmowers easily 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
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