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Crossover SUV Comparison

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Comments

  • aviboy97aviboy97 Member Posts: 3,159
    Thank you tidester! This thread has been getting quite polluted lately! I can't take it anymore :sick:
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    Wow! Lots of whine here just in time for the Holidays! Who is bringing the cheese?

    The Accord posts stemmed from some opinions on Honda's sketches vs their actual production designs and that all started from the new sketch of the Pilot. The Pilot certainly belongs in this discussion and the Accord was used as an example of a recent Honda sketch/production design to illustrait a point.

    I you guys can't deal with the fact that there are other vehicles out there that can help some some topics flow along, then by all means please ignore the posts you don't feel right for this thread. Just note that per the top of the page, this thread is about the following:

    Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Veracruz, Honda Pilot, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, Ford Freestyle, Subaru Forester, Car Comparisons, Car Shopping, SUV

    Do we not shop for Accords? Can we not compare other cars here? Methinks there are too many inmates trying to run this asylum! :P

    Good grief. Can we now get back to our all important E85 discussion now!
  • aviboy97aviboy97 Member Posts: 3,159
    The Accord posts stemmed from some opinions on Honda's sketches vs their actual production designs and that all started from the new sketch of the Pilot

    That is not what I was talking about. The conversation continued about the Accord long past once that point was made. Thats the problem.

    I was also being sarcastic. I guess you could not tell. :shades:
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    I was also being sarcastic. I guess you could not tell.

    Well it was not obvious, obviously. Your "sick" emotorcon made it look like you were having a hard time dealing with the situation. ;)

    That is not what I was talking about. The conversation continued about the Accord long past once that point was made. Thats the problem.

    If that's your biggest problem then I want your life! :P
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Also about CRV - CUV. We had discussion early about ugliest CUV in the market = CRV

    Remember your argument about the Acadia being better because it sold more? Apply that here. Honda CR-V = Bestselling Crossover CUV. Apparently there are hundreds of thousands of people who disagree with you.
  • freealfasfreealfas Member Posts: 652
    that doesn't mean they are right, that just means they like it more than others...
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Well, many of the Canadian companies are offering $$ cash back deals due to the now much stronger C$ and the consumer backlash it has created. For those who don't know, we pay about 25-40% more up here for the same vehicle. That being said, the Highlander is coming in with $4k off compared to only $1500 for the Sienna or Camry. This suggests that the market for this brand new model is weaker than expected. I am still very disappointed with the lack of a split 3rd row, but the cash discount makes a lease very attractive right now.
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    Honda CR-V = Bestselling Crossover CUV

    True, but technically speaking, Honda on their own website classifies the CR-V as an SUV not a CUV. I don't think Honda sells a vehicle that they do classify as a CUV right now come to think of it.
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    Ok, You can try to fit your family there. i can't it's too small. By the way if I was for small SUV/CUV, i probably will buy equinox, edge or cx-7.
  • aviboy97aviboy97 Member Posts: 3,159
    Honda on their own website classifies the CR-V as an SUV not a CUV. I don't think Honda sells a vehicle that they do classify as a CUV right now come to think of it.

    That is for marketing purposes. The majority of people out there do not know what a CUV is. Remember, not everyone is as lingo savvy as us Edmunds.com folk. Many think an SUV is an SUV, even if it is not technically called and "SUV". Quite brilliant on Hondas part I must say....
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    That is for marketing purposes. The majority of people out there do not know what a CUV is. Remember, not everyone is as lingo savvy as us Edmunds.com folk.

    Right, but it works both ways. CUV is also a marketing designation so why say something like the CR-V is the best selling CUV when it is actually the best selling SUV? Honda will 100% back me up on that too. :P

    To me an SUV is a vehicle that sits high, has available 4WD, and has station wagon-like proportions inside. A CUV OTOH is a large wagon-like vehicle that give you SUV like capabilites on and, to an extent, off the road but has much larger minivan-like interior proportions and flexibility. Things like the Edge and CX-7 don't seem like CUVs to me even thought they are marketed as such and there is no true definition of a CUV AFAIK.

    I don't think it's brilliant on their part either. They've always called the CR-V and Pilot SUVs so it seems to me they are just reluctant to change that, probably for marketing purposes too. Ford did the same thing with the Escape, as did Mazda with the Tribute, so does that make them brilliant too? What about the Equinox, Torrent, Patriot, etc? All brilliant too?

    Once people catch on to what a CUV is, or is supposed to be, the SUV designation will start to disappear from vehicles like the CR-V and Pilot IMO.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    While not completely off topic, given some CUVs will run on Flex Fuels, a better place for that post would be here:

    pf_flyer, "The Inconvenient Truth About Ethanol" #352, 19 Dec 2007 6:21 am

    In MD's eastern shore they use chicken poop to fertilize the corn crops, and it affects the Chesapeake Bay, big time. Perdue basically owns most of our Eastern Shore, so they have plenty of supply. :sick:
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Problem with the Tahoe/Yukon is very old interior design.

    In my oppinion, the Tahoe has the nicest interior ldesign- so much nicer than Expedition and Sequoia and Armada. True- the third row is nowhere near best, but that's the trade off GM got for rushing ahead these new SUVs over a year. They didn't have enough time to fully develope the independent rear suspension.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The new Expedition interior is a step back from the previous one, IMO.

    The IRS allows for the 3rd row to fold away, though, a big plus compared to Tahoe.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Was at the dealer early this week. I cannot believe the number of Outlooks they have in stock. Rows and rows. When we bought in March, they had, maybe 15 in stock. There had to be at least 50 there now. I'm not sure if that's good or bad for Saturn/GM.

    true- the Saturn sales have slowed down. But it doesn't seem like the Acaida's are doing so. Dealers still bragg about having 15, and are advertising MSRP prices. I've seen only a few sale prices.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    1. 21/22 mpg is with 2WD. 4WD is something like 20/20, good for city, but not highway. Why is that important? Because these are trip cars. Families will go on long trips on the highway, while hybrids thrive in the city. I don't see a lot of Tahoes in urban environments like Washington, DC, they're too big to manuever and park.

    Highway? That's what some midsize SUVs get on the highway. That's only a little less than twhat a CX-9 gets on the highway.And most of the people with these Full sizers live in the suburburbs- which eqauls city driving. 20 in the city almost justifies geting this Tahoe. And what's worng with paying 50g? Some want to spend that much on a full size SUV already. Why not save some gas doing it?

    This Tahoe is a very credible player in the NACOTY race. But it wouldn't take away from CUV sales. People who buy this don't want a CUV. People buying CUVs don't want this.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    What are you leaning toward?
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Glad you're enjoying it. How does the luxury compare to the your old X5?
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    That was me and it was my opinion. No, I'm not crazy and looks are subjective keep in mind. I once thought the new Accord was better looking than the old but then I saw a few on the street. It has a mid-nineties Saturn sedan/George Jetson bubble greenhouse with a flat hood and trunk look to it. At least the old one was proportionate in its ugliness. This new one is ugly and awkward looking IMO.

    I still say the new Accord is so much much more proporrtioned than that awkward old one whose front sloped down like a minivan's. This one isn't ugly, it's just boring.

    That means don't try to be different with the styling like with the CR-V and MDX. Then keep the center stack button count below 5 million of the same shape, same sized buttons. Oh, and don't make me buy the top trim just to get the DVD system.

    Can't say I disagree with you there, but why wouldn't Honda? The CR-V is the best selling SUV/CUV on the road. That's a statemnet about popularity! And the MDX is selling decently to. And having to buy top of the line to get DVD? Yes it's very annoying, but Honda is one of the few brands that tries to keep options simple (however, in this case, I'd rather have a little more complication!).
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Do we not shop for Accords? Can we not compare other cars here?

    No- we are supposed to keep the topics to Midsize CUV related. But a digression here and there can't hurt.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    that doesn't mean they are right, that just means they like it more than others...

    No one said they are right. It's just a better vehicle for them than others.
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    No- we are supposed to keep the topics to Midsize CUV related. But a digression here and there can't hurt.

    Again, this is from the very top of each page of this thread. :P .

    What is this discussion about? Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Veracruz, Honda Pilot, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, Ford Freestyle, Subaru Forester, Car Comparisons, Car Shopping, SUV

    Seems to me we can talk about anything we want here! Eh Steve?
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    And having to buy top of the line to get DVD? Yes it's very annoying, but Honda is one of the few brands that tries to keep options simple

    I can totally understand why they do it, but I don't like their packaging myself. If I have to get a bunch of options I don't want just to get the DVD, which is an absolute requirement now, the Pilot is off the list in a flash. I don't want some tacked on, dealer installed thing either!

    And before you chime in again juice remember that I lease. No aftermarket 60" 1080p plasma for the rear seat passengers in our SUV. :P

    Can't say I disagree with you there, but why wouldn't Honda?

    Oh I think they will style it with some weirdness like the others. I'm starting to think Honda is trying to go as far as they possibly can with the quirky styling so they can see at what point people will stop buying them. They're probalby laughing at us all. IIRC their foreign market vehicles are much more attractive than what we get here. No?
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    What are you leaning toward?

    Based on what's available today and without driving them I'm leaning towards the Veracruz or the Highlander. Once we know more about the Pilot, it'll probably be in the mix.

    But since my wife will be the primary driver we could just wind up with an F350 Super Duty Crew Cab. For some reason, she wants a pickup.
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    But since my wife will be the primary driver we could just wind up with an F350 Super Duty Crew Cab. For some reason, she wants a pickup.

    That's a little more than just a pickup! Have you stood next to one yet? They are pretty intimidating. :surprise:

    Can your wife sit down and have a talk with mine? I would love to have a Super Crew F-150 next time around but she won't have it. That, a minivan, or a Taurus X are the three I keep telling her would be best for our family but she wants something that will make more of a fashion statement. I'll try to convince her until my head explodes though! :shades:
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Seems to me we can talk about anything we want here! Eh Steve?

    I would never mention how versatile my minivan is in here - Tidester would kill me, lol.

    Crossovers covers a wide range of vehicles but few would consider an Accord one of them. The blurb at the top is limited to those eight vehicles because the category boxes max out at eight. We could rotate the vehicles around I suppose. :shades:

    Everyone in here seems to be enjoying themselves and that's a good thing -- limiting the subject matter a little helps make the discussion relevant to the people searching for info. There are lots of shoppers reading the info you all are posting.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    There are lots of shoppers reading the info you all are posting.

    Yes, and they just found out that the Tidester is a grinch. Thanks a lot, Steve! ;)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    Yes, and they just found out that the Tidester is a grinch. Thanks a lot, Steve!

    I thought I saw that stated somewhere on the Edmunds home page, no? :P

    I realize this is not a place to discuss certain vehicles. I was just trying to get some people to loosen up. The Accord stuff wasn't even that far off topic nor was it a very long discussion and we are all well aware that you hosts will intervene if things get out of hand. We certainly don't need forum members policing these threads. God help us if that happens! :surprise:
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    Has anyone have test drive or own this car?
    What will people buy Suzuki XL7 or Mitsubishi Outlander?
    I see these vehicles same, look same, size.
    I was checked XL7 back when I was looking to buy, but didn't test drive.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    We certainly don't need forum members policing these threads

    Au contraire, the members here do a great job of keeping themselves on track. Refereeing just isn't needed that often around here, leaving me plenty of time to bug my co-host, lol.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    what's worng with paying 50g?

    Whatever floats your boat, I suppose. To me, 50 large is enough budget for 2 good cars. Enclave and Malibu. Tribeca and Miata. Escape Hybrid and, well, you get the point.

    The Tahoe hybrid can do it all, if you really need all that capability, but my fleet average fuel economy will be a lot higher when you average the mileage of the big car and the little car. Plus, it's double the fun. ;)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    And before you chime in again juice remember that I lease. No aftermarket 60" 1080p plasma for the rear seat passengers in our SUV.

    DOH!

    But...I mean...aw shucks!

    *cough*
    Circuit City has an 8" on sale for $499 installed.
    *cough*

    :D
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    Circuit City has an 8" on sale for $499 installed.

    Not bad. But will they integrate that unit into your factory audio system giving you 5.1 channel surround sound and the ability to control the DVD player with your factory head unit? We can also listen to the radio up front while the kids listen to the movie on headphones in the back if we want as well.

    Now, the DVD system was a $1,295 option on our Ford but it does do a nice job of making everyone happy on long or semi-long trips. Whether the extra functionality is worth $800 to you is the big question.

    For some reason the same Ford DVD system we have in our Explorer is only a $995 option on the Taurus X. That's a pretty good deal IMO.
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    "Once people catch on to what a CUV is, or is supposed to be, the SUV designation will start to disappear from vehicles like the CR-V and Pilot IMO."

    Wow, back to definitions again in this forum.

    TRADITIONALLY, an SUV is generally platform that was custom designed as a sport utility vehicle. Traditionally they are based on a "truck" like constuction. Some people feel that the definition should be expanded to those vehicles that were designed to be more car-like in ride, with less "pure off-road" features.

    A CUV is a vehicle that was derived from an existing car platform. Thus the Escape is a CUV (based on a Mazda platform) and the CR-V is a CUV (based on the Civic platform). The Ford Explorer is an SUV - it is based on itself. The Jeep vehicles are all SUV, I believe. I'm not quite sure where the Lamda fits in, it depends upon where GM got the underpinnings.

    An SUV is comfortable off-road; the CUV is not really intended for any kind of serious off-road time.

    The car companies can call their vehicles what they wish, it being a free country and all, but there is a difference in the durability of vehicles custom designed as SUVs and those which are derived from passenger vehicles.
  • chuckhoychuckhoy Member Posts: 420
    I always thought the CUV designation was made up to pander to people who feel stigmitized driving a vehicle as un-PC as a SUV. You know the "what will my vegan friends think if I showed up to the save-the-Earth concert in my Explorer" crowd.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    No for the integrated controls, though it comes with a remote, which is arguably closer than the reach to the factory stereo.

    Yes to the headphones, mine came with two and has a port for a wired headphone if we need a 3rd.

    It also plays on an FM frequency and has an audio output which you can wire to the aux input of the factory head unit if your vehicle has one. Come to think of it I should go back there and have them hard wire it that way.

    $995 is not bad, that would be worth it. $1295 it depends, I guess. Often it's a $2000 option, though. This is a real cash cow for automakers right now.

    I guess on a lease you're only paying the depreciation on that amount, so OE makes sense.

    For leases, no, but for purchases aftermarket makes a lot of sense. 1/2 to 1/4 the price, basically.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Ok, You can try to fit your family there. i can't it's too small.

    I can.

    We did.

    I'm 6'4", my dad's 6'3", and my mom is 5'5" but not a small lady. We took countless family trips in our CR-V that included my grandmother as well. Plenty of room for a 5 day trip.

    When we needed more room, we took our van, which was much more practical for fitting our family than these CUVs are, since we didn't need lots of ground clearance or AWD.

    You must have a big family. I thought I was tall!
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    The XL-7 had a cheap feel inside, much like the Equinox (aren't they on a similar platform, as a matter of fact?). I wouldn't deem it worth my time to test drive.

    Suzuki's own SX-4 felt much better built inside.
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    An SUV is comfortable off-road; the CUV is not really intended for any kind of serious off-road time.

    The car companies can call their vehicles what they wish, it being a free country and all, but there is a difference in the durability of vehicles custom designed as SUVs and those which are derived from passenger vehicles.


    I agree Steve. However, as I've said before, there is no true definition of either an SUV or CUV. Therefore we should go by what the mfr tells us the vehicle they spend billions on is. At least that's how I view it and for once I'm probably in line with the general public. :surprise:
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    No for the integrated controls, though it comes with a remote, which is arguably closer than the reach to the factory stereo.

    The Ford system comes with a remote too that even glows in the dark! I just figured they all came with one of those so I didn't mention it. It also has a port for a third wired set of headphones and video inputs for another DVD player or gaming system. I think you can listen to the radio on it through the headphones and I know you can play CDs in it all separate from what we get up front. But my details are hazy on how all of that works because we don't really use those features.

    IIRC GM is charging $2000 for theirs but they have one that you can remove the screen and player to make it a portable DVD player. Pretty cool! But the way my kids treat their portable player, I would not want them touching that one. It's OK when the thing cost $100 but $2000? Forget it! It stays in the truck! :shades:
  • nxs138nxs138 Member Posts: 481
    $995 is not bad, that would be worth it. $1295 it depends, I guess. Often it's a $2000 option, though. This is a real cash cow for automakers right now.

    What's amazing is that most people consider $995 "acceptable" for an in-car DVD player. To put it in perspective, I can buy a 42" Plasma TV for $999 at Costco. Heck, I can buy two 32" LCD TVs for $499 each ($998 total)!

    So you're right, even at $995, it's an absolute cash cow for automakers. I was leaning in getting one in my new CUV (whatever I decide to buy), but came to my senses. Instead, I will buy a 42" plasma screen and wire it into the car! YEE-HAW!
    (I'm kidding).
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Cool, ours has that video input too.

    My digital camera can send the images directly to that screen, and we can see a slide show. Pretty neat.

    Not sure if I like the removeable screen. In fact we got it built-in because of fear of theft. Your point about it being fragile is also valid.

    nxs138: we got a 42" HD LCD at WalMart for around $950. I mean, Santa's making one for us. ;)

    However, keep in mind the vehicles include a DVD player as well. Plus they are built for cold weather and to handle the bumps a car drives over. Plus integrated controls on the stereo, etc.

    That's why I think $995 is fair. At $2 grand they are laughing all the way to the bank.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    And before you chime in again juice remember that I lease. No aftermarket 60" 1080p plasma for the rear seat passengers in our SUV.

    Ugh-I hate aftermarket electronics. They kill resale value. But- there are some stores that offer lease packages. They install it, and put it all beck when it's time to turn your car in.

    Oh I think they will style it with some weirdness like the others. I'm starting to think Honda is trying to go as far as they possibly can with the quirky styling so they can see at what point people will stop buying them. They're probalby laughing at us all. IIRC their foreign market vehicles are much more attractive than what we get here. No?

    Hey! Some people like that styling! (though I'm not one of them, everyone has thier oppinions). This is certainly better than the old days when Honda was plain and boring.
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    Here's a pic of the Ford DVD system found in all their CUVs and SUVs, and even the Taurus sedan. This particular pic is from the interior of the Edge. I think this is one of the best OE systems out there right now. It's probably not the best screen or even the largest screen, but it is feature packed and very good from a useability standpoint.

    image
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    Ok. My cousin had one of previous model CRV , and twe took 200 miles trip (all together comes to 450 miles), 5 people inside. I thought at end of trip my head will exploded. This car has high road noise inside. After this trip, I decided, that I will never buy like that car. It has much better solution for space, no noise inside and fuel economy VW wagon or Ford Taurus X.
    I don't really big family, but 3 kids . You can try put 2 car seats on 2nd row and sit there as a 3 rd person. It's almost impossible.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    All five passenger vehicles generally put a level of discomfort on the person in the middle of the 2nd row bench. Not good for long trips. No disagreement from me there. A family of five would definitely be "close" in a five-passenger vehicle, no doubt, and no argument from me there.

    Many many people want the utility of an SUV/CUV (high seating position, cargo space) but don't really need lots of space or tons of power for hauling people, heavy duty cargo, or trailers. For those people (and apparently there are lots of them) a vehicle like a RAV4, a Honda CR-V, or a Nissan Rogue is great. They get good fuel economy, have enough power to haul four people and not get you run over, and have enough luggage space for vacation trips, or trips to the Home Depot. They are very versatile vehicles, priced from $20k. I wouldn't expect a $20k vehicle to be as quiet or luxurious as a Buick Enclave. Apparently, neither do their owners.
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    "Many many people want the utility of an SUV/CUV (high seating position, cargo space) but don't really need lots of space or tons of power for hauling people, heavy duty cargo, or trailers. For those people (and apparently there are lots of them) a vehicle like a RAV4, a Honda CR-V, or a Nissan Rogue is great"

    I agree. But if you heard the Audi A4 wagon most "desirable to buy" vehicle from wagons. So, the price bites. New VW small SUV is coming next year, I heard it will be about 20K starting price.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    That's a little more than just a pickup! Have you stood next to one yet? They are pretty intimidating.

    She's a gardener and often takes the Odyssey off road into construction sites where she collects large rocks and boulders for gardens and walls. She gets permission to do so and even manages to convince the workers to load them into the van. Of course, I get to unload them at home.

    I joke about it with her and sometimes she gets this gleam in her eye....I'm just afraid she'll start needed front end loaders to get the rocks in and out if she gets a pickup.
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    New VW small SUV is coming next year, I heard it will be about 20K starting price.

    FWIW both MT and C&D estimate the base price for a Tiguan will be $24k-$25k. That's way too steep for a small SUV IMO. Especially when I can walk down the street any day of the week and hear a VW coming for miles because the engine is making unengine-like noises.

    Too bad, because they make nice looking vehicles inside and out and would be worth the premium if it weren't for their shotty engines. :sick:
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    I'm just afraid she'll start needed front end loaders to get the rocks in and out if she gets a pickup.

    Well a front loader would pair well with an F-350. ;)
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