Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options

Crossover SUV Comparison

19192949697142

Comments

  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Me too...and if you had the Acadia and TX both with their 3rd rows up, you'd get equal or more stuff behind the 3rd row of the TX. Based on your comments, it doesn't sound like you've ever looked behind the 3rd row of a TX to understand what I'm talking about. There's the space under the 3rd row, plus the well behind the 3rd row. But it's easier just to find some photos online then explain it in text.

    Yes, but you can't put much under the third row. So not much use to that space, I would have more cargo space behicd the Acadia.
  • bobw3bobw3 Member Posts: 2,989
    Yes, but you can't put much under the third row. So not much use to that space, I would have more cargo space behicd the Acadia.

    Again, there's a small amount of space under the 3rd row, but unlike the Acadia and most CUVs, the floor of the cargo space behind the 3rd row of the TX isn't level with the liftgate, but it's lower like in a minivan when its 3rd row is up. Like I said, you'd have to look at a photo or see it in person. But the 3rd row well is different than the space under the 3rd row. It's because the 3rd row of the TX folds backwards, not forward...again, unique to the TX.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Thank you for a great post, and for telling it like it is.

    All crossovers are station wagons!

    Well said!

    PS We own a true-blue station wagon (Legacy, and no not the Outback that pretends not to be) and the dreaded M-word
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Ladies and Gentlemen, the boxing match you've all been waiting for!

    In one corner, Freewagons, with a large cargo area that clearly categorizes the Freestyle as an HD pickup truck. This middleweight squeezed his way in to the heavy weight division by piling up bags of coins in his cargo area. His strategy is throwing punches in continuously variable intervals (i.e. trash talking), he's hoping to outlast his opponent, who tends to eat too much to fuel up for a fight.

    In the other corner, the challenger, Allwagons, with the "Your wagon is a wagon, My wagon is not" motto. After spending some time in the Minivan segment, oops, sorry, I mean in Sumo Wrestling, he's moved to boxing to steal the belt away from he views as "just a Taurus wagon". His strategy is to drive over, i.e. sit on top of, his opponent, which he can accomplish with the long legs (ground clearance) he enjoys from his cross-dressing SUV (per C&D).

    The fight will go for 12 rounds, may the best Wagon win.

    Anyone want some popcorn?

    image

    PS Any similarity is names is purely coincidental. The names of guilty parties were changed to protect the innocent.
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    Hey bob just cool down. No one on this forum want to say that TX small wagon/CUV. It just a numbers are saying different what you do think.
    TX GMC
    Behind first row 85.5 116.9 cu ft
    Behind second row 47 68.9 cu ft
    Behind third row 15.8 25.5 cu ft.
    Plus don't forget about hip room. It's important, what kind support you have for your hip. It can be add to leg room.
    Also, do u know Acadia has more cargo space then Tahoe. is it surprised you ?
    Anyway, i'm glad you're buying american car. Keep economy rolling.
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    Thanks for make me smiled.

    Have a good day too!!!!
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Also, do u know Acadia has more cargo space then Tahoe. is it surprised you ?
    Anyway, i'm glad you're buying american car. Keep economy rolling.


    That's the joy of a unibody platform as opposed to a truck platform, which restricts space. :) That's what allows the Honda Ridgeline to have an in-bed trunk, also.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Exactly, trucks are NOT space efficient.

    If anything, car-based is far more space efficient.

    Being big inside doesn't make something more trucky, or more of a crossover.

    How did legroom become a criteria for vehicle categorization?

    Legroom, headroom, and cargo room determine SIZE. Small, medium, large.

    Not TYPE. Sedan, wagon, miniOOPS I'm not supposed to say that. :D
  • bobw3bobw3 Member Posts: 2,989
    I'm just trying to point out inaccuracies in posts I see. I said in several posts that I don't care what label is put on the FS/TX. I'm more interested in capability.

    BTW...do you have the URL for those figures? I've seen webpages that show 21CuFt for the Freestyle and 19 CuFt for the lambdas, so if they're not equal, they're pretty darn close. And if people keep bringing up hip and shoulder room numbers, I'll keep repeating that if you're carrying 2 folks in each row then those figures don't mean as much as legroom.

    All I said is that for 2 adults in each row, the TX will give you about the same passenger comfort levels and cargo space (behind the 3rd row) as the Acadia. Other than a lot of popcorn throwing ;) nothing anyone else has said proves otherwise. I'm trying to be specific.

    You're right in that the Acadia has a lot more space with all of the seats folded, but that really has nothing to do with my point about carrying people in all of the rows and cargo.
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    For Acadia: http://www.gmc.com/acadia/acadia/specsDimension.jsp
    click on interior dimensions drop off .
    For Ford : http://www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/taurusx/features/specs/
    Click on view all.
    I don't know if TX will have same comfort for passangers with smaller hip support. For short it's ok, but long trips I think it will give some discomfort compare larger hip support from Acadia (bench).
  • tencjeddtencjedd Member Posts: 44
    if it walks like a duck, acts like a duck, quacks like a duck

    Not true. The Touareg has SUV towing and gas mileage. SUV, right? Nope. CUV. The TX might walk and quack like a duck, but it doesn't act like one. No high ground clearance. But that doesn'tmatter. The TX has other virtues. being SUV like isn't one of them.


    Which brings us to a great point, relating to facts...the true difference between SUV and CUV really comes down to body on frame vs. unibody. Unibody construction will always handle better than body on frame. Try test driving the Touareg vs. a Nissan Pathfinder or Toyota 4Runner. Once you've gone unibody, you'll never go back!
  • saabturboidsaabturboid Member Posts: 178
    I've enjoyed reading all of the arguments here and feel compelled to throw in my two Lincolns. First, lets set this straight..all of the vehicles discussed here are CUVs. They are all also station wagons. CUV is just the modern politically correct term for a station wagon. There is no category difference between a Ford FS/TX and a GMC Acadia and its brethren. Please let it go.

    The only legitimate difference I've seen mentioned here as a criteria to differentiate between the two is ground clearance. Wow, so the Acadia has 1" or 2" more. It might help on a boulder strewn logging road (how often do you drive on those?), but conversely lower ground clearance offers ease of entry and egress, and physics proves that a lower center of gravity helps handling.

    All of the vehicles discussed here are unibody in construction, have three rows, can be had in FWD and AWD configurations, have four doors and a hatch, and I believe if I'm not mistaken they may even all have cupholders. Therefore I declare they are all Crossover Utility Station Wagons and shall henceforth be known as CUSWs!

    - Chad
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    You're wrong. Acadia (real CUV/SUV) has flat floor behind first row, where TX (wagon, like a car) has not.
    So probably all CUV should have flat floor, that can one of most distinguish between wagon and CUV. The CUV should be combining some parts of sedan, van and SUV.
    So, TX has missed part of the SUV and van, it has car like elements.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Let's see, the Taurus X has seating for 7, AWD, and a tall seating position. Looks like a Crossover to me using your own criteria.

    Vad, I don't understand why you continuously try and say that the Acadia is the one true CUV and that none of that others are. You started with the CX-9 saying it wasn't, and now are on the Taurus X.

    How about we let the hosts make that decision. Otherwise, making your own classifications of these vehicles doesn't help progress the discussion or provide new information.

    Telling things such as the design of the load floor is helpful. Telling people they shouldn't discuss it here because it doesn't meet your own criteria (but is clearly a valid vehicle in the thread - even included in the "Learn More" section provided by Edmunds on the right side of this page) is just worthless.
  • allison5allison5 Member Posts: 130
    on which SUV to get. These forums are ADDICTING but fun!!!! Anyway yes I have driven the Acadia once but will probably go drive it again. It drives very nicely!!! I really like it!! I think I could feel the downshift or whatever but it was not bad at all. I think I will just try and not worry about these issues that people have posted. I realize that their are always going to be postings of different makes and their problems. I also drove a Acura MDX, liked this a lot too but I think it is just too expensive, without as much room.
  • freealfasfreealfas Member Posts: 652
    "Therefore I declare they are all Crossover Utility Station Wagons and shall henceforth be known as CUSWs"

    for the WIN
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    You're wrong. Acadia (real CUV/SUV) has flat floor behind first row, where TX (wagon, like a car) has not.

    Actually, a flat floor behind the first row is the hallmark of a minivan!
  • nxs138nxs138 Member Posts: 481
    As long as you stay away from a 2007 Acadia, you're fine . You'll still get some transmission quirkiness with the 2008 models, but if you're the type of person that doesn't obsess over things like that, it shouldn't bother you (as for me, I do obsess, and as a result I still haven't bought a new CUV!) I really liked the Acadia, just wished it had maybe 30 more HP.

    In order to please some people in the forum, you should go test drive a Taurus-X and report on your driving experience. That way we'll have lots more to argue about, ha-ha!
  • humblecoderhumblecoder Member Posts: 125
    I originally posted this in the "Minivans vs SUVs" forum, but it somehow seems appropriate here (just replace Minivan with Wagon!):

    Transcript of a secret meeting of the marketing execs of an unnamed auto maker:

    Big Cheese: Folks, things are getting desperate here. Sales of our minivans have dropped by 250% over the last year. What is going on?

    Little Cheese: Well, boss, you see, there is a big consumer backlash against the moniker "minivan". It used to be that minivan said "practical", "sensible", and "trendy in that 'I-am-so-secure-that-I-dont-need-to-use-my-car-to-prove-my-coolness' way". However, now people associate them with "soccer moms" and "suburban ennui". People just don't want to buy them anymore.

    Big Cheese: So what can we do? We are losing sales to all of those big old 4x4 off-roaders! Please tell me that you have a plan to win back customers!

    Little Cheese: Well, boss, the first thing that we have to do is to get rid of the name "minivan" and replace it with something more cool.

    Big Cheese: Hmmm... interesting... What do you suggest?

    Little Cheese: Well, since SUV's are all the rage, let's one-up those SUV's with something even cooler of our own.

    Big Cheese: Interesting. Keep going.

    Little Cheese: First, we will wipe the name "minivan" from our consciousness and replace it with "CUV"... CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE. It conjures up images of those rugged SUV's going through the mud and all, but it adds a little twist.

    Big Cheese: That's it? People won't be fooled by a name change if we are still selling the same looking vehicle.

    Little Cheese: You are right, of course. That's why we need to make some cosmetic changes. The sliding door is out. Sliding doors just scream minivan. Instead, we will replace it with a standard swinging door that you find on your SUV.

    Big Cheese: Keep going....

    Little Cheese: Next, we will raise the roof a little bit to give it a more aggressive, rugged profile. Maybe we will even throw in some bigger tires just to enhance the effect. Of course, we can't raise the roof too much overwise we might scare off the safety and gas mileage buyers. Finally, we will offer a twist on the four wheel drive called "All Wheel Drive". It won't be enough for actual offroading, but people will get that warm and fuzzy feeling that maybe they could run through the mud every once in awhile, even if they never end up doing it in practice.

    Big Cheese: You are a fricking genius. We will rebrand the minivan as a CUV, and make some minor changes just to convince people that we did more than change the name, and viola... instant sales!
  • vad1819vad1819 Member Posts: 309
    If you read my post, I have poited, that CUV is a something middle between sedan, suv and van. That's my point TX is missed some elements of those cars.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Okay- it mght not get a lot of Acura tech toys, but I'd bet my house it won't be as large as the Acadia. At most, it will proabably grow 5-6 inches to 194 in length. I don't think those who boght a current Pilot want one much larger. Can't wait to see it.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Not behind the 3rd row, which is the important one to me when using all 3 rows for people.

    There's not much you can put in that under row 3 well. And you have to reach under to get it out.

    I'm sure you're not talking about the TX, as it's 199 in.

    Shorter in hieght! It's actually 201 inches, which is the exact length of the Taurus.

    And there is nothing the FS/TX has that a CUV doesn't have. A CUV has many definitions, one of which is a cross between car, minivan and SUV, not just a downsized SUV.

    It doesn't have SUV ground clearance, or SUV ride height.

    But who cares what the label is...but if you're going to call the TX a station wagon, name me one other station wagon that can hold 7 adults and luggage?

    I can give you 6- the Pacifica- but that would be a sqeeze. It really shouldn't matter what the TX is classified as. The TX's virtue isn't in any SUV like qualities, but in other things, like car like ride, and the ability to seat 7 decently comfortably.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    How is the TX less space efficient. Effeciency means making the most out of the usable space. In other words, being the biggest on the inside in comparison to the exterior dimensions. Just being big all over does make a vehicle efficient.

    Fords are known for having signifigcantly narrower interior dimensions compared to those of their exterior. This is so with the 500, too.

    Correction...more width but less legroom.

    Maybe in inches, but more comfortably.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    If you look, the amount of ground clearance varies quite a bit amongst CUV's. At "carlike" you'd disqualify more than TX.

    The only ones I can think of are deceased (Pacifica/Rendezvous).
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    That's my point TX is missed some elements of those cars.

    Such as?

    SUV:
    The Taurus X has higher seating than a conventional car. The Taurus has AWD.

    Minivan:
    The Taurus X seats seven comfortably.

    Sedan:
    The Taurus X has better fuel economy than minivans such as the Honda Odyssey, while delivering more power and torque.

    Styling is pretty much subjective, so there's not really any point in arguing that.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    A lot of posts, but the bottom line is that even if the FS/TX isn't quite as big or has quite as much ground clearance as some of the other CUVs, it can't be dismissed as not being a competitor. Compared to the Acadia the TX is smaller. Compared to a Veracruz or Highlander, the TX is bigger. If size is all that matters, then if you're going to dismiss the TX, then also dismiss the Highlander, Veracruz, Pilot, CX-9, and any other CUV that doesn't match up, but then what is there to talk about

    As I've been sayign for a while, just becuase the TX is a wagon- or a CUV- or a minivan with regular doors, this doesn't make it not a competitor. Sort of like how full size ( :confuse: ) Accord competes with midsize Camry/ Malibu. They are close enough to compare.
  • tencjeddtencjedd Member Posts: 44
    Replying to: vad1819 (Jan 03, 2008 5:44 pm)
    That's my point TX is missed some elements of those cars.

    Such as?

    SUV:
    The Taurus X has higher seating than a conventional car. The Taurus has AWD.

    Minivan:
    The Taurus X seats seven comfortably.

    Sedan:
    The Taurus X has better fuel economy than minivans such as the Honda Odyssey, while delivering more power and torque.

    Styling is pretty much subjective, so there's not really any point in arguing that.


    Your points are valid (except for maybe seating 7 comfortably). However, the problem remains - it's still a TX. Enough said, lets move on! :P
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Remember also, Acura is the American luxury version of Honda. If I am not mistaken, Acura is not sold any where out side North America. Us Americans need a status symbol in our driveway....

    If not true, this was the original case. Same with Lexus.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Your points are valid (except for maybe seating 7 comfortably). However, the problem remains - it's still a TX. Enough said, lets move on!

    Um... for some people that's (the TX part) not a problem at all.

    I'd also bet that if you are carrying 7 people, 2 of them will be small enough to ride in the 3rd row in at least adequate comfort. Of course, I'm not a good example - I'm 6'4"!
  • tencjeddtencjedd Member Posts: 44
    Good points, and well said. Just one question? When did Lincolns enter the discussion? Do they make a CUSW now too? :P
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    The Lincoln MKX (Ford Edge's brother).
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Again, there's a small amount of space under the 3rd row, but unlike the Acadia and most CUVs, the floor of the cargo space behind the 3rd row of the TX isn't level with the liftgate, but it's lower like in a minivan when its 3rd row is up. Like I said, you'd have to look at a photo or see it in person. But the 3rd row well is different than the space under the 3rd row. It's because the 3rd row of the TX folds backwards, not forward...again, unique to the TX.

    How's driving it- with five grown passengers? I know howthe seat folds, and about the well underneath. I will tell you hearing about it prior to seeing it is miss leading. I got excited, thinking you could put much more under there. And unique isn't always good (here it's okay).
  • tencjeddtencjedd Member Posts: 44
    It wasn't a question. The joke went over your head!
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    Again, there's a small amount of space under the 3rd row, but unlike the Acadia and most CUVs, the floor of the cargo space behind the 3rd row of the TX isn't level with the liftgate, but it's lower like in a minivan when its 3rd row is up. Like I said, you'd have to look at a photo or see it in person. But the 3rd row well is different than the space under the 3rd row. It's because the 3rd row of the TX folds backwards, not forward...again, unique to the TX.

    How's driving it- with five grown passengers? I know howthe seat folds, and about the well underneath. I will tell you hearing about it prior to seeing it is miss leading. I got excited, thinking you could put much more under there. And unique isn't always good (here it's okay).
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    So now I'm fat? In a hot second I'm going to drive-er- sit on you!
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I hadn't read the post to which you replied. Whoops!
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    You're right in that the Acadia has a lot more space with all of the seats folded, but that really has nothing to do with my point about carrying people in all of the rows and cargo.

    HO HO HO! Yes it does! The Acadia has a minivan like 25.5 cuft of cargo space behind row 3! Not even FS can touch that with it's majic well. The Acadia is also slightly shorter in legnth.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    So, TX has missed part of the SUV and van, it has car like elements.

    FS does have flat floor when all seats folded, and folding into the floor IS a minivan thing.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    I'm sure you will be happy with it. Good luck!
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    But Allwagons cuts in with a swift upper cut and a strong slew of thesis proving points and a loopole or two- I mean a strong one two jab.

    The undisputed heavy-weight champion!
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    I'm not really responding to you, grad, just continuing to offer some things to think about:

    The Taurus X has higher seating than a conventional car. The Taurus has AWD.

    As does the Volvo XC70.

    The Taurus X seats seven comfortably.

    So does XC70 (well, not so comfortably).

    The Taurus X has better fuel economy than minivans such as the Honda Odyssey, while delivering more power and torque.

    I think the XC70 has that too.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    They are all also station wagons. CUV is just the modern politically correct term for a station wagon. There is no category difference between a Ford FS/TX and a GMC Acadia and its brethren.

    So I'm right! TX is a station wagon!!!

    Really I think though this class encompasses a large variety of vehicles, You can classify which is more station wagon like (and which is the most SUV like). In that sense, I think the TX is the most wagon like.
  • nxs138nxs138 Member Posts: 481
    At most, it will proabably grow 5-6 inches to 194 in length

    I think you're right; the Highlander grew about 4 inches, which puts in at the same length as the current Pilot. So the Pilot has to grow, but probably no more than 5-6". That would be a perfect size, since the CX-9/Acadia come in near 200", while everything else is under 190" (i.e. Veracruz, Highlander). So 195" would likely add more 3rd row space and cargo space that the Veracruz/Highlander are lacking.
  • barnstormer64barnstormer64 Member Posts: 1,106
    To me, that's an advantage to the TX, since not being so wide makes it easier to maneuver, better in parking lots, entering my single car garage door, etc...I don't consider extra exterior width an advantage when I don't need the added interior width to meet my needs..

    I agree. My Five Hundred and Freestyle are wide enough as it is.
  • barnstormer64barnstormer64 Member Posts: 1,106
    All crossovers are station wagons!

    But some are more station-wagon-like than others.

    And I'd put the Freestyle in that category.

    But that's what makes it the better CUV. :P

    That's the whole point of the CUV class . . you can't quite classify the vehicle into one niche.
  • chelentanochelentano Member Posts: 634
    Outlander is not full size. It's small CUV.
  • albookalbook Member Posts: 1,282
    I agree. My Five Hundred and Freestyle are wide enough as it is.

    I'm sorry, but that's the epitome of boring. You have two of the same car! Sure, one has a third row and Explorer styling, but once you get past the exterior, it's like driving the exact same car!
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Yes, the XC70 costs a good deal more too!

    By the way, the Ford Taurus Sedan (and I presume, therefore the Taurus X) shares a good deal with the Volvo S80 from what I understand. One more tidbit. :)
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    That's the whole point of the CUV class . . you can't quite classify the vehicle into one niche.

    Exactly.
Sign In or Register to comment.