Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape vs Saturn

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Comments

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,564
    maybe you should look at an explorer. big incentives, and mileage is probably as good as a 'lib, although i don't know that for sure.
    much more room for the hounds, though.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    is with the Escape! I have now owned my Escape V6 XLT 4wd for 37,000 miles and its proven itself over and over again. I use my Escape to tow my 2 watercraft, visit the skii slopes, traverse logging/access roads to find my fishing spots. I am now averaging 21.7MPG in this vehicle.
    Liberty was my second choice. I felt the Escape had better engine response, better road feel. The back seats of the Liberty also felt smaller and more difficult to get in and out of. Jeep relies on its "Trail rating" gizmo sales pitch. The fact is the Majority of us never even see as much as a gravel road!
    I see the Element has popped up from time to time.. My kids have nicknamed this vehicle the "UGLYMENT". Everytime we see one they say Uglyment alert!....
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    25 mpg average here ('98 Forester L), and I've towed a 5'x8' trailer with 3 yards of wet mulch. 59k miles with zero out of pocket for repairs. :-)

    -juice
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    Jeep should begin selling a diesel-engined Liberty sometime in 2004 -- which promises to have much better fuel economy than either current gas engines. Although I'm not a fan of Jeeps, I am a huge fan of diesels and look forward to seeing more of them in the US. If fuel economy is the only thing keeping you from a Liberty now, you might want to wait a few months until the diesel is available.

    Brian
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Good point, Brian. Diesels are also very durable and easy to maintain, plus range is better.

    -juice
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    How slow is a diesel Liberty likely to be?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Torque is good, so off the line it shouldn't feel slow. They don't rev as high so at highway speeds it might feel a little wheezy.

    Diesels have come a long way, IMO.

    -juice
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Not sure I'd want to be climbing the Cascades or Rockies with one. At least give it a turbo.
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    Well, I'm sure a diesel-engined Liberty won't win many stoplight grand prix's, but does that really matter in an SUV? It will likely perform really well around town, with its abundance of low end torque.

    A lot has changed since the bad old days of diesels...modern diesel engines are quiet, smooth, and powerful. I rented a 2003 Focus wagon in France last year with a turbo-diesel engine in it and let me tell you, that thing was a blast to drive. Quiet, amazing power, and 45+ mpg on the autoroutes at speeds of 110mph or so. I would buy on here in the states tomorrow if it were available.

    Brian

    edit: here's a link
    http://autoweek.com/search/search_display.mv?port_code=autoweek&a- mp;cat_code=reviews&content_code=01524043&Search_Type=STD- &Search_ID=1858816&record=37
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    It will likely perform really well around town,

    I'm willing to be persuaded, but somehow I think I'd rather be in my turbo XT when passing semitrucks or RVs on uphill 2-lane mountain roads...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    60k powertrain, yes, but the bumper-to-bumper expired at 36k miles.

    I haven't needed to replace wear and tear items, even my brake pads are still original. Well, the tires aren't, but that's about it.

    -juice
  • odie6lodie6l Member Posts: 1,173
    all the 3 and 5 cyl engines popping up. Are they eliminating the 4 cyl???

    Odie
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I don't think so...every vehicle in this discussion is available with a 4 banger.

    In-line 5s are hard to package. Many are mounted longitudinally, so you need a long hood.

    -juice
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    of the new smaller version of the Santa Fe. Guess I'll have to look at it - I've always liked the looks of the Santa Fe, but didn't like the way the auto tranny felt when I test drove it (prefer MT anyway). But from the photos, the new Tucson looks very nice. Has anyone seen one in Chicago?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Links? URL?

    -juice
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    I've never much cared for the Santa Fe's looks (the contrived pregnant-looking bulgy front fenders do nothing for me) - but the Tucson definitely looks better. Depending on how it looks in the flesh (I've only seen artists' renditions so far), it might even replace the Sorento as my candidate for best-looking SUV.

    http://www.waitnews.com/hyundai_tucson.htm
  • speterson1speterson1 Member Posts: 228
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Handsome, I like it. Better styled than its big brother.

    -juice
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Well, it's better looking than the Santa Fe, but not as good as the artists' rendition suggested. So, the Sorento remains securely atop my best-styled SUV list.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Jack- You disappoint me. I agree with Steve that the artist's rendering looks a lot like the Murano (not so much in the image on the official web site). Look at that high receding beltline, the view to the rear looks like it would be severely impaired.

    -Frank P.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • twinturbotimtwinturbotim Member Posts: 26
    Whats the difference going to be between the Tucson and the Santa Fe. The Tucson can only get a 2.7 v6 while the Santa Fe now has a 3.5 liter. Even though the tucson might look a little better, its performance cant be close to the 3.5
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Please try to be serious.

    tidester, host
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    That was seriously hilarious!

    Frank,

    The Tucson's beltline may or may not be higher than good visibility allows; I can't tell from the artists' renditions, which are invariably more dramatic than the real McCoy. When I criticize the latest from Nissan, I'm mainly talking about excessively large and dangerous blind spots created by wide D-pillars, fenderlines that for no functional reason kick up as they approach the hatch, that sort of thing. The Tucson does have an element of this in the rear extremety of its fenderline, but nowhere near as exaggerated as the Murano or FX, or even X3.

    I'll reserve judgement and criticism until the actual cars are available to inspect. The FX, Murano, and X3 have been out for awhile, and they flunk.
  • njswamplandsnjswamplands Member Posts: 1,760
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Check out the POV in the photo of the Tucson that you posted... definitely below knee level. You can actually see the underbody.

    My apologies to other readers who don't know what-the-heck I'm talking about.

    james
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    One in a million! <joking>
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Looks good. The interior is a dead ringer for the Toyota Highlander, the shifter even looks like a tree growing out of the dash. :-)

    If it's lighter than the SF it could perform well with the V6. SF is pretty heavy for its size.

    -juice
  • ballisticballistic Member Posts: 1,687
    Seems like everything out there except the RAV-4 and Forester is heavy for its size.
  • julesjules Member Posts: 1
    There is so much information out there that I am overloaded and confused. I am buying either a Santa Fe or a CRV. There are + and - for both. Basically I like everything about the Santa Fe (FWD 2.7) but I'm not sure about Hyundai. Honda has the reputation but there are features on the CRV that I'm not crazy about (visability, gear shift on the dash).

    If you own a Santa Fe or a CRV are you happy with your purchase? Would you buy another?

    Oh, the resale value doesn't bother me I tend to run my cars forever. I have a 92 Corolla.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    CR actually rates the Santa Fe above average in reliability, plus the warranty is fantastic. My main concern is fuel efficiency - it's not fast nor is it very effiecient.

    CR-V has excellent reliability but the industry's worst warranty, IMO, 3/36 without even roadside assistance.

    But forget what I think, buy the one you like better. Which one was more fun to drive? Which did you feel more comfortable in? Bring your family and gear along with you, how to you fit inside each of them? Which brings you the bigger smile?

    Choose that one, you can't go wrong.

    -juice
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Did Hyundai restyle the Santa Fe recently? I passed one the other day and the front end looked much better executed (less dramatic wheel well bulges/humps).

    -Frank P.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Sure it wasn't a pre-production Tucson? Those are much cleaner.

    -juice
  • boltguyboltguy Member Posts: 94
    I read somewhere that they did tone down the "bulges" a little starting in '03. Although I haven't really noticed a difference over the years.
  • zaksdad3zaksdad3 Member Posts: 14
    I am in the final stages of buying a V6 Vue in Houston with side curtains and need you guys and gals help quickly.

    1. Was told my GM credit card points were not accepted but dealer did give me extra $750 against my $1150 potential.

    2. They claimed they knew nothing of the 6 coupons worth $250 each. Noticed in the paper latter that day they are offering up to $1,500 bonus cash that I think is the same. Can someone confirm and is this a regional deal or nationwide?

    3. They offered me $3500 rebate + $750 off sticker with my financing or $1,000 +750 with 0% @60. I assume the $1000 is truckfest is that correct or should I be looking for more rebates?

    4. I may be able to get the GM supplier discount. What would that do for me?

    5. Has anyone purchased or seen the Safe and Sound Package for $880. Saturn website says it is reduced by $360 at this time.

    I need to speak to the dealer Monday to close deal and would really appreciate any advice you can offer.

    Thanks
    Larry
  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    I only read your post once but my head will be spinning for a week.
    Who could ever dream that buying a car would become this complicated. Good luck.
  • tazerelitazereli Member Posts: 241
    Since these are the two hot rods of the mini suv realm I thought it might be interesting to debate the merits of each.

    Regards,

    Kyle
  • tomsr1tomsr1 Member Posts: 130
    My experience with CRV is this.After 39000 miles the car was rattle and squeak free but the drivers seat and steering wheel were wearing
    badly.The paint is very easy to scratch and dent.The driving experience was ok around town but under powered for freeway flying.It would downshift on the slightest hill and passing was scary.If you went into a corner too fast it was unstable and unsettled.Of course it is short and tall and that's normal behavior.I thought about the Escape since my son works for a Ford dealer but the poor quality turns me off.I really wanted an MDX but $40000 turns me off. So I settled for the Highlander Limited because I got it loaded for $30000 through an employee discount.My car
    is not an offroad vehicle it is a comfortable utility vehicle so it is a CUV. If you live in the boonies with dirt roads you might need a
    Jeep or true offroader but us urban dwellers just want comfort.A lifted 4x4 that never gets dirty is all about self image.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Thanks for sharing, Tom.

    Is the HL a V6 model? AWD?

    Too bad Honda and Toyota no longer make wagons of the Accord and Camry.

    -juice
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    A reporter wants to talk with Saturn Vue owners about any suspension problems they have experienced. Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com asap no later than Thursday, August 5, 2004 with your daytime contact info.

    Thanks,
    Jeannine Fallon
    PR Director
    Edmunds.com
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    The VUE suspension problem really isn't news anymore since they've been recalled as of yesterday. Saturn did the right thing and decided to nip this one in the bud by issuing a voluntary recall.

    http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-08-05-vue-_x.htm

    Most VUE owners will be getting a call or a letter from Saturn as well as a stronger suspension.

    FWIW, I know 4 VUE owners, 1 is a Redline, and none of them have had problems.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Thanks for the comments. "Reporter" doesn't necessarily mean newspaper or headline news. Some news outlets publish or broadcast weekly or monthly.

    tidester, host
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Saturn did the right thing and decided to nip this one in the bud by issuing a voluntary recall.

    Not that they really had a choice. When your vehicle resoundingly fails a standard government safety test you've got to act quick or risk the fate of the Suzuki Samari! In the Pantheon of embarrassing moments, this rates right up there with the steering wheel fiasco of the early Escapes.

    My only question is how in the heck can a vehicle get completely through the development cycle and into production without such a basic flaw being discovered?

    -Frank
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Was it the Redline models only?

    Perhaps those have higher cornering limits that Saturn didn't account for during the design. Still that would have meant the rushed the testing process of that model.

    -juice
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    juice,
    No. All VUE trims and MY's were part of the recall.

    p0926,
    this rates right up there with the steering wheel fiasco of the early Escapes.

    IIRC none of the Escapes made it off of the lots and, much unlike the VUE, it was caught very early on. I remember seeing them on the lots with big yellow sign's on the steering wheels instructing the dealer to "DO NOT SELL". Why they had them out in plain view I'll never understand.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I remember that well, during the Edmunds 2000 event I was looking forward to sampling an Escape for the first time... but nope, they put up a sign that explained why they could not use the Escapes (rear wheel hub failure IIRC).

    Ford seemed to bounce back from all the early recalls, as the Escape is a perennial best-seller.

    -juice
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