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Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-7 vs Ford Edge

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Comments

  • steverstever Posts: 52,462
    Daniel Pinkwater owns one, from hearing him talk on CarTalk a few years ago. He's a rather large man and the New Beetle seems to fit him (link). I don't actually know him of course, or any other male NB owners.
  • akirbyakirby Posts: 8,062
    My 16 yr old female neighbor has one and my 12 yr old daughter just adores it.

    Not making judgements, just stating facts..... :D
  • vbbuiltvbbuilt Posts: 498
    "Never knew you to be such a Philosopher"

    You know it! Now, let's add some controversy and I'll get flamed for this one... :blush:

    Remember the former poster who stated that he felt the RAV4 was feminine? I think the REAL issue is he's more concerned with what his buddies think. After all, why would he make such a statement? His buddies think the RAV4 is feminine therefore, he has the same opinion. If he buys the RAV4, he'll get ribbed. Teased. Guilt by association. He doesn't want to be caught owning one. IT'S NOT BUTCH ENOUGH!

    Sorta of like when Arnold Schwarzenegger, accused the state legislature of being "girly-men", for not thinking like him.

    A REAL man doesn't care what others think. If I want to own a new VW Beetle, then by god, I'll own one!

    Now, I'm waiting for someone to say the CX-7 is feminine. Go ahead, say it!

    Ok ladies and gentlemen, there, I've said it. I've got a bullseye on my back...go ahead and flame me! I'm prepared! :shades:

    Vince.
  • carlitos92carlitos92 Posts: 458
    I think I can shift the bullseye, Vince. ;) Here are my uber-macho old-fart rules:

    Rule #1: If your car has fuel injection, a catalytic converter, or metric parts, it's a girlie car.

    Rule #2: If your car is not rear-wheel-drive, it's a girlie car. If it has all-wheel-drive, it's a truck.

    Rule #3: If you are not in England and wearing a tweed cap, and your car has a convertible top, it's a girlie car.

    Okay, that being said... I love my "girlie" CX-7, but I'd rather be under a shade tree working on a '67 Camaro than waiting in the Mazda service department lounge any day. I say the car industry has emasculated all of us guys by making our cars rolling computers that you have to have a college degree to take care of. They've turned us all into posers. Even my Vette-owning friends have a boutique they buy horsepower from. Bring back lap belts, vapor lock, and bias-ply tires, I say. John Wayne (and Arnie) would be proud. :D
  • arizonajoearizonajoe Posts: 123
    Look what I started! I leave for a few days and...

    Cars can very easily be masculine or feminine. They are often designed to appeal to one or the other. I never knew or saw a man driving the previous-generous RAV4. The new model looks less feminine, and is a car I would consider buying. It's a great value.

    On the spare tire cover...I was referring to the cover, not to the general feature of having a spare tire in back. The body-color cover really accentuates a cutesy feminine look. The salesman and I laughed at the dramatic change produced by merely removing the cover -- an exposed spare tire changes the look completely.
  • vbbuiltvbbuilt Posts: 498
    "The RAV4 isn't bad, but it still has a slightly feminine look to it, especially with the spare tire cover. It's better than the previous generation, though."

    You stated the RAV4 has a slightly feminine look and then you bolstered your argument by mentioning the spare tire cover.

    I had owned the 2004 RAV4 and loved it, but not once considered it feminine. I bought it cuz consumer reports raved about it, it had all the features I wanted and it was priced right. It looked pretty decent, too.

    Now that you've chosen to rejoin the discussion (hiding huh?), can you tell me what makes a vehicle feminine vs masculine? My son says the current 2007 Mustang is a chick car. So, from one perspective, that makes the 2007 RAV4 and the Mustang similar. What features in a car distinguish it masculine vs feminine? Yes, I'm putting you on the spot. :shades:

    Brave enough to educate us all?

    :P

    Vince.
  • tinycadontinycadon Posts: 287
    It's impossible to specifically define what makes a car a 'chick car,' it's like pornography, I can't define it, but I know it when I see it! :blush:
  • cxrabbitcxrabbit Posts: 134
    LOL I love this discussion.

    Really, it's all pretty subjective. I liked the CX-7 because it seemed LESS girly to me than some of the other cross-overs out there. I kinda thought it had a "mean" look to it. It also always amazes me how the COLOR of the car can dramatically change how you see it. Silver (to me) just looked blah. The black (by it's nature) and the white (probably because of all the black accents) looked the least "girly".

    But of course, take that from me - a woman! :P
  • piastpiast Posts: 269
    Vince, which car does your cute pocket Chihuahua likes better, old RAV4 or new CX7?
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Alamogordo, NMPosts: 7,615
    bark and holler and leave gobs of their fur on RAV4 seats, on CRV seats and on my Kia Sportage cloth seats. And they do.

    I do think that pulling the cover off a RAV4 spare makes the little SUV look "harsher" than pulling the cover off of my Sportage's spare tire. Oh, yes, indeed. ;)

    2011 Kia Soul Sport 5-speed

  • vbbuiltvbbuilt Posts: 498
    "Vince, which car does your cute pocket Chihuahua likes better, old RAV4 or new CX7?"

    CX-7, of course! :P

    V.
  • srangersranger Posts: 106
    It's impossible to specifically define what makes a car a 'chick car,' it's like pornography, I can't define it, but I know it when I see it!

    You nailed it buddy...

    In my opinion, All of these small SUV/CUV are nothing but cleverly disguised mini vans that men will drive.... Get over it...

    P.S. I personally think that smooth curving surfaces make a vehicle look more feminine that squared off sharp edge surfaces...Guess why...
  • pelican19pelican19 Posts: 323
    "In my opinion, All of these small SUV/CUV are nothing but cleverly disguised mini vans that men will drive.... Get over it..."

    Show me a mini van that can keep pace with the CX-7/RAV 6/Santa 6 and I'll buy it! :)

    And in response to your Q, I give up, why?
  • mike1111mike1111 Posts: 93
    I've looked at them all and i like the Murano SL and the RAV4 V6 Limited the best.The Mazda was to small for a family of 4.The Honda seemed underpowerd.The Santa Fe looked nice but i busted my head getting into it and my head was pressing on the roof.I like the RAV4 but the seats are a little short in leg room.I'm leaning toward the Murano SL cause it's just so comfortable.I don't mind the CVT BUT it does sap the power on some stop and go driving.Passing in the Nissan is real quick.Still 5,000 more than a RAV4 is the only thing holding me back.
  • akirbyakirby Posts: 8,062
    What about the Edge?
  • audia8qaudia8q Posts: 3,138
    Do you think the Edge pricing is a little lofty?
  • akirbyakirby Posts: 8,062
    No. It's cheaper than the Murano which is it's closest competition. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for.
  • philmophilmo Posts: 77
    The Murano price climbs quickly once you start adding the "I wants" over the "I needs". Also, how will you feel if a significant redesign shows up next summer? It certainly is due.
  • mike1111mike1111 Posts: 93
    You know i saw an edge at the Ford dealer and just drove past it.It does look ok but the reviews to date have'nt been glowing and i'm a little turned off by Ford at this time.Maybe i'll stop in this weekend and take a look at it up close
  • mike1111mike1111 Posts: 93
    I read that a redesign was upcoming but i like the look of the Murano as it is now so i'm not to worried about it.Whatever i end up buying i plan on keeping for awhile.I like the SL with Tourning package.MSRP is 36,000 but i'm gonna try to get one OTD for about 33,000 or 34,000.
  • cxrabbitcxrabbit Posts: 134
    It's interesting how it's all a matter of perspective. Like you I test drove a lot of them and my impressions of the CR-V were the same (underpower) and I hated the side-opening rear door on the Rav 4. But between the Murano and the CX-7 I prefered the Mazda. The Murano was nice but felt way too big for me and certainly didn't have the same sporty-feel handling. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice SUV, I just felt overwhelmed by it compared to the CX-7... and for my family of 4 the CX-7 was perfect, not too small at all.
  • srangersranger Posts: 106
    Show me a mini van that can keep pace with the CX-7/RAV 6/Santa 6 and I'll buy it!

    Since they are all mini-vans, I assume that the all of them can keep pace with themselves...

    As far as I know, there is no law that says a mini van can't be sporty.....?

    And in response to your Q, I give up, why?

    In my opinion, curves give a vehicle a feminine look because women usually have nicer curves than men. I think a Corvette for example looks feminine...

    P.S. I love the little CX-7... If it had a decent towing capacity ( i.e. my boat 2500lb boat ) I would buy one, but it is still a mini-van...
  • cxrabbitcxrabbit Posts: 134
    LOL a minivan? I don't think so. Call it that all you want if you think it looks like one but without the sliding doors or three rows of seats it can hardly be considered a minivan. Most people who've seen mine think it looks like a Lexus SUV. I don't know that I agree with THAT either, but I've heard it now from at least 4 different people.
  • srangersranger Posts: 106
    LOL a minivan? I don't think so. Call it that all you want if you think it looks like one but without the sliding doors or three rows of seats it can hardly be considered a minivan. Most people who've seen mine think it looks like a Lexus SUV. I don't know that I agree with THAT either, but I've heard it now from at least 4 different people.

    If it makes you happy to belive that, I see nothing wrong with it...
  • carlitos92carlitos92 Posts: 458
    If it makes you happy to belive that, I see nothing wrong with it...

    And I am not offended by your lack of education. Now, quit trying to stir stuff up. ;)
  • d_hyperd_hyper Posts: 130
    Some people may see a minivan in RX-8. No offence, of course. If anything, CX-7 can be considered a tall wagon, which it is.
  • vbbuiltvbbuilt Posts: 498
    Since we've flogged this horse (Is it Feminine or Masculine), let's see how this flies...

    What is an SUV? What is a wagon? What is a van?

    One person inferred that the CX-7 is a Van.

    Another said the CX-7 is a wagon.

    And of course, the CX-7 is more akin to an SUV.

    So, what defines an SUV?

    Think back to the 70's when wagons were popular. How can the CX-7 look anything like a wagon?

    and the CX-7 looks like a mini-van? For real?

    Ok, ladies and gentlemen, define point by point, what is a van VS a wagon VS an SUV.

    Vince.
  • steverstever Posts: 52,462
    Edmunds has quickie definitions on the New Cars pages.

    SUV

    A vehicle that offers available four- or all-wheel-drive and raised ground clearance in combination with a two- or four-door wagon or convertible body

    Wagon

    A car with a wagon body configuration and a roofline that extends past the rear doors.

    Minivan

    A vehicle with a short hood and a box-shaped body enclosing a large cargo/passenger area.

    Crossovers are considered market segments on those pages but I suspect a little digging would turn up some definitions for them around here.
  • vbbuiltvbbuilt Posts: 498
    "Edmunds has quickie definitions on the New Cars pages.

    SUV

    A vehicle that offers available four- or all-wheel-drive and raised ground clearance in combination with a two- or four-door wagon or convertible body

    Wagon

    A car with a wagon body configuration and a roofline that extends past the rear doors.

    Minivan

    A vehicle with a short hood and a box-shaped body enclosing a large cargo/passenger area.

    Crossovers are considered market segments on those pages but I suspect a little digging would turn up some definitions for them around here."

    Well, there you go! Matter settled! CX-7 is most closely aligned with the SUV!!!!

    Ok disagreers, speak up! :P
  • srangersranger Posts: 106
    For me it is simple:

    SUV

    Drivetrain - It must have 4 wheel drive, Locking Differential, Locking Hubs, a skid plate, and a low gear range. It also has to have enough engine and trans to tow 3500-5000lb. Any vehicle that can't tow at least 3500lb is NOT an SUV.

    Interior - Room for Five Adults and enclosed cargo area. A Removable bed cover over a crew cab type truck would be an acceptable definition...

    I stand firm in that these little so called "suv" without the proper drivetain are just mini vans ( possibly tall wagons ) that men will be caught dead driving...

    In short, a real SUV is what you use to tow the guy out of the woods that though he was driving an SUV...
This discussion has been closed.