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Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-7 vs Ford Edge
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Comments
steve_, "Towing tips for SUVs" #362, 22 Jan 2007 2:11 pm
When gas hits $9/$10 per gallon, 3 categories of vehicles will become crystal clear.
You drive a truck, because you need it to work or haul heavy stuff, a minivan because you transport people,
or a 2010 2.2l CRD diesel/hybrid Honda Accord Hatchback/wagon, VW TDI, or such, that gets easy 40mpg.
The CX-7 does not have a tow cap. of at least 3500lbs, so, it cannot be considered a SUV. It only has a tow cap. of 2000lbs. Once again, going by the definition*.
Once again, I think it is retarded to have multiple definitions, however, consumers are the ones who caused it. To me, they are all SUV's.
*source for crossover SUV, and SUV definition is Wikipedia.
So, should I continue on or should we just let this discussion die peacefully?
Ok, I'm done....next topic?
Vince.
*waits for another debate*
No doubt about it, and proud of it.
"consumers have no idea what a crossover is. They are totally confused." But people like crossovers -- they're buying them in droves because the vehicles are new, they're not trucks or minivans and they have a smoother drive than trucks, the auto consultant said."
Selling Crossovers Is Easier Than Defining Them (Ad Age)
Sure hope Ol' Red cranks in the morning. :shades:
The RAV 4 interior wasn't as quiet as the Santa Fe during my test drive. I did like the RAV 4 optitron dash board compare to Santa Fe. It looks much more sophisticated than the Santa Fe blue dials. I wouldn't test drive the CX-7 because it would have the 4cyl turbo as RDX. Turbo 4cyl engine tend to be more noisy than V6 engine.
My CX-7's four banger with the turbo is as quiet if not quieter than my 2002 Camry XLE.
I have 22k on my CX-7 now.
FWIW, I felt the CX-7 dash was WAY more beautiful and sophisticated than the RAV's, but naturally, all that is in the eye of the beholder.
In my opinion, the RDX has the racetrack edge, but for normal day-to-day driving, the CX-7 is quite close, with the SF a distant third, because Hyundai doesn't even have sportiness as a selling point. At the rate they're going, though, Hyundai may surpass them all in quality if the other manufacturers aren't careful...
Isn't it great to be spoiled for choice for a change?
"There are a few standouts in this rather large group, including relatively compact models like the RAV4, the CR-V and the Subaru Forester. I would add the new Santa Fe to that group. It is roomy, cleanly designed, reasonably priced and it comes with a lot of safety features."
A Korean Crossover Gets Its Green Card (New York Times - registration may be required).
joe97, "2007 Hyundai Santa Fe" #1806, 3 Feb 2007 1:38 pm
No thanks.... I'll pass. LOL
The vehicles like Jeep Libertys, FJ Cruisers, Xterras, etc. are really a different category and can rough it out much better than these soft "urban conversions" SUVs that are now being reffered to as CUVs.
Good luck with your Sante Fe. The Sante Fe ride was actually tolerable, but I was more concerned with my wife's tolerance because of her bad back, which is very sensitive. I came real close to buying a Honda Pilot because it had a nice soft ride, but I wanted something quick and nimble and without that dreadful box look. If the Pilot was more like an MDX without the high price, I would have went that route.
On the other hand, the Santa Fe was totally impressive. Nice materials, good design; nice quality feel. If I had to buy today, that would likely be the winner.
To some degree, style is a personal matter. I actually like the color scheme. It makes the vehicle look modern and different to me. The seats also look very good. Take a look in a Land Rover (Range or RR Sport) and you'll something a little familiar with the Edge. The only part of the interior I do not care for is the center stack. It's livable, just not as nice as I'd like it.
The Santa Fe looks beautiful in pictures but sitting in the interior, there are many areas where you see the cost cutting.
By the way, I own a Mazda6, and am thinking about of buying a VW Passat (the reliability frightens me though) or a used STS so I am not a Ford Fanboy. I do love the Edge and Fusion. I hate the Taurus and Taurus X. Anyway back to topic.
On the other hand, the Santa Fe was totally impressive. Nice materials, good design; nice quality feel. If I had to buy today, that would likely be the winner."
I don't know if it's really safe to the Sante Fe the best of the bunch and based on your post it appears that your claim is based on your observations at a trade show, unless you hae driven them but necglected to mention it. I wouldn't recommend buying any of these vehicles without driving them.
I have driven most of them but not the Edge. It was't available when I was shopping but I had no interest in that vehicle. I parked next to an Edge the other day and it just didn't look like something I would want. Just my opinion but they did a lousy enough job on the exterior eccents that I wouldn't even bother looking inside.
I drove a CRV and based on appearance it was nice. It rode decent but the 4 cylander was just too wimpy. Let's face it... it's a Civic. The other problem is that the luxury options are very dismal. I had to rule it out. I tried to stay Honda after owning a 2000 Accord and Odyssey so I then looked at a Pilot. Nice ride, solid and not tinny like the CRV, but the steeringwas sloppy and let's face it the Pilot is a Box. Plenty of power but plenty of weight so it was like driving a boat.
RDX is a real improvemen but in my book it's an expensive Civic and if I were going that high I would go MDX.
Murano was very nice but too much money for what it is and I just couldn't go with that it because of that funky transmission.
The Sante Fe is an improvemnet over the 2005 and prior designs. It looked decent and I could have lived with it's appearance though not sporty enough for me. I just couldn't deal with the bumpy ride but I think most of it was because of the seat design. I really tried to like this car and it is a great value with a great warranty, but I just couldn't pukk the trigger. I also found there colors boring though that would not have stopped me.
I also looked at the Suzuki line because they have a great warranty. I originally was interested in the Grand Vitara last year since the larger XL7 was too much like a truck. The good news is that the 2007 XL7 is redesigned but the bad news it is based on the Equinox. It drove nice but it rttled a bit too much over the bumps. The Suzukis are a great value and it I ha really considered it because the dealer is convenient and I bought my Jetta there but the XL7 just didn't win me over. I really would have lked a VW Toureg, but 40,000 is wa
the GrandVitara was a bit smally more than I am ready to part with on a second car. That also leaves out the upscaled Audi version for 50,000. I have to admit, the German cars are really well put together driving machines despite the reliabilty ratings. I don't keep a car much past the warranty anyway so though reliabilty is important it is not my main criteria for a new vehicle
Ultimately I had to go with the CX7. It has most of what I wanted in a car. It is by know means perfect, but it had the looks, feel, performance and options I wanted. I got the most expensive model loaded and the MSRP was about 33,000. I paid invoice at about 30,000 and the only thing it doesn't have which I might consider adding on my next car is remote start. Everyone who sees it or rides in it loves it. A buddy of mine got in it the other day and asked me if it was an MDX. I guess he missed the big Mazda logo on the steering wheel. LOL
I the end they are all decent cars and there is no wrong choice. To put it blunty a we used to say when I worked in a car dealership... "There's an [non-permissible content removed] for every seat"
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=120069
Donna really disses the EDGE in comparison.
Would anyone else agree that the Mazdas should now be considered the "girlie" Cabriolet of Crossovers?
We also like the Saturn Outlook. First GM product I've considered owning in many, many years.
I can deal with computer failures, battery failures, turbo failures, these things can be diagnosed and fixed, but when it comes to a car squeaking and flexing, there doesn't seem to be a technician good enough in the world to fix these kinds of problems.
Vince
Perhaps, it is a differenc in model.
Will let you know how the tape works out...
-Rear seat folds almost flat. "Almost" translates into torture in the middle of the night when camping.
-Looking forward from the rear bumper with the rear seat folded down it is apparent that the gear shifter is crooked. That just cannot be good. In other words, when all the way forward it moves slightly to the left toward the driver. When moved rearward it lists toward the passenger.
-The lower door panels are made of some very flimsy plastic sure to be busted up when getting out while wearing hiking, boarding or fishing boots.
-The carpeting on the rear seat back was already severely worn, worse than my rent-controlled apartment in Santa Monica in the 80s.
Not all bad, some good...
-The engine compartment was interesting in terms of access and layout.
-The rear hatch is among the widest in class.
-Laptop storage in the center console.
Still, I'm happy to be patient to see what 2008 brings. There an interesting review today in the New York Times on the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia.
Yesterday I went to the local GMC dealership and they only had one Acadia for around $34000, now that is a little bit more than what we are talking about here and one will have to wait until they are begging to give them away, but I am getting a lot more car for my money. I might even be tempted to look at a Lexus RX since those are plentiful on the lots, and there might be some good deals to be had. Although I am not sure about buying that kind of vehicle due to the snob factor involved. Everyone always thinks you pay more for that kind of vehicle then you do. Perfect example, my buddy likes to buy larger than needed pickups, like a Chevy 2500, stickering close to $50,000, but at the slightest mention of me buying a Lexus he thinks I am Mr. Big Bucks.
eyes or the sing-song voice of, "Ooh, she got a Lexus!" Well, I say Phooey to them. It's a
great car and I've had no problems in 7 months and 10,000 miles. And, yes, there are some
good deals on the RX, particularly on leases.
Just be sure to get Extended Warranty if you choose GMC. By all accounts, GMC is at the bottom of the stack in terms of reliability. American car manufacturers, as a group, are really poor in quality.
Vince.
As far as GMC's reliablity, I know very little about it, however, I do remember all the problems they had with the Envoy and the cracked engine block, that it and many of its similarly equipped vehicles shared.
J.D. Power’s New IQS: The Rest of the Story (GM FastLane Blog)
If you don't like JD Power surveys, here's a great one you can fill out:
Consumers' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2007
I didn't realize you had to be car savvy to fill out a survey...does that mean that the folks who fill out the Consumer reports survey are more or less savvy than the people who fill out the JDP surveys? Just wondering which survey we should believe, since only car savvy people can properly fill out the survey.
Heck people have a hard enough time in this country punching a ballot correctly, even if they have a 50/50 of getting it right. Furthermore, how else can you explain things like Sanjaya on American Idol.