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Comments
Forester does not have the best safety ratings out of all these. The Santa Fe is slightly better than the Forester.
IIHS Crash Test
To Learn more about the Santa Fe then visit my site or Santa Fe Forum.
-Frank P.
Funny, most Jeep people say the Liberty is NOT AS GOOD off road as the Cherokee or Wrangler. Also, don't sell short the XTerra and F150 extracab.
But they represent such a small percentage of the buying public that DC would be crazy to build every SUV to suit them.
I have a Husky / Shepherd mix who is pretty big and needs some space to turn around once in a while. Add some gear, and she is stuck in the back. The back seat of the Jetta (which has been off road, btw) has more room.
Also, do the back back windows open up for her to stick her nose out?
I wish the rear window would retract into the tailgate. Now THAT old idea would really win me over. The Wrangler keeps looking better and better. I just need to find a rugged trailer to put stuff in for off road (hey, the army could do it!).
http://www.autoweb.com.au/start_/showall_/id_SUB/doc_sub0106061/article.html
so, Outback or no Outback, but Forester is really popular down under
-Frank P.
Jeez, and I thought its biggest selling point (to the gripes of the real off roaders) is its on road handling/manners. Predicted reliability is pretty subjective, don't you think. As you mentioned, it is on the same par if not better than the Escape/SantaFe.
I wouldn't say predicted reliability is subjective. It's more like an educated guess. I'm a former proud Jeep owner but I'll be the first to admit that both the Cherokee and GC have had numerous and inexcusable mechanical problems. So the question is: why should the Liberty break that pattern? While I certainly hope it does, I'm not going to volunteer to be in the first group of guinea pigs :-)
-Frank P.
...at 6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern. Hope to see you there!
http://www.edmunds.com/chat/subaruchat.html
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Jeep Liberty: Round shaped head lamps look gorgeous.
Hyundai Santa Fe: High crash test rating, great warranty, low price - isn't this the best value?
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute: Very much mainstream - provides class leading power and space.
Nissan Xterra: OK with me
PT Cruiser: WOW! Brilliant styling inside out... WOW!
http://trucks.about.com/autos/trucks/library/press/bl_escape.htm?terms=Tribute+Escape+Suv
Review on Forester:
http://cars.about.com/autos/cars/library/testdrive/blcolin062100.htm
Review on Santa Fe:
http://cars.about.com/autos/cars/library/testdrive/blcolin050101.htm
1. They don't call the Santa Fe a full-size SUV (which it definitely isn't) or a compact (which it probably isn't, either). They call it a "just-right size" which I guess means something betwixt and between.
2. A reliable source of not-bad-looking, bargain-priced, good-performing, Japanese-quality vehicles.
3. If you're the type of person who likes even more control, just pop the shifter to the right when it's in "D" and you can use it like a manual to control both the up and down shift points. A manumatic can be a heap of fun once you get used to it.
4. Does the Santa Fe work as an SUV? Well, it certainly should, because it seems to have all the tools. It features a fulltime, fully automatic AWD system. On normal road surfaces, power is distributed 60% to the front wheels, 40% to the rear wheels.
5. The Santa Fe moves away smartly from a stoplight. Although 0-60 mph times are really, not what an SUV is all about! Standard equipment is a 2.7 liter V-6 engine that produces 181 hp. One of the more satisfying things to me.
6. SUVs can be divided into two basic categories; truck-based a car-based. The Santa Fe is car-based. It uses a platform originally developed for Hyundai mid-size Sonata passenger car. However, Hyundai refers to Santa Fe as an XUV (crossover utility vehicle). This label is supposed to suggest that the Santa Fe possessed both car-like qualities (e.g., a smoother ride) and truck-like qualities (e.g., a "commanding" seating position)
Was this from the report, or from you?
In any event, thanks for the brief, direct note.
Odie
Based on this review, we bought one...
I never trusted paid automotive journalists after that.
Guy
The majority buyers just don't care at all(They followed each other!)! The auto makers they all know this human nature, they aslo know they can't make perfect car, that why they are not gonna make a perfect one for u, the most important strategy to increase car sales to advertise through the mass media (eg. magazines, searching engines...etc), so don't play too much attention to those magazine's overall performance awards. (Those test results are mainly depended on the tester hands, just like the horse race jokey. Based on their reactions, do you agree it is naturally may have a 1 or 2 second(s) difference in responses? or the tester like his own taste?
For my previous post:
link 1): I'm not recommended Ford's Escape, I just want to show all of us how silly the old news press on october, 2000 in Seattle ranked Escape to be #1 in the competion.(The test even put 2000 Motor trend magazine's SUV winner Xterra in the competition, & Escape beated Xterra?) Only just 6 months later, Escape already proved definitely not the best mini-SUV in the 2001 market, (Just look at how many recalls & the front crash test report!) It shows how silly & short sights for those so-called "Car Experts" who mostly live under the subsidize of the car manufacturers.
Link 2): I like the report about the Forester.
link 3): Also like the report about SF.
Have to defence myself a little bit against those few anti-Billtung's little clowns. I've no intended to promote SF or prove it to be a perfect car. As in the very begining I already STATED CLEARLY "no car is perfect, each car have its own strong/weak points, like I always advise buyers consider Forester for performance & reliability, if they like racing then choose Triscape, if they like cheap & advance sylling & comfortable+Saftey then take a look at SF.......
That all!... But really don't understand how come I had so many complains from those Anti-Billtung's guys.
Do you believe it is because "They jealous my proud in owning my SF......" as most of the SF do?
I really think Hyundai are lucky to have a certain amount of customers who really proud of what they own, & let's see what happen to the survey of the 2001 mini-SUV customers statisfaction in SF.
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Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Bill- "we still have to look at the future crashtests & customer satisfaction reports before we can really comment on this new SUV's specie generated from JEEP
Whoa... deja vu! That sounds exactly like what was said about the Santa Fe a few months ago :-)
-Frank P.
What I like>
1. I really like the Dark Garnet Pearl Coat color of the Liberty.
2. A jack, jack handle tools box that look very nice and store is right under the rear passenger seat.
3. All of the doors armrest seem very comfortable as it layout.
4. The rear-center seatbelt layout is very nice.
5. The Compass and Thermometer for everyone to see
6. Nice CD changer mount at the side of the car.
7. Nice Steering layout feature buttons.
8. Towing and Loading weight are good because of the engine size.
What I don't like>
1. I don't like the spare tire on the back (look at the crash test)
2. Overhead console does not have the sunglass holder.
3. I don't see the clock
4. Compartment at the doors not to much space to put anything
5. I don't see any hidden cargo spaces
6. 65/35 seats folding (I rather have 60/40 or 50/50)
7. Seem like the rear trunk door open sideway instead of "up". What happen on raining day?
8. The front cup-holder to close to each other and you could mistake pick up the passenger drink.
9. Gas Mileage might be very hurt because of the engine size.
**I don't really like the layout of the Liberty Exterior but the Interior rather okay! Price ?***
Mother told me I should have never married you.
Hung- I'm pretty sure that the Liberty's rear hatch is a bi-fold design with the glass portion swinging up simultaneous with the gate flipping down. I'll have to see it in person before I decide whether I like that design.
-Frank P.
I'd rather the glass go down into the tailgate, however so you can ride with all the windows open.
To respond to your points:
1.Color- strictly opinion, and yours is O.k> w/me. Yes, like that color, too.
2.Why does it matter if the jack "looks nice"?-- it is a tool intended to save one's hindquarters in a hurry.Depends on how quick a tire-changer one is.
3.Agree. Comfort is important.
4.Agree.
5. Does everone need to know that you have an on-board compass?
6Yup.
7.Yup.
8. The extremely strong chassis doesn't hurt , either.I believe the unibody is 410 percent stiffer, if I read correctly.The engine size is actually smaller (3.7 vs 4.0), but more effiecient.
Don't like:
1.Where would you have the spare? underneath: gets hit and is difficult to remove. or inside: steals cargo room. In my view, outside is best.
**The compass was on the overhead map lights. It is very nice there because everyone can see regardless if they sit on the back or the front**
**The liberty have the biggest engine compare to all the vehicle on this topic**
**If the spare tire is on the back then how can you open the rear hatch door swinging-up! If it does then that would be very interesting. Could it be you have to move the spare tire to the side-way first and then move the hatch door up?**
Spare tire:
**loose parking space, look at the crash test, adding weight to open the rear hatch door, it might even covered-up some rearview too** Yes! I have the RAV4 before and it does have the spare tire on the back I don't really like it much. However, the car is very short and easy for parking space.
Yup, nothing like having folks in the back seat not only telling you to slow down, but also pointing out that you should be going SSW instead of south.
8-P
-Frank P.
May 01 YTD
Ford Escape 13,362 69,372
Subaru Forester 4,986 22,381
Hyundai Santa Fe 4,872 19,170
Mazda Tribute 3,493 19,605
Jeep Liberty 1,602 1,602
Other class notables
Honda CRV 10,640 44,694
Toyota RAV4 7,880 36,730
Remember your question about water in back of Liberty? Go to the Liberty board and look at #829 of 832 All Wet, Jeep Liberty!
Bear in mind "billtung" is the "Canadian Hyundai promotion chief manager" & Hung's is "American" side & then u won't go wrong in the future!
In Canada, Liberty is not available yet, they probably testing the US market 1st.
I'm not interesting in the Liberty, because I really enjoy my 5.9L Durango & its powerful towing capacity. Only hate the high gas comsumption in city!