Need to buy a new car, prefer a compact SUV... what's the best one to get?

Question

Currently owned PT Cruiser....

Answer 1

What's your budget? The three most popular small SUVs (Toyota Rav4, Honda CRV, and Ford Escape/) are all good cars, depending on your budget.

Toyota Rav4 with the V6 is very nice and powerful, but with the V6 and options it's around $30k, which is very expensive for a compact SUV.

The new Honda CRV is very nice, though only available with a 4-cylinder, and it's very hot right now so you're not going to get much of a discount off the MSRP.

The Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute (they are all mechanically identical, only the styling differs) are all proven cars, and less expensive than the Honda and Toyota after discounts and rebates are taken into account.

I would analyze your budget and test drive to see which one best appeals to you.

Answer 2

I myself prefer to drive large SUVs (currently a leased Suburban), but there are many smaller ones out there. Depending on your price range, of course. Chevy has the Trailblazer and the HHR (similar to the PT if style is what you're looking for). Ford has the crossovers Edge, Taurus X, and freestyle, plus the Escape and the Explorer. Lincoln makes the MKX. Mercury makes the Mariner, but their Mountaineer isn't too big. Mazda makes quite a few crossovers that might fit what you're looking for and Scion makes some smaller vehicles as well. Honda makes the Element. The GMC Acadia and Envoy aren't too big. There's always the Jeep Liberty, Compass, etc as Jeep doesn't go to big. There's quite a few on the market these days. And if you want estimates on any of these models, most websites have a pricing model where you pick your model and the features you'd be looking to get it with, and you can get an estimate on it before you go to the dealer.

Answer 3

A 2008 Ford Escape. It gets up to 28 mpg. It seats up to 5 comfortably, has plenty of power, can haul, and has off road capabilities. It is also very safe, for one being higher off the ground, and it has two electronically controlled systems, one takes over the brakes and wheels when senses a rollover accident and one controls the airbags and other standard safety features. It starts at $18,770, but you can get a fully loaded one with leather seats at $23,770. There is also an Escape Hybrid, which gets up to 34-36 mpg.

You can go a little more upscale and get the Escape's cousin, the Mercury Mariner. There is also a Mariner Hybrid that gets the same mpg.

Check out the specs and pictures for both vehicles here: http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escape/
http://www.mercuryvehicles.com/mariner/?s_kwcid=mercury%20mariner|564416880&gclid=CPrUjJOhvI0CFSg3YAoddGBCEw


Here are consumer reports of people who own one or the other: http://autos.yahoo.com/ford_escape-reviews_user/;_ylt=Ai9mQl0vmD_4gnKdpwZ0690PjL8F;_ylv=3
http://autos.yahoo.com/mercury_mariner-reviews_user/

Answer 4

Mercury Mariner

Answer 5

mazda cx-7 is a good buy, and if you want a larger one then the cx-9. mazdas are good because they are reliable and outrageously inexpensive. i would say they are your best bet, unless you are looking for somethign more specific