Honda CR-V Wins Vehix Small SUV Comparison Test

Really in depth comparison test, great read, I just put the basic's from the article, make sure you you read the full article....

1ST Place: 2011 Honda CR-V
Overall Score: 7.3 out of 10
Likes
-Comfortable seats
-Simple yet innovative interior packaging
-Lively driving character in urban environments
-Top quality and dependability ratings
-Holds its value over time
Dislikes
-Limited availability of technology features
-Accessing engine power means revving the engine
-Transmission regularly exercises its hunting permit
-Choppy highway ride
-We’re thinking, we’re thinking…
The Vehix View
Honda appeals more to the head than the heart with the 2011 CR-V, an utterly practical, extremely comfortable, exceptionally reliable, and genuinely fun-to-drive crossover SUV.

2nd Place: 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
Overall Score: 7.2 out of 10
Likes
-Styling
-Comfort
-Ride and handling
-Safety features and crash-test scores
-Impressive warranty coverage
Dislikes
-Fuel economy
-Powertrain refinement
-Confusing controls
-Visibility
-Narrow cargo area
The Vehix View
Thanks to a solid middle-of-the-road performance, the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox slips into 2nd place in our comparison test. All it really needs is a more fuel-efficient and refined engine, minor reconfiguration of the interior, and better quality scores to lead the pack.

3rd Place: 2011 Toyota RAV4
Overall Score: 7.1 out of 10
Likes
-Impeccable build quality
-Lots of fun to drive
-Simple controls and displays
-Roomy cargo area
-Impressive gas mileage
Dislikes
-Few frills, premium price
-Cheap interior materials
-Seat comfort, front and rear
-NHTSA crash-test results
-Silly cargo door with spare tire stuck to it
The Vehix View
The fun-to-drive Toyota RAV4 is due for a redesign, and we hope the next version features improved interior materials, better crash-test scores, and more comfortable seats. Toyota can ditch that rear cargo door, too.

4th Place: 2011 Hyundai Tucson
Overall Score: 6.8 out of 10
Likes
-Interior design, materials and layout
-Lots of technology for the price
-Engine, transmission, and fuel economy
-Killer warranty and assurance programs
-IIHS Top Safety Pick
Dislikes
-Front styling
-Rear-seat comfort
-Rear visibility
-Steering feel
-Ride quality
The Vehix View
With improvements in rear-seat comfort, steering, ride quality, and independent ratings for quality, reliability, and expected depreciation, the Tucson would dominate the competition.
Drawing Conclusions
It may sound trite to admit, but based on our four-vehicle comparison test, there’s no clear winner or loser among this group. Each of the CUVs we drove gives the consumer a compelling reason to purchase, and each one possesses a potential flaw that a consumer might find impossible to live with. Despite this, we’ve driven the miles, crunched the data, and determined which of these four is the best of the bunch.

The Hyundai Tucson (view photos) smells like a bargain, thanks to impressive features, a competitive sticker price, and an industry-leading warranty. Add a high-quality interior, a Top Safety Pick crash-test award, and a best-in-test real world fuel economy number, and we understand why it’s hard to fathom its fourth-place finish. The trouble with the Tucson is that it is a chore to drive. The steering requires constant correction and maintenance, the ride is busy and bouncy, and visibility to the rear is poor. Plus, rear seat occupants – especially those old enough to talk but not tall enough to see past the Tucson’s towering door panels – are likely to squawk about claustrophobia.

The Toyota RAV4 (view photos) is a popular choice because it is roomy and simple, delivering impressive gas mileage and build quality for a low price. But that low price is deceiving, because you’re not getting many frills, and the Toyota’s interior looks and feels the cheapest of the group. Seat comfort is merely adequate, the cargo door is unwieldy, and the NHTSA’s new battery of crash tests reveals potentially inadequate passenger protection in some types of accidents. Negatives aside, perhaps the most surprising thing about the RAV4 is that it is fun to drive. Most people think Toyotas are nothing more than sleeping aids on wheels. When it comes to this CUV, that’s definitely not the case.

The Chevy Equinox (view photos) offers a compelling blend of emotional and practical reasons for purchase, from its good looks and comfortable interior to its impressive warranty coverage and favorable crash-test scores. However, based on our driving we think the EPA’s fuel economy estimates for the unrefined four-cylinder powertrain are out of line with reality. Plus, it’s hard to see out of the Equinox, the controls are often a source of confusion, and the cargo space is almost too narrow to accommodate a full-size stroller. While there is certainly room for improvement, the Equinox is definitely worth investigation.

The Honda CR-V (view photos) is the small crossover that we would recommend to friends and family, because it makes life easier. Brimming with practicality, the lively little CR-V is deceptively roomy inside with very comfortable seats, innovative cargo and storage solutions, and simple controls. Add top quality and dependability ratings and the ability to hold its value over time, and the Honda CR-V makes a clear case for purchase. All Honda really needs to do is make Bluetooth standard across the board, and we can forgive the CR-V’s relatively minor flaws.

Source;
http://www.vehix.com/articles/reviews/small-suv-comparison-test/1

Cars.com: $29,000 SUV Shootout: The Results

Here's an interesting review, done by a interesting choice of reviewers, didn't know that Joey Lawrence was a car guy (mind you, I do seem to remember him being a mechanic on his show). I find it frustrating that one of the biggest cons against the CRV is style, which in my opinion is one of the most subjective things when reviewing a vehicle.... can't wait for the 2012, although I have no problems with the 2011.

Which SUVs?
How did we pick these SUVs? In many cases, we let the automakers pick them. We talked to J.D. Power & Associates to see which SUVs consumers cross-shopped with the Chevrolet Equinox and the Hyundai Santa Fe. They came back with this list: Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Kia Sorento, GMC Terrain and Dodge Journey. We looked at sales popularity and found all eight had sold at least 17,000 through April 2010. A couple of others — Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue — merited inclusion because of their sales popularity, and a handful didn't make the cut due to a lack of sales. We allowed only one SUV per automaker, so GM had to pick either an Equinox or a Terrain.That left us with a set of compact/midsize crossovers scattered across a wide price spectrum. We returned to J.D. Power to investigate the group's median transaction price. J.D. Power reported a $6,500 spread, from $25,361 for compact crossovers to $31,844 for midsize crossovers. Splitting the difference gave us $28,603, which we rounded up to $29,000. What do you get for $29,000 on these SUVs? This is what they come with.

The Rules
Then we set the rules for automakers: We wanted an SUV or a compact or midsize crossover that fit under $29,000. Automakers had to provide a Monroney sticker to prove each car came in under that price (excluding destination charges). It needed to have an automatic transmission. We also gave them specifics about our target family: It would be a family of four who would use this SUV as their primary vehicle. The family would be based in Southern California, meaning they would spend a fair amount of time in traffic together, and that might also explain why most automakers did not give us a car with all-wheel drive.The automakers made different — and interesting — choices. Rather than going with their midsize Santa Fe and Sorento, Hyundai and Kia (respectively) elected to give us well-equipped versions of their smaller Tucson and Sportage. Similarly, Ford and Nissan opted against a stripped-down Edge and Murano (respectively), going instead with a well-equipped Escape and Rogue. Chrysler, it turned out, was the only automaker that stuck with a truly midsize entrant.

The Testing
We put the SUVs through a number of tests, including a full day of testing by the experts, a full day's examination by our test family guided by our team of experts, and a full day's mileage drive. The tests were conducted in early December in Southern California around the Pasadena area.

The Scoring
Judging the SUVS were:
Kristin Varela, chief mom for Cars.com and editor of MotherProof.com
David Thomas, senior editor for Cars.com
Jennifer Newman, editor for Cars.com and MotherProof.com
Chris Woodyard, reporter and editor for USA Today
Brian Robinson, producer for "MotorWeek," the longtime public television automotive show
Joey and Chandie Lawrence. Joey is the star of "Melissa and Joey" on the ABC Family network. They are the parents of two young girls.

The experts' opinions make up 65 percent of the score; the Lawrence family, 25 percent. Fuel economy makes up the final 10 percent of the final score.See what our experts and family found, and let us know what you think as well.

The State of the SUV/Crossover Segment

The Family

Mileage Challenge

Results

http://www.cars.com/go/crp/buyingGuides/Story.jsp?year=New&section=SUV&story=crossoverResult&subject=stories&year=New

Car & Driver Magazine Comparo; 09 Chevrolet Traverse LT, 08 Hyundai Veracruz, 08 Mazda CX-9, 08 Toyota Highlander, 09 Ford Flex, and 09 Honda Pilot

We compare six family haulers and, amazingly, drown none of them.
BY JOHN PHILLIPS, PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON KILEY November 2008

When we last visited Michigan’s Drummond Island [“Mud Puppies,” February 2008], we compared nine Lilliput SUVs and quickly found ourselves in over our heads. Which is to say, we sank a Jeep Liberty. See, the island—a short ferry ride from the eastern tip of the state’s Upper Peninsula—is a 25-mile-long series of limestone bowls (which hold water) and cedar swamps (ditto) surrounded by Lake Huron (ditto times a million). Drummond Island, thou art thine own soggy enemy.

This time, we asked Drummond Island Resort’s driving expert, Craig Hoffman, to sketch out a somewhat drier 16-mile loop, two-thirds of which comprised twisty, smooth pavement and one-third of which bumped through the resort’s private off-road facility. On any off-roader’s scale of difficulty, these private trails (notice we said “private” twice?) hover wholly in Wally Cox territory yet still represent pretty much the worst that any owner would throw at his investment. Along this route, we then ran the vehicles back-to-back until the local bowling alley’s neon “BEER” sign lit up.

Our goal was to compare six mid-size unibody crossovers with all-wheel drive, third-row seats, and the sort of interior volumes that would ensure family-hauling nirvana.

The Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander have recently been comprehensively refurbished, inside and out. Chevy’s Traverse is the latest flavor of the platform shared with Buick’s Enclave, GMC’s Acadia, and Saturn’s Outlook. The Traverse is the first we’ve tested with the direct-injection V-6, but the other three also get it for ’09. Hyundai’s Veracruz isn’t brand-new but has never competed in a C/D comparo. Having secured a position on our ’08 5Best Trucks list, Mazda’s CX-9 simply had to be in the mix. And although a Ford Taurus X might have looked a better fit in this group, we opted for the brand-new Flex. Both rely on the same drivetrain, and the Taurus X is soon to be discontinued.

Unibodies were the order of the day, so body-on-framers, such as Nissan’s Path­finder, were excluded. Ditto a couple of crossovers with notably smaller interior volumes—Subaru’s Tribeca, for instance.

We had hoped that with AWD and a nice load of options our vehicles would all max out at about $38,000. Alas, the only Highlander that Toyota could offer, at least with a third-row seat, was a loaded $42,799 Limited, so we used it for back-seat tests only. The Highlander Sport we drove to the island had no third-row seat and was sparsely outfitted—cloth seats, for instance—but was a whale of a bargain at $33,648. Adding a third row to our car would bump its price to $34,433, which is the number we used in the chart and for scoring purposes.

We were disappointed that our six crossovers managed an observed average of only 19 mpg. Sign of the times: On the way north, we observed a man riding a Schwinn. With a bag of golf clubs slung over his shoulder and a full-size Igloo cooler in his left hand, he was a candidate for a closed head injury. “What you got there,” observed associate editor Tony Quiroga, “is a guy with an SUV parked in his garage.”

****1st Place****

2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD

Highs: A veritable woodsman off-road, torsional rigidity of an I-beam.
Lows: Cluttered center stack, a firm ride, could use another 20 horses.
The Verdict: A civilized crossover that feels as unbreakable as a truck.

Link to the full review;

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/crossovers_and_suvs/2009_honda_pilot_vs_ford_flex_chevy_traverse_hyundai_veracruz_mazda_cx_9_toyota_highlander_comparison_test+page-7.html

****2nd Place****

2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD

Highs: Luxurious cabin, unhindered sightlines, great freeway cruiser.
Lows: Some high-frequency ride jitters, a sense of fragility off-road.
The Verdict: An SUV that replaces a minivan and comes out grinning.

Link to the full review;

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/crossovers_and_suvs/2009_honda_pilot_vs_ford_flex_chevy_traverse_hyundai_veracruz_mazda_cx_9_toyota_highlander_comparison_test+page-6.html

****3rd Place****

2008 Toyota Highlander Sport 4X4

Highs: A rocket to 60 mph, ergonomic center stack, exquisite drivetrain.
Lows: Low-rent cabin surfaces, odd on-center steering feel, slim cargo capacity.
The Verdict: Soothingly carlike family fare that is affordably family fair.

Link to the full review;

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/crossovers_and_suvs/2009_honda_pilot_vs_ford_flex_chevy_traverse_hyundai_veracruz_mazda_cx_9_toyota_highlander_comparison_test+page-5.html

****4th Place****

2009 Ford Flex SEL

Highs: World’s best middle-row seats, cool styling, easy ingress/egress.
Lows: Slow to react, a titch too much NVH, wheel too close to the IP.
The Verdict: As functional as pliers but needs to be more carlike to satisfy.

Link to the full review;

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/crossovers_and_suvs/2009_honda_pilot_vs_ford_flex_chevy_traverse_hyundai_veracruz_mazda_cx_9_toyota_highlander_comparison_test+page-4.html

****5th Place****

2009 Chevrolet Traverse LT

Highs: Solid structure, good roll control, a cabin as big as an auditorium.
Lows: Too heavy, poor visibility astern, some cheap cockpit surfaces.
The Verdict: Obesity affects every aspect of an SUV’s vehicular health.

Link to the full Review;

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/crossovers_and_suvs/2009_honda_pilot_vs_ford_flex_chevy_traverse_hyundai_veracruz_mazda_cx_9_toyota_highlander_comparison_test+page-3.html

****6th Place****

2008 Hyundai Veracruz Limited AWD

Highs: Amenities galore, refined drivetrain, rides like a ’70s-era Caddy.
Lows: Way too much body roll, vague steering, platform feels twistable.
The Verdict: Functional, rational, justifiable—but not much fun to drive.

Link to the full review;

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/crossovers_and_suvs/2009_honda_pilot_vs_ford_flex_chevy_traverse_hyundai_veracruz_mazda_cx_9_toyota_highlander_comparison_test+page-2.html

Here is the Test Sheet