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Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape vs Saturn Vue

4940 messages,  Last post on Sep 24, 2009 at 9:33 AM

You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Ford Escape, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Saturn VUE, SUV

#2577 of 4940 by steve_ HOST Aug 30, 2002 (10:16 am)
This topic doesn't do much comparing lately, but the threads are so interesting I'm not complaining For those who are shopping, here's a new review of the Vue: Long-Term Road Test: 2002 Saturn Vue Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
#2578 of 4940 by ateixeira Aug 30, 2002 (10:32 am)
Price paid seems a little high, and 18.5 mpg ain't nothing to brag about. OTOH, the red looks better than any other color I've seen on it.   -juice
#2579 of 4940 ateixeira by dindak Aug 30, 2002 (11:02 am)
Look at all the options added, of course it's pricey, the tester is loaded. Most small SUVs don't even have OnStar and side head air bags available.
#2580 of 4940 by ateixeira Aug 30, 2002 (11:23 am)
Guess so, $23k for starters ain't too bad given the V6. I'd add ABS ($575), sunroof ($725), and a 6CD ($500), so that's pretty loaded for just under $25k.   $700 for OnStar? You gotta be kidding me.   I wish they offered a manual with the V6.   -juice
#2581 of 4940 Interesting article by mtngal Aug 30, 2002 (11:30 am)
I'm glad that Edmunds got one for a long term test. I was surprised about the gas mileage - I thought for sure it would be better than that. My 4.0L Wrangler gets that kind of mileage.   I don't have a good answer about licensing. For instance, I drive one of the poorest high speed handling SUVs on the market, I think. Should there be a seperate license for it, just because a small number of idiots out on the road don't drive it safely? Most people I know who drive them know enough to drive it slower than anything else, and to crawl along if it is windy.   As far as younger drivers go - as juice and others pointed out - they don't have much experience to know what safe handling is all about. Maybe we should go with a system that has a 1 year learners permit, or something like that, so that young drivers can get more experience before they are "turned loose."
#2582 of 4940 by ateixeira Aug 30, 2002 (11:35 am)
It has 4k miles, so it might get better with break-in. Also, the V6 Tribute they had long-term got something like 16mpg. Those Edmunds editors can be pretty demanding!   -juice
#2583 of 4940 VUE v/s Outlander by shill3 Aug 30, 2002 (12:11 pm)
I have my heart set on the Liberty since I plan to go off-road quite a bit, but if I was looking at a soft-roader, I am not sure the VUE would get the nod. Styling-wise, it looks like the Outlander but with less personality. I am dissappointed to read about the quality issues. Think I prefer the upcoming Nissan Murano (sp?) as an urban all-wheel drive run about, at least as far as looks go.
#2584 of 4940 by ateixeira Aug 30, 2002 (12:47 pm)
Murano is going to compete at a higher price level, though, probably in the 30s. It's supposed to go up against V6 Highlanders.   -juice
#2585 of 4940 by clever1 Aug 30, 2002 (12:50 pm)
I've been seeing a silver Vue around town for the past few months -- pretty nice looking, considering the design generally reminds me of a hybrid Buick-Rendezvous-meets-Chinese-take-out-food-container. Owners seem pretty happy with them, especially since Saturn does make their customers feel well appreciated after the sale.   As for the graduated licensing topic, I'm wondering what's done in other countries. For example, I know that Germany has (or at least had) relatively stricter training and licensing standards (including first aid classes) for all age groups; but I'm not sure what the minimum age for cruising the autobahn is. I haven't formed an opinion on this yet, but wonder what it would be like if the US raised the minimum driving age for full licensing. Maybe inexperienced drivers should have vivid decals or antenna flags indicating their level of training until they have proven some practice and skill (isn't something like that done in Canada?). Conspicuity has a way of making people behave more carefully.   Otherwise, I wouldn't be completely averse to taking special driver training for different classes of vehicles, although it might be inconvenient. The biggest problem would be dealing with (and paying for) the inevitable beaurocracy. I suppose that our "insurance point" system takes care of some of that problem indirectly. Meanwhile, whenever I see a rental truck in my mirror or path my impulse is to get as far away as possible.
#2586 of 4940 KIDS AND TONAGE by jimbob17 Aug 30, 2002 (2:49 pm)
Is the problem an industry, state or parent problem.

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