BMW X3 vs Subaru Forester XT vs Infiniti FX 35 vs Toyota RAV4

1193 messages, Last post on Apr 18, 2008 at 2:49 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW X3, Subaru Forester, Infiniti FX35, Toyota RAV4, SUV

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#1159 of 1193: Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [jrynn] by kumari; Jan 12, 2006 (1:58 am)

Replying to: jrynn (Jan 11, 2006 2:16 pm)

You piqued my interest with the Acura RDX, so I googled it and saw a preliminary pic. It reminds me of the Toyota Prius, more like a car than a wagon or SUV. I really need the height in the cargo area to accomodate dog crates and home repair supplies (lumber, tools, etc.), so that's why I need something different.

Right now I have a Mazda Navaho 4X4 which is on a truck chassis and has a lot of hauling room and can handle weight. I bought an armoire on eBay last year and schlepped it home in the back of my car!! Won't be doing that with any of these. Heh, heh, heh.

You know, I actually started a conversation with someone in a parking lot today because they were driving a Toyota Prius - and she was so proud of it - said it gets 42 MPG average! And, it does have a lot of cargo room with the fold-down seats. But, unfortunately, not enough for me, which is too bad, because I can pick up a certified one used at the Toyota lot.

Thanks guys, for all the tips,

Samantha

leo2633 (Jan 12, 2006 5:35 am)
- kumari (Jan 14, 2006 6:27 am)
  - p0926 (Jan 17, 2006 8:54 am)

#1160 of 1193: Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kumari] by leo2633; Jan 12, 2006 (5:35 am)

Replying to: kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:58 am)

Regarding the cargo area of a Forester: I have carried a full size top freezer refrigerator, a full size dishwasher in its shipping crate and several low dressers in the back of my 2001 (not all at the same time of course!). I can also stand several full size garbage cans up in back at the same time. I think juice said he has carried a washer (or dryer) in his as well. It may not fit an tall armoire (but then again, it just might, depending on how you load it in), but it does fit an amazing amount of stuff.

Len

kumari (Jan 14, 2006 6:27 am)
- p0926 (Jan 17, 2006 8:54 am)

#1161 of 1193: Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kumari] by kdshapiro; Jan 12, 2006 (5:45 am)

Replying to: kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:46 am)

"The BMW X3, being a 6 cyl, gets less gas mileage"

Not necessarily, the BMW has a 5th gear overdrive so the engine revs much lower than the XT at highway speeds.

#1162 of 1193: IIHS News Release on Rear Crash Protection in SUVs by p0926; Jan 13, 2006 (12:24 pm)

Subaru Forester is one of only 6 SUVs and the only small SUV to earn a good rating for protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end crashes.

Excerpts from article:

ARLINGTON, VA — Only 6 of the seat/head restraint combinations in 44 current model SUVs are rated good for protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end crashes. None of the seat/head restraint designs in 15 pickup truck models earns a good rating. Overall 4 out of 5 SUV and pickup seat/head restraints recently evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are rated marginal or poor for whiplash protection. This is the first time the Institute has tested SUV and pickup seats using a dummy that can measure forces on the neck during a simulated rear-end crash.

Only the seats in the Ford Freestyle, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover LR3, Subaru Forester, and Volvo XC90 models earn good overall ratings.

"Manufacturer advertising often emphasizes the rugged image of SUVs and pickups," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "However, the Institute's evaluations show seats and head restraints in many models wouldn't do a good job of protecting most people in a typical rear impact in everyday commuter traffic."

Seat/head restraints in the Volvo XC90 and Subaru Forester earn good overall ratings, in part because of their advanced designs that help keep the head and torso moving together in a crash. As an occupant's torso sinks into the Subaru seat during a rear crash, a mechanism in the seatback is designed to push the head restraint up and toward the back of the head.

Full article is here: http://www.highwaysafety.org/news/2006/pr010806.html

-Frank

rsholland (Jan 13, 2006 12:55 pm)

#1163 of 1193: Re: IIHS News Release on Rear Crash Protection in SUVs [p0926] by rsholland; Jan 13, 2006 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Jan 13, 2006 12:24 pm)

Good news indeed Frank. I wished the WRX and WRX Limited had those good head rests. The WRX TR does, however.

Bob

#1164 of 1193: Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [leo2633] by kumari; Jan 14, 2006 (6:27 am)

Replying to: leo2633 (Jan 12, 2006 5:35 am)

Len, RE: the cargo area. I'm amazed you got a refrigerator in there. It barely had the clearance height to accept an airline type XL dog crate and it took up the ENTIRE back area. And this was with the rear seats folded down. I schlepped the damn crate down there to make sure it would fit before deciding on the car. I'm wondering if the 2001 you mention had a higher clearance. Right now, I'm glad I still have my huge, gas-guzzling SUV because I have to schlep a twin sized bed and frame to my mother's house. I'm really gonna miss all that space, but not the lousy gas mileage. And, if I really need the help, my cousin drives a Suburban. LOL

p0926 (Jan 17, 2006 8:54 am)

#1165 of 1193: Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kumari] by p0926; Jan 17, 2006 (8:54 am)

Replying to: kumari (Jan 14, 2006 6:27 am)

FYI, I have one of those airline type extra large dog kennels and it fits in the back of my 04 Forester with the rear seats up (it's tight but it fits). Maybe the brand you have is just that little bit larger?

-Frank

#1166 of 1193: Cargo by ateixeira; Jan 17, 2006 (12:56 pm)

The boxy shape means it's more useful than you might think, mine fit an oversized clothes dryer, box and all, on its side (pic below).

The hatch even closed.

-juice

dstew1 (Jan 18, 2006 8:09 am)
- ateixeira (Jan 18, 2006 1:30 pm)
  - dstew1 (Jan 18, 2006 3:17 pm) and 9 more...

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#1167 of 1193: Re: Cargo [ateixeira] by dstew1; Jan 18, 2006 (8:09 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 17, 2006 12:56 pm)

The squarer cargo area definitely comes in handy. The bulkiest item I've loaded back of my boxy Forester was one of those 95-gallon rolling garbage bins, the kind the city gives residence for solid waste collection. Also the same ones you probably have around your office for confidential documents that will go to be shredded. Like this:

Anyway, plenty of room on the sides but from ceiling to floor was a little snug (the fact that it was stuffed with probably 130 lbs of assorted junk didn't help). The hatch still closed, barely though. If it had been any more angled it wouldn't have shut.

Doug