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Crossover SUV Comparison

7122 messages,  Last post on Nov 09, 2009 at 1:24 PM

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What is this discussion about? GMC Acadia, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Taurus X, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Honda Accord Crosstour, Dodge Journey, Car Buying, Car Comparisons, SUV

#6776 of 7122 Brazilian autos by coldcranker Sep 05, 2008 (7:12 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 05, 2008 2:05 pm) Besides the EcoSport, Brazil will be making crossovers and other vehicles soon. They already have Embraer, an aircraft manufacturer, and Brazil also just discovered a huge quantity of oil off the coast, so money will be pouring in to help an auto manufacturer build another plant there.   Does Ford market the Freestyle/TaurusX in Brazil? That EcoSport looks like it would do well in the U.S., similar to Ford's Escape, a least a little bit. Wikipedia says the EcoSport is selling well inside Brazil. A lot of countries like Australia I know, and maybe Brazil, place a lot of value on body-on-frame tougher vehicles like what Jeep does in the U.S. instead of the expensive unit-body vehicles. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Sep 08, 2008 7:18 am)
#6777 of 7122 Re: Brazilian autos [coldcranker] by ateixeira Sep 08, 2008 (7:18 am)
Replying to: coldcranker (Sep 05, 2008 7:12 pm) No, I think it would be too big to do much volume there.   The Fiesta does well, and the Focus. The Fusion is very low volume but it's offered. That gives you an idea what's in demand, mostly subcompacts and compacts.   The EcoSport was a break-out hit, though. It's the best-selling "utilitario", which basically means any thing that isn't a car. It's based on the Fiesta, so it's pretty tiny. It looks like a scaled down Escape.   I think a crossover the size of an Escape would stand a chance, but the T-X would just be too big and costly.   I did the math last time I visited, and gasoline comes out to roughly $6.12 per gallon. Diesel is just $4.83 per, but it's not the low-sulfur variety.   They sell Ethanol for just $4.14 per gallon, so vehicles capable of running on flex-fuel, i.e. gas or ethanol, are in demand now.   It's a very different market, obviously. Cars are priced much higher, as is the fuel, so you can choose between two sizes: small and smaller.
#6778 of 7122 Rogue by mega1gator Sep 13, 2008 (12:26 pm)
I am getting 33 MPG with my 2008 Rouge, fully loaded doewn so long as I keep it at 60 MPH and just at 2000 RPM! Replies to this message: ateixeira (Sep 15, 2008 7:32 am) coldcranker (Sep 15, 2008 7:53 pm) ateixeira (Sep 16, 2008 11:33 am) coldcranker (Sep 16, 2008 7:45 pm) and 1 more...
#6779 of 7122 Re: Rogue [mega1gator] by ateixeira Sep 15, 2008 (7:32 am)
Replying to: mega1gator (Sep 13, 2008 12:26 pm) That's great. What's the lowest ratio on that CVT? And the final drive? Must be geared very tall.   We can break 30 on our Forester as well, also by keeping speeds down. Problem is, limits are 65 in some places, and everyone else is moving a lot faster.   Here's a euro-only (for now) Forester diesel:   http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2008/09/subaru-selects-forester-europe-- only-sorry-for-beefier-cleaner-new-diesel.html   38.5mpg on the european cycle, but it won't meet CARB standards without AdBlue urea injections.
#6780 of 7122 Re: Rogue [mega1gator] by coldcranker Sep 15, 2008 (7:53 pm)
Replying to: mega1gator (Sep 13, 2008 12:26 pm) mega1gator: "I am getting 33 MPG with my 2008 Rouge, fully loaded doewn so long as I keep it at 60 MPH and just at 2000 RPM! "   I don't want to brag (oh wait, yes I do...), but my Freestyle does 60 mph at 1600 rpm. The Freestyle's CVT wide rang of ratios are:    Low ratio: 2.47:1    High ratio: 0.41:1  Final Drive Ratio: 4.98:1 See Freestyle list of specs .. click here   Come to think of it, I seem to remember my previous minivans would do about 2000 or so at 60 mph, so I don't think thats too exciting in the Rogue. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Sep 16, 2008 11:33 am) coldcranker (Sep 16, 2008 7:45 pm) ateixeira (Sep 17, 2008 10:27 am)
#6781 of 7122 Re: Rogue [coldcranker] by ateixeira Sep 16, 2008 (11:33 am)
Replying to: coldcranker (Sep 15, 2008 7:53 pm) That's very tall gearing, and should be good for economy, but remember the Rogue only burns 2.5 liters of air/fuel mix each revolution of the crank.   Plus we'd have to look at how rich (or lean) that mixture had to be to carry that load, and the Rogue is lighter. If you have a trip computer and set your cruise control you can see how the mileage numbers drop when you're going uphill, and climb while you drive downhill, all due to the lean or rich fuel mix.   RPM is just one factor.   Let's look at an example. Compare a Corvette to the Enclave.   Corvette has ultra-tall gearing and great aerodynamics and weighs 1700 lbs less than the Buick, yet EPA highway figures are the same. Huh?   Why? Displacement.   Each revolution of the crank it's sucking in nearly double the air/fuel mix, and you can't go too lean else you'll torch the pistons in your 'vette.   The Rogue will simply get better mileage on the highway, naturally, as it should. Replies to this message: coldcranker (Sep 16, 2008 7:45 pm) ateixeira (Sep 17, 2008 10:27 am)
#6782 of 7122 Re: Rogue [ateixeira] by coldcranker Sep 16, 2008 (7:45 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 16, 2008 11:33 am) Sounds OK, except for the comments on lean and rich. The engine doesn't stray too far from stoichiometric under any conditions, since emissions are tightly controlled. Lean and rich refer to the air/fuel ratio at any given time, and that is nearly constant. As the butterfly throttle valve opens up inside the air intake, allowing more air in, the fuel injectors allow more fuel to flow, keeping air/fuel ratio constant no matter the road conditions.   A vehicle's highway MPG is governed greatly by how much aero drag it has to push through, and how close to the peak torque point it can operate at, where its most efficient, as pumping losses in the air intake are lowest there. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Sep 17, 2008 10:27 am)
#6783 of 7122 Re: Rogue [coldcranker] by ateixeira Sep 17, 2008 (10:27 am)
Replying to: coldcranker (Sep 16, 2008 7:45 pm) Yeah, I guess it's using more air and more fuel to climb up a hill, though RPMs don't usually change.   When you have a Trip Computer and get bored on a long trip, you pay attention to things like that.
#6784 of 7122 Rogue towing by psfod3 Sep 17, 2008 (7:38 pm)
I am about to get a 09 Rogue. I have a small boat with engine that I would like to tow. I have seen to specs one stateing a 1000lbs limit and another set at1500lbs. Does anyone know which is correct. I have never seen a Rogue with a hitch. I have only seen one Murano with a hitch even though it is rated at 3500lbs. I am wondering if there is a issue with the cvt that makes it unsuitable for towing. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Sep 18, 2008 6:51 am)
#6785 of 7122 Re: Rogue towing [psfod3] by ateixeira Sep 18, 2008 (6:51 am)
Replying to: psfod3 (Sep 17, 2008 7:38 pm) This is an educated guess, but...   It's probably 1000 lbs limit with no trailer brakes, and 1500 lbs when your trailer is equipped with trailer brakes.   Problem is, small trailers often do not have trailer brakes.   Funny thing is this is in the small print for even some full sized trucks!   I don't think the 1000 lb limit has anything to do with the CVT, especially since the Murano has a CVT and can pull 3500 lbs.

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