Tell Me About Your Favorite Small/midsize SUV

I considered most of these cars as well but ultimately decided on the Hyundai Santa Fe which I bought in 2004 and still have. I think it is a great car and would highly recommend it!! I liked the price and the warranty that came with it!!
D.

I just read an article last week on Yahoo news that the Honda CRV was the best small SUV and that the Honda Pilot was the best large SUV. I believe it because I've been driving my Honda Fit now for almost 2 years, and I love it! It's better than any American car that I've ever had, and I was big on buying American before but not anymore. I'm tired of American cars breaking down and not having the best mpg. So if I were you, I'd seriously look into the Honda CRV.

I love my GMC Acadia as well. I have had it 2 1/2 years and still love it and I usually get tired of cars easily. It is very roomy and comfortable. Others have told me the back row is much more comfortable than other SUVs they have been in.

We have a Honda Element that I LOVE, and a Subaru Forester that my husband thinks is the most fun SUV to drive. The Element only seats 4, but it works great with our one child, and dogs. The Forester will seat 5, and he has the turbo, so it's a great, fun, safe car.

What an awesome car the Mitsubishi endeavor is! It would be a great choice for someone wanting a quintessential family hauler! I think the warranties offered by Mitsubishi endeavor are the longest in is class, which make it technically the safest and reliable car in the affordable midsized SUVs market!Mazda CX-7 has more fuel economy of 20/28 mpg compared to Endeavor's 15/21 mileage on highways,but if you want a performance powertrain which outlasts others, then Endeavor is your call! It moves are fabulous! The V6 engine and the automatic transmission deliver smoothe and clean moves! The ride
on the pavements is comfortable! The overall performance is on par with others in its league, so what makes this sedan stand out is its 10 year warranty of 1,00,000 mile V6 engine!
http://www.exploreauto.net/2010-mitsubishi-endeavor-revie...

I have a 2006 Toyota Rav4 with the optional 3rd row seating and I LOVE it! It drives like a car and I can fit 6 passengers, although they are usually small passengers. The 3rd row flips down for storage very easily, I can do it with one hand (and usually do!). Even with the 3rd row up for seating, there is a deep pocket for storage that easily packs duffle bags, back packs or whatever your passengers are carrying.

I've had regular maintenance performed and there were a few issues that were covered under warranty.

Loved the CRV---test drove it a year ago and loved it so much!
Had a few financial concerns come up right after that and I am making my Camry last another year or 2, but when I replace it, I'm going CRV!

We have the Chevy Equinox as well as a Nissan Quest Van. It started out as my car (traded in my Honda sports car) when we had our first daughter. Then #2 came along with car-pooling so now my husband drives the Equinox to work every day. Gas milage is good. Drives really nice. We have had the Equinox for 6 years now and have not had one problem. (knock on wood) We did buy the AWD which is a little tough to get use to. Great for bad, snowy weather but can be tough parking in parking lots sometimes. I would recommend the Equinox but maybe not the AWD. Test drive it first and go to a busy shopping parking lot.

I have just recently turned in a Mazda cx-7 lease. I did enjoy the turbo engine. It felts like a sports car, but it was small. An average size adult cannot fit between 2 car seats in the back seat. We just bought a Toyota Sequoia, which is more than double the size, and we are much happier!

LOVE my Gmc Acadia! I have 3 full size carseats in it and we have room for an extra friend or 2.

I'm not sure about the CX-7 but I have a Mazda CX-9 and love it! It's very roomy but drives like a car. The backseat is comfortable for long trips. Also, before I had the CX-9 I had a Nissan Murano for 3 1/2 years and really liked it as well. I drove ALOT when I had the Murano and NEVER had any problems with it. If you are wanting something a little smaller than the CX-9, then the Murano is a good small SUV.

We have had our Honda CRV since 2003, and it's about to turn over 100,000 miles. I have really liked it for ease of use - since it's an SUV, it rides higher, which is nice for driving and to put the kids in and out. But unlike the huge SUV, it's maneuverable. They also have a lot more options than they did in 2003, for leather seats and such. However, my husband says he's not going to buy a Honda again after this one, because of the number of times we've had to get it repaired. Shortly after we got it a small pebble must have flown through the front grille and happened to hit the A/C line, causing an expensive visit to the dealer that wasn't covered under warranty. We've had to have the brakes fixed and several other things that were fairly large cost. You might want to look more to the Toyota options. Anyway, my 2 cents! Good luck - it's a hard decision!

we have a crv and it is great. the most reliable suv out of everyone i know i drive a lot, around town and across state trips.
it is definitely reliable, drives like a car and great on gas cause it is only a four cylinder. i will be honest though it is very simple. if you want luxury don't go with a crv, they don't have all the bells and whistles other vechicles have. if you just want reliable, priced well, and good on gas, go with the crv.

I currently drive a 2010 Honda CRV and I absolutely LOVE it!!! Great gas mileage, extremely safe, and not overly massive like some SUV's. Good luck to you in your quest to find the perfect vehicle for you and your family!

Tucson has been a good choice for us, ours is a 2006

We have a Ford Edge and I absolutely love it. I was very against getting an SUV for various reasons. Mostly because I am not comfortable driving big vehicles. It really feels like you are driving a car. There is nothing about it that I don't like. The trunk is pretty big too. One thing that I LOVE about it, is that the back seat is flat, there isn't that hump in the middle. That makes for so much more storage room. We throw the stroller on the bottom of the back seat when we have a bunch of stuff in the trunk.

You should look at the GMC Acadia. We have had it for 2.5yrs and we love ours! We have taken it on many road trips. Best vehicle I have ever owned. I have a 16yr old and a 2.5yr old and they both are very comfortable in it. We have the captain chairs in the back, which is perfect to put a cooler, bags, etc. in the middle where you can access them from all seats. Good luck on your search!

I've always been a Honda girl and really wanted a Pilot when my daughter was born and I sadly had to give up my 2-door Accord....until I drove a GMC Acadia. Love, love LOVE the Acadia. We've had it 2 years now and I still love it. It's just the right size for our (now) family of 4, has a third row for the rare occasion we have some one else riding with us. It's comfortable, more "plush" inside than the Pilot and my favorite part is the remote on/off. You can cool the car off before you put your kids in it which is important in this Texas heat! I recommend looking into it.

I've had my Hyundai Santa Fe Limited for 3 years now and still love it! We traded our Mazda Tribute in for it. The Tribute was ok too but the door locks never stayed locked and Mazda didn't want to deal with it so we sold it. Our Santa Fe has been wonderful. It has all the bells and whistles. I plan to drive it till it dies. I get regular oil changes and maintance. We would have gotten the 3 row Hyundai but it didn't fit in our garage. That was the deal breaker LOL.

i like ford escape ...i like the murano but it needs a lot of gas

We have a Kia Sportage... very economical, roomy etc. Leased it in 2005 and the lease is up in Feb, we're going to buy it out or upgrade to a newer model, have never had any issues with it. I know it's not on your list but you should check it out... great if budget is a concern!

Well, I have a Chevy Trail Blazer and I love it..........it drives great and I think its awesome.....I've driven the Equinox, it was too small for me, but it was nice too........I know someone who has a Murrano and loves it a lot......

Good luck and make sure you are willing to walk away to get a good deal.........take care.

A Honda CRV is a great investment! I have a 1997 CRV that runs so well and is in such great condition. A friend of ours bought our 1997 Honda Accord and it still runs wonderfully. You just cannot go wrong with a Honda!

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the GMC Acadia. I LOVE my car! I have had the top of the line cars and got a new car every 3 to 4 years all my single life. Once I got married and had kids, I scaled down my wants and focused on needs. I have had my Acadia for 2 1/2 years, it has everything I want AND need....AND I want to buy it once our lease is over. That's so not like me! But I really love my car and want to keep driving it. Check it out!

I liked the look of the Mazda cx7 but I found it very high. I could get in and out of it in shorts and flats but can not imagine doing so in heels and a skirt with out exposing myself. I think we will look at it again when my husband needs a vehicle because he liked the way it drove and looked. Good luck on your search.

I just got a hyundai santa fe for my growing family. Love love love it. Best bang for your buck. They have above average service ratings and the best warranty out there. The warranty is important if you keep your cars a long time. Good luck!

I have a 2010 Mazda CX-9 and LOVE it. Drives like a dream and fun to drive, they've thought of everything. Seats adjust easily and are very comfortable front and back (I spend a lot of time nursing in the back lol), phone bluetooth connects instantly, great stereo, intuitive controls, love the console design. Our mechanic discouraged the Nissans. My vote goes for the Mazda or Honda (have had an Acura before, loved it too).

Here's a review for the Chevy Traverse. I don't know if that's one of your choices, but it's a review from a blogger's perspective who got to drive it on a road trip for a week.
http://www.screweduptexan.com/2010/07/2010-chevy-traverse...

I have been driving a '07 Toyota Highlander hybrid now for a couple of years. I used to have a Chevy Tahoe, so I can talk on both. The great thing about the smaller SUV is that it's not quite so massive and does get WAY BETTER gas mileage. I can drive about 150 miles further on a tank of gas than I could with my Tahoe. My highlander also has a third row seat, which was nice when my kids were smaller. However, now that they are a little bigger it's really of no use! One child can sit back there comfortably but not 2, not enough space. That was the only benefit to have the Tahoe, there was more room for more kiddos. So there are benefits to both but I still love my highlander regardless of the third row situation.

I have had a Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer but just recently I bought a Honda Pilot. I love my Honda better than anything I've ever owned. On a side note one of my friends has a Hyundai Sante Fe and hasn't had problems with it.

We have a 2008 Tuscon and LOVE IT!!! The only problem is that it is a little to small, we have an 18 month old, I babysit a 3 month old, and I'm preggo again. The double stroller fits in the back, but I have to put it in a certian way or it won't go it.
I'm 99% sure we are going to upgrade slightly to the Santa Fe. It is just enough of a size difference without being too big.

I used to have a hyundai Accent (little two door car) before getting preggo. I was rearended on the highway going 80 miles an hour (slowing down) by a camery and all I needed was a new muffler the other car was totaled. Thankfully everyone was fine. After the accident I don't think we will buy any other type of car but Hyundai. The price is awesome, the cars are fantastic, and no one can top their warrenty.

My husband and I own 2 Hyyndai Tuscons and we love them. Not too big, not too small. Comfortable & easy to drive and manuever. They turn around in a very small space too. We've had them for about 4 years now and we love them. I believe they are somewhere in the 20K range. We plan to keep ours for a long time too, so that was a factor. The warantee was also good.

You did not have it on your list but I have had my Ford Edge for 3 years now and it is great. No problems at all and I have around 55000 miles on it.

Anything Mazda or Honda. I know you only said the CR-V, but we have a Pilot and LOVE it! It's big but not massive and drives like a breeze!

My friends sister was just in a terrible roll over accident on the highway (so going over 60mph) in her Santa Fe and walked away from it with only bruises. She rolled several times and hit the guardrail (almost going over). I've never considered that particular car myself but will next time we're in the market. Good luck!

I have a Ford Edge and love it. I didn't see where you had looked at that one. Go look and decide for yourself.

I have a vw tiguan and absolutely love it, but it may be out of your price range. It is cute, compact and tons of safety.

I have a 2011 Kia Sorento and love it but as all the reviews say little bumpy when roads are rough. My mom Loves Hyunandi. I tried Equinox and did not like it as much. Honda seats were too hard for me. Hyuandi has a lot of ownership in Kia but I did read Hyuandi is better after the fact. G. W

I also vote for the GMC Acadia. I have had mine for 2 years now and LOVE it. It is a crossover on a car frame and is front wheel drive, which is safer than most rear wheel drive SUVs. I have 2 children and bought the one with captains chairs in the middle row and absolutly LOVE it. I can move around in the car if I need to on long road trips or the kids can stand and stretch while we are pumping gas safely. The thrid row is also easy to pull up and fold down and fits 3 people comfortably. Happy hunting!

I have a 2008 Honda CRV. It is wonderful! It rides really nice, not as loud as the older models. We are Honda people in our family. They are known for their reliability and they hold their value so well!! I feel safe in it with my 5 year old and 9 month old. I don't think I could fit another kiddo in a carseat in the backseat though. So for one or two kids- I'd go with the CRV. It has some nice features for families. Like cup holders in all the doors besides the ones in the middle armrest. The fabric wears well. I like how the seats adjust. I also like the extra mirror (which is also a compartment for sunglasses) you can use to keep an eye on the kids. I don't think you'd be disappointed.

It's not on your list, but I have a Toyota RAV4. I bought it in 2007 and it has almost 70K miles on it. I've only had to do regular maintenance, no repairs at all! It has alot of storage space and is comfortable. My only complaint is that if you want to put a car seat in the rear center then you essentially have only one other seat in the back.

I had a Honda CR-V and drove it for 7 years, had over 100K miles on it and got $4,000 for my trade in. I would have driven it longer but we added another child to our family upping the total to 3 and the CR-V wasn't quite wide enough for 3 car seats. I traded it in for a Pilot which I have had for 4 years and love! It seats 8 passengers more than most minivans. Of course the far back seat is only comfortable for children but that's usually who we are lugging around. I love Hondas. They are super reliable and handle well.

I'm in the market for a new car too. I happened to rent a Hyundai Sante Fe the other day and my husband said it sounded like it was having transmission issues (car only had 20,000 miles) was running rough (eg maybe needed oil) and was running on the warmer side. That being said people are harder on rentals so I'm not sure if that is an accurate picture.

I'd have to say I was impressed with the Mazda dealership. they said come back anytime to test drive a car - you can take it over night and they NEVER called me or pressured me into making a decision (like the VW dealership did - very annoying).

look forward to reading the other responses :)