Smallish SUVs

Lets say between the Jeep liberty, ford escape( and rebadges), suzukis (GV/XL7), and chevy equinox, how wpould these compare. This is all aspects of ownership, but off road capability is big. Thoughts?

Only larger posibility is an Exterra.

I've driven them all as rental cars. No off road experience.

My guess is that the Jeep is going to be hard to beat once the pavement ends.

Nevertheless, for general likability, I'd rank them as follows from best to worst:

Nissan, Ford, Jeep, Suzuki, Chevy

I'd also look at Kia - the Sorrento is easy to get along with and the Sportage isn't a horrible vehicle either.

But if I was shopping for a small SUV, I'd be looking at a CRV or Forrester before any of these.

the place I'm looking does not have any Foresters or CRVs in the price range.

I have already disregarded the escape for the most part. When it firts came out, MT did an article and they wanted an action shot... it ended up being totaly stuck and needed to be towed out.

I also want to be able to tow at least a flat bed lawn equipment trailer. I think any of these should be able to pull it.

edit or i could blow buget away and go for an H3!

Outback.

/thread.

For stupid cheap go for the 90's Jeep Cherokee (the little guy), get the 4.0 HO and it will last forever.

Newer stuff? Toss up between the Xterra (slow and poor mileage, great off-road and very sturdy) and the Suzuki.

Personally? If you want to really go off road or really tow something then get a real truck-thing for cheap and use the remainder to buy a commuter/fun car/Miata. Old School "FSJ" (Full Size Jeep) Wagoneer's can be had in very good condition for under $1500 all day. AMC 360 or 401 will give you a ton of torque, the QuadraTracks, transfer cases, and transmissions are all well supported and tougher than nails, and the axles are solid as a rock. Bonus points for being old enough to skirt emissions and cheap to insure/license.

the Liberty is actually a very capable off roader. Jeep levels of comfort though....no long distance trips in those seats.

Slow? My Xterra does 0-60 in 7.6 seconds. Um. That's fast for a truck.

Of course, it's a bit thirsty. I got 9mpg today towing the enclosed trailer (usually 19)

Per

I vote Xterra As well

Come on, buy the XL-7 and convert it to a Pikes Peak Hill Climber.

Seriously though, if off-road capabilities are a big part, go for the Nissan or the Jeep.

Bob

Only XTerra I ever drove was a 1st Gen with the 4-Cyl, it was slow. When that person traded up to a newer one it was slow too. Otherwise they are great SUV/truck things. I actually quite like them.

Dumb question, does the Jeep Liberty have much offroad capability? I know the Suzuki and the XTerra do.

Also, do the newer Suzukis rust as bad as the old ones?

I commute to work with my sister-in-law, who has an '06 Xterra. Seems to have decent power and handling, a comfortable ride, and from what I've read in several tests, is very capable off-road. Only downside that I see is that the rear seat access and rear-seat room is sub-par for something of that size. Other than that, they seem to be very good vehicles.

DJ

not on the list, but the vehicross is far more capable off road than just about anything out there, and just as capable on road as well. http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/12402/sortby/r/sorttime/9999/way/asc

If you need to tow a bit, the Jeep is perfectly capable. It's rated to 5-6k lbs. It's also great off road.

I tow 4000 lb trailer with my Liberty. No problems. Liberty's have done the Mohab thing. Seats are firm but I don't find them uncomfortable.

924guy wrote: not on the list, but the vehicross is far more capable off road than just about anything out there, and just as capable on road as well. http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/12402/sortby/r/sorttime/9999/way/asc

just don't try to find parts after Isuzu stops selling pass vehicles here this year... :-)

I remember the "four wheeler" review talking about it handling like a rally car and being an absolute blast to drive. Hard to uprgrade for serious use though.. At least, that is what i remember.

btw.. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=43 expo loves the xterra.. the Liberty.. is OK

My younger brother's girlfriend had a 3.3 2WD A/T Xterra, nice truck but it seemed sorta slow. I'd like to try one of the supercharged ones, I bet that would be a cool under 5K gross wt. tow rig.

+1 on the VehiCross being very off road capable. The short wheelbase and short overhang make it very capable indeed. In that same class, a V6 Amigo or Rodeo Sport (the 2 door version) has the same short wheelbase and overhangs.

The Liberty is a conventional 4x4 system, the Escape etc is a FWD wagon with rear wheel drive added as sort of an afterthought. Of the two, I'd say the Liberty is more off road capable but that's not from experience.

Dunno about the 'Zooks or the Eqinox, although I like the Equinox's styling.

Jensenman wrote: My younger brother's girlfriend had a 3.3 2WD A/T Xterra, nice truck but it seemed sorta slow. I'd like to try one of the supercharged ones, I bet that would be a cool under 5K gross wt. tow rig.

that was the first generation Xterra (Ka24de, and three different flavors of 3.3 V6, one with a supercharger IIRC)

the second generation (2005 - now) has a VQ40DE with something like 260 hp.... and comes in an available 6 speed manual.

Maybe it was a 3.0. I just remember being underwhelmed by the acceleration, my Trooper with a 3.2 is a lot quicker.

The reason for the list being what it is, these are what the dealership has in my price range. Full backround details in a week or two if i start a related "what car, DD" thread. One more mid size option, GMC Envoy.

The Envoy is a Trailblazer, one brother has a 6 cylinder version with the usual GM assembly issues that's otherwise been been pretty reliable, although at >100K it popped a CEL with possible tranny implications (jury is still out). Okay on a dirt road but nearly no real off road capability.

Jensenman wrote: The Envoy is a Trailblazer, one brother has a 6 cylinder version with the usual GM assembly issues that's otherwise been been pretty reliable, although at >100K it popped a CEL with possible tranny implications (jury is still out). Okay on a dirt road but nearly no real off road capability.

The whole halfshaft through oil pan situation makes me uneasy with these vehicles.

It is weird looking but AFAIK it hasn't generated any problems.

Jensenman wrote: It is weird looking but AFAIK it hasn't generated any problems.

I know... but still.. WEIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After owning a couple "cute utes" I have to say 01-08 Grand Vitara hands down. We had an 01, drove 29 hours straight through from Indianapolis to Tucson with a 3'x3'x2' table strapped to the roof, the wife and I, both dogs(one in a large crate). Once there, we drove up to Vegas, came back through Jerome/Sedona. . . the BACK way. Orr-roading for 4 hours. Then drove the 1700 miles home.

Wife hada Rav4 that cost a fortune to keep running that couldn't do squat off road. The Grand Vitara was the opposite. Every suspension link is a tubular bar (unlike the flimsy stamped steel pieces on the Liberty), 'yota truck style rear axle, huge suspension travel and amazing approach and departure angles.

I would buy another 01-06 GV from 'Zuk in a heartbeat.