What Small SUV Would You Buy?

Acura RDX

Audi Q5

BMW X3

Chevrolet Equinox

Dodge Nitro

Ford Escape

Honda CR-V

Hyundai Tucson

Jeep Liberty

Mazda Tribute

Mercedes GLK350

Mercury Mariner

Mitsubishi Outlander

Nissan Rogue

Saturn Vue

Subaru Forester

Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota RAV4

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volvo XC60

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/

Which Small SUV Would You Buy?

Acura RDX 8% (796 votes)
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Audi Q5 21% (2131 votes)
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BMW X3 6% (563 votes)
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Chevrolet Equinox 9% (883 votes)
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Dodge Nitro 1% (132 votes)
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Ford Escape 7% (688 votes)
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Honda CR-V 5% (531 votes)
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Hyundai Tucson 1% (96 votes)
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Jeep Liberty 2% (241 votes)
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Mazda Tribute 0% (35 votes)
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Mercedes GLK350 5% (527 votes)
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Mercury Mariner 1% (68 votes)
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Mitsubishi Outlander 8% (826 votes)
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Nissan Rogue 2% (230 votes)
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Saturn Vue 1% (116 votes)
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Subaru Forester 8% (805 votes)
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Suzuki Grand Vitara 1% (63 votes)
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Toyota RAV4 5% (558 votes)
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Volkswagen Tiguan 4% (384 votes)
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Volvo XC60 5% (544 votes)
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OK so the Q5 -- arguably a very cool ride -- takes first by a wide margin. Speed, handling, style. I can live with that.

So what's in second -- a Government Motors Equinox!!! What's that, the retirement home vote?

 

Polls like this NEVER take cost into consideration.

Sure I'd buy a Q5---If I wanted to spend $50000.

Thats why I bought an RDX....best of everything. You get just about every feature possible on a small SUV for UNDER $38000.

No BMW, Audi, Infiniti, MB, or Lexus can get you all that an RDX Tech has for under $45000! (Trust me I looked!)

Some people are NAME buyers...they only want to buy a BMW for the name and could care less about anything else. Most of us RDX buyers are the opposite...we want everything and Acura gives us that at a good price point. Acura is trying to get their name up there with BMW and MB, but they just are not there yet. I can say that based upon so much feedback from friends who still are in the mindset that BMW and MB are still the top dog.

 

...the 2010 Equinox is a pretty slick truck, it reeealy struck me by surprise, like, wow.

also..i know this is off topic, but how about the upcoming BUICK LACROSSE! WHAT! i guess it takes a market collapse and bankruptcy for american companies to do this stuff

 

Buicks actually looks good now! I know amazing for a 29 year old guy to say that!

Also the Equinox does look sharp too...but to get all the bells and whistles it was in the upper 30's...I just can't pay that much for a Chevy SUV.

 

If im spending 50k, it certainly wouldnt be on a truck that offers a little more room than a car, slower than a car, etc you see where that thought is heading lol...50K im driving something in a whole diff ballpark than a SMALL SUV. Maybe a larger one like the Cheyenne etc

the thing with MB/BMW heads is the same with Porsche, Lambo, F car guys...its more than just the actual car, the fact that some particular model is at the top of its class (lets just say that the RDX is the best compared to the X3 - price not a factor) that really doesnt mean anything quite honestly. Its about heritage, history, owning into the brand, kind of like how you follow your favorite music group - u r buying the CD because they are who they are, not necessarily because 1 disc is better than the other. People buy into these brands for many other tangible and intagible reasons. Simply put, you go out and buy a BMW 5 series. there is no thought to this process, there is no let me compare it to an Acura etc, it doesnt matter what reports say. "Just go buy a bimmer" and thats what people do, the ones that can do it. There is no way, not even close, Acura will be at that level, at least not within the next 10 + years. (looking at Hyundai, it took them what? like 10+ years to even earn a bit a respect, regardless of their cars).

Acura, simply put, is no where near the lineage of motor sports like MB or BMW. You can say well, Honda has been around since the late 60's in America, so, etc etc...but its just not the same. The NSX did wonders for Acura, but where the hell is it now, created history and evaporated. Those german brands will be on top of professional opinion, public opinion, for many reasons other than building a true segment/model leader. And the proof is there, if people actually cared about resale/reliability, value (like Acura's new commercial with the grilles) then i would guess that Acura would be crushing the lux competition.

Acuras gotta do a 360 from Honda, earn its own respect across the model line, and lay it down on the road...until then they will just be more expensive honda's to many many people, and that is a sale hard to justify, especially to an MB/BMW/german lux jap customer, and certainly to any enthusiast

 

...that opinion is based on comparing Acura to the german brands...not Acura itself (as a value leader/all the reasons why many of us love Acura etc)

 

i think the fact that the RDX is so agile and fun to drive is what sets it apart from all the other ones listed above.

i'm sure you've all seen the bud light commercials where they emphasize the difference between their beer and the rest is drinkability? i totally think there should be one for the RDX where it says the difference between RDX and the rest is "drivability"

 

I like that...Drivability!

The RDX 100% wins that hands down against all small SUVs!

 

So the cliff notes are that people are morons when they buy cars and forget that it is a really just another product that costs money.

 

+1

 

I think the Q5 has the RDX beat in that - and keep in mind, the X3 has beat an RDX in a comparo before as well - though both are more costly.

 

not really...because this is the main poiint...its NOT just another car, or another product costing money,..everyone has their fav stuff that you will throw down cash on no matter what, be it audio, video, cars, clothing labels, that are way more expensive than the less expensive brand, you may even know the cheaper version is "better" but you dont buy the generic right?...some of my friends guard their "cars" like its their child...but rightfully so, BMW M/MB AMG, Audi S, and higher like lambo or F cars, its not just another car lol....as far as im concerned, yea, Acura is the great value, resale, a true consumers best buy - but the Acura shopper couldnt be more different than someone buying the German lux brands or even a lexus...it happens with all things - you go from your boom box to a bose system (please leave the 'bose sux' argument out of this - im just saying it for names sake) or you went from fake oakleys to Dior's, i mean cmon. Are the premium products truley better than less expensive? who knows, and frankly, who CARES, cuz thats not the point.

its just not another product costing money at the tier 1 level - anyone spending 40, 50k + on a vehicle in most cases will not treat it like they just bought a civic...what Acura is is just another Honda costing more money (which may be a GREAT thing to people, especially alot on this board) but its pretty pathetic when you compare Acura to the true tier 1 brands, true tier 1 buyers, Acura is just not a player to the lux spenders, yet, and their vehicles are not respected in basically any enthusiast circle...a new moster TL SHAWD with a sticker of 40, 43k w/summer tires has come in last place against basically every other car in its segment. So Acura tells us to buy it because its reliable? thats really not the big selling point at this level.

cliff note: if Acura wants to be respected, and snag buyers from real tier 1 companies, they must realize its NOT just a car to many people - its a lifestyle, a statement, a hobby, a passion...all of which Acura currently lacks

 

The issue to me is that the car itself is often lagging - which is the most important thing. Acura always sends me there "rich guy" magazine with fancy resorts, wine tips, golfing spots etc.

The last gen TL was a big hit - it was still FWD, but it was pretty competitive and well made/finished. All it seems like they did on the revamp was make it bigger and offer AWD. The size thing was not required.

To compete with the teir 1 companies, the product needs to be there first. Infiniti seems to have that part down, Lexus is good at it as well - though they seem to cater to different crowds. The TL most closely competes with a Maxima - and oddly, the Maxima offers more options/luxury in FWD trim. The TSX sells mostly on price.

I understand making it into a lifestyle (Just got back from the BMW Welt/Museum in Munich), but does anyone think a TSX or TL really competes with a 3 or 5 series?

The reason the RDX competed with the X3 is because the X3 is fairly dated and is overpriced. I think it's still based on the E46 3 series. The MDX seems to be Acura's best overall product.

 

yep...agree on all counts...Acura can do and say what they want, but it ultimately comes down to the product, and its so very far away from being competitive with the real players

 

and i think the fact that the BMW - being SO old, and still doing as well or better, speaks volumes regardless of price...

 

Yes, Acura buyers are smart, they do their research, they want performance and reliability for their auto dollar. Acura buyer's view MB/Audi/BMW buyers with scepticism. Acura buyers can prove that the German crowd didn't spend wisely.Here's what Acura people don't quite get. The flashy German crowd just doesn't care that much! It's only 50 or 80 or 120 grand. That's peanuts. I'm only keeping it a few years. It's in the shop more but it's under warranty. I can afford to take the resale hit. Geez you Acura types are too anal.

 

If you don't care, why would you bother justifying your non-Acura purchase to an Acura forum and then call them anal?

I agree though, buy what you want and who cares what other people think. But it seems like you care about what people here think.

 

Apparently my sarcasm is a little too subtle.

 

ahh... ok. sorry. maybe a roll eyes would help.

 

I can't believe anyone even voted for the Dodge Nitro. What a stupid looking vehicle.

Out of all of those, it would be between the RDX and Q5 for me. However, I don't trust Audi reliability, and the price is too high for me. So RDX it is.

 

i need to take the Q5 for a spin and report back

 

my mom was in the market for a small suv and we went and test drove a Q5 (she ended up buying the GLK but that's a different story).

to me, the Q5 is smooth as silk, but it still lacks the fun fact, it's just not as agile and fun to drive as the RDX. so once again, i would still pick the RDX based on drivability.

 

the Q5 has just got nothing....... it has the "german" bragging rights to those that care, that's it......

engine is smooth, but completely uninspiring... not to mention that engine is not proving well at this time.... cylinder wall issues are coming up on the 3.2fsi engine.........

 

the on paper numbers from C&D Test Sheets - the RDX & Q5 almost look like a tie. The RDX has .84 lat g, Q .83, Q brakes better by about 8 ft, RDX is quieter by about 2 DBs, accel to 60 is basically a tie, RDX being a few tenths quicker @30,40,50 - but where the 4 cyl shows its weakness is basically a no brainer , after about 70, it runs out of breath and the V6 Q owns it. But judging purely at the numbers, they look like identical outfits, except one gives you a premium treatment. Whats that worth to ya!?

http://www.caranddriver.com/content/..._sh_com_ts.pdf

http://www.caranddriver.com/content/...le/AudiQ53.pdf

 

wish i could test drive a Q5, in the end i think for the price i would still prefer an RDX, probably an 09 to my 07, but i like the RDX even after 60k on it. Still runs great, no problems what so ever.