What small SUV is the "best" under $25,000

[Corn-Picker]

My father is looking at small SUVs under $25,000. He's looking at the Toyota RAV4, Geo Tracker (I hate these POS's), and the Honda CRV. He does do a little offroad traveling. Which of these SUVs is best when the pavement ends? I've heard a nasty rumor in the SUV thread that the CRV has 3 open diffs

[SubEd]

I love our Forester off road. But it's not on your list.

[Remy E. LeBeau]

Mazda Tribute!

[QuikLegacy]

Don't touch the CRV, garbage. I'd take a look at the Liberty 4WD. It's the only mini SUV I'd consider for under 25 grand.

-Faast

[b_tapper]

Ummm...they all Suck

Get an OBS or Forester
A jeep wrangler
Spend a little more on a Land Rover Freelander


but if you must....

The tracker is by far the best, has body on frame construction, a real truck suspension, and a real 4wd system..it's not a sissy car based sport ute

[Corn-Picker]

Originally posted by SubEd
I love our Forester off road. But it's not on your list.

It's not my list, it's my fathers. I told my dad get a Subaru, but he's not that smart, he doesn't learn from his mistakes. This is the same man who I told to buy a Toyota pickup used for $4000 instead of the Jeep Commanche he bought for $3200 because it had "low mileage"; he's since put $3000+ into the jeep in an engine, transmission, etc... He refuses to look at Subarus, he says they cost too much and don't have any ground clearance.

[micah]

SORENTO!!

Nice warranty, nice build quality (really!), nice interior, and it's a real truck.

[FunkerVogt]

Originally posted by Frankie Flowers
Mazda Tribute!

I second that; or it's sister the Ford Escape. However, I'd get a Jeep Liberty before either of them.

[SubEd]

Originally posted by FunkerVogt


I second that; or it's sister the Ford Escape. However, I'd get a Jeep Liberty before either of them.

Really? All my research says too heavy for the engine.

[FunkerVogt]

Originally posted by SubEd


Really? All my research says too heavy for the engine.

The Escape? With the 4 cylinder yes, but with the 6 it's a different story.

[SubEd]

No, the Jeep.

[JC]

Originally posted by micah
SORENTO!!

Nice warranty, nice build quality (really!), nice interior, and it's a real truck.

I agree! It would certainly be my choice at that price point. A real off-roader and a nice truck to boot.

I don't think a CRV has three open diffs, just two. Either way off-roading one is asking for trouble. However, I have a feeling your dad's idea of off-roading is a gravel road so it should be fine.

Trackers would be best of the three off-road, but I doubt reliability is strong.

RAV4s, same as the CRV. Weak in real off-road, but fine for a dirt road.

IIRC, the Forester has more ground clearance than a CRV or RAV4 BTW.

JC

[JC]

Originally posted by SubEd
Really? All my research says too heavy for the engine.

It's certainly no screamer, but I think it can keep up with traffic just fine.

JC

[DeClerq]

My wife's got a RAV4 and it's way underpowered (especially with an automatic). It struggles to get up little mountains in West VA.
Can't comment on the off-roadability since it never goes there. For under $25K I'd go with the Liberty. For a little over $25K I'd go with a supercharged Xterra.

[Mr Cheese]

is safety a consideration? (amazingly its not for some people)


check out the escapes crash test results...not good

[keithja]

reliable, superb in the snow, good gas mileage, lots of room (especially compared to the RAV)...highly recommended!!!!! Keith

[Corn-Picker]

Is the Forestor 3 LSDs, or 2 LSDs and open front diff?

Also my dad was saying something about positive traction Is that some kind of hillbilly term for limited slip differential?

[RidinLow]

Positraction... 1960's or musclecar for LSD.

[Corn-Picker]

Ok I see the forestor is rear LSD only in the XS or better series, so the front must still be open

[doppelganger]

Does your father do a lot of serious offroading? If not, tell him to stop with the SUV fad. He would be much better off with a WRX. Too small??? Tell him to buy a Madza6. Mini utes don't offer anything worthwhile of their cost, unless he drives on a lot of muddy rugged trials which I seriously doubt. And even if he doe, most small utes can't even do that well.

[keithja]

posi-track is limited slip.

This is a drawback on the CRV...it does not have limited slip. If both tires on one side slip you a screwed. That is why it is great on paved roads or gravel roads...but ain't too good off-road. But since I don't off road, it works for me. I have driven in a lot of snow. I also have taught to teens to drive in it. I took both out TRYING to get stuck in the snow with it but couldn't. I had to go home and switch car to show them 2 wheel drive short-comings in the snow.

The CRV is a great all-around small SUV. My second choice would be the Sante Fe by Hyund. (I thing that is the name). The RAV is super but too small. The Liberty's ride sucks, too rough. The Escape/Tribute are second rate compared to Honda and Toyota. My two cents!!! Like I said, I have two CRV's, one WRX, and one Town & Country Mini Van (two teenage driver's, my wife and I).

[TeeWReX]

You didn't list it, but it's under $25K, and it is lumped in with the "mini-SUV" group, although no self-respecting owner would ever call it that.

Jeep Wrangler. No question.



And "positraction" or "Posi" as it's more commonly known is a term for limited slip. Try mattsauto.com for more automotive terminology basics.

"A positraction differential is a special traction differential. Its purpose is to improve the way your differential performs under adverse conditions. When one wheel starts to slip, these differentials transfer the torque to the wheel that is not slipping. The car can then continue to go forward. There are several different kinds of positraction differentials, but all of them are based on a friction device to provide resistance to normal differential operation.

A positraction differential provides better traction, which is handy when roads are slippery. It also lends itself to fast acceleration.

One type uses four differential pinions instead of two, with two pinion shafts. It also uses a series of four clutch discs. The differential pinions run into resistance when they try to turn the axle side gears. The resistance gets transferred to the pinion shafts driving the pinions. The shafts are forced to slide up little ramps. This action moves both shafts outward. The pinions cause the clutches to lock.

Other types use cone clutches, or disc clutches under pressure from coil springs. By restricting the differential action, torque is delivered to the slipping wheel."

[QuikLegacy]

Originally posted by b_tapper
Ummm...they all Suck

Get an OBS or Forester
A jeep wrangler
Spend a little more on a Land Rover Freelander


but if you must....

The tracker is by far the best, has body on frame construction, a real truck suspension, and a real 4wd system..it's not a sissy car based sport ute

You got to be ******* kidding me, Trackers are a joke, ZR2 or not. Hell if your going to get a Tracker you might as well get a Kia Sportage. If you are worried about off road capability, it comes to two choices. The Liberty and the Freelander. My mom owns a Liberty with the 3.7 and it does just fine. It's a real truck and it does well on the trails. I think they put a 2.4 in the base model Liberty, which sounds like bad juju to me. Then theres the Freelander which is very capable but a bit pricey. I'd stay away from the CRV, RAV4 and the Forester, but thats just my opinion.

-Faast

[Rattler]

I would say if he wants an offroader, get a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 extended cab with TRD offroad pkg and 4 cylinder. Skip the SUVs if he is going wheeling. If he isn't doing a ton of wheeling I would go with the Tribute too. If he wants to go used but fun find a very late-model Isuzu Amigo/Rodeo Sport 2 Dr. with the 3.5. Those things are pretty quick. And fun too. But if he is gonna do much wheelin, make it a Toy or Jeep.

Or spend a little more and get a Jeep Rubicon. I am not much for Jeeps short wheelbase myslef though.

Tell him to buy a Madza6.

I will say that the new Mazda 6's are pretty nice. I drove a 4 cylinder today. My buddy works for Mazda so we could kind of take some liberties with it. That car has a lot of nice features for the $$$. Nice handling car. They will have a 5 dr./hatchback and wagon in about 8 months. The wagon looks kinda like the Protege5. Turbo 4 with AWD is very heavily being considered for US market too.

[JC]

Originally posted by QuikLegacy
You got to be ******* kidding me, Trackers are a joke, ZR2 or not. Hell if your going to get a Tracker you might as well get a Kia Sportage. If you are worried about off road capability, it comes to two choices. The Liberty and the Freelander. My mom owns a Liberty with the 3.7 and it does just fine. It's a real truck and it does well on the trails. I think they put a 2.4 in the base model Liberty, which sounds like bad juju to me. Then theres the Freelander which is very capable but a bit pricey. I'd stay away from the CRV, RAV4 and the Forester, but thats just my opinion.

-Faast

That's a very valid point as Kias are also some of the best off-roaders there are. You obviously know very little about SUVs and most likely off-roading in general. Freelanders are nice but they have no low range, which limits off-road capablility significantly.

JC