Choosing An SUV

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By By Herb Weisbaum

Summary

If you like the style of an SUV but don't want a gas guzzler, a smaller model can be a great choice.

Story Published: Nov 11, 2004 at 1:12 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:36 AM PDT

Choosing An SUV
SEATTLE - So you've got your heart set on a new SUV but you're worried about gasoline prices.

Well, you're not alone. While sales of Sports Utility Vehicles are still strong, up about 5 and-a-half percent from last year, buyers are starting to switch to smaller SUVs that use less gas.

Sales of GM's full-size Chevy Suburban and Tahoe and Ford's giant Expedition are all down. Sales of smaller models, such as the Saturn Vue, Jeep Liberty, Ford Escape and Hyundai Santa Fe are up.

If you're in the market for a small SUV, here are two models you might want to put on your list: the Subaru Forester and the Toyota Rav 4.

The Subaru Forester is Consumer Reports' top-rated model in this class.

"It's got great handling and it's got a good size," says David Champion who runs the magazine's auto test program. "It's not quite as tall as some of the other vehicles, but it really has excellent crash test results and it's really a good all around vehicle."

And at around $23,000, the Forester is also a very good value.

Consumer Reports also recommends the Toyota RAV 4, calling it "a well-rounded SUV that's easy to maneuver in tight spaces."

The 2004 RAV 4 has a new, more powerful 2.4 liter engine. Consumer Reports says it delivers acceleration "comparable with some V6 competitors" with "relatively good fuel economy."

An important safety feature, electronic stability control, comes standard on the RAV 4. This system, which acts automatically, Champion explains, "applies the brake to one wheel or more as the car is beginning to slide out of control and it brings the car back into line."

Base price for the RAV 4 is around $19,000.

For More Information:

www.subaru.com

www.toyota.com