Cars.com Ranks The Top SUV's For 29k? Are They Right And How Would YOU Rank Them?

Are they serious? "Several of the experts" really?

First why would anyone consider any of these vehicles unless they are all-wheel-drive? How did they choose the equipment that came with them? Did they consider resale value, safety and reliability record, sales figures, any type of performance figures other than EPA's lies? No just some subjective gibberish. And what about other contenders like the Jeep Compass/Patriot, or the Mitsubishi Outlander, or the VW Tiguan?

Bah, amateur crap.

Obviously you didn't read the article, just another keyboard blowhard.

Equinox is the best of the bunch by far.

Next comparison, FWD sport compacts. Manufacturers were told to offer up their best FWD sports cars based on a family that tows a fifth wheel every weekend. GM no longer makes the Cobalt SS, so they offer up a duramax 3500. GM lost because of noisy engine. Winner is the Mazdaspeed 3 over the preferred VW GTI. The Mazda had convenience of 4 doors, while the GTI was tested as the 2 door model, lol! Fuck'n A.

I love how they add a decimal to the point system...Ford Escape had 589.2 points. Makes it sound like their testing was so scientific. My favourite part is when someone compares the kia to an Audi because of its LED lights. oh and "cool daytime running lights": check off another 11.3 points!!!

I think many of you miss that fact that everyday consumers aren't as car savy we are; and so aren't looking for the elaborate details that really make a difference. Rather, Joe Blow and his wife Jane, are looking at not looking like they purchased the cheapest (reasonable) car, SUV available. The average working person may own a home or condo, but they do really have need to own the flashiest vehicle on the road.

Interior content is being driven by the younger consumers who now understand that there's only so much you can get in a $25k-$30k vehicle. Five to eight years ago, a descent Accord or Camry (with a good amount of extras) could be owned for $25k. Now, a midsizer carrying a Nav, CD-chgr, and fog lamps will easily cost you $35k.

For Kia (especially), to offer a new Sportage with such a radical exterior and a great-looking interior, they have come a long way. But the auto industry cost-structure of automatically making an SUV way more expensive than a comparably-sized car means that they know consumers still value SUVs much more than sedans and hatchbacks.

Carmakers need to use more actual, paying consumers to give their impressions on new vehicles. Chatting with people in parking lots about their own vehicles provides plenty of useful actual information about what works and what doesn't. Pricing aside, the average consumer doesn't care about 0-60 times or final-drive ratios. People have to "live" inside these vehicles. Only if you're leasing should resale values be an immediate concern, but that's depending on what happens to the vehicle line during ownership (recalls, negative press, etc).

maybe only one suv is right

When the Dodge Journey finishes second you know you have great testers.

Hmmm, I don't see an SUV on the list, I see cross-overs. No low range no SUV.