My comparison: Midsize/large crossovers

[ifcar]

For families looking for a large family vehicle with three rows of seats, it's hard to beat the space and practicality of a minivan. If you can stomach a van's image, you can pretty safely stop reading and head over to last month's comparison of minivans.

But maybe you want all-wheel-drive, which only one van (the Toyota Sienna) presently offers.

Or perhaps you want smaller exterior dimensions than today's less-than-svelte minivans, but still three rows of usable seats with more passenger and cargo room than half-size-smaller Dodge Journey or Kia Sorento.

And even if it's just the look and the image of today's pleasant and practical crossover SUVs that's winning you away from the sliding-door sect, there is a wide range of models with a different set of strengths and weaknesses...

Continued at link:

http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/comparison-review-eight-three-row-crossover-suvs-introduction


In an experiment, I've changed the format of the comparison slightly from the past ones: Instead of releasing the ranking order bit by bit, I'll be releasing steadily increasing level of detail:

Today, the ranking is published in the slideshow, with a one-sentence explanation. (Constrained to a 255-character limit.)

Tomorrow, I'll put up what's normally the last thing to be published: the discussion of how the models rank in different areas (comfort/luxury, value, etc).

And only after that will I put up the full reviews, still one at a time.

Thoughts on whether this system is an improvement will be welcome.

[68_427]

Durango and Flex are my favorite.  If I was in the market I probably wouldn't consider any of the others.

[ifcar]

Rankings summary: How the models stack up in particular ways

http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/comparison-review-eight-three-row-crossover-suvs-ranking-summary

[93JC]

Midsize/large crossover tweener-utes?

[2o6]

How is seating eight a negative?

[93JC]

Lowers the cupholder-to-seat ratio.

[2o6]

Lowers the cupholder-to-seat ratio.

Unless I read it wrong, he marked the CX-9 down for seating eight when the competitors seat seven.

To me, that's a plus, especially in the rear; those two seat 3rd rows can be kinda narrow.

[93JC]

If a two-seat third row is narrow, what does that make a three-seat third row?

[2o6]

If a two-seat third row is narrow, what does that make a three-seat third row?

Wide enough to accommodate three people. The seatback itself is wider, which makes it slightly more comfortable.

[MrH]

He's basically saying: "I like a third seat so my fat ass can roll over into it"

I'd just prefer having a wider seat to begin with

[2o6]

He's basically saying: "I like a third seat so my fat ass can roll over into it"

Pretty much.


I love laying across the 3rd seat in the back on long trips.

[ifcar]

Unless I read it wrong, he marked the CX-9 down for seating eight when the competitors seat seven.

To me, that's a plus, especially in the rear; those two seat 3rd rows can be kinda narrow.

The CX-9 doesn't seat eight.

[SVT666]

I'm still working on my review of the Taurus, but does the Explorer suffer the same "Interior is not as big as the outside suggests" problem?

[ifcar]

I'm still working on my review of the Taurus, but does the Explorer suffer the same "Interior is not as big as the outside suggests" problem?

A bit, mostly in cargo specs. Some people might wider front seats. But it's not nearly as bad as the Taurus.

[r0tor]

Why no HTC???

[ifcar]

No what?

[r0tor]

Fucking word correction.... JGC

[Eye of the Tiger]

Traverse's make me want to puke.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Fucking word correction.... JGC

Durango?

[Eye of the Tiger]

No third row.

[ifcar]

Yeah, these are all a half-size to a size up from that. Perhaps at some point I'll do the two-rowers -- Edge, Murano, Venza, Grand Cherokee, 4Runner.

[r0tor]

"midsize" really is 2 useful rows...

[68_427]

"midsize" really is 2 useful rows...

The soon to be Grand Wagoneer would be in this class, not the GC.

[ifcar]

"midsize" really is 2 useful rows...

The Pilot is three useful rows but barely bigger than the Grand Cherokee. Competitors of widely varying physical size are offering the same passenger space at the same price, from the jumbo-size Traverse to the space-efficient Pilot. It wouldn't make sense to separate them based on size, or to call the Pilot "full-size" when it's not even as long as an Accord.

[ifcar]

Eighth place: Toyota Highlander

When Toyota introduced the first Highlander in 2001, there wasn't much competition for something that looked like an SUV yet drove like a Camry.

Ford, Dodge and Honda midsize SUVs were still more trucks than cars; Mazda and Hyundai hadn't entered the market yet. General Motors would soon roll out the Buick Rendezvous as the first three-row ?crossover? SUV, but execution problems would keep it from making a splash.

Since then, of course, the midsize SUV market has changed dramatically. All of the above automakers are now fielding comfortable car-like models with passably roomy interiors for seven or even eight passengers. Toyota, however, is not.

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/comparison-review-eight-three-row-crossover-suvs-eighth-place

[Atomic]

No third row.

that is correct. the durango is an extended length "close relative" of the jeep grand cherokee (JGC). it has been a while since there was a thread containing the announcement of a confirmed three row jeep version now expected to be offered in 2012 as a 2013 model to be called jeep grand wagoneer (JGW). rumor has it that it will differ significantly from the JGC warranting the return of the once beloved JGW.

[TBR]

Brady, I am confused here. Is Highlander 4th or 8th?

http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/comparison-review-eight-three-row-crossover-suvs-ranking-summary

[ifcar]

Eighth. Did you stop reading at the "comfort/luxury" section?

[TBR]

Yes I did.

Doh.

[ifcar]

Seventh place: Hyundai Veracruz

With Lexus-inspired curves, a smooth and quiet V6 and a carefully finished interior, the Veracruz is pitched as a luxury SUV that undercuts the prices of competing mainstream models.

Rather, it's an aging model that still has a few key strong points, but that lacks the overall design polish to compete with the class's best and that doesn't have a sufficient price advantage to offset its shortcomings...

Continued at link:
http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/comparison-review-eight-three-row-crossover-suvs-seventh-place