best small SUV's
I'm looking for a smaller, pre-owned SUV (handling in the mountains and
some cargo space more important than seating, no kids here) with high
ratings for safety, handling and reliability. Tons of bells and whistles not
important, tight turns and great visibility are. I've driven the Kia Sportage a few
times as a rental and liked it. Any other suggestions?
11 Answers
Check out the Mazda CX-3/5. I would not buy a Korean car as they do not have the reliability that I need. My Forester handles well but there are issues with oil consumption and the CVT transmission.
Agree, Mazda CX 3,5,and 7 and pretty dependable and look good too. Avoid the Subarus.
Toyota Highlander is not small. Honda Element would be another good choice, but finding a low mileage example may be difficult.
Bob says go smaller...Rav 4 with a V6
Jeeps are very dependable off road and have a wide selection to choose from theres a reason that you see almost nothing but jeeps at off road events
Jeeps would not be the best choice for handling, fuel economy or reliability. That said I would not mind a Jeep for weekend off roading or just cruising around with the top off. The Mazda CX-7 was replaced by the CX-9 in 2013.
If you want AWD or 4WD your choices will be a bit more limited. I would stay away from the part-time AWD cars if you plan on driving in snow.
Jeeps are low on the reliability charts. Mazda, Honda and Toyota are all good choices.