Topic: Comparison Test: 2017 Compact SUVs Part 2 – $40,000

[Jaeger]

Hey, I'm not dissing the article and the work done. It's good. This is a close fought battle. I liked the CR-V, which I drove back to back with the CX-5, and I would have picked the latter based on emotion. To me, the CX-5 looks nicer inside and out, is powerful and frugal enough to my standards, and a great handler, and those parameters are more important to me than a few more cubic feet of trunk space or a half liter less per 100km.

There is this wow factor in the CX-5 that you don't find in the CR-V.

Agreed with all of that, particularly the bolded bit. 

[Weels]

Spreadsheets are awesome.   Just came here to say that.  No I didn't:

Weels had the day off today. 
Ended up somehow at our local Mazda dealer lot.  Lookie there.  2 GT's.  One red without the facking nanny b/s technology package.  Just how I would order it.
Since I rolled up in the MX-5 I got quick attention even though I had no appointment.   

Out for a drive we go in the red CX-5.  My left foot instinctively looks for the clutch pedal, so the Mazda dna is here.   

Seats are very comfortable.  Interior is very nice.  Visibility and sightlines are very good... I've read complaints about that - for me it's better than the Subaru.  Sitting position is a bit higher as well, so that probably helps.  Backing into a parking spot was no problemo,  backup camera is there, but pretty easy to park just with the mirrors.
Drivetrain feels good, decently powerful, transmission shifts quickly and doesn't really make itself known.  My god what a facking revelation.  Burn in hell, CVT's.
And, for sure you can tell Mazda has paid attention to the NVH. 
And!  There's the button for the heated steering wheel! 

Mrs Weels and I will have another look later this week.
This one is stickered at $37K,  which strikes me as not a bad price.  It's a nice rig. 

[z973]

My 2 Cents:
Compass:wait at least a year so incentive kick in and buy or lease a middle range with lots of incentive$
Escape: se with 2.0 and no options
Rav 4: wouldn't buy its the most stolen 4X4 insurance is expansive
Equinox:the same as Compass
Tucson:wouldnt consider I prefer the Sportage
Rogue:SV with sunroof maybe I will have to drive it and see the CVT?
Sportage :EX with incentive$
CX-5:i like driving so yes but MRSP is high
Forester:wouldnt consider hate the look
CRV: I am considering but in LX 4X4 or EX best value

[Niklasky]

Spreadsheets are awesome.   Just came here to say that.  No I didn't:

Weels had the day off today. 
Ended up somehow at our local Mazda dealer lot.  Lookie there.  2 GT's.  One red without the facking nanny b/s technology package.  Just how I would order it.
Since I rolled up in the MX-5 I got quick attention even though I had no appointment.   

Out for a drive we go in the red CX-5.  My left foot instinctively looks for the clutch pedal, so the Mazda dna is here.   

Seats are very comfortable.  Interior is very nice.  Visibility and sightlines are very good... I've read complaints about that - for me it's better than the Subaru.  Sitting position is a bit higher as well, so that probably helps.  Backing into a parking spot was no problemo,  backup camera is there, but pretty easy to park just with the mirrors.
Drivetrain feels good, decently powerful, transmission shifts quickly and doesn't really make itself known.  My god what a facking revelation.  Burn in hell, CVT's.
And, for sure you can tell Mazda has paid attention to the NVH. 
And!  There's the button for the heated steering wheel! 

Mrs Weels and I will have another look later this week.
This one is stickered at $37K,  which strikes me as not a bad price.  It's a nice rig.

I like the tech package and I would get it, but not for the nannies, mostly for the HUD. It's cool, there's a bit of WOW factor right there.

Two things I now remember that annoyed me a little in the CX-5 :

The heated steering wheel, it seems that it only heats the sides of the steering wheel, and not the full circle. The top and bottom parts stayed cold when I tried it... On my Kia Rondo, the whole thing gets toasty. Is this normal ?

No back-up sensors, no front sensors either. Ok there is a back-up camera, but the sensors are cool too, they do help, especially in the front. Again, my Kia Rondo has front AND back sensors + the back-up camera.

[dirtyjeffer]

I also contemplate the Sportage, which is really a great vehicle, but the poor fuel economy kills it. It's not just a little more thirsty than the CR-V, it's really really bad.

power isn't free, it costs fuel...if you want the power, and are willing to pay a bit at the pumps for it, it's there for you...keep in mind, you can likely put it in ECO mode and drive fairly reasonable and your fuel economy will be somewhat decent (for what it is, a 237 HP, 4000 lb, AWD CUV)...our Sorento has the same engine, and weighs about 300 lbs more, and i've gotten high 8s on the highway...i can also get low 10s in the city if i'm not being stupid with it, and the traffic isn't too bad, allowing some 60 km/hr cruising...yes, if you floor it stop light to stop light, it will drink gas, just like everything else.

[Ex-airbalancer]

For $42,000 I would look at this
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Lexus/NX/Markham/Ontario/5_31492564_ON20071001105925155/?ursrc=hl&showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=1_15_2

Or

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Acura/RDX/St.+Catharines/Ontario/5_30698145_ON20080114122837648/?showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=2_15_11

[EV-Light]

I'm shocked they priced the Escape that way...I just built a 2.0 Titanium for $38k before taxes


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[JohnnyMac]

I don't have any problem with the "spreadsheet" approach for comparos.  Sure I'm an enthusiast but none of these will illicit much emotion from me.  These are meant to be family vehicles for the masses. 

I went through 9 years of soulless CUV driving before I was able to get my Golf R.  I will have to shop for a new CUV in 3ish years so this article is relevant to me, even if a few will be updated by then.  Knowing I'm a bit of a VW fanboy I am expecting big things from the upcoming Tiguan coming out at the end of summer.  I look forward to seeing how it stacks up with the best in it's class.

[rrocket]

I don't have any problem with the "spreadsheet" approach for comparos.  Sure I'm an enthusiast but none of these will illicit much emotion from me.  These are meant to be family vehicles for the masses. 

I went through 9 years of soulless CUV driving before I was able to get my Golf R.  I will have to shop for a new CUV in 3ish years so this article is relevant to me, even if a few will be updated by then.  Knowing I'm a bit of a VW fanboy I am expecting big things from the upcoming Tiguan coming out at the end of summer.  I look forward to seeing how it stacks up with the best in it's class.

Like passing emission testing?   

[Noto]

Brutal... But good one, Ron!

The Sportage really is the surprise of the bunch and very easy to live with.  That said, I still don't think my money would go there.

[wing]

I'm shocked they priced the Escape that way...I just built a 2.0 Titanium for $38k before taxes


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Yeah something is not right.  The fully loaded titanium AWD with 2.0L turbo, leather, pana roof, all the tech including self parking is $41k.

Would have it done better in this test?  Because it sounds like they got a weirdly speced model here.

[sacrat]

Nice article. A few observations...

Good information on the new Compass. Seeing the redesign  at the auto show had pushed it from the last vehicle I ever buy to "Hey, that looks really good." It's back in the trash heap again...

We just rented a low trim Rav4 in Orlando for 9 days and came away largely unimpressed. It was comfortable, but the throttle felt very stiff and hard to modulate.

The Escape depends on who buys it. Our 2015 is an empty nester where cargo capacity isn't "job 1". Since my wife only drives 2-300 km per week the thirsty 2.0T isn't a big issue either. I suspect there are many  purchasers of this type as well as the baby mommas.

"The CX-5 was our hands-down winner for exterior design. That nuclear glow from its “Soul Red Metallic” paint hooks the eye and holds it like a cobra hypnotizing prey."

That would be more impressive if they weren't almost ALL red, along with the Mazda 6. I believe that "6" is how many Mazda 6s they've sold in Canada this year.

[EV-Light]

I'm shocked they priced the Escape that way...I just built a 2.0 Titanium for $38k before taxes


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Yeah something is not right.  The fully loaded titanium AWD with 2.0L turbo, leather, pana roof, all the tech including self parking is $41k.

Would have it done better in this test?  Because it sounds like they got a weirdly speced model here.

I built the exact same model they described in the review and price came back at $34k....so definitely the Ford was given an unfair disadvantage here.

[JacobBlack]

I built the exact same model they described in the review and price came back at $34k....so definitely the Ford was given an unfair disadvantage here.

Ford wasn't GIVEN an unfair disadvantage, Ford gave itself a massive disadvantage. This comes down to how company's spec their press fleets. We can't test trims we don't have, and because Ford's option packages are expensive, the lowest they could for us in Titanium trim was over $44,000 with freight and pdi all added in.
This was their next best answer.

[wing]

Why not test the titanium then?  It's the same price within a few hundred of the CRV touring.  Same content too.

[JacobBlack]

Why not test the titanium then?  It's the same price within a few hundred of the CRV touring.  Same content too.

Seriously James? You're an automotive journalist. Do you think that I wouldn't have asked for a Titanium? I did, for about 6 weeks. They didn't have one priced that wasn't optioned beyond $44,000. Something I already just said literally in my last post.... seriously mate.

[NormT]

We rented the 2017 Escape SE for a one way trip of 450 miles.  We did see  33 mpg which is great for AWD with 3,000 miles on the clock but the seats with only about one inch of cushion was hurting my bum. It had a nice soft head rest which you don't find at all these days.  The throttle tip in and tranmssion shifting was about the best on the business.  The steering was good and the car felt light on its feet.

But the 2016 Buick Envision was the cherry on the cake. Smooth, quite, torquey,  and bit weighty when turning but when the suspension was loaded up...yup...that is a good handling cuv.  Premium ll  with 3K for mid $30's and parks itself will out handle and out ride anything here.  Of course it's msrp is $49,320 but since these executive driven cars are com ok ng out with more features than the Kia Sport age it makes them a better deal  with CPO extended warranty.  Or shop for a lesser 2016 Buick Envision Prem l for $10,000 off or $33K.

[wing]

I agree the seats on the Escape are kind of .

[Robin2]

For the Rogue, I wouldn't pay high end $30k for it.  SL model is bit of waste as SV package will do fine for most unless you want all the nannies.

We have a 16 rogue SV package and it's pretty good overall.  it's no powerhouse but for around $33-34k out the door including taxes/freight (13% tax rate / ontario).  it's good bargain

For fuel, it's mainly a 10L / 100km with wife driving 70% city.... on long trips, i'll get mid-7s out of it.... 

[Brig]

Drivetrain feels good, decently powerful, transmission shifts quickly and doesn't really make itself known.  My god what a facking revelation.  Burn in hell, CVT's.

Amen to that!