Does anyone own or otherwise have any comment on small-sized SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, Hyundai Santa Fe or other similar vehicles? I don’t want a full-sized SUV–am concerned about price and mileage–but am looking to get the mini version in a V6, automatic, 4 wheel drive configuration. In your opinion, how do the little guys stack up? I will use it mostly for driving to work (rural northeast) and occasional family road trips.
I’d suggest a Subaru Outback. There are a lot of them on the road in the northeast for a reason. Holds a lot, reasonable mileage, and pretty much unbeatable in the snow.
FYI the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV both have 4 cylinder engines.
I drive a 2000 Subaru Forrester which is that company’s take on a mini SUV. It is also a 4 cylinder and like the Outback Finagle mentioned has Subaru’s All Wheel Drive system. We have been very happy with our Forrester so far. Our only complaint is that it is a little small for family trips…neither my wife nor I are big people but the Forrester can get filled up pretty quick (we do have a baby/toddler seat in the back though). The back seat is actually cramped for anyone taller than about 5 foot 6.
Maintenance has been reasonable, no big repair bills, and it does handle beautifully in the snow. I use it to commute 25 miles each way into Boston.
You may want to check out the Jeep Liberty. I just got one (replacing my old Jeep Cherokee) and I’m very happy with it.
Laughing Lagomorph - we have a 2003 Forester, and I find it to be WAY roomier than you suggest. I’m teeny, but my husband is 6 feet tall and has no trouble with headroom in the front or back seat. We’ve had the back seat full of teenagers with no trouble, and our 100+ pound Mastiff fits easily too. I do wonder though if maybe that has something to do with the model year - yours is an earlier model than ours, so maybe they changed the interior some.
For whatever it’s worth, “Click and Clack” of CarTalk on NPR gave the Forester a very high rating, and we’ve experienced nothing with ours that contradicts that. It’s not TOO big, it’s not too expensive, it’s reliable, comfortable, and kinda cute, too. Nothing fancy or daring about it, just an all-around decent vehicle.
My wife has owned 2 CRV’s and has been happy with both of them. Honda is famous for its reliability but not necessarily its off-road expertise. For highway driving, the CRV is outstanding but the seats are VERY firm, nothing at all like the cushiness of my Explorer. The few times that I’ve driven it in the snow, it was almost impossible to cause it to loose traction. When the front tires did sliip, the rear tires would kick in and give the car the extra traction that it needed. Very cool.
My father’s Subaru Forester is an outstanding vehicle. He shopped very carefully, and the Forester was the best choice. It was the safest by far, has good pickup, lots of options, and rides very well.
My Dad is a big man, as am I - both over 6 feet - and it’s very roomy.
I’m impatiently waiting for Ford to roll out their Escape in a hybrid model.
I’ve driven Durango’s and Explorers and Liberty’s and liked all three, not surprising considering how similar they are.
I drive a '01 Santa Fe, good car IMO. They have an awesome warranty (I haven’t needed it except for a minor problem with the air conditioner that was taken care of promptly) and offer a V6. Very comfortable and nice to drive long distances.
I went to a car show a couple days ago. Here’s a couple nifty models:
I believe they said this one starts at $643K
http://www.ferrari-uk.com/current/enzo/index.asp
But here was the most nifty SUV kinda thing (starts around $14K!!!):
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/83141/page008.html
http://scion.jbcarpages.com/xB/2004/
I want a Scion xB, can you tell? 
The problem with the Forrester isn’t so much the headroom in the back seat, it is more the leg room. If you have two adults in front with their seats at a comfortable position I find it doesn’t leave a lot of leg room for the people in the back. You don’t even have many options on where to put your feet. I’m 5’7" BTW.
Try filling the car up with stuff, including a baby seat in the back seat, then sit in one of the remaining back seats for a 200+ mile journey. Then report back here.
The Forester now comes in a zippy turbo-charged model, too. Forced induction combined with AWD is great fun, although the mileage is only so-so on our WRX (and the premium gas it requires is less than fun on the wallet.)
I love the Scion xB, but who are they trying to kid?
A 1.5 liter engine in a US model? It will never sell.
Thanks for all your input. I could have sworn I had seen ads for 6 cylinder RAV 4s and CRVs, but upon further investigation, I see you are right, Lagomorph.
I will check out the Subaru Forester (although I have totally irrational reasons for not wanting a Subaru), and also the Jeep Liberty. The Ferrari is just a little out of my price range 
Let us know when you get your Scion, ccwater. I’m off to take some test drives.
We have a 2003 RAV-4 that we are very pleased with. It is a 4-cylinder, but it’s quite peppy, 148HP, which is impressive for a mere 2.0L engine. Still, if you’re set on a 6-cyl, the Forester is quite high rated by every source I’ve seen.
What no one likes the Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape? As "small " SUV’s go Ii think they’re tops. And folks on these boatds loves them some Subarus don’t they? Subarus always come up in car threads. Which is merely an observation not a comment on Subarus. I like Mazdas. I would buy just about any model they sell, and I think the Tribute is exactly what you’re looking for. 200HP V6, lots of room inside and much better mileage than the big boys. The only possible minus is the lack of a low-range 4X4, if that matters.
Good luck!
I agree with DaddyTimesTwo. If you’re looking for a mini SUV with a V6, the Mazda Tribute makes an excellent candidate.
And if you’re impartial to the Forrester because of the whole stigma a wagon gives off, the Tribute should suit your needs fine.
I’ve got a ’02 jeep liberty limited edition and I love it. A really beautiful suv inside and out. No problems as of yet and it handles unbelievable in the snow. (I would actually park in the three-foot snowdrifts because I know I could get out with no problem). The only down side is the gas mileage (14mpg city, 19mpg highway), but this was no surprise. I highly recommend it.
03 CR-V owner here. Great vehicle, plenty of power, and the EX comes with ALL available options, so there are no add-ons. Now that we have snow, I’m finding that the thing has incredible handling on slick roads.
I chose this over the Subaru because it sits higher off the ground which makes for easier exit and entry for those of us with dicey backs.
What kind of SUV do you want? What do you want it for? I’m quite pleased with my Toyota Matrix XRS, which is sort of half sports car half SUV and mostly Station Wagon. It’s two wheel drive, though. There is a four wheel drive version, but it doesn’t have the horsepower.
For a little more, there’s the Subaru WRX wagon, if you like a little speed.
The selling point on the Matrix, for me, was the extreme comfort of moving four people around… with the fact that the rear seats fold flat with the trunk.