Topic: Compact 4cl SUV with towing capabilities

[rrocket]

^^Yup....

[Trainman]

If you want some insight into towing with the Forester, check out this forum:

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f137/

Also, there is a wide range of U-Haul trailers, what size/weight are you looking at specifically? 

[uber]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys... even the strange ones 

Yup... I am looking to be able to chuck a 5X10 on the back should I need to....(older kids + Uni = move a lot)... so 2800/3000lbs

I test drove a Suzuki and was pleasantly surprised with the fit and finish and a pretty good deal. The dealership folks were nice no pressure guys. More bells and whistles for the price.... that being said, there is a new model GV coming out next year.....do I smell mega depreciation??

The Subaru Forester just left me cold....It didn't respond at all when I put my foot down....not what I was expecting at all....

The Ford Escape was meh in 4cl form and the V6 starts getting a bit pricey for me.... and I have never seen so many buttons in my life!!! The Ford dealership was NOT a happy experience....I was lucky to get out without having to hock any internal organs! 

I'm looking at max $30k in total with my trade being $8k of that...

I'm planning to check out the Kia/Hyundai offerings later this week and the Rav4 on the weekend.

[sidman]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys... even the strange ones 

Yup... I am looking to be able to chuck a 5X10 on the back should I need to....(older kids + Uni = move a lot)... so 2800/3000lbs

I test drove a Suzuki and was pleasantly surprised with the fit and finish and a pretty good deal. The dealership folks were nice no pressure guys. More bells and whistles for the price.... that being said, there is a new model GV coming out next year.....do I smell mega depreciation??

The Subaru Forester just left me cold....It didn't respond at all when I put my foot down....not what I was expecting at all....

The Ford Escape was meh in 4cl form and the V6 starts getting a bit pricey for me.... and I have never seen so many buttons in my life!!! The Ford dealership was NOT a happy experience....I was lucky to get out without having to hock any internal organs! 

I'm looking at max $30k in total with my trade being $8k of that...

I'm planning to check out the Kia/Hyundai offerings later this week and the Rav4 on the weekend.

I'm interested in the Suzuki Grand Vitara as well. I've heard only good things about it. I'm driving a SX4 right now and I can tell you Suzuki makes quality vehicles that no one knows about. Anyways, are you sure there is a new model coming out for 2012? I've read that the new MY will be 2013 and will be released mid to late 2012.

I've been viewing some of the reviews of the GV on youtube and very few reviewers have anything negative to say about them. They look to be unstoppable in the snow as well. I'm surprised they are equipped with full-time 4WD -- I thought it was part-time, and that the gas mileage is close to the CR-V.

Like you, I did not like the Forester at all. It was loud and unrefined and the Suzuki has a far superior 4WD system with the low gear and all and almost 50/50 weight distribution.

[Angry Chicken]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys... even the strange ones 

Yup... I am looking to be able to chuck a 5X10 on the back should I need to....(older kids + Uni = move a lot)... so 2800/3000lbs

I test drove a Suzuki and was pleasantly surprised with the fit and finish and a pretty good deal. The dealership folks were nice no pressure guys. More bells and whistles for the price.... that being said, there is a new model GV coming out next year.....do I smell mega depreciation??

The Subaru Forester just left me cold....It didn't respond at all when I put my foot down....not what I was expecting at all....

The Ford Escape was meh in 4cl form and the V6 starts getting a bit pricey for me.... and I have never seen so many buttons in my life!!! The Ford dealership was NOT a happy experience....I was lucky to get out without having to hock any internal organs! 

I'm looking at max $30k in total with my trade being $8k of that...

I'm planning to check out the Kia/Hyundai offerings later this week and the Rav4 on the weekend.

I guess it's a bit late to jump on this thread but I found out something interesting that might be useful.  The Audi Q5 2.0T has an EPA rating city/hwy of 10.6/7.7 and it will tow 2000 kg (over 4400 lb).  This is more than we need.  In fact, one of the metrics in our choosing the Audi was that it had to be able to tow our light tent trailer @750 kg.  Quite impressive given the fact that this is a 4 cylinder mill, turbocharging or not.

[X-Traction]

The current Grand Vitara's towing capacity is 3000lb. It has not been available with a V-6 for a year or two.  The next generation has been delayed until at least the 2013 model year.  According to truedelta, the GV's reliability record is at least average for small suv's.

An important point is that while all other small suv's are basically fwd slip&grip systems (except the Forester?), the GV is full-time AWD with high and low locked modes also fitted.  This means far superior sure-footedness for the instabilites of towing a heavy trailer -- at the cost of some mileage.  \It has all the other modern safety systems, and the AWD may well save you an accident. 

I have a 2006 GV, and while it isn't as car-like as some other cuv's, it is exactly the vehicle that meets our needs.  In the interest of full disclosure, too many Suzuki dealerships have been disappointing.

[Trainman]

...

An important point is that while all other small suv's are basically fwd slip&grip systems (except the Forester?), ...

...  In the interest of full disclosure, too many Suzuki dealerships have been disappointing.

Yes, the Forester is full time AWD, and in the AT, there is the ability to lock it into 50/50, ie 4wd (normal is 60/40-40/60 while older ones where 90/10-10/90).  The only way to get fwd is to disable the AWD by removing a fuse.  I have heard that this results in very strange handling     

Hmm, maybe Suzuki dealers go the the same customer training school as Subaru.  Lots of complaints about the Subaru dealers too   

[sailor723]

"Hmm, maybe Suzuki dealers go the the same customer training school as Subaru.  Lots of complaints about the Subaru dealers too"

I think both Subaru and Suzuki have suffered in the past from being marginal "also ran" manufacturers and consequently would take just about anyone with a heartbeat and a credit line as a dealer.(Honest Ed's RV,salvage yard and Subaru dealership anyone?) Remember, it wasn't that long ago that Subaru struggled to sell 10-12,000 units a year in the whole country.  Things have changed for Subaru and I expect they are trying to clean up their dealer network and improve customer satisfaction but that's a slow process. Suzuki? I'm not so sure where they're headed....  
 
 

[X-Traction]

"Hmm, maybe Suzuki dealers go the the same customer training school as Subaru.  Lots of complaints about the Subaru dealers too"

I think both Subaru and Suzuki have suffered in the past from being marginal "also ran" manufacturers and consequently would take just about anyone with a heartbeat and a credit line as a dealer.(Honest Ed's RV,salvage yard and Subaru dealership anyone?) Remember, it wasn't that long ago that Subaru struggled to sell 10-12,000 units a year in the whole country.  Things have changed for Subaru and I expect they are trying to clean up their dealer network and improve customer satisfaction but that's a slow process. Suzuki? I'm not so sure where they're headed....  

I think you're right.  But our most recent Suzuki dealer was under the umbrella of Pattison, probably the largest auto dealer owner in BC. They cover all sorts of makes, and the location in question had formerly been a GM dealership.  The Suzuki operation included bikes and quads, and lasted only about 5 years.  Maybe it's just a bad location, or maybe they just couldn't get competent staff.  The other 4 Suzuki dealerships in the area seem to be pretty stable, but they're a bit far from us.