Here are my thoughts on fifth through third:
Nissan Rogue
The first surprise – and a pleasant one at that – came upon entering the vehicle – I did not remember the Rogue being so nice inside. The seats are really terrific – a pleaasing combination of soft comfort and support – and the contrasting stitching on the leather lent an upscale touch. While the conservative dash layout may border on the dull for some, the quality of materials and the fitment were beyond reproach. It was one of only two entrants with soft-touch dash materials. Even the lovely CR-V layout is hard as a rock to the touch. Given the comparable level of equipment, the minimalist layout of the dash presents as something of an ergonomic accomplishment to me.
A few interior foibles stood out, however. Despite equipping the Rogue with a smart key, Nissan saw fit to retain a vestigial ignition switch which one has to actually twist to start the motor. It’s not like Nissan hasn’t heard of the whole push-button thing, they just inexplicably left it off this model. As mentioned in the review, the lack of a telescoping steering wheel made it difficult for some (not me) to find a comfortable driving position.
The Rogue also proved a capable, if not quite nimble, handler. I felt like I was riding higher in this (and the Rav) versus the others, but the limits presented clearly and the Rogue felt entirely composed within them. I had no difficulty keeping pace through some of the more demanding sections.
But that doesn’t mean the experience was entirely pleasant. The Achilles heel for the Rogue is it’s powertrain – a comparatively coarse an raucous motor coupled to a CVT transmission that tended to exacerbate those qualities. Hard acceleration brings an unrelenting din of NVH as the transmission sends the revs up and keeps them there. And while power is entirely adequate, the thrust doesn’t seem quite commensurate with the thrash. Driven sedately, the powertrain doesn’t call much attention to itself. But if your driving experience embraces the occasional highway merge, the Rogue will have you gritting your teeth until you get up to cruising speed.
Toyota RAV 4
I rented almost the exact equivalent of our test car for a week when in vacation in Florida 3-4 years ago. I came away from that with a lot of respect and admiration for the vehicle – strong, smooth power, massive cargo space. The RAV 4 didn’t get any worse, but the segment competitors are all significantly improved. Amongst this new lot, it was a bottom feeder.
Once past the twin virtues of space and pace, there is little else to recommend. The design looks and feels dated – both inside and out. I could never get fully comfortable in the driver’s seat despite constant fiddling. And while ample power is always good, in this case the extra helping under the hood only served to underscore the limitations of the chassis. This car was by far the most discomposed by the twisty bits.
If I had to do airport runs as a daily chore, this one would get the nod. As an everyday conveyance over years of ownership, however, it would come in last on my purchase scorecard.
Hyundai Tucson
The biggest surprise of the group to me was the Hyundai Tucson. Not because of its mid-pack finish (which I more or less expected) but because it was clearly the sports car of the group. That’s right – not the zoom-zoom Mazda, but the Hyundai. I did not see that coming. And what a pleasant surprise it was. This was the best handling ride of the bunch in the twisties – lots of grip, minimal lean and an eagerness for the corners that was downright entertaining. One memorable 4-wheel drift around a slow, sandy curve still makes me grin.
The downside of the crisp handling is that it came at the clear expense of ride comfort, as the stiff-kneed Tucson also jiggled, bumped and crashed over broken pavement more than most, making the ride seem altogether too busy when you weren’t caning it.
The powertrain was pleasant enough – never leaving me wanting for more (power) or less (noise).
I’m not sure how the interior dimensions compare, but the Tucson interior did impress as being somewhere between intimate and slightly claustrophobic.
