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2009 Best In Class Compact SUV
March, 2009
By Editors of Truck Trend
Winner: Toyota FJ Cruiser
Runner-Up: Subaru Forester The challenge of being successful in this tricky category is that an automaker has to make a vehicle that is everything to everyone, an impossible task. We love that the Forester has finally grown into an SUV-size vehicle, but it doesn't have unstoppable off-road ability. What edged the Forester out of the top spot for us is a vehicle that represents possibly the best compromise here: the Toyota FJ Cruiser. We understand that most people who shop for a compact aren't going to take it off-road, but the FJ Cruiser gives you the option. It has plenty of power (239 horses), plus its available off-road package with Bilstein shocks, 265/75R16 tires, and rear diff lock means it can tackle tough trails with ease, plus it won't beat you up on the freeway. However, it isn't a perfect vehicle, and if its blind spots are too much to deal with on a daily basis (and you aren't going trail-hopping), the Subaru Forester provides most of what you'll need for the daily commute.
| Compact SUV, AWD/4WD (UNDER 106-in WB) | | Vehicle | Acura RDX AWD | Ford Escape AWD | Honda CR-V AWD | | Base price | $34,655 | $24,120 | $23,115 | | Wheelbase | 104.3 in | 103.1 in | 103.1 in | | Engine | 2.3L DOHC T I-4 | 2.5L DOHC I-4 | 2.4L DOHC I-4 | | Opt engines | ------ | 3.0L V-6 $2820,
2.5L hyb $8000 | ------ | | Power, SAE | 240 hp | 171 hp (240, 177) | 166 hp | | Torque, SAE | 260 lb-ft | 171 lb-ft (223, 136) | 161 lb-ft | | Airbags | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/drum, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | | Tires | 235/55R18 | 235/70R16 | 225/65R17 | | Fuel cap | 18.0 gal | 16.5 gal | 15.3 gal | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 17/22 mpg | 19/24 mpg (17/22, 29/27) | 20/26 mpg | | Seating cap | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Curb weight | 3933 lb | 4680 lb | 3501 lb | | GVWR | 4800 lb | 4200 lb | 4560 lb | | Payload | 900 lb | 1080 lb | 1059 lb | | Cargo cap | 60.6 cu ft | 66.3 cu ft | 72.9 cu ft | | Max towing cap | 1500 lb | 3500 lb | 1500 lb | | Vehicle | Hyundai Tucson AWD | Jeep Liberty 4WD | Jeep Wrangler 4WD | | Base price | $24,195 | $25,070 | $21,210 | | Wheelbase | 103.5 in | 106.1 in | 95.4 in | | Engine | 2.7L DOHC V-6 | 3.7L OHV V-6 | 3.8L OHV V-6 | | Opt engines | ------ | ------ | ------ | | Power, SAE | 173 hp | 210 hp | 202 hp | | Torque, SAE | 178 lb-ft | 235 lb-ft | 237 lb-ft | | Airbags | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, side | Front | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | | Tires | 235/60R16 | 225/75R16 | 225/75R16 | | Fuel cap | 17.2 gal | 19.5 gal | 18.6 gal | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 18/23 mpg | 15/21 mpg | 15/19 mpg | | Seating cap | 5 | 5 | 4 | | Curb weight | 3266 lb | 4076 lb | 3760 lb | | GVWR | 4200 lb | 5400 lb | 5200 lb | | Payload | 1000 lb | 1150 lb | 1000 lb | | Cargo cap | 65.5 cu ft | 64.2 cu ft | 61.2 cu ft | | Max towing cap | 2000 lb | 5000 lb | 2000 lb | | Vehicle | Kia Sportage AWD | Land Rover LR2 AWD | Mazda Tribute AWD | | Base price | $20,870 | $36,225 | $24,215 | | Wheelbase | 103.5 in | 104.7 in | 103.1 in | | Engine | 2.0L DOHC I-4 | 3.2L DOHC I-6 | 2.5L DOHC I-4 | | Opt engines | 2.7L V-6 $1870 | ------ | 3.0L V-6 $1260,
2.5L hyb $6380 | | Power, SAE | 140 hp (173) | 230 hp | 171 hp (240, 177) | | Torque, SAE | 136 lb-ft (178) | 234 lb-ft | 171 lb-ft (223, 136) | | Airbags | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side, knee | Fr, f/r cur, side | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | | Tires | 215/65R16 | 235/55R19 | 235/70R16 | | Fuel cap | 15.3 gal | 18.5 gal | 16.5 gal | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 19/24 mpg (18/23) | 15/22 mpg | 19/24 mpg (17/25, 29/27) | | Seating cap | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Curb weight | 3411 lb | 4255 lb | 3505 lb | | GVWR | 4674 lb | 5520 lb | 4600 lb | | Payload | 1263 lb | 1265 lb | 1095 lb | | Cargo cap | 66.6 cu ft | 58.9 cu ft | 66.3 cu ft | | Max towing cap | 2000 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | | Vehicle | Mercury Mariner AWD | Mitsubishi Outlander AWD | Nissan Rogue AWD | | Base price | $25,125 | $23,415 | $22,200 | | Wheelbase | 103.1 in | 105.1 in | 105.9 in | | Engine | 2.5L DOHC I-4 | 2.4L DOHC I-4 | 2.5L DOHC I-4 | | Opt engines | 3.0L V-6 $1010,
2.5L hyb $7440 | ------ | ------ | | Power, SAE | 171 hp (240, 177) | 168 hp (220) | 170 hp | | Torque, SAE | 171 lb-ft (223, 136) | 167 lb-ft (204) | 175 lb-ft | | Airbags | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/drum, ABS | Disc/drum, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | | Tires | 235/70R16 | 215/70R16 | 215/70HR16 | | Fuel cap | 16.5 gal | 15.8 gal | 15.9 gal | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 19/25 mpg (17/24, 29/27) | 20/25 mpg (17/23) | 21/26 mpg | | Seating cap | 5 | 7 | 5 | | Curb weight | 3493 lb | 3538 lb | 3435 lb | | GVWR | 4540 lb | 4586 lb | 4504 lb | | Payload | 1047 lb | 1048 lb | 1069 lb | | Cargo cap | 66.3 cu ft | 72.6 cu ft | 57.9 cu ft | | Max towing cap | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 1500 lb | | Vehicle | Subaru Forester AWD | Suzuki Grand Vitara 4WD | Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD | | Base price | $20,690 | $21,099 | $25,245 | | Wheelbase | 103.0 in | 103.9 in | 105.9 in | | Engine | 2.5L SOHC F-4 | 2.4L DOHC V-6 | 4.0L DOHC V-6 | | Opt engines | 2.5L turbo
F-4 $6200 | 3.2L V-6 $4400 | ------ | | Power, SAE | 170 hp (224) | 166 hp (230) | 239 hp | | Torque, SAE | 170 lb-ft (226) | 162 lb-ft (213) | 278 lb-ft | | Airbags | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/drum, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | | Tires | 215/50R16 | 225/70R16 | 265/70R17 | | Fuel cap | 15.9 gal | 17.4 gal | 19.0 gal | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 20/26 mpg (19/24) | 19/25 mpg (17/23) | 15/18 mpg | | Seating cap | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Curb weight | 3250 lb | 3611 lb | 4290 lb | | GVWR | 4000 lb | 4630 lb | 5567 lb | | Payload | 900 lb | 1019 lb | 1277 lb | | Cargo cap | 68.3 cu ft | 68.9 cu ft | 66.8 cu ft | | Max towing cap | 2400 lb | 3000 lb | 5000 lb | | Vehicle | Toyota RAV4 AWD | Volkswagen Tiguan AWD | | | Base price | $23,645 | $29,625 | | | Wheelbase | 104.7 in | 102.5 in | | | Engine | 2.5L DOHC I-4 | 2.0L turbo I-4 | | | Opt engines | 3.5L V-6 $2035 | ------ | | | Power, SAE | 179 hp (269) | 200 hp | | | Torque, SAE | 172 lb-ft (246) | 206 lb-ft | | | Airbags | Fr, f/r cur, side | Fr, f/r cur, side | | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | | | Tires | 215/70R16 | 235/55R17 | | | Fuel cap | 15.9 gal | 16.8 gal | | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 24/27 mpg (19/26) | 18/24 mpg | | | Seating cap | 7 | 5 | | | Curb weight | 3494 lb | 3397 lb | | | GVWR | 4535 lb | 4740 lb | | | Payload | 1041 lb | 1343 lb | | | Cargo cap | 73.0 cu ft | 56.1 cu ft | | | Max towing cap | 3500 lb | 2200 lb | |
 | Every Full-Size, Compact, Pickup, SUV, Minivan, and More - 13 Winners in 11 Different Categories |
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