[Stratuscaster]

The participants:
Toyota Venza
Kia Sorento
Hyundai SantaFe Sport
Ford Edge
Nissan Murano
Jeep Grand Cherokee

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/sns-the-38000-midsize-suv-challenge-results-20130707,0,6880682,full.story

I won't spoil it for you.

 

[Mike V.]

Isn't this the same one from cars.com and Motor Week? Looks like it, Motor Week had it on their show this week.

Yes, they love the Grand Cherokee.

Mike

 

[Stratuscaster]

Yes, it is the Cars.com/MW test.

Very clear where the market seems to be sitting right now and what's being compared against what.

 

[hmk123]

So will the Cherokee do this well against the Escape, RAV4, CR-V, etc?

 

[Mike V.]

So will the Cherokee do this well against the Escape, RAV4, CR-V, etc?

That is the $64,000 question. Personally, yes, I think it will, regardless of its Jeep-ness.

Mike

 

[Erik Latranyi]

The biggest flaw in this comparison is that not all the vehicles tested were AWD. The Grand Cherokee was RWD, the Santa Fe was FWD.

 

[Mike V.]

The biggest flaw in this comparison is that not all the vehicles tested were AWD. The Grand Cherokee was RWD, the Santa Fe was FWD.

Is that a flaw or reality? I know several people cross shopping the vehicles in the comparison and those configurations.

The GC in RWD is competing with FWD vehicles... Even though it is clearly more capable.

Mike

 

[Erik Latranyi]

Is that a flaw or reality? I know several people cross shopping the vehicles in the comparison and those configurations.

The GC in RWD is competing with FWD vehicles... Even though it is clearly more capable.

Mike

It's a flaw. Some were AWD.

 

[Mike V.]

It's a flaw. Some were AWD.

Ok now I get you. Depends on how you look at it. While I agree with you, the point they tried to make on Motor Week was that, even with the $38k price ceiling, you can get AWD in some of them.

Mike

 

[plymouth1]

Toyota Venza is not an SUV. It is a Station Wagon. None of these vehicles are even close to a Grand Cherokee. Why did they waste time testing them when all they had to do was look at them. Grand Cherokee blows them all away big time

 

[Stratuscaster]

It's a flaw. Some were AWD.

The requirement stated was "To make the cut, these SUVs had to cost less than $38,000." Said nothing about drivetrain. And the score breakdown was "The experts' scores account for 75% of the total score; 15% from the family's scores; and 10% was based on fuel economy." Again - nothing directly having to do with AWD.

Toyota Venza is not an SUV. It is a Station Wagon. None of these vehicles are even close to a Grand Cherokee.

But ALL of these vehicles are - by and large - station wagons.

Why did they waste time testing them when all they had to do was look at them. Grand Cherokee blows them all away big time

Because this is what automotive blogs and sites SHOULD be doing - comparing vehicles and reporting what they found.

If all they have to do is "look at them", then it becomes a beauty contest - a superficial way to compare vehicles at best.

This is more of a realistic consumer comparison than most, IMHO.

 

[JRS200x]

It's not a flaw because cars.com etc do not pick what the manufacturer sends them. They give the criteria to the manufacturers media people, who then send them what vehicle they think will do best in that test.. in this case, $38,000 price ceiling.

 

[jerseyjoe]

Can't believe I got priced out of the mid sized Suv market so quickly. :O

Glad I still like the 1969 Trail Dusters

 

[Mike V.]

Can't believe I got priced out of the mid sized Suv market so quickly. :O

Glad I still like the 1969 Trail Dusters

The Plymouth Trailduster was not available until 1974.



Mike

 

[jerseyjoe]

The Plymouth Trailduster was not available until 1974.

Mike

Yep the 1969 TD is the one I can afford. Alternate answer, would you believe the internet lies?

 

[TWX]

I agree, they're all station wagons, especially when there's no 4wd. I also agree that without 4wd, it is fine to cross-compare FWD to RWD, as people cross-compare late-model Chargers vs Impalas vs Tauruses, and back when the minivan was young, they cross-shopped the Caravan against the Aerostar and the Astro.

 

[PCRMike]

Venza would do better compared to Journey. My sister bought a Venza, and after seeing her $39K Venza and my $23K Journey, there wasnt a lot of substance to make the Venza worth the coin. If my Journey was equipped like hers, it would nave still been 12K less minus leather. We will both drive to 150K or so and trade, but it just goes to show the mentality of folks. She wished she had bought the Journey now with the payment difference.

 

[Stratuscaster]

Venza seems a bit wider at least than Journey.

 

[PCRMike]

Yes, but her family of four would not care. It sure isn't $16K wider. LOL