10. Honda Pilot
If the Honda CR-V is too cramped for your style, the Honda Pilot should be where you look next. Much of the same look and feel of the compact SUV are in the Pilot, but all with a little more space, more power, more capability – just more in general. The Pilot has room for either seven or eight. If you’re dead-set against a minivan, maybe this is an option?
The Pilot has an available rear-seat entertainment system, satellite-linked navigation, leather-trimmed seats, LaneWatch and a great Display Audio infotainment system. Under the hood, each Honda Pilot has a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 horsepower, and it’s available in FWD or AWD.
A vehicle of its size could stand to have another engine option, and it would perform well as a RWD or 4WD vehicle too. Another negative is the base model – any standout features will run you thousands more than the entry level price.
9. Nissan Juke
Since rolling onto the scene in 2011, the Nissan Juke has been a standalone in the segment. No one dares try to be like the Juke in the looks department because of its uniqueness. Any attempt looks like a copycat. If you’ve ever driven the Juke, you’ll notice the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine is surprisingly zippy, and when equipped with AWD it has amazing handling.
The interior space leaves something to be desired. Rear-seat passengers will be cramped for a drive longer to the 7Eleven on the corner, and don’t try to pack more than a few bags in the hatch area. It’s an SUV for the city through and through, so those negatives aren’t likely to play a factor.
Function-wise, the dash and center stack are Nissan circa 2005 with orange and black digital displays. The controls are plasticky and cheap, but what do you expect for a vehicle that starts around $20k?
8. Jeep Renegade
Quirky, the Jeep Renegade seems to be a popular and well-ranked vehicle. From a side profile, it looks like a Nissan Cube from a few years ago, and a bit like a full-size Hot Wheels. The looks don’t quite match up with the performance in some opinions, with just 160 horsepower in the base models from a 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo engine. The upgrade to a 2.4-liter TigerShark 4-cylinder comes in the upper trims, adding another 20 ponies to the tally.
Unless it’s a city runner only, get the Jeep Active Drive 4WD system. It’s a Jeep, so it should perform like it. If it can’t go off-road, what good is it?
The interior is plainly arranged, but it’s an entry-level SUV so that’s permitted. Even for a cynic like me, the dual opening sunroof and the “X” taillights are pretty cool.
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