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The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e sd a y N o v e m b e r 7, 2001 - D 5 B e s t W h e e l s O a k v i l l e Stiff competition for Best New Compact SUVtitle By Rob Beintema S P E C IA L T O T H E B E A V E R I t's time, once again, for the annual Car of the Year competi tion. Every year, automotive writers from across the country - members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) gather at Shannonville Motorsport Park, just outside of Belleville, Ontario, to test the yearly crop of automotive products - brand new or significantly altered models in every category from cars to minivans to trucks. Their purpose? To select the best new vehicles in several categories as well as an overall Car of the Year and Truck of the Year. Winners of the "Best New Technology" award and the "Best New Design" award are also chosen. At the end of the competition, teams cast individual ballots that are independently tabulated, the results to be revealed at the next spring's Canadian auto shows. This year's competition featured sixty-six different new entries in fif teen different categories. We'll look at just one of the categories, perhaps the hottest niche in the automotive market - New Compact SUVs. Remember, you won't see every compact sport ute in the market list ed here. Only brand new entries or models that have undergone signif icant powertrain or structural changes are eligible for the compe tition. Best New Compact SUV HONDA CRY One of the pioneers of the "sport cute" market, the Honda CRV is new for '02 with a much-improved version of the beloved best seller. Building on that solid structural and sales base, Honda has added smoother exterior styling, signifi cant dynamic and functional upgrades, and a youthful, funky interior (if you can handle the weird auto shifter now sprouting from the dash). A new 2.4 L DOHC fourbanger under the hood offers up more power - 160 hp (10 percent more) and a healthy boost in torque (up 22 percent). While exterior dimensions are relatively unchanged. Honda engineers have finagled more inside room in a userfriendly interior that includes 21 different storage areas. Engine: 2.417160 hp/110 Ib-ft Fuel Econom y: 11LV8.6LV100km (city/hw y) from a tug on the door handle. The Liberty feels solid and substantial even though it isn't really bigger than other SUVs in this class. Engine: 3.7L7210 hp/235 Ib-ft Fuel Econom y: 14.8L/11LyiOOkm (city/hwy) W heelbase: 2 6 4 9 'm m Length: 4 4 3 0 m m Curb Wt: 2 6 4 9 kg Price as Tested: $ 31 ,2 7 5 W heelbase: 2 6 2 0 m m Length: 4 5 3 7 m m Curb Wt: 1480 kg Price as Tested: $ 2 7 ,5 0 0 JEEP LIBERTY The 2002 Jeep Liberty, replacement for the dated Cherokee, is a revisit of traditional Jeep ruggedness, value and styling in a new modem package. Based on Chrysler's Dakar and Jeepster concepts, the Liberty offers real off-road ability blended with a surprising amount of on-road refinement. A Chrysler with the best fit and finish in the category. Who' d a thunk it? Jeep offers a starter fourcylinder engine but they don't talk much about it, preferring to push the 3.7 L V6 tested here, based on the 4.7 L Grand Cherokee engine architecture and boasting 210 hp. The Liberty's trick feature - and every entry in this category seems to have one - is the auto flip-up tail glass that opens with key fob or SATURN VUE One of the newest entries in this class of sport ute, the VUE (not an acronym but a play on words repre senting a "new perspective") brings a fresh face, new technologies, a new buying option and new hope to Satum/Saab/Isuzu dealers. Traditional Saturn pluses - the "no-haggle", customer-comes-first philosophy, the strong space-frame construction architecture and trade mark dent-resistant polymer side panels benefit from new engineer ing technologies that include the new 2.2 L GM base engine, electrical-assist power steering and con tinuously variable transmission (VTi). Stylist seem stuck with the same old Saturn face up front but in back the VUE is funkily squared off and youthfully unique without the cliche bolted on spare tire. A stan dard cargo organizer for grocery bags folds neatly out of the cargo floor. The VUE is a perky package that may seem a little pricey at this as-tested level but starts at a friend ly $22K. Engine: 3.0LV181 h p/195 Ib-ft Fuel Econom y: 12.6L/8.6LV100km (city/hw y) Suzuki XL7 The 2002 Suzuki XL7 debuted last year as the latest version of Grand Vitara Suzuki's biggest little idea. Mike Kumik, the Suzuki PR guy who showed the vehicle to the journalists was the most laid-back presenter of the bunch. He should be, these things are selling like hotcakes. The added foot or so of overall length increase has been a big hit with customers, allowing a third bench, better rear access and more storage space with the built-in benefit of the smoothest ride ever, courtesy of the stretched wheelbase length. Some customers are even requesting a big cargo version without the third row. The V6 engine has been stroked to a new 183 hp peak (up from 170 hp). The XL7 is one of the few in its class to offer real off-road ability for die-hard 4X4 freaks with families. Engine: 2.7LV183 hp/180 Ib-ft Fuel Economy: 13.8L/10.9Lyi(X )km (city/hw y) "Saturn experience," the Jeep Liberty seems to stand out in a class of its own with the best combination of off-road ability and on road comfort. Power, polish and panache. W heelbase: 2800 m m Length: 4665 m m Curb Wt: 2 8 0 0 kg Price as Tested: $31,995 Fall Maintenance Package A r g u s A u to m o tiv e Serving Oakville for over 25 years And the best of this bunch? Beats me. We'll find out when the tabulated results of the indi vidual ballots are revealed at this spring's auto show. But if I had to venture a guess? While the XL7 is a suc cessful adaptation of Suzuki's winning formula, the CRV is a proficient revision of a youthful entry designed to appeal to the broad base of Honda devotees and the brand new VUE offers small sport ute innovation under the umbrella of the · AC · Brakes · Suspension · Tires ' Transmission · Computerized Diagnostics I I I I l INCLUDES: - Up to 5 litres of oil · Oil filter · lube (where applicable) · Rotation of 4 tires l system, oil fluid levels, electrical I system, front and rear brakes, I exhaust system, suspension system, i only $ 2 5 * 9 5 j J FREE! Windshield Washer Fluid I (4 Litres) at time of Service. | (WITH THIS COUPON) Offer expires December^ 21^2001 , HYUNDAI Of OAKVILLE js g w r' j* * A N O T H E R Y E A R . A N O T H E R LEAP. Limited Number of 2001 Models still available 2001 Accent OS W heelbase: 2 7 0 7 m m Length: 4 6 0 5 m m Curb Wt: 1578 kg Price as Tested: $ 29 ,8 7 5 5I W I ; r * J|security down w m See dealer ** · · · · · · · 'wt swings o n Tibum, J s M j a f w ia # " M ia m i 2001 items 1.5 litre multi valve enaine Driver's side a ir bag (ae-powered) Tachometer 6 0 /4 0 split foldina rear seat Tinted glass with shade band Dual manual remote control side view mirrors And much, much more 98 PATHFINDER CHILK00T 4X4 3 .3 V 6 , 5 s p e e d , A /C , p .w ., P .D .L ., tilt, c ru is e , s te re o C e rt. S 15,900 LEASE PBOM fK O " V < ^ i ' 2 0 0 2 ACCENT GS 3 DR MSRP FROM $ 1 2 ,3 9 5 · 2 .0 litre 1 4 0 HP engine · Dual fro n t a ir b a g (de-pow ered) 15 " wheels 6 0 / 4 0 split fo ld in g re a r seat A m /F m /C D stereo Remote fuel d o o r a n d trunk release · A n d m uch, much m ore 1 ___ ^ # S 48 M OS W S e c u r it y D e p o s i t F r e ig h t P .D .S . i n c l u d e d 0 U K % MONTHS PURCHASE FINANCING ON A ll ELANTRA SEDANS Auto, p.s,, p.b,, A/C, p.w., $' P.D.L., tilt, cruise, stereo, low kms. Cert. 4 c y l,, auto, p.s., p.b., stereo. Only 85,000 kms. Cert. mint cond. Cert. · s5i,995 95 D0DSE SLT 5 ... j LARAMIE 1500 PICK-UP $995 D O W N PAYMENT ° S 95 CAVALIER 4-Dr. 0 ^ 0 § -w » . U rtim j A MONTH 4 8 M OS 48 MOS O R 1 8% I PURCHASE PURCH/ V FINANCING FINANC J c n D I ID · · · · · · 2 .4 litre 4cyl D O H C engine 4 speed au to shiftronic transmission A m /F m C D p la y e r w ith 6 speakers A ir c o n d itio n in g Power w in d o w s & d o o r locks A n d m uch, much m ore * FOR UP TO 36 MONTHS $ 1 , 9 9 5 D O W N PAYM EN T A/C. p.w., P.D.L., tilt, cruise. pwr. mirrors, CD player, * alloy wheels, mint cond. Cert. 4 cyl., auto., p.s., p.b., A/C, stereo, low kms. Cert. 95 YUKON SLT 4X4 350 V8 V8, auto, A/C, p.w., P.D.L., tilt, cruise, stereo, pwr seats, pwr. mirrors, leather interior. S i 1 owner, low km's, mint, condition. Certified. P.D.L., tilt, cruise, box liner, only, 79,1 kms., mint cond. 3., A/C, p.w., 2 0 0 2 SONATA GL · · · · MSRP FROM $ 2 1 ,1 9 5 2 .4 litre enqine 16 " A llo y W heels A m /F m /C D p la y e r w ith 6 speakers Dual a ir baas (ae-pow e red ) w ith Passenger Presence Detection System · Power w in d o w s /d o o r lo · A n d m uch, much m ore 12,900 16,900 FINANCING AVAILABLE MOST MODELS fA[ezvson OVfotors Q uality U sed C ars & T rucks M A N Y M O R E GREAT DEALS TO CHO O SE F R O M ! 6 m o.-3 yr. warranties available. Ask for details. H Y U n D fll D R IV IN G IS BELIEV IN G Leasing programs available from Hyundai Financial services based on 2002 accent GS 3 door MSRP from $12,395, 2002 Elantra GL MSRP from $15295, 2002 Sonata GL MSRP from $ 21,195 and Santa Fe MSRP from S21.050. S179/$199/S239/S229 per month for a 48 month walk away lease. Down payment of S0/$995/S1995/52995 plus first monthly payment required, security deposit $0/S0/S239/$229/ freight and PDE for Accent, Elantra included. Extra for Sonata and Santa Fe. Taxes, license and S350 acquisition fee extra. ______________ 20,000 km mileage allowance per year applies. Additional km charge of 0.10 offer expires November 30, 2001. See Hyundai of Oakville for details______________ D L I N E 1033 Speers Road, Oakville (9 0 5 ) 4 6 9 -6 8 8 0 FAX: (905) 469-6881 Cell: (905) 308-0355 'N T O I * j ,1 ~ I| Q a S o lL A K E S H O R E I5 Q E W HYUNDAI Of OAKVILLE flie 7?(H * * * 1 0 7 1 SPEERS R O AD (Just West of 4th Line) 9 0 5 0 ^ 0 * I I H I LOCKWOOD'S 0% EVENT Drive Away Price Automatic, CD, air, top of the line wheels. Stk. #XE12 Down 2002Neon do ;385 52, $1000 ,,,,$3691 /p e r m o n th /p e r m o n th fo r 60 m ths fo r 6 0 m ths vicing up to 48 months. Plus license. o n most 2001 & 2002M odels A dd fo r o n ly ^Cife^/Month. Plus taxes. Full Maintenance Pkg. Chrysler Sen/ice Contract see dealer for details. Includes: Oil Changes & Tire Rotation 175 Wyecroft Road, Oakville 905.845.6653 (between Kerr & Dorval) F l\ / E Q & S T A R t f r t f r · Peac e o f M in d w it h D a im le rC h ry s le r C a n a d a l n ( . b acke d w a r r a n t y · R o a d s id e A ss is tan c e * Q u a lity R e c on d itio n in g · N a tio n w id e Se rvice Oakville's 2000 · 2001 Five Star Certified Dealership