there are tons of cheap compact suv's available in the states why limit your choices to those? if i were your sister i'd go to every car dealer out there and test drive every thing that is available in her price range, you'll be surprised at how good some of the cars she probably didn't know exist. also with gas prices sky rocketing in the states why not buy hybrids? one piece of advise, some dealers are more than willing to shave of a couple of thousand $ just so you walk out with a car on that day. and don't buy a mitsu in the states, their dealer and after service sucks that's why nalulugi sila sa states.