
Originally Posted by
ReyMatt
I went through the same dilemna. Wanted a compact SUV, mostly to be used by wife in the city. Parking space in our house very limited. Chose between XV, CR-V. ASX and CX5. Montero and Tucson have higher security risk (higher carnap rates). SUVs that are taller (Montero, Fortuner) usually have higher seats, so it takes a bit of climbing up from the ground just to get into the seats. Among the XV, CR-V, ASX and CX5, XV has the highest ground clearance, closely followed by the CX5. But even if the XV has the higher ground clearance, it is easier to get into the XV than the CR-V (seats are slightly lower in the XV IMO). In terms of body length, the ASX is shortest, followed by XV, CR-V, and CX5.
I test drove only the XV and CR-V; I was more comfortable with the former since it felt more car-like. Plus, it has more protection since it has side curtain airbags. So I bought the XV. The main issue with the XV is storage space. If you're NOT the type who carries a lot of cargo or makes a weekly trip out of the supermarket as if they own a sari-sari store, it won't be big issue. If I need extra cargo space, I'll just get a roof caddy for the rare out-of-town vacation.
There's also good feedback on the Skyactiv of the CX5, particularly the efficiency. If only the body styling was more to my liking, hands down that would be my choice. (Just a little more expensive than the standrd XV though)