The 2018 Ford Edge has an eager feel and crisp design; safety scores and Sport ride quality give pause.The Edge satisfies more than a few needs. It’s sleeker than the truck-infused Expedition, even the Explorer. It’s more spacious than the Escape. It’s also devoid of any off-road pretense, any faux-SUV ruggedness.
Pros Quick steering Cabin’s muted details Wide range of engines Composed ride on small-tire models Edge Sport lives up to name
Cons Seats are a big letdown Real-world fuel economy Stiff Sport ride
The Ford Endura is Ford Australia’s first large soft-road SUV since it stopped producing the Territory. It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that’s both powerful and relatively economical. It is good to steer, with polished cornering manners for a large SUV. There are front-drive and all-wheel-drive versions, and auto-braking is standard.
Pros Punchy engine; roadholding, cabin space, standard features.
Cons Dated dashboard, no petrol option.
Many Australians sorely miss the locally built Ford Territory. We’ve had our first local drive of the imported Endura to discover whether that large-SUV product gap has been adequately filled…
Pros Spacious rear seat and big boot Good steering Ride comfort and secure handling on country roads Smooth and quiet turbo diesel Lots of technology/features from entry model upwards
Cons No third-row seating despite vehicle’s size Performance only adequate Urban ride quality still an unknown Cabin presentation a bit underwhelming $4000 charge for AWD
The 2019 Honda CR-V ranked #2 in Compact SUVs. Currently the Honda CR-V has a score of 8.6 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 18 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Generous passenger space Immense cargo hold Comfortable ride Great fuel economy estimates
Cons Base model lacks touch screen Competitors have more standard safety features
The 2019 Honda CR-V rewards owners with fantastic utility and great safety scores.
Pros Roomy, versatile interior Excellent value Comfortable ride Lots of safety gear on most models Classy overall feel
Cons Weird looks Base CR-V LX short on features No thrill machine Competitors are catching up
For 2019, the CR-V is essentially unchanged.
Pros Turbocharged engine delivers a rare combination of thrift and zest Roomy interior with cavernous cargo capacity for this class Rides comfortably yet handles corners athletically Plentiful and thoughtful storage areas
Cons Touchscreen can be finicky to use and lacks a separate tuning knob Underwhelming base engine on the LX trim
