How about those Blue Jays? It's been an exciting run toward the playoffs, and maybe a World Series is in the cards.
That Toronto baseball bandwagon is certainly getting crowded. Say, is that a new team shirt you're sporting? The tag is still attached and that vintage hat atop your head still has the dust from your closet.
Another bandwagon that's popular in Canada is the compact crossover segment. It's set to take over from small cars and become the biggest-selling segment in the country. They seem to be what everybody on your block is buying, so naturally you can't just park a little compact sedan in your driveway and expect to look your neighbour in the eye. But you have a family and need reliability, so let's look at a budget of $15,000 for something a little newer. You may not be able to afford playoff tickets, but you'll have enough left over for more Jays swag.
Sensible
It used to be a tall wagon, but the Subaru Forester grew into a bona fide crossover in 2009. We can find them here up to around 2011 for our budget. As a Subaru, you can expect the company's bulletproof reliability and, indeed, it carries a Consumer Report's "good bet" rating. Besides the 225-horsepower XT version, all else is available with a 170-horsepower, 2.5-litre flat four cylinder, with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Its full-time all-wheel drive system is one of the best, and it also earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick for crash standards. Its only minor drawback is an interior that lags in quality and design behind the top picks. Recalls deal with leaking brake lines, puddle lights that could overheat, a faulty rear centre seat belt, breaking front lower control arms and cracking oil lines.
One of the kings in this segment has always been the Honda CR-V. Again, a Consumer Reports "good bet", it's been a reliable and capable crossover, and it's affordable here up to around 2011. Available with a 180-horsepower inline four cylinder and a five-speed automatic in the later models, it offered peppy performance with good fuel economy, and a part-time all-wheel drive system was available. It feels spacious inside for passengers, but cargo room is limited. The interior is nicely laid out, however, and there is a plethora of storage bins throughout the cabin. Recalls deal with the door locks, air bags and the suspension.
Indispensable
The Honda and the Toyota RAV4 are the clear leaders in this segment and nearly neck-and-neck with each other, but this time top honours will go to the Toyota, found up to around 2010. Why? It has an available third-row seat which, while not sensible for everyday commuting, still offers more versatility for short trips. It also has an available V-6 engine, available all-wheel drive and much larger cargo area than the CR-V. Add to that the typical Toyota reliability and another Consumer Reports "good bet" and you have a crossover that does it all. Recalls include those for air bags, a seat heater, a potential rear suspension failure, possible failing restraint systems, a master window switch and rusting tie rods.
Questionable
For more of an off-road look and performance, you could always check out the Suzuki Grand Vitara, available up to around 2011 here. It does have a locking differential, short overhangs and a hill-descent control for the rougher stuff but, really, how often do you go off-road? Its on-road manners, however, aren't so composed, with heavy steering and poor fuel economy, no matter if you find the V-6 or inline-four cylinder. As well, interior cargo room and passenger space is the smallest of the lot, limiting its usefulness. Recalls deal with the air bags, accessory belts that could fall off and an overheating navigation system.
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