What's Hot? n What's New?Great trucks for any budgetUnderstanding "four-wheel" Drive vs. "All-wheel" drive
Under $20,000With the advent of affordable car-based sport/utilities (CUVs), this otherwise shrinking (under-$20,000) segment becomes more popular by the day. These highly versatile vehicles are ideal for light-duty towing of personal watercraft, barely-off-the-beaten-path camping forays (with available 4WD), and even commuting chores. Their ability to deliver a sedanlike ride and decent mileage while offering more utility than most cars at an attractive price, makes CUVs the college student vehicle of choice or the affordable station wagon of the '90s.
Don't fret, true off-road enthusiasts, there are still a couple of truck-based sport/utilities left in this dollar category, but the choices are few.
Honda CR-VThe best of both worlds is what the Honda CR-V is all about: commuter car and light-duty off-road vehicle. With tried-and-true Civic underpinnings, a confident (however buzzy) 2.0-liter inline-four, on-demand 4WD (it runs in front drive until slippage is detected), and available ABS, this affordable Honda is a no-brainer pick. New on '98 models is the welcome addition of a five-speed manual transmission, but it's available only with a front-drive version-otherwise, you'll have a four-speed automatic making your shifts for you.
| Body type: | 4-dr., 5-pass. |
| Drivetrain: | Front engine, fornt drive/4WD |
| Airbag: | Driver/passenger |
| Base curb weight, lb: | 3164 |
| Base engine: | 2.0-liter I-4, DOHC, 126 hp |
| Opt. engine: | None |
| Brakes, f/r: | Discs/drums, ABS opt. |
| Price range: | $20,000-$23,000 |
| Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: | 22/25 |
Jeep CherokeeThe experience we've gained with our own long-term Cherokee Sport has shown us that there's not much this compact Jeep can't do. If it's not loaded with test gear, it's camping on some mountain top.
Freshened in '97 and '98, the perennially popular Cherokee is still available with your choice of two engines, three trim levels, and years of off-road engineering built in. While it's possible to spend more than $20,000 equipping a Cherokee, it remains one of the best values out there.
| Body type: | 2- or 4-dr., 5-pass. |
| Drivetrain: | Front engine, rear drive/4WD |
| Airbag: | Driver/passenger |
| Base curb weight, lb: | 2979 |
| Base engine: | 2.5-liter I-4, OHV, 125 hp |
| Opt. engine: | 4.0-liter I-6, OHV, 190 hp |
| Brakes, f/r: | Discs/drums, ABS opt. |
| Price range: | $16,000-$24,000 |
| Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: | 20/23 |
Toyota RAV4Arguably the first modern CUV, entering its third year of production, Toyota's Celica-based RAV4 is becoming as common as that car once was-with good reason. It brings together all that was right with the Celica and makes it even more useful for an active '90s lifestyle.
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