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The 2009 Sportage builds off of the award-winning 2008 Sportage, named Cars.com’s “Best Bang for the Buck.” The Sportage LX with AWD is equipped with the base 140hp 2.0 liter 4 banger and only comes with a 5 speed manual gearbox. The EX trim level requires the optional V6 engine, while the LX can be had with either the base four banger or the 2.7 liter V6. The 173 hp V6 offers only an automatic transmission, and adds a premium audio system and power sunroof. It also has power windows, door locks and air conditioning. Unlike some of the more dainty SUV Crossovers, Sportage is built with occasional off-roading in mind. The prices for the 2.0 Sportage LX with AWD start at
$20,195

The 2010 Subaru Forester is also in its second year after a 2009 redesign. The boxier outline of the new Forester has proven to be Subaru's best selling vehicle. It is offered in 5 trim lines for 2010. The 2.5X is one of the best values in the crossover SUV segment. The 2.5X Premium adds a 10-way power driver's seat, large panoramic power moonroof and interior enhancements and offers an available All-Weather Package (heated front seats, heated side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer). The Forester 2.5X Limited includes the All-Weather Package and offers more luxury. For performance, the 2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Limited are powered by the 224-hp turbocharged/intercooled Boxer engine. Prices for the Forester 2.5 X start at $20,295.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara 5 door SUV is in the 3rd year of its second generation design. This is a REAL crossover because it has elements of BOTH a unibody AND a full frame chassis. That design allows the vehicle to tolerate more off road abuse than most of its pure unibody competition. 4wd versions are available in Premium, X Sport and Luxury trim levels. The least expensive AWD Grand Vitara is the Premium version, and it mates a manual transmission with a 166hp, 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine. This combination gets the "single mode" 4wd system, while V6 versions get the more sophisticated Full Time 4 mode system. The base (Premium) Grand Vitara with the 4wd option and manual gearbox starts at $20,349, but only in RED! All other colors are priced higher! SCAM!!!

The Base Matrix and its XRS upscale brother, are not available with AWD. AWD is only available for the Matrix S version. For some reason, the Toyota website refers to the car as the Matrix 10. (It took me a week to figure out it meant 2010 Matrix - duh! Sometimes our prejudices get in our way. Like mine with Toyota. Learn from that. Make sure your prejudices don't get in YOUR way.) In terms of visual appeal, it is about a 3; not a 10. Selecting the "build-it" option for the $20,760 Matrix S with the 2.4 liter motor and the automatic transmission delivers a page that has in its heading, "Starting at $16,550". No, it doesn't!!!! IT STARTS AT $20,760!!!!!!!!!

The 2009 Pontiac Vibe with AWD has a 158hp 2.4 liter inline 4 cylinder motor with a 4 speed transmission. The hoped for manual transmission option is not there for the AWD version. This car is a sister to the Toyota Matrix, and shares that car's Corolla based platform and driveline. This as close as anyone is going to get to an AWD GM car. Although its still called a compact SUV, to me, its a compact wagon. Because it is a joint project with Toyota, it is not shared across the rest of the GM lineup. The baseline AWD Vibe starts at $20,475.

The 2010 Subaru Legacy is built on a new platform that increases room and comfort. The Legacy offers 3 levels of performance; the Legacy 2.5i, 2.5i Premium and 2.5i Limited -- are powered by a revised 170-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine (with available PZEV rating) and are equipped with a new standard 6-speed manual transmission or the new Lineartronic ™ CVT. The Legacy 2.5GT is available in Premium and Limited trim, powered by a new 265-hp turbocharged / intercooled Boxer engine. The Legacy 3.6R , Premium and Limited trim versions are powered by a new 256-hp 3.6-liter engine. The 3.6R is exclusively equipped with a 5-speed electronic automatic transmission. Compared to the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine it replaces, the new, more powerful 3.6 has can run on regular-grade fuel, rather than premium. Prices for the base, manual transmissioned Legacy 2.5i start at a reduced $19,995.

The Honda Element is a utilitarian but sporty AWD.The Element is only available with all wheel drive options on the EX or LX models. Both use the 2.3 liter 166hp motor. In addition to the entry level LX, the EX adds better audio, alloy wheels and some overhead storage. The EX comes equipped with better audio, more minor amenities, and nicer wheels. The little changed automatic transmissioned AWD LX model jumps less than a grand this year to $21,775

The 2009 Nissan Rogue is basically unchanged save for the addition of some trinkets here and there. . Available in two models, S and SL, each has a standard 170hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and the Xtronic CVT™ (Continuously Variable Transmission). A smaller version of Murano, the styling exercise could have done a better job on the nose profile. The primary KEY FEATURE is what Nissancalls their Intuitive All Wheel Drive System. It applies power to the rear wheels only when the vehicle isn't in straight line "cruise" mode. The base AWD Rogue is priced at $21,420.

The Suzuki Kizashi mid-sized sport sedan is available in 4 trim levels; S, SE, GTS and SLS. All AWD Kizashi's will be equipped with CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission). Suzuki's i-AWD System allows the driver to select how power is delivered to all four wheels depending on road conditions-- from 2-wheel-drive for maximum fuel efficiency, to all-wheel-drive for rainy days, to 4-wheel-drive for maximum traction on ice and snow. For now, the engine will be the 2.4 Liter DOHC 4 cylinder, putting out 185 hp. Look for a hybrid version in the coming months. The list price of an AWD optioned Kizashi S is $21,750.

The Honda CR-V was all new for 2007, and remains as-is for 2010. There are 3 trim levels; the LX, EX and EX-L. Every AWD CR-V features a 5-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control for added driveability and safety. Also included are 60/40 split rear sliding fold & tumble seats, an MP3/auxiliary input jack, cruise control and Daytime Running Lights (DRL). Interestingly, the CRV EX-L (which is a luxury moniker, not a long wheelbase option) suffers 2 " of LOST headroom when compared to other CRV's. So the seating positions are very different; do yourself a favor and try BOTH to see if one fits you better. Upgrade to the EX-L and you'll get upgraded seating at a slight cost to headroom and cargo carrying area. Power is from last year's 166-hp, to 180 hp for the 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine. There is still no manual transmission option. The 2010 LX model with AWD starts at $22,795

The 2010 Subaru Outback interior volume is almost 7 percent bigger in a package that is slightly shorter than the previous model. The wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer and rear seat legroom is improved by almost 4 inches, but front and rear overhangs are reduced by around 2 inchesy. A new rear double wishbone suspension enhances rear cargo space. The Outback is also 2.0 inches wider to improve passenger comfort and has more headroom than the previous model. The Outback line for 2010 includes the 2.5i, powered by a revised 170-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine, and the new Outback 3.6R powered by a 256-hp 3.6-liter 6-cylinder Boxer engine teamed with a 5-speed electronic automatic transmission. The efficient Outback 2.5i offers a new standard 6-speed manual transmission, or the available Lineartronic™ CVT . The Base Outback comes with a manual transmission and starts at $22,995

There are 2 Mazda Tribute equipment levels; the i and the s series.The base "i Sport" series has a 153hp 2.3-Liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cyl. with a 4-Speed automatic. The s series comes with the 200hp 3.0L 6 cylinder for about $1,300 extra. Both have Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels. The AWD option requires the 4 speed automatic transmission in all cases. Prices on the i Sport start at $22,065

The 2010 Toyota RAV4 seems unchanged from last year's version. The internal designators are gone, thank god, and we are presented with simply the Base, Sport and Limited versions. Nice and clean.The 4wd implementation in the RAV4 is a bit different, in that it DISENGAGES at speeds above 25mph. Hmmm... So if slow, low traction environments (ice, snow, mud) are of frequent concern to you, by all means consider the well regarded RAV4. But if you are looking for a more cummuter oriented sysytem, you may be better served with a conventional AWD vehicle. The 2.5 liter 4 cylinder BASE 4wd version starts unchanged at $22,900.