Come to think of it, my pal experienced it with his impreza. It so troubled him till he decided to upgrade the engine to an 1800cc whose power is like a breath of fresh air.

coz Subaru is no ordinary car!

@quicksand.....how can you compare a 1500cc impreza to a 2500 toyota?There is also a price diff of about 600k btwn the two.Compare the impreza to an NZE or the Mark X to an Outback and please report back.

@nakujua Haha. Very True.

@Siringi, I add to the Mid SUV's Toyoya Harrier. It has a smooth ride, very comfortable while driving, a good sound system and the pick-up is very fast. Lakini it is a guzzler

@Gathige in my opinion, Harrier is in a different category from the four listed.

@Siringi about the SUVs, I assume you meant Honda CRV... This my opinion:

1. Honda CRV
- most spacious
- most stable (have you ever seen one rolled?)
- consumption competitive with VVTEC technology
- has status/class
- not darling of thieves
- most durable
- resale value very high
- but parts are more expensive
Although, parts are more expensive, they last forever (literally)

2. Forester
- moderately spacious
- moderately stable (but misused by people who roll with them once in while, that tells you who are the common owners)
- guzzler especially the turbo
- not sure about the status/class, but it's favourite of the young generation (I don't know why, coud be the sound and power?)
- moderately durable
- cheaper to buy (you cab save upto 1/2 mita i.e. sh500K compared to CRV/RAV4)
- resale value low (you can sell you Forester for months before you get a buyer)
- although the parts are expensive, they last longer than RAV-4 and ofcourse X-Trail

3. RAV-4
- very squeezed (try the back seats and wore unto you if you are a tall person)
- moderately stable
- most economical
- moderate status/class
- darling of thieves given that it is a Toyota
- moderately durable
- highly overrated to buy (you can pay over sh500K compared to Forester)
- high resale value (you can sell it in a day due to above point, overated)
- although parts cheaper because of many, many imitations in the market, they last less longer than CRV and Forester

4. Nissan X-trail
- moderately spacious
- moderately stable
- slightly guzzler than Honda
- has status/class
- least durable
- resale value very low (you can sell it for years unless throw away price)
- parts are both expensive and last shorter

So make your choice.

To me,
- take Honda if you have the money and want to have the car until you give it to your grand children
- or Forester if your pocket is a bit squeezed but some for maintenance
- or RAV-4 if you want to sell it quickly at some time in future
- or X-Trail if you want to replace it in less than 10 years as scrap meatal

@AlphDoti. Good analyses. Proves I made the right choice to buy a CRV. I don't intend to sell it. How much would a new VVTEC engine cost? @Siringi. Honda is for Americans, not Britons!

@Siringi - lived with an Xtrail for a short while - its aerodynamics/stability and brakes at speed are unsettling. Hit 120KPH and you get the feeling the wash from speeding lorry will lift you off to a ditch 20 metres from the road ...the model I had has drum brakes at the back,..incomprehensible for a car of that size, when you brake hard, the back rises and when it falls back, the front wheels lose some grip then you skid jumpily before you stop while also praying hard the brakes hold before you hit whatever has crossed your path infront. Wouldn't buy this car IMHO.

While at it, anyone selling a CRV (not the very old model & Not the very new one; say Yr 2001 to 2004)?

Quicksand-couldnt agree more. @Siringi - Just to add a few points worth considering. The Forester and the Cr-v are primarily front wheel drive, and in the event of a slip, the rear wheels engage making them 4wd when it's needed, but it's not selectable on the models I have come across. I did see one older CR-V and Forester at some point that allowed one to select the 4wd low and high option- but these were exceptions. The Xtrail and Rav 4 have selectable 4wd- thats if you buy the 4wd's. Be careful to ensure it is a 4wd if that is what you want. Not all tall cars/ SUV's are 4wd. Some come with only 2wd and I find the 2wd to be cheaper than those with 4wd. Another factor to consider is performance. If performance is your thing I'd suggest the Forester turbo. The turbo kicks in depending on the revs/rpm. So if you drive moderately the consumption isnt so bad.It gives you the benefit of power when you want it. The next in line is the Xtrail GT which is also turbo charged. Its fast in a straight line but handles like a boat. Also consider whether you want a diesel or petrol. I havent seen a lot of diesels on the road- but they are great on fuel consumption rivaling some hybrids. Some of the older diesels however do cause quite a racket and the cabin noise can get unbearable. All the best in your selection. Hope this helps.