Vehicle question

What is the smallest current production crossover/SUV with upright sitting position, truck-style front seats? Would  Subaru Forester or Outback qualify?

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12 Responses to Vehicle question

  1. Peter Grant says:

    I suggest any small SUV based on a conventional (i.e. car) chassis or unibody won’t offer the upright truck-like seating you want. Certainly our Subaru Forester doesn’t; it’s comfortable, but more like a car than a light truck.

    I think you’re more likely to find that sort of seating in a minivan platform. There are small ones out there, such as the just-discontinued Mazda 5; there should still be new models available at some dealers. Larger minivans are even more comfortable, of course; and they also have the advantage, if you want to carry a lot of gear, of being able to either fold up or remove entirely the rear rows of seats, leaving a cavernous space bigger than any SUV I know.

    • j.r. guerra in s. tx. says:

      My aunt owned a Honda Element and she loved it. Its been discontinued since 2011 though due to lack of sales. I think hers was a 2007 – I thought it was pretty nifty myself.

  2. Don T. says:

    A Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4 should meet your criteria. The Outback is still car-like in that the seat is rather low. I don’t know about the Forester personally, but it appears similar to the Outback.

    I have an older relative that got a CRV just for that reason. (Bad back, and general stiffness made entry and egress difficult from something with lower seating.)

    Don T.

  3. Daniel O'Brien (@DanielObrien42) says:

    What are “truck-type” front seats? I have a Subaru Forrester and the interior, including seats are very much like the WRX we traded in for it. Love the Forrester. Plenty of room in the back for hauling stuff around and still drives nicely.

  4. IARifleman says:

    Toyota 4runner, last body on frame SUV. (The new Ford Bronco also will qualify, but isn’t out yet) would recommend a 4th Gen, (03-09)

  5. Joe K. says:

    I have a 2012 RAV4 that has fairly upright seats. Not real clear on what you mean. I’m not aware of any smallish SUV that will have a bench style seat. The RAV4 is quite comfortable and offers a fairly upright and high driving position as compared to the Forester IMO.

  6. I’m a happy owner, since new, of an ’06 Outback. It’s not exactly like sitting in my wife’s Xterra, but the seats are adequately elevated above the floor; I simply hate sitting on the floorpan. If you want something a bit smaller, the newer XV Crosstrek might be your ticket.

    If you want some more ground clearance as far as seating position goes, possibly the various models suggested by others or the Mazda CX-5?

  7. I’m almost blue in the face, waiting for Ford to release the new Bronco.

    Promises, promises.

    Still, hope springs eternal.

  8. JSmath says:

    Unimog or Suzuki Carry.

    🙂

  9. Ray says:

    Ford Explorer or Dodge Durango might fit the bill. I’m not sure if the either is built on a truck frame since they discontinued the Ranger and the Dakota.

  10. Andy says:

    2 door Jeep Wrangler.

    Or are you talking of bench seating rather than buckets?

  11. jim says:

    do yourself a favor and look at a soul. not quite S”UV. but seats may be what you are looking for.

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