What CUV/SUV/4x4 should I buy?

[Goodspeed]

Wildcard - GMC Acadias?

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Those are actually a pretty cool suggestion, but I think I might be tumbling down concurrent CX-5 and Ridgeline rabbit holes. Got out of work early yesterday and took a look at an example of each:

Mazda CX-5

I test drove this 2014 AWD Touring.



I was interested in the '14+ for the bump in displacement to 2.5 liters. With the tech package, it's got a rearview camera, a blind-spot warning system, a six-way power driver seat, a 40/20/40-split-folding rear seat, cloth which I prefer in this instance, and sunroof and I loved it. This definitely felt like it had elements of the Miata in it, much to my amazement - the crisp (for a CUV, or hell, any platform) steering feel and handling, and the punchy 2.5 - this drove excellently.

I was tempted to drive it off the lot right there and then, but wanted to give the Ridgeline its chance. So, back home towards Vienna I went to see...

Honda Ridgeline

This 2014 Ridgeline Sport..



Now this....this was different. And I loved it too. The sheer amount of utility this thing afforded me...I spent much of the test drive just imagining all the things and stuff I could stow in unique and inventive ways for activities. This of course didn't have any of the sports-ish-car-ish handling of the CX-5, and was very different in many other ways (I won't bloviate any more than this given I know many of you have experience with both of these), but man did I dig this thing.

So...decisions are well on their way to being made. Purhase should be revealed shortly. Stay tuned