SWR,
I bought a 4 cylander VUE about 2.5 years ago. I researched all the small wagons & SUVs at the time. I test drove just about everything anyone here has talked about. I didn't test the Honda CRV. I tried, but they were in such scarce supply at the time that the Arizona dealers wanted you to put down $400 for the right to test drive the next one that came in the show room. I could see where that deal was going.
I've put about 65,000 miles on VUE and am happy so far. Nothing but routine maintenance. I get 27 mpg on the highway. It varies from a low of about 23 (up mountains into a head wind) to about 30 (down the mountains with wind at my back). But when I've made long trips AZ-to-IL-to-AZ, I end up averaging 27. I don't try to keep track of my city mileage. DW drives it more than I do around town and she tends to forget to record gas purchases and mileage. I like the back cargo space. I wish I could have a real spare tire. When I bought the car I was thinking I could replace the toy spare with a real one, but there's no room. I've learned that I prefer a tailgate to the hatch. But there are advantages to both.
I tend not to trust anyone else's opinion about cars (or investing). Like unclemick often points out, there's too much testosterone involved in those things. It seems like an awful lot of people know what car is best, that all others are worthless scrap metal, and that anyone who disagrees with them is a fool. The trouble is, they all disagree with each other.
Good luck.
