The SX4 is smaller. We looked at one as an option vs. a Kia Soul. The SX4 has AWD but was way smaller inside than the KIA so we went with that instead.

Since moving here I've owned a Rav4, an AWD Pontiac Vibe and two AWD SX4s.

I didn't really use the Rav that much to give a detailed report on it but it was an OK vehicle, I can't really think of anything good or bad to say about it. The back door was hinged from the side which seemed like an interesting idea. Not a great deal of space in the trunk, though.

I thought the Vibe was pretty good, really good traction in winter conditions with the studded tyres on it. Huge amount of space inside with the seats down flat. Awful in side winds. Good on gas but shit on performance.

SX4 #1: 5 speed manual , good on gas, small, light and fun. I'm reasonably sure if we were in a heavier car that day we were flattened by the truck, we wouldn't be here to tell the tale...

SX4 #2: 6 speed MT and a pokier engine. Great little car which has lived up to our motoring requirements perfectly.

One thing I have to say about the SX4 is, when you're driving one and see someone else in one, you'll get a big smile and a wave from the other driver (which speaks volumes about the cars "X factor").

This is also true of pastel VW Beetle convertibles and school buses.

No, no, no, that's a proposition for a hair cut (followed by stripping down to underwear and having a pillow fight).

Oh AX and Greenhill, many thanks.....I 'think' we have practically decided on the SX4. We are only a three person family, and we don 't travel great distances - it might be better for me that it's smaller as I have a Fiat 500 now, and OH accuses me of parking by sound!

I park by touch

Just buy a Fiat 500 when you move here

Abarth is now in showrooms....

I saw t'other day

I am so so with you.... OH has tried to make me trade up my Fiat 500 for the Abarth for the last two years...I only bought my Fiat because my kid started at a school 7 kms away and it was necessary that I take him there and back every day and the Renault Senic was like a bus and worked when it wanted. My problem is that I arrived in NB during a 'strong Sou'Wester' and it terrified the pants off me. I know that our life will be better for us as a family in NB, but my husband will 'still' disappear for six weeks out of every ten to Africa. I love my Fiat, but she sits so low compared to all of the other cars in NB. I am NOT a wimpy woman, but I have never lived in a cold climate, and it scares me.....the first year is going to be the 'scary' one. I am not of a Crossover variety....I have fought a few vehicles through the desert in my time, but I am Frankly scared.....Are any of you in Abarth territory in snowy territory too?

By a cheap old high up clunker for a year till you get over it, then get something more expensive if you want.

Lots of old ford explorers and the like out there would help with the transition to getting used to driving among the larger vehicles here. I had a Jeep when I arrived, but I paid top dollar for it and after a year or so it seemed like a mistake, with hindsite I should have got it out of my system with something old and used at first.

Get an Escape..lots too choose from and pretty cheap..wouldn't bother with old explorers

However it appears you cannot test drive one. Talked to a couple of dealers who made it very clear they will not have a demonstrator. Seems it is very normal here for people to buy cars without driving them first. Bizarre.

we moved out at the end of last year and after lots of umming and arring we went with a forester.

we had experience with the hyundai equivalent (can't remember the model) and found it to be a very bumpy ride. we had had a mazda 6 in the uk and really liked it so had a look at the cx-7 but to be honest it felt small. our in laws have a nissan murano and it's a lovely car but much much bigger than these others quoted.

have done about 4k in the forester so far and loved it. stuck to the road well in the snow (what we had around here and up north a bit) and apart from an unfortunate experience where the doors decided to lock while the kids were in the car with the keys, it's been fantastic and I thoroughly recommend it.

I would make a list of my top 5 and then google their fuel economy and read their reviews. I wish I had done this before we had bought what we have now. The new Honda CRV has a Lites/100km of 9.2L/100km whereas our current Chevy Uplander is 13L/100km. The new Dodge Caravan is a 7.2L/100km and the Kia Sorrento is even less.

Of course you may not be sensitive to gas costs but I am and I wish I had looked into this more instead of assuming incorrectly that all vans/SUVs were similiar.