A Trip to the Auto Show...

This Friday, we hit up the Pittsburgh International Auto Show, with hopes of narrowing down the choices for our next vehicle. We aren't planning to purchase for 8-10 months, but where else can you see so many models in one place? I researched the vehicles ahead of time to prepare a list, and we were able to cross off a few by the end of the night. Absent from our list were any and all GM or Chrysler models. Jim refuses to support those companies on the basis of them taking the federal bailout money. Fine by me.

Our front-runner going into the evening, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, may sadly have been bumped off the list. While we both love it and agree it is totally awesome, we also agree that it is not the most practical choice. BO-RING! I say "boo" to practicality, but I guess we do have to be realistic. Here it is anyway. Neither of us have the heart to completely nix it from the list.

Moving on to the candidates within the realm of possibility (read: BORING!), we have the Ford Escape. Not a bad choice, I think. It's substantial (an important quality in the midsize SUV we are seeking) without being as huge as the aforementioned FJ. It has nice big beefy wheels and we like the exterior design. As a bonus, it comes in a hybrid model, although I'm not sure we'd go that route.
Next up, is the Hyundai Santa Fe. Although Jim feels it is a little "feminine" on the exterior, it has tons of cargo space, good visibility and a reasonable price tag. Just might not be quite the look we're going for.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is similar in feel to the Santa Fe (but a little less "feminine"). It lacks the abundant cargo space of the Santa Fe but still makes it onto the list with some other nice features. Next up is the Mitsubishi Outlander. I was not too familiar with this brand before the auto show, but this model had excellent cargo room as well as an optional 3rd row seat. We both liked the detail around the wheel wells.

The Honda Element is along the lines of an FJ Cruiser wanna-be. It probably will not end up making the cut, but there are some features we liked, such as the fact that the entire interior is waterproof and can be hosed out. Nice for camping. The clamshell door entry is a bit of a pain though.And in the "Out of Left Field" category, here is the Kia Soul. It is scheduled to be released this Spring. Yes, it is kind of weird looking, but it is packed with features that we are excited about for an extremely reasonable price tag. This one just might be the dark horse of the group.
Here's your turn to weigh in, readers. Which ones do you like/hate? Let us know in the comments. Happy driving!