Suzuki Grand Vitara 2009

MSRP: $19,499 - $25,699
Invoice: $18,718 - $24,670
Miles Per Gallon
City: 16 MPG - 17 MPG
Highway: 21 MPG - 22 MPG

Body Style: N/A
Engines: 2.7L V-6 185 HP

The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a solid choice among compact SUVs. It's suitable for anyone who wants off-road capability or needs to manage the daily drive in a comfortable, competent manner.

The Grand Vitara is offered in three trims: Base, XSport and Luxury. The standard 185 hp 2.7-liter V6 engine is available with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive is standard. Suzuki's 4-Mode, full-time 4WD system with transfer case lock and low-range is optional. Safety features include side-impact and side-curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and an electronic stability system with traction control.

The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara is a carryover from 2007 with nominal changes.

2009 Toyota Rava 4

MSRP: $21,500 - $27,810
Invoice: $19,888 - $25,307
Miles Per Gallon
City: 19 MPG - 22 MPG
Highway: 26 MPG - 28 MPG

Body Style: N/A
Engines: 2.5L I-4 179 HP, 3.5L V-6 269 HP

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the compact SUVs that created this class. It has become bigger in recent years and provides more outstanding features that allow it to be an even more useful family vehicle.

The RAV4 seats five and has an available third-row seat (that folds flat into the cargo floor) that increases its capacity to seven. The RAV4 is a four-door, compact sport utility vehicle, available in three trim levels: Base, Sport and Limited. All trims are available with either a new, more powerful 2.5-liter, 179-hp inline-4 and four-speed automatic transmission or a 3.5-liter, 269-hp V6 and five-speed automatic transmission. All V6 RAV4's come with Downhill Assist Control and Hill-start Assist Control. All models are available with front-wheel or full-time all-wheel drive. Standard this year on all trims is an anti-theft system and front active headrests.

The 2009 Toyota RAV4 has a new four-cylinder engine and a revised grille and front bumper, redesigned taillamps and rear step bumper

2009 Volkswagon Tiguan

MSRP: $23,200 - $32,940

Invoice: $21,455 - $30,668

Miles Per Gallon

City: 18 MPG - 19 MPG

Highway: 24 MPG - 26 MPG

Body Style: N/A

Engines: 2.0L I-4 200 HP

The Tiguan is Volkswagen's new entry into the ever growing small SUV segment. With European design and sophistication, VW looks to take on the established player's in the market head-on.

The Tiguan is powered by VW's versatile 200-hp 2.0L turbo FSI engine and smooth six-speed automatic transmission, a six-speed manu

al will be available a little later in the model year. Front wheel drive is available in S, SE and SEL trim levels, while the 4Motion all-wheel drive system is available on SE and SEL trims only. Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control, and electronic stability control.

The new 2009 Tiguan also includes VW's new no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program.

Volkswagen taken over by Porsche

Berlin, Jan 6: The German luxury sports car maker Porsche has taken over Volkswagen, the biggest European car maker, by purchasing more than 50 per cent of its shares. Porsche said in a brief statement that by buying new Volkswagen shares, it will thus increase its participation to 50.76 per cent of the group's capital, compared with 42 per cent before.

As a result, Porsche is now obliged by Swedish law to make an offer for outstanding shares in the heavy truck maker Scania, in which Volkswagen is the dominant shareholder. But the German sports car company will offer a minimum price for Scania shares, and has no 'strategic interest' in the company, the statement said.

Porsche had initially planned to acquire more than 50 percent of Volkswagen's stock in 20007 but was forced to delay the operation after the value of the shares soared amid frantic stock market speculation.

At one point, they traded for more than USD 1,350 per share, making Volkswagen briefly the biggest company in the world by stock market valuation. On Monday, Jan 5, Volkswagen shares closed at 254.74 euros, close to the range Porsche had set for itself of between 200-250 euros.