Because our PT Cruiser is feeling a bit cramped now that we're tending to carry around more kid stuff, we're shopping for the next size class of car, the compact SUV. We test drove the popular Honda CR-V today (first row of four pics here) and its direct competitor, the Toyota RAV4 (second row of pics). The riding experience of each was very similar with the Honda seemingly better on turns and shock absorbtion. The Honda has a pop-down sunglass storage bin in the roof that also has a panoramic kid spy mirror built in (pic 3). The dash data display was more comprehensive. Both cars have a pop-open non-slip gadget shelf above the glove compartment (pic 2 & 6) and offer iPod integration for no doubt a hefty fee. I liked the interior features of the Toyota a little better, but was not a fan of the swing out rear hatch (pic 8). We'll see how the dealers' packages, prices and product availability compare in the coming days.

- mike lee - wheaton, md