Hello everyone. I'm looking to purchase my first all wheel drive vehicle and I've narrowed it down to the SX4, Sidekick 4 door, or a 1999-2003 Vitara. My intentions are to have a reliable vehicle that is good to take snowboarding, camping, fishing and to haul mountain bikes. I would like something that is good for daily driver use and is decently comfortable. I'm currently driving a very modified 2001 Jetta with Koni coilovers and upgraded sway bars. It's a very sporty ride and you feel every bump in the road. I figure these vehicle choices would be at least as comfortable or more so? My budget is no more than $5000.

I'm really drawn to the 4 door sidekick. I like that it has an actual frame under it and has good off road capability and size wise it seems just about right for me. I like the Vitara for the same reasons but prefer the boxy look of the Sidekick.

The SX4 seems like a good all around choice though? Not too big and with a rack and a hitch I should be able to haul what I want and it seems like it would be the peppiest of the three? I would assume it is the most comfortable as well?

Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Anne

I'd go with a sidekick. Don't forget you have to look at it everyday...

I would go with the 99-03 Vitara/Tracker in the 2 door, with the 2.0L (which has slightly more power than the 1.6L).  If you are hauling more than one person &/or a pet, then get the 4 door version, as they fill up quickly.  These 2nd Generation vehicles are " good for daily driver use and decently comfortable ", they are also adaptable (in case you decide to modify it also).  There are many members here that are modifying theirs as they venture further off the pavement, but they also do quite well with just more agressive tires and good driving skills (4x4 means you can go further before you get stuck, if you aren't careful).
If you are in the RUST BELT, then get the newest that isn't already rusted out you can afford. 

I use a bike carrier than suspends off of the spare tire on my Tracker.  I've carried four bikes on it at a time without issue. A lot more accessibility than the roof mounted racks, IMHO.

My buddy has a Sidekick and my 2000 Tracker is much more "refined" and overall a better rig to take longer trips in....ask me how I know.

Read up on all you can on whatever one you decide on BEFORE buying. Each has its weak points. Finding a low milage one will be harder to find as they are all getting long in the tooth. So maintenance records would be a plus for me if I was looking to buy.

I agree with BRD HNTR on 99 and later , I have a 89 Tracker for wheeling , I have a 95 4 door Sidekick for a shop rig and my daily driver is a 2000 Grand Vitara and my wife drives a 2002 Xl7 and my favorite rig is the GV , lots of power with far gas mileage .

I will add another question to this discussion if that is okay.
 
- what year did they change the squared body style like a 1997 4dr rig to the smoother body style, 1999??

- and how much did the weight on the 4dr units increase in the newer body style??

my 97 tracker 4 dr. weighs just under 3000 lbs and weight is an issue when towing behind an RV !

1999 is the start of the 2nd generation of these trucks (from squarish body to more streamlined).

The four-door 2nd gen weighs around 3,000#s.  Not a significant weight differences. This is the weight of the manual tranny equipped 4-door.  Auto tranny equipped trucks might be a few pounds heavier.

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/chevrolet_usa/tracker_2gen/tracker_2gen_4-door/2002.html