Driver's Seat: Mixing and matching the small SUVs

Just like the leftover turkey you have been reheating for the last six days, here comes Part II of the Tiny Turkey SUV Test-off. (After this, the review is picked clean.)

Inside: Last week, we familiarized ourselves with the insides of the 2012 Chevy Equinox LTZ, ($33,540 as tested, base price $29,140), the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan S with sunroof (base $25,590), and the 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Touring ($32,320 as tested, $29,995 base price).

Now, let's take them for a spin.

Visibility: After a week in the Tiguan, I got in the Forester and immediately wrote, "Of course, visibility is great in these small SUVs."

But then came the Equinox.

Between the giant pillar behind the driver's door, the darker glass in the rear, and all the angled windows, seeing outside is not easy. Merging onto the Vine Street Expressway or keeping an eye on cars and people around Center City is challenging.

It's bacon! The Forester's cute little bump in the hood does feel a bit like the dog-eye's view in the Beggin' Strips commercial, though that's not a deal killer.

Getting up to speed: The Tiguan tops this contest. The 2.0-liter turbo will zip from merging speed right up to 80 m.p.h. if you're not careful. The Forester is spry, and the Subaru pancake engine hums a pleasant tune.

Floor the Equinox and it just loses composure. Shifting seems to cease, so then I let off the gas to avoid redlining. Mrs. Passenger Seat was tossed to and fro, and questions about just who should be in the Driver's Seat were raised.

I tried this again and again, with the same result.

Note to automakers: It's not nice to embarrass the auto reviewer.

On the road: The Tiguan is designed with the driver in mind. Handling is superb.

The Subaru smoothes out rough roads nicely and still offers adequate feedback, but the difference between the Forester and the Tiguan is remarkable.

The Equinox is designed with the passengers in mind. While bringing Sturgis Kid 2.0 and a companion home for Thanksgiving break, I found the Equinox quite comfortable for cruising at some remarkable highway speeds. Handling is very GM - not bad but without a lot of fun.

Shifting: Despite the Equinox's full-throttle shiftless moments, the six-speed automatic otherwise seems to be too shifty in general. And the plus and minus buttons don't offer any of the pleasant shift capabilities of the two other vehicles.