Family-Friendly SUVs

For families, Toyota Highlander models are easy winners

Among midsize SUVs, the Toyota Highlander (*Est. $25,705 to $34,520) gets the most recommendations as a roomy, easy-to-drive crossover with plenty of thoughtful, family-friendly features. After a redesign for the 2008 model year, the Toyota Highlander emerged larger and more powerful than its original iteration. The Highlander's interior is comfortable and quiet, according to testers, and its second row of seats is unusual in that it can convert from a three-person bench to two individual seats with a pass-through in the middle, allowing easier access to the fold-away third-row bench. The second row's center seat can either be removed and stowed or converted into a handy console, complete with storage and cupholders. Room in the third row is adequate for children, but cramped for adults, say reviewers. Other family-oriented features include an available rear backup camera (an increasingly common option in the midsize SUV class), keyless entry, remote vehicle starting and side-curtain airbags that protect all three seating rows.

Reviewers like the versatility of the Toyota Highlander's cabin and praise the flexibility in drivetrain choices. An economical base-level, two-wheel-drive Toyota Highlander (*Est. $25,705 to $34,520) is powered by a new-for-2009 2.7-liter, 187-horsepower, four-cylinder engine rated at 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, according to official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates. The most popular engine option is the Toyota Highlander's 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. The six-cylinder accelerates well and is available with either front- or all-wheel drive.

For maximum fuel economy, experts point to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV (*Est. $34,700 to $41,020), which offers a 270-horsepower powertrain consisting of a 3.3-liter, gasoline-powered V-6 and an electric motor, matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The EPA rates the Toyota Highlander Hybrid at 27 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, for the best fuel economy of any midsize SUV. The Highlander Hybrid's main drawback should come as no surprise: It carries a significant price premium over its nonhybrid counterparts. As with hybrid cars (covered in a separate report), shoppers are advised to perform additional research to determine how long it will take to recover the added cost of the hybrid powertrain in fuel savings. The Highlander Hybrid's only real alt-powered competition in the midsize SUV class is its corporate cousin, the 2010 Lexus RX 450h (*Est. $41,660 to $43,250), a premium-priced luxury SUV with less seating capacity.

Regardless of engine choice, all Toyota Highlander SUVs carry high resale values and have very favorable reliability ratings. While reviewers laud the midsize Toyota SUV as being pleasant to drive, they often criticize the Highlander's soft handling and conservative exterior styling. Another bone of contention with reviewers is that the Toyota Highlander loses the space race compared to some key rival midsize SUVs; with the third row seats in use, there's a scant 10.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Spacious alternatives include the highly regarded, truckish-looking Honda Pilot and the sleek and sporty Mazda CX-9.

Mazda CX-9 leads a long list of runners-up

While the 2009 Mazda CX-9 (*Est. $29,820 to $35,205) doesn't score quite as many overall recommendations as the Toyota Highlander, it takes first place in an Edmunds.com comparison test, beating out the Highlander and third-place Honda Pilot. Editors say the Mazda SUV's "uncommon levels of style and athleticism" help make it "a crossover you'll take actual joy in driving." An added bonus is that the CX-9 also scores well for all the practical reasons families flock to midsize SUVs: plenty of interior room, comfortable seating for seven passengers and good value for the money. The second row slides fore and aft to create more room where it's needed. The one major nit critics pick with the Mazda CX-9 is that you trade some ride comfort for its on-road agility.

The fully redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot (*Est. $27,695 to $38,495) is a macho, traditional SUV with a look that belies its car-based crossover nature. The 2009 Chevy Traverse (*Est. $29,215 to $41,975) is another new arrival that offers lots of passenger and cargo room. It shares its chassis, seating layout, engine and many features with the 2009 GMC Acadia (*Est. $31,890 to $40,490), 2009 Buick Enclave (*Est. $35,070 to $39,380) and 2009 Saturn Outlook (*Est. $30,625 to $36,450), but boasts the lowest starting price of that group. The 2009 Hyundai Veracruz (*Est. $27,145 to $35,995) is the Korean automaker's upscale three-row midsize SUV that "provides tremendous value," according to Edmunds.com. Priced to compete with mainstream SUVs, it can be outfitted to rival more expensive luxury models. While the value-priced, base-trim 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe (*Est. $21,695 to $30,545) midsize SUV seats only five passengers, higher trims include a folding third row, and there's a little more room behind it than in the Veracruz. The 2009 Subaru Tribeca (*Est. $29,995 to $33,595), another three-row midsize crossover, differs from many rivals in that it comes with all-wheel drive standard. Lost in the sea of competent three-row SUVs is the 2009 Dodge Journey (*Est. $20,925 to $29,335), which garners little respect from reviewers like Edmunds.com, whose editors say "it doesn't really stand out against more polished competitors."

Five-passenger, midsize SUVs still offer attractive style, good utility

Smaller families or individuals looking for good utility might view many of the three-row midsize SUVs mentioned above as overkill. There's no shortage of good two-row, five-passenger SUVs that offer much of the same basic usefulness -- along with some visual panache -- minus the third row.

The 2009 Ford Edge (*Est. $26,635 to $36,605) combines a clean, contemporary bodywork, smooth handling and top safety ratings. While it seats only five, Edmunds.com editors point out that the back seat is roomy and slides fore and aft to increase cargo space or passenger legroom. Although they like its "slickly styled" exterior, editors are less enamored of the Ford Edge's passenger cabin. "Although functional and ergonomically sound in design, the interior lacks much in the way of design flair. Materials quality is average," they say. A spiffier interior design can be found in the redesigned 2009 Nissan Murano (*Est. $27,680 to $37,260). Edmunds.com editors say the Murano's "higher-quality materials and an upscale ambience replace the mediocre quality and avant-garde look of the previous interior." Sleek body panels, sporty handling, and an improved CVT complete the Murano's package. All-wheel drive is optional on both the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano, and each of these midsize SUVs is named a Top Safety Pick according to the independent, nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Echoing the pattern established among the three-row midsize SUVs discussed earlier, the five-passenger 2009 Mazda CX-7 (*Est. $23,900 to $28,400) combines good looks with very sporty handling, along with V-6-like performance from its 244-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. It also happens to undercut both the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano on price. However, reviewers are disappointed with the Mazda CX-7's EPA fuel-economy ratings of only 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway for the all-wheel-drive models. Premium fuel is recommended for the turbocharged engine as well, adding to potentially higher fuel bills.