SUVs

2009 Kia Borrego EX V-8 Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Good towing capacity, competitive price, plentiful standard features.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row, so-so fuel economy.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera.
How It Got Its Score: The V-8 powered 2009 Kia Borrego has good power, but fuel economy suffers. Cargo space is also tight, but lots of safety features and seven passenger capability help make up for it.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.0

2009 Kia Borrego LX V-6 Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Off-road capability, competitive price.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera (EX only) 
How It Got Its Score: While the 2009 Kia Borrego seats seven and has a low price, its fuel economy is only so-so, and it doesn't offer much cargo space behind the third row.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.0

2009 Kia Borrego LX V-6 Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Competitive price, decent fuel economy for the class.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera (EX only) 
How It Got Its Score: Full-size SUVs are often hobbled by two things: Fuel economy and price. While fuel economy in the V-6 Kia Borrego is OK for the class, and it's not too expensive, it gets dinged for a small cargo area.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.1

2009 Kia Borrego LX V-8 Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size seven-passenger SUV
What's Hot: Off-road capability, good towing capacity, competitive price.
What's Not: Small cargo area behind third row, so-so fuel economy.
Family Friendly Options: Premium audio, Bluetooth, navigation system with backup camera (EX and Limited only) 
How It Got Its Score: The 2009 Kia Borrego V-8 offers up plenty of safety features and seven-passenger seating for a good price, but its small cargo area and so-so fuel economy hurt its score.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.9

2010 Chevrolet Suburban LS Half-Ton Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size long-wheelbase, four-wheel drive body-on-frame SUV.
Who it's For: Those who need lots of passenger and cargo hauling, four-wheel drive capability and maximum towing.
What's Hot: Huge cargo area, lots of passenger space.
What's Not: Lackluster fuel economy.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, Bluetooth, USB, rear-seat entertainment system.
How It Got Its Score: The Suburban is the king of the SUVs, with lots of cargo and passenger space, and four-wheel drive capability. However, it's still not as cargo-efficient as a minivan, and much more thirsty, too.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.5

2010 Chevrolet Suburban LS Half-Ton Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size long-wheelbase body-on-frame SUV.
Who it's For: Those who need maximum passenger and cargo hauling, and also need to tow a heavy load.
What's Hot: Huge cargo area, lots of passenger space.
What's Not: Fuel economy is lackluster.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, Bluetooth, USB, rear-seat entertainment system.
How It Got Its Score: The Suburban is the king of the SUVs, with lots of cargo and passenger space. However, it's still not as cargo-efficient as a minivan, and much more thirsty, too.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.5

2010 Chevrolet Suburban LS Three-Quarter-Ton Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size long-wheelbase, four-wheel drive heavy-duty body-on-frame SUV.
Who it's For: Those who need maximum passenger and cargo hauling, off-road ability, and heavy-duty towing.
What's Hot: Huge cargo area, lots of passenger space.
What's Not: Fuel economy is a mystery, pricey.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, Bluetooth, USB, rear-seat entertainment system.
How It Got Its Score: The four-wheel drive Suburban three-quarter ton is a heavy duty workhorse with lots of cargo and passenger space. But its expensive, and fuel economy numbers aren't likely to be good.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.3

2010 Chevrolet Suburban LS Three-Quarter-Ton Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size long-wheelbase heavy-duty body-on-frame SUV.
Who it's For: Those who need maximum passenger and cargo hauling, and also need to tow a very heavy load.
What's Hot: Huge cargo area, lots of passenger space.
What's Not: Fuel economy is a mystery, pricey.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, Bluetooth, USB, rear-seat entertainment system.
How It Got Its Score: The Suburban three-quarter ton is a heavy duty workhorse with lots of cargo and passenger space. But its expensive, and fuel economy numbers aren't likely to be good.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.3

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-sized body-on frame SUV, with a hybrid powertrain.
Who it's For: Those who need to haul people, things and a boat, but with the best possible fuel economy.
What's Hot: Fuel economy is very good for such a large vehicle.
What's Not: A very high price.
How It Got Its Score: The Tahoe seats up to eight, has lots of cargo space and offers very good fuel economy. If the price were lower, the score could be much higher.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.2

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-sized body-on frame SUV, with a hybrid powertrain.
Who it's For: Those who need to haul people, things and a boat, but with the best possible fuel economy.
What's Hot: Fuel economy is very good for such a large vehicle.
What's Not: A very high price.
How It Got Its Score: The Tahoe's eight seats and plentiful cargo space combine with very good fuel economy, giving it a score higher than all non-hybrid Tahoes.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.3

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe LS Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size body-on-frame SUV
Who it's For: Those who need maximum passenger hauling, and also need to tow a heavy load.
What's Hot: Best-in-class fuel economy.
What's Not: "Best in class" isn't much to brag about.
How It Got Its Score: The Tahoe is a roomy vehicle that seats up to eight, but its fuel economy is pretty poor, and even the base models are on the expensive side.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.2

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe LS Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size body-on-frame SUV
Who it's For: Those who need maximum passenger hauling, and also need to tow a heavy load.
What's Hot: Best-in-class fuel economy.
What's Not: "Best in class" isn't much to brag about.
How It Got Its Score: The Tahoe is a roomy vehicle that seats up to eight, but its fuel economy is pretty poor, and even the base models are on the expensive side.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.2

2010 Ford Expedition EL XLT Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size, eight-passenger, four-wheel drive, extended-wheelbase sport utility vehicle.
Who it's For: Families who need lots of passenger space, off-road capability and no more than two LATCH points.
What's Hot: Cavernous cargo room.
What's Not: Poor fuel economy, bulky.
Family Friendly Options: Headrest-mounted DVD screens, Bluetooth, SYNC, navigation.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Ford Expedition EL is a long-wheelbase version of the Expedition, offering up huge volumes of cargo space behind the third row of seats. It scores slightly higher than rear-drive models because of better NHTSA roll scores.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.4

2010 Ford Expedition EL XLT Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size, eight-passenger, extended-wheelbase sport utility vehicle.
Who it's For: Families who need lots of passenger space, and no more than two LATCH points.
What's Hot: Cavernous cargo room.
What's Not: Fuel economy is pretty poor.
Family Friendly Options: Headrest-mounted DVD screens, Bluetooth, SYNC, navigation.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Ford Expedition EL is a long-wheelbase version of the Expedition, offering up huge volumes of cargo space behind the third row of seats. However, fuel economy is poor, and it's also pricey.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.3

2010 Ford Expedition XLT Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size, eight-passenger, four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle.
Who it's For: Families who need lots of passenger space, off-road capability, and no more than two LATCH points.
What's Hot: Available power folding third row.
What's Not: Fuel economy is pretty poor.
Family Friendly Options: Headrest-mounted DVD screens, Bluetooth, SYNC, navigation.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Ford Expedition is one of the last big SUVs available. With four-wheel drive it's capable off road, and its huge interior is great for hauling passenger or lots of cargo, just not at the same time. Fuel economy is also poor.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.1

2010 Ford Expedition XLT Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A full-size, eight-passenger sport utility vehicle.
Who it's For: Families who need lots of passenger space, and no more than two LATCH points.
What's Hot: Available power folding third row.
What's Not: Fuel economy is pretty poor.
Family Friendly Options: Headrest-mounted DVD screens, Bluetooth, SYNC, navigation.
How It Got Its Score: The 2010 Ford Expedition is one of the last big SUVs available. Its huge interior space is great for hauling passengers, but its cargo space suffers when the third row is in place. It's also pricey, and fuel economy is on the low side.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.2

2010 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer V-8

What it Is: A mid-sized, V-8 powered, three-row four-wheel drive sport utility.
Who it's For: Families who need no more than two LATCH points and plenty of cargo room behind the second row.
What's Hot: Available power folding third row seat.
What's Not: Poor fuel economy, expensive.
Family Friendly Options: Bluetooth, SYNC, navigation, back-up camera.
How It Got Its Score: The Ford Explorer V-8 offers more power than the V-6, and fuel economy is slightly better, too. However, cargo space isn't as generous, and the base price is steep.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.5

2010 Ford Explorer XLT Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A mid-sized, four-wheel drive sport utility with an available third row seat.
Who it's For: Families who need no more than two LATCH points and plenty of cargo room behind the second row.
What's Hot: Available power folding third row seat in Eddie Bauer and Limited models.
What's Not: Poor fuel economy.
Family Friendly Options: Bluetooth, SYNC, navigation, back-up camera.
How It Got Its Score: The Ford Explorer's fuel economy is on the low side these days, thanks to an older, inefficient engine. It strong crash test ratings and generous cargo space help make up for it.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.7

2010 Ford Explorer XLT Rear-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A mid-sized sport utility with an available third row seat.
Who it's For: Families who need no more than two LATCH points and plenty of cargo room behind the second row.
What's Hot: Available power folding third row seat in Eddie Bauer and Limited models.
What's Not: Poor fuel economy.
Family Friendly Options: Bluetooth, SYNC, navigation, back-up camera.
How It Got Its Score: The Ford Explorer's score is mostly due to its poor fuel economy, which trails many of its competitors. The strong crash test ratings and generous cargo space help make up for it.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.8

2010 Jeep Liberty Sport Four-Wheel Drive

What it Is: A five-passenger, four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle.
Who it's For: Families who need no more than two LATCH positions, decent cargo space and off-road capability.
What's Hot: Reversible cargo floor, full-length canvas roof.
What's Not: Poor fuel economy for such a small vehicle.
Family Friendly Options: Navigation, Bluetooth cell phone integration.
How It Got Its Score: The four-wheel drive Liberty costs more than the rear-drive model, dragging its Family Friendliness score downward despite good crash test scores. Some of the blame lies with poor fuel economy.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.5