Ignored in the past, compact SUVs are now some of the hottest-selling vehicles around. Though our Best Buy Honda CR-V doesn't offer true off-road ability and has milquetoast acceleration, it does mix ride comfort, cargo capacity, and versatility with all-weather traction.

Another car-based mini-SUV, the Subaru Forester, is our Recommended choice. Like the CR-V it doesn't have a low range for serious off-road use, it blends excellent on-road manners with SUV styling.

New this year are the Ford Escape and clone Mazda Tribute. We have been very impressed with early production models and may elevate these two to Best Buys after we get more seat time.

On a year-to-year calendar basis, CR-V sales slipped 2 percent in 2000 to just under 118,300. This undoubtedly reflects stronger price competition from newer-design compact SUVs, particularly Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute. CR-V hasn't been fundamentally changed since its 1997-model debut.

But change it will for 2002, with a new-generation Civic platform again the starting point. Details of this redesign are sketchy, as Japanese makers typically guard future products with security measures even the CIA might envy. However, the new CR-V will reportedly have a little more interior room despite a little changed exterior envelope, while the current 2.0-liter Civic-based engine will be replaced by the 2.3-liter Accord 4-cyl as standard. Also to correct the existing CR-V's lack of power, Honda may squeeze an optional V6, which would answer the likes of Escape/Tribute, but this may not be offered until 2003.