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.

Hyundai expects Santa Fe to be a big plus for its U.S. business. That seemed to be the case in the early going, as this new SUV found some 10,300 buyers through the end of calendar 2000. Hyundai tells us that demand currently outstrips supply, one reason it's looking at the pros and cons of setting up a U.S. plant, likely in the Southeast, to build Santa Fe and perhaps another new product or two.

Sante Fe is just starting out, so few near-term changes are in the offing. However, we'd expect a larger V6 in another year or two, either a 3.0-liter or a 3.5, both readily available on the corporate shelf.