Ignored in the past, compact SUVs are now some of the hottest-selling vehicles around. Though our Best Buys, the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Mazda Tribute don't offer true off-road ability, they do mix ride comfort, cargo capacity, and versatility with all-weather traction. The V6 Tribute/Escape offers more power, comfort, and space than any in its class.

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, but it blends excellent on-road manners with SUV styling.

Santa Fe promised to boost Hyundai's U.S. business, and it has so far, with some 40,000 sold from the fall 2000 introduction through the end of September 2001. Hyundai's main problem is building enough of these SUVs to satisfy demand, one reason the South Korean maker should soon start work on a U.S. plant, likely in the Southeast.

No big changes are seen for Santa Fe until model-year 2006, when a redesign is rumored. However, we'd expect a larger V6 by 2003 or '04, perhaps the 3.5 that now powers Hyundai's midsize XG sedan.

Meantime, Hyundai is said to be mulling a second, larger SUV for U.S. sale. It would reportedly be a Yankee-style version of the oddly named Terracan, a 4-dr design with Ford Explorer size, Toyota Land Cruiser looks, separate frame, rear drive or dual-range 4WD, and a possible V8 as well as a 3.5 V6. Assuming it gets the go-ahead, the Terracan (hopefully renamed) wouldn't arrive before model-year 2004, maybe later if Hyundai decides to source the U.S. version from its new plant in Dixie.