New to the class this year, Honda Pilot has taken the lead as a Best Buy. It offers ample cargo space, seating for eight passengers, all-wheel drive with a locking rear differential for added traction, and above-average refinement. Toyota Highlander is our other Best Buy, chosen for its on-road competence, convenience, and attractive pricing and design.

Our Recommended choices feature more-traditional SUVs: Ford Explorer, GMC Envoy, and Toyota 4Runner. For 2003, all now offer optional V8 engines and--with the exception of 4Runner--three rows of seats.

Desperate to escape a downward sales-and-earnings spiral, American Isuzu Motors has confirmed a 5-passenger Ascender for sometime later this year. It's based on the shorter version of the Chevy TrailBlazer/GMC Envoy.

The inaugural 7-seat Ascender exists because Isuzu couldn't afford to develop a new top-line SUV on its own. Also, GM owns a major stake in Isuzu of Japan, and wants to boost the value of its holdings by boosting the company's bottom line. But that's been a tough task lately. Though Isuzu still earns money with commercial trucks and engines, overall profits have eroded into losses due to crumbling demand in the vital U.S. market, where total retails sales plunged 35.7 percent in 2002. To raise badly needed cash, Isuzu recently sold its stake in the Indiana plant it started with Subaru. It then contracted with Subaru, also a GM affiliate, to build midsize Axiom and Rodeo SUVs, but only until mid-2004.

Ascender alone isn't enough to solve Isuzu's many problems in America or anywhere else, and that could make it a here-today, gone-tomorrow proposition. If you must buy one, don't drive off without a discount. And be prepared for a heavy hit in first-year depreciation.