Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Typically based on mainstream Large SUVs, Premium Large SUVs are super-sized luxury liners. All are powerful, pricey, and extremely thirsty at the pump.

Our Best Buy is the Cadillac Escalade. Our Recommended picks are the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

Q7 should see no major design changes for a while yet, but Audi has confirmed an available diesel V6 for the second half of calendar 2008. Audi isn't talking power and torque yet, but expects the new 3.0-liter turbocharged "oil burner" V6 will cost $3000-$4000 extra.

Audi says it's working on a gasoline/electric Q7, even though it's not enthusiastic about hybrid power. In light of that, we wouldn't expect this Q7 option to materialize for another three or four years.

But Audi is very enthusiastic about the Q5, a smaller SUV reportedly due in the U.S. for 2009. Said to use components from Audi's next-generation A4 and A6 passenger cars, the Q5 should offer a 3.6-liter gasoline V6 and an optional 4.2 V8, though a base 2.0 turbocharged four is possible. Transmission choices are less clear, but could involve a CVT with seven fixed "speeds," a conventional automatic, a 6-speed manual, or the company's S-Tronic automated 6-speed manual. Q5 will target the BMW X3 and Mercedes' upcoming GLK-class SUV. There's talk that Porsche will offer its own version of the Q5, but probably not before model-year 2011.