Interested in buying a midsize SUV? Put on your thinking cap and dig out the scorecard--you have more choices than ever. Minivans are out and car-type "crossover" midsize SUVs have swooped in to become the new family mover of choice. In this hot, ever-growing, competitive segment, both import and domestic makers keep rolling out more new midsize SUVs each year, flooding even their own SUV lineups and giving consumers plenty to choose from.
New for 2007 are Dodge Nitro, Ford Edge, GMC Acadia, Hyundai Veracruz, Mazda CX-7, Mazda CX-9, Saturn Outlook, and Toyota FJ Cruiser; 2008 will bring even more new midsize SUV offerings and redesigns.
So how do the latest entries stack up? Six Consumer Guide editors recently put four new or revised midsize SUVs to the test on the neighborhood streets and highways around our suburban-Chicago headquarters. Of these newbies, our competitors included the Ford Edge, Hyundai Veracruz, Mazda CX-9, and the updated Subaru Tribeca.
The Players
2007 Ford Edge: Edge is a car-type five-passenger SUV based on the same platform as the Fusion sedan. Our tester was a top-line AWD SEL Plus and featured standard leather upholstery, heated front seats, second-row flat-folding seat with remote release, dual zone automatic climate controls, heated power mirrors, and steering wheel audio and climate controls. The SEL Plus' $30,720 base price was augmented by $1,395 for the power panoramic sunroof, $65 for the lower cargo management system, $750 for 18-inch aluminum wheels, $245 for the reverse sensing system, $195 for satellite radio, $350 for the Class II trailer towing package, $2,380 for the navigation system, and $675 destination, for a final total of $36,775.
2007 Hyundai Veracruz: Veracruz is a larger car-type midsize SUV with seven-passenger seating. It's about 6 inches longer overall than Hyundai's Santa Fe. Our tester was a top-line front-wheel-drive Limited with a base price of $32,305. It came equipped with a back-up warning system, power sunroof, steering wheel audio controls, power tailgate, and leather seats. Add $125 for carpeted floor mats and $2,950 for the Ultimate Package, which adds power adjustable pedals, power tilt/telescope steering wheel, rear seat DVD entertainment, 115-volt power outlet, and rain-sensing wipers, and this tester came in at a final price of $35,380.
2007 Mazda CX-9: CX-9 is Mazda's first seven-passenger SUV. Like Mazda's five-seat CX-7, CX-9 is a car-type SUV but it's larger and borrows its engine and some underskin components from the Ford Edge. Our tester was a top-line AWD Grand Touring with 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, leather-trimmed first- and second-row seats, tilt/telescope steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, rain-sensing wipers, heated power mirrors with turn signals, Bluetooth system, three 12-volt power outlets, and three-zone automatic climate control for $33,875. Adding $430 for Sirius satellite radio, $1,760 for the moonroof/audio package (power sunroof, Bose AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer), $2,500 for the assistance package (navigation system, rearview camera, and power liftgate), and $595 destination brought its total to $39,160; our most expensive contender.
2008 Subaru Tribeca: Fresh styling and more power highlight a 2008 update for Subaru's largest vehicle, which drops B9 from its name this model year. Our test vehicle was a top-line 5-passenger AWD Limited, in pre-production form and lacking a window sticker. The 2007 Tribeca Limited starts at $32,495 with dual-zone climate controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated power mirrors with turn signals, 6-disc CD/MP3 audio system, and second-row adjustable split-folding seat. Add $2,000 for a navigation system, $325 for rear-obstacle detection, $445 for satellite radio, $215 for roof racks, and $628 for the trailer hitch and our test Tribeca's final price (based on our estimations) was $36,108.
The Showdown
We put our contestants to the test during a day of head-to-head evaluations; examining how each measured up from the roof rails to the rocking panels in areas like overall refinement, performance, ride comfort, interior accommodations, and cargo space.
2007 Ford Edge AWD SEL Plus
Pros: Acceleration, unique sunroof, forward visibility
Cons: Ride, interior materials quality, noise (engine, road, wind)
Performance:
This AWD five-seater is powered by a 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 shared with Mazda's CX-9 and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Edge had plenty of power and its willing transmission downshifted on demand, but it felt coarse and less refined than CX-9. Many agreed that Edge is the loudest car of the group; engine and road noise isolation were lacking. Edge earned another demerit for its harsh ride. One tester noted that "bumps were absorbed well, but not without complaint, generating lots of clunking and creaking in the process."
Interior Accommodations and Space:
Edge's interior looked and felt cheap to all the testers. Hard plastic surfaces dotted the cabin under a "mouse fur-like" headliner. On the plus side, testers found Edge's power panoramic sunroof a unique feature. Edge's steering wheel audio controls were also a pleasant, easy-to-use convenience item and Edge featured the only steering wheel in the group that incorporated the climate control functions. Though some of Edge's audio functions were absorbed into its navigation system, they were still easy and intuitive to use.
Second-row head and legroom were adequate for even the tallest tester, but Edge's door-openings seemed narrower than others in the group. The power folding second-row seatback was a nice convenience feature, but it only folded down, not back up.
2007 Hyundai Veracruz 2WD Limited:
Pros: Interior materials quality, quietness, small-items storage
Cons: Handling, price
Performance:
Our test Veracruz was the only front-drive challenger in the test. It was powered by a 3.8-liter 260-horsepower V6 (the biggest in this competition) and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Most editors agreed that the drivetrain felt and sounded refined with decent power from a stop and adequate passing punch. Some, however, noted that the transmission was slow to downshift for more highway passing power.
Another con mentioned by most was that Veracruz's ride was a bit rough and even jarring over bigger bumps. "Veracruz's ride lacks the composure of CX-9, rebounding more over big bumps and lacking the big Mazda's precise steering feel. Like the make's Sonata, concessions to handling were made in the name of isolation," one tester said.
Interior Accommodations and Space:
The buzzword that the evaluators kept mentioning when discussing Veracruz's interior was "RX." Many testers compared the levels of quality, class, and refinement to what's found in Lexus' premium-midsize SUV. Our editors also applauded Hyundai's offering of luxury SUV-like features such as power-adjustable pedals and power tilt/telescope steering wheel. "No cost cutting here. Every touchable surface is padded or grained. Without going over the top, Hyundai has created a cabin that is premium-level in refinement," one editor noted.
In the back, editors agreed that second-row head and legroom were ample and second-row climate controls a nice convenience. The third row accommodations were tight, as in most midsize SUVs, but Veracruz's scored points for easily folding flat. The cargo area featured handy 12-volt and 115-volt outlets.
2007 Mazda CX-9 AWD Grand Touring
Pros: Refined drivetrain, fold-flat seat operation, passenger room
Cons: Ride (standard 20-inch wheels), third-row access, audio controls w/nav. 
Performance:
Our CX-9 was equipped with the Edge-shared 3.5-liter V6, here producing 263 horsepower, and 6-speed automatic transmission, but there was nothing Edge-like about it. "The CX-9's engine sounded great in fast acceleration--much richer and more refined than its cousin in the Ford Edge," one editor noted. The biggest SUV in our test, CX-9 was rated the slowest in the group, but what it lacked in engine power, it made up for in refinement.
CX-9's ride was noticeably harsh, made worse no doubt by the Grand Touring's standard 20-inch wheels. One tester disagreed, noting, "CX-9 is the sports car of our comparison. The ride is firm but never jarring, and the steering and handling are impressively tight."
Interior Accommodations and Space:
The interior was rated almost as highly as Veracruz'. Soft-touch plastics and padded surfaces were plentiful. CX-9 lost points for its navigation system, which absorbed and complicated some controls. It lost more points in terms of third-row access, which was tough and accomplished only by "a step up and a diagonal shimmy," according to one tester. Once there, it was noted that CX-9's third row was comfortable for average-sized adults. Another plus was CX-9's convenient power liftgate and the ease with which the seats folded.
2008 Subaru Tribeca 5-Passenger Limited
Pros: Dashboard layout, ride, audio and climate controls
Cons: Dashboard layout, noise (engine, wind, and road), cost 
Performance:
Our test Tribeca was powered by a 256-horsepower 3.6-liter horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. Tribeca's engine was powerful from a stop and its reactive transmission helped during highway passing, but it was distinctly loud. High levels of wind and road noise added to the cacophony.
Interior Accommodations and Space:
Testers were split on Tribeca's interior. Some thought it looked too "designer" and was peppered with cheap-looking plastics and a low-budget headliner. Others thought it looked arty and sophisticated. Looks aside, most agreed that the gauges were well placed and easy to figure out. "Kudos to Subaru for making the navigation system entirely separate from the audio and climate controls, though it's a pretty far reach to access the touch screen," one editor observed.
Tribeca scored bonus points for its tall, large side mirrors. Our test Tribeca didn't have a third row, but the sliding second row was easy to negotiate.
The Results
Despite its high sticker price, CX-9 very narrowly edged out Veracruz for the win. It was lauded as a roomy, fun-to-drive, refined, and competent midsize SUV. One tester summed it up by saying "CX-9 is the Edge that went to finishing school."
While Veracruz clearly won in terms of interior materials and drivetrain refinement, it came up short of the CX-9 in ride/handling composure. "Veracruz made an impressive showing in this comparison. The interior is fabulous, the drivetrain refined, and the price, though high, feels modest when compared to luxury vehicles in this class," one editor summated.
Tribeca trailed to third place in part because of its off-putting styling, lack of noise isolation, and value. "The final nail in the coffin is price. There's simply not enough here in terms of comfort and refinement to justify this vehicle's near-premium-level price. The Subaru faithful will love it. Other crossover SUV shoppers should look elsewhere," a tester said.
The Ford Edge's coarse engine, second-rate interior, and harsh ride helped land it in last place. "Edge makes some sense when more modestly equipped, but it's out of its league when the sticker breaks $30,000," one editor assessed.
