The Consumer Guide to 2009 Midsize SUVs
by Don Sikora II
2009 Midsize SUV Lineup
Base Price Range: $24,315-$31,440 EPA MPG Range: 3.4-liter V6 17/24 mpg city/highway, 3.6-liter V6 16/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Chevrolet Equinox is largely unchanged pending a redesign due in calendar 2009 as a 2010 model. Equinox benefits from its low starting price, flexible rear-seat accommodations, and good cargo space. The Sport, while decently quick, likely represents the worst model of the bunch with its poor handling, plentiful noise, and overall lack of refinement. It's the most expensive version, too. On the whole, other five-passenger crossovers deserve more consideration than this one. | ||
Base Price Range: $29,155-$39,330 EPA MPG Range: 4.2-liter I6 14/20 mpg city/highway, 6.0-liter V8 12/16 mpg city/highway The 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer loses one of its available engines but is otherwise unchanged for what will be its final model year. TrailBlazers are the most affordable of GM's midsize truck-type SUVs, and match most rivals for pace and space. Overall, however, we prefer the GMC Envoy among this GM family as the best blend of performance, interior design, and dollar value. | ||
Base Price Range: $29,215-$41,975 EPA MPG Range: 16/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is the first eight-passenger crossover SUV from General Motors' volume division, and shares its basic design with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook. With seemingly little compromise except for a slightly downgraded interior, Chevy's version of General Motors' midsize crossover quartet is arguably the strongest value. Traverse offers space, power, and decent handling in a Best Buy package that looks and feels more expensive than it is. Put it on your shopping list. | ||
Base Price Range: $28,130-$45,040 EPA MPG Range: 3.7-liter V6 14/19 mpg city/highway, 4.7-liter V8 13/19 mpg city/highway, 5.7-liter V8 14/19 mpg city/highway, Hybrid 19/20 mpg city/highway The 2009 Dodge Durango lineup gets a new gas/electric Hybrid model for what is its final model year. Durango matches some large SUVs for space and towing capacity. Unfortunately, it matches them for poor fuel economy, at least on conventional models. Hybrid models reward with much better mileage at little expense to towing capability, but they lack smooth throttle response and suspension sophistication. Those deficits, combined with its stiffer price tag, make the Hybrid a tough sell. A conventional V8 Durango is the best choice in this lineup. | ||
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Base Price Range: $22,240-$26,220 EPA MPG Range: 3.7-liter V6 15/22 mpg city/highway, 4.0-liter V6 15/21 mpg city/highway The 2009 Dodge Nitro gets revised suspension and brakes, and offers Chrysler’s optional uconnect multimedia suite. Though small for a midsize SUV, Nitro's boxy design provides acceptable space for four adults and an impressive amount of cargo. And the relatively tidy exterior dimensions take the hassle out of negotiating traffic and tight quarters. But Nitro works best as a style statement, trailing most crossovers for drivetrain refinement and rear-seat accommodations. | ||
Base Price Range: $26,635-$35,605 EPA MPG Range: 15/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Ford Edge gets a new Sport model on its roster. Edge impresses for its car-like ride and generous passenger and cargo room. Base prices are competitive but quickly escalate with options. Edge Sport is a credible alternative to sporty SUVs such as the Chevrolet Equinox Sport or Mazda CX-7, but lacks the Nissan Murano's overall sophistication. Give Edge a look, but favor an SE model or a judiciously equipped SEL for the best value for your money. | ||
Base Price Range: $28,470-$39,180 EPA MPG Range: 4.0-liter V6 13/20 mpg city/highway, 4.6-liter V8 14/21 mpg city/highway The 2009 Ford Explorer is largely unchanged. Explorer and its Mercury Mountaineer sibling are highly competent overall performers with an outstanding array of available features. These include V8 power, seven-passenger seating, and a power folding 3rd-row seat. Their traditional truck-type design serves trailering needs without giving up much refinement to lighter-duty midsize crossover SUVs. Mountaineer provides nothing of consequence over similarly equipped Explorers, making the Ford version our pick for its broader range of model choices. | ||
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Base Price Range: $28,270-$34,175 EPA MPG Range: 15/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Ford Taurus X receives only minor changes, including an available power liftgate. The oft-overlooked Taurus X earns our praise for being a pleasant and practical family wagon with class-competitive power and roomy accommodations for people and cargo. A crude-sounding engine and disappointing interior trim are our only major complaints. Like the idea of an SUV but don't want all the bulk? Your "crossover" may have just arrived. | ||
Base Price Range: $31,890-$38,250 EPA MPG Range: 16/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 GMC Acadia lineup gains more available power and a few new features. Acadia is tailor-made for buyers who need a minivan but don't want to drive one. This Best Buy crossover is dynamically capable, comes standard with a host of safety features, and offers several unusual and useful options. Though we consider it a midsize, those shopping large SUVs will find this crossover a more efficient alternative. | ||
Base Price Range: $30,625-$38,670 EPA MPG Range: 4.2-liter I6 14/20 mpg city/highway, 5.3-liter V8 14/21 mpg city/highway The 2009 GMC Envoy is largely unchanged for what will be its final model year. We judge Envoy the best choice among GM-built midsize truck-type SUVs. It has a pleasing enough interior and a good ride/handling mix. Truck-tough engineering is a plus for towing. Still, crossover SUVs remain more sensible for most users. | ||
Base Price Range: $27,695-$40,095 EPA MPG Range: 16/23 mpg city/highway The 2009 Honda Pilot is redesigned, gaining passenger and cargo space and new styling. Though trucky on the outside, Pilot is as car-like as any vehicle in this class. That's a good thing, as this Best Buy's combination of performance, utility, and passenger accommodations make it a crossover you must test drive. | ||
Base Price Range: $30,750-$43,130 EPA MPG Range: 3.7-liter I5 14/18 mpg city/highway, 5.3-liter V8 13/16 mpg city/highway The 2009 Hummer H3 adds a crew-cab pickup truck body style to its roster. Otherwise, this off-road-ready midsize SUV is largely unchanged. H3 combines comfortable accommodations and decent on-pavement dynamics with impressive off-road proficiency. The V8-powered Alpha adds good performance and towing capability. The H3 offers most of the Hummer H2 attributes in a more sensibly sized package. However, sacrifices are made for off-road capability and extroverted styling. For shoppers without true wanderlust, most other midsize SUVs make more sense. | ||
Base Price Range: $21,695-$30,545 EPA MPG Range: 2.7-liter V6 17/24 mpg city/highway, 3.3-liter V6 17/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe is largely unchanged. Santa Fe offers impressive room, build quality, and standard safety features, all at competitive prices. Hyundai's generous warranty is another value plus. GLS models need more zip, and all Santa Fes could benefit from a better ride and handling balance. Most shoppers, though, should find this Recommended crossover a satisfying choice. | ||
Base Price Range: $27,145-$35,995 EPA MPG Range: 15/23 mpg city/highway The 2009 Hyundai Veracruz model lineup is revised. Veracruz shines for its refined powertrain, hushed cabin, and upscale interior decor. It trails similarly-sized rivals for handling response and fuel economy. Our nod goes to the competitively priced GLS. Limited versions can approach $40,000--more than some shoppers may be willing to pay for a Hyundai, at least for now. | ||
Base Price Range: $29,380-$46,110 EPA MPG Range: 3.7-liter V6 14/20 MPG city/highway, 4.7-liter V8 13/19 mpg city/highway, 5.7-liter V8 13/19 mpg city/highway The 2009 Jeep Commander gets more available power and a few new features including rain-sensing wipers and Chrysler's uconnect multimedia suite. With its square-rigged styling and seating for seven, Commander gives Jeep buyers an alternative to the sportier Grand Cherokee, even if the two are similar under the skin. These Jeeps have a decent balance of comfort and utility. They can get pricey with options, though. Loaded versions are quite pricey, putting them in league with some premium midsize SUVs that are more refined and get much better fuel economy. | ||
Base Price Range: $30,450-$44,845 EPA MPG Range: 3.7-liter V6 15/20 mpg city/highway, 4.7-liter V8 14/19 mpg city/highway, 5.7-liter V8 13/19 mpg city/highway, 6.1-liter V8 13/19 mpg city/highway, Diesel 3.0-liter V6 17/23 mpg city/highway The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee adds a more powerful available V8 engine and Chrysler’s uconnect multimedia suite. Rear-seat room and comfort may disappoint, and fuel economy with gasoline engines is poor on models we tested. But Grand Cherokee is solid, rides comfortably, has fine ergonomics, and is tenacious off-road. It's also competitively priced. The V6 is too weak for this vehicle's weight, but not the gutsy diesel. The SRT8 is a hot-rod wagon. | ||
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Base Price Range: $21,545-$27,245 EPA MPG Range: 3.3-liter V6 15/22 mpg city/highway, 3.8-liter V6 15/21 mpg city/highway The 2009 Kia Sorento gets slightly freshened exterior styling. Sorento is priced like a compact SUV yet acts like a midsize. It impresses for interior decor and features per dollar. Kia's generous warranty is another plus. A poor ride/handling balance is the main demerit, largely due to its truck-type design. For most shoppers, a crossover SUV is a more sensible purchase, but if you desire decent towing capacity and real off-road capability, Sorento might be the right vehicle for you. | ||
Base Price Range: $23,900-$28,400 EPA MPG Range: 16/23 mpg city/highway The 2009 Mazda CX-7 is largely unchanged. CX-7 emphasizes sport over utility and ride comfort to stand out in a crowded market segment. Its turbo 4-cylinder engine is neither as fuel-efficient as one might expect nor as smoothly powerful as it ought to be. But there's appeal here for those who need something roomier than a midsize car and want fresh-looking SUV styling. | ||
Base Price Range: $29,820-$35,205 EPA MPG Range: 15/22 mpg city/highway The 2009 Mazda CX-9 is largely unchanged. CX-9 is a stylish, refined entry that adeptly balances solid driving dynamics with generous passenger and cargo room. The ride is a bit stiff, and the navigation system isn't the easiest to use. Still, this crossover merits our Best Buy approval because it does many things well. | ||
Base Price Range: $28,700-$35,030 EPA MPG Range: 4.0-liter V6 13/20 mpg city/highway, 4.6-liter V8 14/21 mpg city/highway The 2009 Mercury Mountaineer adds a few new features. It suffers some ergonomic lapses, and interior materials are unimpressive. Mountaineer, however, is a competent SUV with a solid array of useful features. Its traditional truck-type chassis serves trailering needs without giving up much refinement to lighter-duty crossovers. However, there's nothing of consequence Mountaineer provides over similarly equipped Explorers, making the lower-priced Ford version our pick. | ||
There will not be a 2009 Mitsubishi Endeavor, but an updated version will be available for 2010. For information on the 2008 Mitsubishi Endeavor please click here. | ||
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Base Price Range: $27,210-$40,210 EPA MPG Range: 4.0-liter V6 14/22 mpg city/highway, 5.6-liter V8 13/19 mpg city/highway Standard side and curtain airbags make news for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. For everyday driving ease and fuel economy, this truck-type SUV trails such crossover rivals as the GMC Acadia and Nissan's own Murano. Only the most expensive versions offer the convenience of 4-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement. However, Pathfinder does possess a solid array of true-SUV attributes, including real off-road prowess and 7000-lb towing capacity. | ||
Base Price Range: $22,310-$29,340 EPA MPG Range: 14/20 mpg city/highway The 2009 Nissan Xterra gets slightly freshened styling. Xterra is slightly smaller than most in the midsize-SUV class, hence the somewhat-tight interior space. Its off-road orientation accounts for subpar ride comfort, and its backwoods-ready avoidance of luxury touches makes it seem relatively unrefined. Indeed, its main appeal is that rugged demeanor, cargo versatility, and youthful attitude. | ||
Base Price Range: $24,820-$31,415 EPA MPG Range: 3.4-liter V6 17/24 mpg city/highway, 3.6-liter V6 16/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Pontiac Torrent is largely unchanged. A base Torrent makes some sense as a space-efficient people mover with attractive pricing. Overall refinement trails class leaders however, and vague steering and sloppy handling take all the fun out of driving. The aggressive GXP has a meaningful amount of extra power but suffers from a rough ride and excessive amounts of noise. Any number of midsize crossover SUVs deserve a higher place on your shopping list. | ||
Base Price Range: $30,625-$36,450 EPA MPG Range: 16/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Saturn Outlook receives more power, a new Touring Package, and more available features. This impressive SUV is a Best Buy for its near large-class cargo and passenger accommodations, refined, responsive drivetrain, and car-like driving experience. Aggressive pricing and Saturn's strong reputation for customer service further enhance Outlook's appeal. | ||
Base Price Range: $29,995-$33,595 EPA MPG Range: 16/21 mpg city/highway The 2009 Subaru Tribeca is unchanged following its freshening for the 2008 model year. Subaru's crossover SUV is pleasant to drive and includes many standard features. It's not an especially quiet vehicle, though, and its interior design and materials may turn off shoppers. Comparably equipped, many of Tribeca's rivals are roomier, quieter, more refined, and similarly priced. | ||
Base Price Range: $25,595-$29,980 EPA MPG Range: 16/24 mpg city/highway The 2009 Suzuki XL7 gets a revised model lineup and a new transmission. XL7 trails the competition for value and overall refinement. It shines only for acceleration and transmission performance. For ride, handling, and quietness, this crossover falls far short of class leaders such as the Honda Pilot and Saturn Outlook. | ||
Base Price Range: $28,640-$39,360 EPA MPG Range: 4.0-liter V6 16/21 mpg city/highway, 4.7-liter V8 14/19 mpg city/highway The 2009 Toyota 4Runner is largely unchanged. Some rivals offer a smoother ride and sharper on-road handling, but 4Runner is tough to beat for refinement, off-road ability, and overall execution. Toyota charges premium prices for this SUV, but in exchange it delivers a satisfying array of available safety features, traction enhancers, and a reputation for reliability and high resale value. | ||
Base Price Range: $23,320-$24,910 EPA MPG Range: 15/20 mpg city/highway The 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser is largely unchanged. The FJ pays a price for its exaggerated styling and off-road-biased engineering. On-road performance and daily practicality don't match those of less-radical rivals. It is solidly built, extremely capable off-road, and looks like no other SUV. | ||
Base Price Range: $25,705-$41,020 EPA MPG Range: 3.5-liter V6 17/24 mpg city/highway, Hybrid 27/25 mpg city/highway The 2009 Toyota Highlander lineup gains a new model with a 4-cylinder engine. Highlander is a competent, refined, family focused SUV that offers great practicality, cargo and passenger versatility, and evident quality. Versions with the conventional V6 engine best represent Highlander's Recommended attributes, as the Hybrid models' higher prices may take years to offset in fuel savings. |
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