2009 Kia Borrego

Kia Borrego is an all-new vehicle from the Korean automaker. The mid-sized, truck-based SUV enters the U.S. market just as other brands are leaving due to poor sales. Buyers are fleeing to car-based crossover vehicles. See full review

2009 Toyota Yaris

We Americans have pretty much always shied away from small cars in favor of large SUVs, pickup trucks and full-sized sedans. There’s nothing like an impending recession and $4 gasoline to change our opinion. See full review

2009 Infiniti QX56

Infiniti’s flagship SUV, the QX56, is one of the largest passenger vehicles on the market today. Size-wise it ranks right up there with Chevrolet Suburban, Toyota Sequoia and Lincoln Navigator. See full review

2009 Ford Escape

For 2008, Ford completely revamped the Escape, the best selling small utility vehicle sold in America. With much needed bumper-to-bumper changes both inside and out, Escape still feels outdated compared to competitors like Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Saturn Vue and others. See full review

2009 Chevrolet Traverse

Chevrolet Traverse (pronounced Tra-VERSE not TRA-verse as I had thought) is the latest badge-engineering vehicle from GM. It joins GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave, which were all introduced over the past two years. See full review

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

When gas was at $4.39 a gallon a few months back, it seemed as though large SUVs were the scorn and disdain to all but those who owned and drove them.  The motoring public was flocking to fuel-sipping small vehicles faster than a greyhound chasing a mechanical rabbit. See full review

2009 Dodge Nitro

Nitro. No, it’s not a Transformer or an American Gladiator, it’s the new small SUV from Dodge, who has traditionally been a small player in the popular SUV segment, with the Durango its only offering until now. See full review