New Car Test Drive: The Escape Hybrid delivers essentially the same performance, with very little to give away its hybrid powertrain except improved mileage. Indeed, all Escape models, from front-wheel-drive four-cylinders to all-wheel-drive V6s to the Hybrid, have some of the best EPA mileage ratings in the class (Be sure to compare mileage ratings according to the same model year. The EPA changed its calculation formula for 2008 to reflect something closer to real-world results, which lowered the ratings for 2008 models). All, including the gas-electric Hybrid, are offered with either front or all-wheel drive. For the most part, the Hybrid drives just like a conventional gas-only Escape. It's a well-executed package. It offers better fuel economy and lower emissions but demands little additional effort or knowledge from the driver. The Escape Hybrid ($25,075) and Hybrid 4WD ($26,825) are equipped similarly to the Limited models, but add the hybrid powertrain. This so-called full hybrid features a more fuel   << collapse text

The Mazda Tribute has the boxy appearance of a trucklike SUV for 2008, yet it's oriented for on-road use and has a comfortable and very carlike interior. It's now available in three different trim levels-Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. Front-wheel-drive is standard, but there's also an active torque coupling (ATC) four-wheel drive system (available only with automatic transmission) that can react quickly, sending more power to the wheels that have more traction, to altogether avoid wheel slip. The system works especially well in low-traction road conditions. Two different engines are offered on the Tribute. A 153-horsepower, 2.3L four-cylinder is light and efficient, and comes with a five-speed manual gearbox or optional four-speed automatic with logic to help avoid hunting between gears on hills. Then there's a 200-horsepower, 3.0L V6. Among the three trims, four-cylinder models are designated with an "i," while V6 models have an "s." The Tribute's interior has seating for five adults, and the newly red   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Toyota Highlander is completely new for 2008. After seven successful model years, the Toyota Highlander has been redesigned and re-engineered to enhance its strengths. The new version is bigger and roomier. It's also been made more powerful, though not at the expense of fuel economy. The 2008 Toyota Highlander is larger than its predecessor in every dimension. Those larger dimensions add up to increased cargo and passenger volume. The 2008 Toyota Highlander is an even better people mover than its predecessor. The second row can slide forward and back, and the third-row seat changes from an afterthought to a space hospitable for children and capable of carrying adults. Getting in and out of the first two rows is easy, and Toyota provides both a walkthrough and a fold and slide forward second-row seat to ease access to the third row. Hybrid models keep the same 270-hp gas/electric power train as the 2005-07 models. The hybrid also provides smooth, plentiful power. The hybrid powertrain i   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Lexus RX was one of the first sedan-based, luxury utility vehicles, and it remains one the best. This so-called crossover is impressively smooth, comfortable, responsive in all driving situations and flexible when it comes to hauling people or cargo. With the RX series, Lexus pioneered the crossover-style SUV, based on a unit-body car platform rather than a heavy-duty truck frame. Crossover utility vehicles offer better ride and handling than truck-based SUVs, but they still deliver many of the things buyers want in an SUV: more cargo space than a car, a better view over traffic and a sense of security that accompanies an elevated driving position. The hybrid RX400h is a technical marvel that can run strictly on electric power (yet does not need to be plugged in), and it improves overall fuel economy as much as 30 percent. The RX 400h, is available for the first time with front-wheel drive, reducing the price for those who aren't interested in all-wheel drive and increasing fuel econom   << collapse text

The new 2008 Saturn Vue is available in a wide range of models, from the economical XE base model and frugal Green Line hybrid to the loaded XR and sporty Red Line models. The base XE comes with a 169-horsepower, 2.4L "Ecotec" four-cylinder engine, matched with a four-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive XE model comes with a 222-horsepower, 3.5L pushrod V6 engine, while the top-of-the-line XR and performance-oriented Red Line receive a 257-horsepower, 3.6L overhead-cam V6 with variable valve timing for better response across the rev range. Both V6 engines are hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission. Safety and control are emphasized by the Vue's design; stabilizer bars are included front and back for the four-wheel independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock are standard equipment. So are electronic stability control, active head restraints, front-seat side air bags, and rollover-capable head-curtain side bags for front and rear rows. The Vue also has a trailer sw   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: When the Saturn Vue was first introduced for 2002, it looked ahead to a time when sport-utilities would be known for people-friendly street transportation, not boulder-bashing off-road adventure. Five years later the world has finally caught up, and car-like compact sport-utilities like the Saturn Vue are everywhere. A comprehensive makeover of the Saturn Vue for the 2006 model year delivered a more upscale appearance, notably in the interior. Overall, the Vue is now more refined than competitors like the Jeep Compass and Dodge Nitro, more street oriented than competitors like the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, and more affordable than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Vue has matured into a capable, practical five-passenger package that is available in a surprising number of different configurations. The interior of the Saturn Vue has improved markedly from its generic look of 2002, and last year's makeover has provided a real sense of style. The dash area makes a good   << collapse text

A 3.6L, 24-valve V6, making 252 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, is standard on the XL7, along with a five-speed automatic. The engine is built by Suzuki in Japan and is designed for long maintenance intervals. It's also especially smooth, due to a double-isolated cradle system. The XL7 comes in four different trim levels: base, Premium, Luxury, and Limited. All but the base model are offered with five-passenger or seven-passenger layouts; the latter adds a 50/50-split folding third-row seat. The base model comes only with front-wheel drive, but all other models are available with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive system uses a rear differential module to help send up to 50 percent of engine power to the rear wheels only when needed after front wheel slippage. With front-wheel drive, the XL7 has an EPA fuel economy rating of 16 mpg city, 22 highway. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) are standard across the line, along with an electronic stability   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Dodge Magnum is a landmark car. There is no other car like it. When equipped with all-wheel drive, it will do almost anything an SUV will do, with distinctive style, more speed, better handling and better fuel mileage. The Magnum excels with its quiet cabin and smooth and solid ride. Its interior is well thought-out, and the underlying rear-wheel-drive design with a long wheelbase and short overhangs allows a lot of room inside. The styling might be too aggressive for many, but the practical arguments for this car are hard to beat. The SRT8 trades fuel economy for muscle car fun and succeeds, but the other models are easier to live with day to day. The Dodge Magnum is a full-size American station wagon with spacious cargo capacity. It's engineered for safety. And all-wheel drive is available for all-weather capability. But what makes the Magnum special is its hot rod styling and rumbling engines. There's nothing else quite like it. The headliner is the SRT8 with a 6.1-liter V8 Hemi tha   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Mercury Mountaineer is a traditional sport-utility vehicle. Essentially the Mercury version of the Ford Explorer, the Mountaineer is based on a truck chassis for improved towing and hauling capability. If you have a boat to tow and a family to haul, this is a good choice. The dash is trim and elegant and clearly communicates essential information. Multi-adjustable front seats make for comfortable commutes. Passengers consigned to the third-row seats enjoy more legroom than their counterparts in other, seven-passenger SUVs in the class. The second- and third-row seats fold down to reveal a useful rear cargo area. The front door handles and door pulls, on the other hand, are strangely placed and are at first awkward to use. The V6 offers decent power and towing capacity. The V8 is better on both counts. Though they never feel quick, V8-powered Mountaineers are about as fast as anything in the class. The Mountaineer offers a smooth ride, though it feels more like a truck than the latest c   << collapse text

The 2008 Saab 9-7X, which is almost mechanically identical to the Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy, is now offered in three different models. The base 4.2i is powered by a 285-horsepower, 4.2L inline six-cylinder engine; the 5.3i upgrades to a 300-horsepower, 5.3L V8; and the top-of-the-line, high-performance Aero model gets a 6.0L V8 making 390 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. The 5.3i benefits from GM's Active Fuel Management system, which helps to improve fuel economy by up to five percent by running the engine on half of its cylinders when cruising or coasting. All three models are equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission and an automatic all-wheel drive system. In Aero models, the system uses a Torsen center differential that directs more torque toward the wheels with the best traction, for improved launch on slippery surfaces. A trailer hitch receiver is standard on the 9-7X, and it can tow up to 6,600 pounds. The interior is also quite roomy, with seating space for five. The rear   << collapse text