Seating for Seven

Minivans have lost the people-mover war. Despite having evolved to a nearly perfect design -- easy to enter and exit, comfortable for up to eight passengers and rife with cup holders -- GM, Ford and Mazda are abandoning their models entirely. Minivan sales last year slipped 11%, to less than one million. The victors? Crossover SUVs, whose sales rose 5%, to 2.4 million.

Crossovers mate practicality with cool -- and cool is something that minivans always lacked. They resemble traditional SUVs and provide the same tall-in-the-saddle view Americans love. But crossovers don't have the atrocious gas mileage and stiff, truck-like handling. That's because instead of body-on-frame construction, crossovers have a body and chassis built as a single unit.

In addition to car-like handling, they're also lower to the ground for less wind resistance (which improves fuel economy), easier to access and more resistant to rollover. Most aren't rugged enough to drive off-road, but they offer all-wheel drive to help negotiate snowy roads.

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If 2006 was the year of the crossover, 2007 promises to be the year of the big crossover. These models rob minivans of their last advantage -- third-row seats -- although unlike minivans, which are generally spacious, results were mixed for the crossovers' back benches. But as with minivans, crossovers' third- and second-row seats fold flat to let you haul stuff instead of people. (See our reviews for seven of the newest seven-passenger crossovers beginning on the next page.)

Among luxury models, the Acura MDX gets the top, five-star rating for overall value. It offers sport-sedan handling and a valet-impressing design for thousands less than its peers. Among non-luxury models, the GMC Acadia earns five stars for its mix of amenities plus the most passenger and cargo room. Also earning five stars is Mazda's CX-9, which combines sportiness and good handling with a thoughtfully designed, utilitarian interior.

Because there's a mix of luxury and non-luxury models, we've tried to compare apples to apples as much as possible by choosing base-trim-level luxury models and the upscale trims of the non-luxury models. When third-row seats aren't standard on the base model, we price the model in which they are. For example, Audi sells a V6-engine Q7 that starts at $40,000; but to get a third-row seat, you have to pay an extra $690. Likewise, a third row is a $1,700 option on the BMW X5, so we add that to the sticker price.

All the models have all-wheel drive, and all are fully equipped with standard safety features, including head-protection side-curtain airbags and stability control, which helps prevent skids. Most also have anti-rollover technology, which senses an impending tip-over and adjusts power to each wheel to prevent it. Side and rear visibility for most of these models is passable, but a rear-view camera is a smart option.

Reviews: How the seven-seaters compare

Sticker price is the manufacturer's suggested retail price, and invoice is more or less what the dealer pays. Aiming to pay the invoice price is a worthy goal, but because these new models are in demand, most consumers have been paying close to sticker.

Annual fuel cost is based on 15,000 miles of mixed city and highway driving, with regular gasoline at $2.40 a gallon and premium at $2.60. Vehicles for which premium is recommended are noted with a P. Resale value is an estimate of what a dealer would offer for the vehicle as a trade-in three and five years down the road. Figures come from Kelley Blue Book. Service cost is an estimate of the cost of maintenance and unscheduled repairs over five years. Figures come from Vincentric, an auto-research firm. Cargo room is the space behind the second-row seats when the third row is folded flat. Utility/comfort is a measure of cargo and passenger space and third-seat comfort.

Overall value is based on total five-year ownership costs as well as driving impressions. Utility/comfort and overall value are both rated on a scale of one to five.

Acura MDX

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If you're looking for sport-sedan handling, the redesigned MDX fits the bill. Acura's Super Handling all-wheel drive sends power to any of the four wheels as needed to help traction.

The 3.7-liter, 300-hp V6 is frisky, and the steering and suspension give fine feedback from the road. Handling is secure, and the MDX is fun to drive. But if you want maximum utility, look elsewhere. The MDX is shorter than most crossovers with third-row seats, so the third row is a little cramped for adults. Even so, the MDX maintains as much passenger volume (142 cubic feet) and cargo room as the much-larger Mercedes-Benz GL450.

You get a lot for your $40,000, especially compared with other luxury crossovers. Standard-equipment amenities include a moonroof, heated seats, tri-zone climate control, hands-free phone connection and XM satellite radio.

Audi Q7 3.6 Quattro

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The 3.6 Q7 is a 280-hp, V6-equipped luxe-mobile that accelerates quickly and smoothly. Beautifully crafted inside and out, it has features for rugged off-roading, too. But owning Audi's first SUV will cost you. Though the sticker price is about the same as for the Acura MDX, five-year ownership costs are $9,000 higher, according to Vincentric, mainly due to higher fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.

And you pay dearly for most options: $2,000 for heated leather seats and $1,850 for the sunroof (with three panels). A DVD player can be installed by dealers. Optional technical goodies -- including "side assist," which alerts you when a car is in your blind spot, and adaptive cruise control, which modifies your speed to match the traffic in front of you -- are nice, but they're available only on the Premium model, which costs an extra $6,000. (The Q7 also comes in a 4.2-liter, V8 version for an extra $10,000.)

Getting to the third-row seat is hassle-free. But adults of even average stature will bump their head on the rear-sloping roof.

BMW X5 3.0si

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The X5 is the vehicle Acura was clearly gunning for with its new MDX: Both vehicles tune steering and suspension to ride on the sporty side, and both are shorter than most other stretched crossovers. But the Bimmer, though bigger (and faster) than its predecessor, has far less passenger and cargo room than the competition.

The third-row seat, a $1,700 option, is tolerable for adults, but you have to tumble the heavy second-row seats forward for access. Cargo room behind the second-row seats is skimpiest of the group. Leather seating in the base model costs $1,450, and a moonroof costs $1,350.

Standard equipment includes rain-sensing windshield wipers and Xenon headlights. The $2,600 technology package has a rearview camera and voice-activated navigation system. Ownership costs aren't out of line if you don't go overboard with options.

GMC Acadia SLT AWD

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The Acadia's long wheelbase allows a third-row seat where up to three adults can ride in reasonable comfort. The second-row seats slide forward to allow easy entry.You can choose either two second-row captain's chairs (to seat seven total) or a second-row bench (to seat eight). A 3.6-liter V6 produces 275 hp but keeps fuel economy at 17 mpg city and 24 highway (slightly better for the two-wheel-drive model, which is $2,000 cheaper).

Standard equipment includes heated seats, heated outside mirrors and parking assist (a backup camera will be available this fall). One year's subscription to OnStar is free. The sunroof (including a second one for second-row passengers) costs $1,300.

The $2,145 navigation system is intuitive, but there's no hands-free connection for a cell phone. (Note: The Acadia shares a platform and powertrain with the Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave.)

Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD

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Attention to detail -- such as second-row seats that slide forward for easy access to the third row as well as adjust back and forth and recline -- make Mazda's third crossover one of the best of the new breed. The driver's seat is comfortable and supportive. Driving dynamics are first-rate, too.

The 263-hp, 3.5-liter V6, combined with a six-speed transmission, is smooth and peppy and cornering is secure. The dashboard illumination is a soothing blue, and there's indirect lighting embedded in the front- and rear-door trim and the ceiling. Outside, the design picks up styling cues from Mazda's CX-7 small SUV.

All models include a third-row seat as standard equipment. The Touring model priced here is the mid-trim-level CX-9. Hands-free phone connection and heated seats are standard, but you'll pay at least $4,477 to get navigation, which is packaged with other options.

Mercedes-Benz GL450

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For a big crossover, the GL450 handles well. And Mercedes ladles on extras, such as maple wood trim, "load leveling" air suspension that can raise the chassis 3 inches for off-roading, and a sunroof for third-row passengers. Third-row seats are comfy and easy to get into.

Of course, you pay for those amenities, and others: The main sunroof is a $1,500 option, as is leather seating. Three-zone climate control costs $1,320. You'll pay $1,450 for the audio upgrade package that includes hands-free communication, and navigation is available only as part of a $4,500 package. Ownership costs aren't cheap, either, after you pay for premium gas for the 4.6-liter, 335-hp V8 engine and high service costs. And I couldn't overcome the feeling that I was disconnected from the road and my surroundings -- mostly because visibility is lousy. The $500 rearview camera is a must.

Suzuki XL7 Luxury AWD

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The XL7 is half a foot narrower than most of the other crossovers in this group. That translates into stingy center-console storage space -- the cubby where the ashtray used to be was too small for my small cell phone -- and tighter quarters for passengers. The engine, at least in my preproduction test-drive vehicle, was noisy, and I struggled to get into the third row and to fold the second- and third-row seats flat.

On the other hand, handling is sure-footed, and a lot of amenities come standard: heated seats, steering-wheel audio controls, keyless entry with remote engine starter, roof rack and security system, to name a few. (A sunroof is an $800 option, and navigation is available only on the top trim level.) Resale value is the worst of the bunch. Models with front-wheel rather than all-wheel drive cost $1,600 less.