RATING THE 2007 CROSSOVERS

published 7 January 2007

You could call this the year of the crossover, with more than a dozen new models for 2007. These SUV-like vehicles are built on car platforms giving them less wind resistance, better fuel economy, better rollover resistance and a smoother ride. We've ranked ten of the new crossovers and compiled our reviews in this slide show.

Each vehicle gets up to five stars based on performance, value and safety. We also include key stats and fuel economy numbers. Sticker and dealer prices, Blue Book and resale values came from Kelley Blue Book. Service cost is an estimate of maintenance and repair costs over five years. Insurance cost is an estimate of the annual premium for a middle-aged driver with a clean record. Both figures were supplied by Vincentric, an automotive research firm. All ten crossovers featured here come with standard stability control and head-protection airbags. Take a look at how they measure up:

-- By Mark Solheim and Jessica Anderson

GMC ACADIA SLE(OPTIONAL AWD)

Sticker price/dealer cost: $29,990/$28,088
New-Car Blue Book Value: NA
Service cost (5 years): $4,472
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,412
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 44%/30%
Miles per gallon: 18 city/26 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 70 cu. ft.
Seating for: 7 or 8

The Acadia is the same length as a minivan, so there's room for a proper third-row seat where up to three adults can ride in reasonable comfort. You can choose either two second-row captain's chairs (for a total of seven seats) or a second-row bench (to seat eight). The SLT, with standard all-wheel drive, starts at $35,960. In all models a 3.6-liter V6 produces 275 horsepower but keeps fuel economy respectable. The six-speed transmission shifts easily through the gears, and independent front and rear suspension make handling smooth and responsive.

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ACURA MDX AWD

Sticker price/dealer cost: $40,665/$36,721
New-Car Blue Book Value: $40,665
Service cost (5 years): $3,587
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,412
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 63%/46%
Miles per gallon: 17 city /22 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 43 cu. ft.
Seating for: 7

The MDX is winner of Kiplinger's Best New Large/Midsize Crossover award (see all our 2007 top picks). With Acura's Super Handling all-wheel drive -- which sends power to any of the four wheels as needed to maintain traction during cornering -- plus enhancements in the suspension and power, this Japanese luxury crossover rivals the German performance SUVs. To achieve sport-sedan-like dynamics -- meaning you get feedback from the road -- the steering is a little heavy and the suspension taut. The 3.7-liter V6 produces 300 horsepower, and fuel economy is slightly lower than for other seven-seaters.

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MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER ES

Sticker price/dealer cost: $21,995/$21,311
New-Car Blue Book Value: $21,775
Service cost (5 years): $3,419
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,448
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 41%/28%
Miles per gallon: 20 city/27 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 39 cu. ft.
Seating for: 5 (7 in XLS model)

A fresh design, plenty of power and a low base price make the Outlander one of the nicest surprises of the year. It has a solid feel, handles well and comes with a full array of standard safety features. A flap-fold tailgate doubles as a seat for game day festivities. One caveat: Many options, including all-wheel drive, third-row seating and the audiophile stereo, are available only in pricier trim levels.

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FORD EDGE SE(OPTIONAL AWD)

Sticker price/dealer cost: $25,995/$24,595
New-Car Blue Book Value: $25,865
Service cost (5 years): $3,383
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,412
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 47%/32%
Miles per gallon: 18 city/25 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 32 cu. ft.
Seating for: 5

Ford's new crossover is almost two feet shorter than its prosaic sibling, the Ford Freestyle -- and eschews the third-row seat. But it takes styling to a new level. The 3.5-liter, 265 horsepower V6 with six-speed transmission zips off the line smoothly and without hesitation. Handling is agile thanks to independent front and rear suspension. Inside, there's lots of storage and thoughtful features, like iPod jack and automatic headlights.

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AUDI Q7 3.6 QUATTRO

Sticker price/dealer cost: $40,620/$37,657
New-Car Blue Book Value: $40,214
Service cost (5 years): $4,683
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,814
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 59%/40%
Miles per gallon: 16 city/20 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 27 cu. ft.
Seating for: 5 (6 or 7 in the 4.2 V8 Quattro)

Audi's luxury crossover has a smooth, muscular exterior and refined interior. And it's loaded with high-tech amenities, including the optional "side assist," which uses radar to alert you if a vehicle is in your blind spot when you signal to change lanes, and dynamic cruise control that will keep a safe following distance from the vehicle in front and brake to a stop in traffic. The base model has a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 280 hp. The 4.2-liter V8-equipped, 350-hp model starts at $50,620 and gets 14 city mpg and 19 on the highway. The Q7 also offers features that make it a competent off-roader.

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ACURA RDX AWD

Sticker price/dealer cost: $33,665/$30,774
New-Car Blue Book Value: $33,665
Service cost (5 years): $3,538
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,376
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 61%/43%
Miles per gallon: 19 city/23 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 28 cu. ft.
Seating for: 5

Acura calls the RDX an "entry-premium" crossover, aimed at Gen X male urbanites who like to get away from it all on weekends. Like the larger MDX, it drives like a sport sedan, thanks to road-hugging Super Handling all-wheel drive and Acura's first turbocharged engine, a peppy 2.3-liter four-cylinder that delivers 240 horsepower. So-so fuel economy for a small ute and a luxury price tag prevent it from earning five stars.

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MERCEDES-BENZGL450 4-MATIC

Sticker price/dealer cost: $55,675/$51,832
New-Car Blue Book Value: $54,283
Service cost (5 years): $5,755
Insurance cost (1 year): $2,680
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 61%/44%
Miles per gallon: 15 city/19 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 44 cu. ft.
Seating for: 7

The Mercedes luxe-mobile is roomy and fully automated -- note the third-row seats that fold flat with the touch of a button and the power liftgate. The 4.6-liter V8 with 335 horsepower and seven-speed transmission propel the GL quickly and smoothly, but don't expect agility in a cabin-cruiser-sized SUV. Drivers would be advised to order the $500 backup camera to help with obstructed rear views.

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MAZDA CX-7

Sticker price/dealer cost: $24,345/$22,820
New-Car Blue Book Value: $23,582
Service cost (5 years): $3,844
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,489
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 58%/38%
Miles per gallon: 19 city/24 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 30 cu. ft.
Seating for: 5

Sporty but with lots of utility and cargo room, the CX-7 has a sharp interior and edgy design. The CX-7 won Kiplinger's Best New Small Crossover award (see all our 2007 top picks). It's a value alternative to the Acura RDX, which uses a similar 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and starts at $9,000 more.

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JEEP COMPASS SPORT (OPTIONAL AWD)

Sticker price/dealer cost: $15,985/$15,097
New-Car Blue Book Value: $15,550
Service cost (5 years): $3,022
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,376
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 48%/32%
Miles per gallon: 24 city/27 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 23 cu. ft.
Seating for: 5

One of the smallest crossovers in the segment, Jeep's inexpensive ute is bare-bones basic. For example, an automatic transmission will cost you an extra grand. But it's economical to own: The 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine produces 172 hp, and fuel economy in the city is as high as any other nonhybrid crossover. Safety equipment such as stability control, ABS and head airbags come standard.

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SUZUKI XL7 (BASE 2WD)

Sticker price/dealer cost: $23,534/$22,618
New-Car Blue Book Value: $23,534
Service cost (5 years): $4,307
Insurance cost (1 year): $1,489
Resale value (3 years/5 years): 36%/22%
Miles per gallon: 18 city/24 highway
Cargo room behind second-row seats: 49 cu. ft.
Seating for: 5 (7 with $1,350 option)

Last year the XL7 was a truck-based SUV. The redesigned crossover XL7 has a smoother ride and slightly better fuel economy as well as more cargo space and standard head airbags and stability control. Unfortunately, resale value is atrocious for the beleaguered Suzuki brand. The 3.6-liter engine (252 hp) is noisy and the vehicle is narrow, so there's not much storage space. Third-row seats fold flat, but they're difficult to maneuver.