Driving this SUV is a dream with the added active fuel management and a regenerative braking system. Chrome adds to the sleek, modern style of the best SUV of 2010. It is found around the windows, front grill and even on the interior dash.

The Cadillac Escalade can be purchased in the Hybrid with rear wheel drive or in the Hybrid Platinum, also with rear wheel drive. Each option has sequential fuel injection. These vehicles each are able to obtain 10-mpg in the city and 16-mpg on the highway.

Luxury comes with a price as the best SUV on the market today will start at $73,425 and will go up from there. Price will depend on many things such as dealership, additional amenities and of course taxes. With the purchase of the Cadillac Escalade the owner will be granted a 100,000 mile warranty.

The NHTSA Frontal Crash Test for the Cadillac Escalade is a full 5 starts. With full 5 stars given this luxury SUV offers the most injury projection for both the driver and the front passenger. Safety features in the Escalade include Anti-lock brakes, built in stability control, front impact airbags, side impact airbags and overhead airbags. This years best SUV also comes with Pre-tensioners in the seatbelts and a built in security system which includes an ignition disable device that prevents the engine from starting if the correct key is not used.

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But as SUV ownership has become mainstream, so have some of its various aspects. Rides have been smoothed out, road handling has improved, and mileage has become a concern not only to those who hold the Earth in high regard, but to those who just don’t want to spend a small fortune in fuel. This last initiative has opened up the SUV market to more manufacturers, models, and options.

Mileage in an SUV can run in the low 10s combined mpg (or even lower for some extreme models) to the mid-to high 20s for some of the more fuel-efficient smaller models and a few of the hybrids available. It all comes down to a few simple factors.

How big and high-performance do you want your SUV? The more horsepower, the larger the engine displacement, and add-on performance accessories can all affect your mileage. Smaller motors, diesel engines and hybrids can offset some of this.

Weight and comfort accessories: Many new SUVs are designed more for road handling than off-roading. They come with any number of comforts like air conditioning, traction control, anti-lock brake systems, power windows/door/locks. Everything you add to a SUV also adds weight. The more weight, the greater the effect on mileage. And some accessories, like air conditioning, not only add weight, but drain power from the motor requiring the use of more fuel.

Driving conditions: Let’s face it, bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic kills your mileage, where as cruising down the highway at 65 gives you your maximum MPG. This is true of cars, trucks and SUVs. If you spend a large percentage of your time bogged down in traffic, you just won’t get the mileage the EPA estimates.

SUVs are notorious gas-guzzlers, but that doesn’t mean they have to be. If you are simply wanting something that can get you around town in the snow, manufacturers have now designed whole segments of these vehicles for you ranging from economy to classy to sophisticated. If you still want to try the trails, there are any number of models available as well. Do your research and get the right model for you.

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Most every manufacturer now offers a midsize SUV with nearly 40 choices available to the consumer. Sport utility vehicles comprise about 27% of all automobile sales and over half of that 27% involve midsize SUVs.

The first sport utility vehicles were built based on truck frames and components. The ride and handling were very truck-like. Now, with over twenty years of revisions and refinements, mid size sport utilities are much more urbane and passenger friendly.

Some SUV’s are still based on truck frames, but in recent years the popularity of car-based SUVs is building.

For the most part, midsize SUVs come with a six or eight cylinder engine. They have plenty of cargo room and usually room for seven or eight passengers. These midsize SUVs are very popular with active parents, especially busy mothers despite the drawbacks.

Compared to a midsize car the SUV will have a bumpier ride, less maneuverability and poorer fuel mileage. Many moms are willing to make these concessions in exchange for the roominess afforded by the SUV.
Midsize sport utility vehicles are more versatile than midsize cars, as well.

Many can be purchased with four wheel drive (4WD) or all wheel drive (AWD) as well as rear two wheel drive (2WD). Four wheel drive and all wheel drive will add to the purchase price and reduce fuel mileage somewhat. They will, however, add to the resale value.

What’s the best midsize SUV? As with any purchase, it would be wise to consider a number of factors before purchasing. What are the buyer’s needs, wants and financial ability? Below is a comparison chart for some midsize SUVs.

The vehicles are listed in alphabetical order for basic comparison purposes only with no recommendations made. The list includes only ten vehicles while, as stated above, more than forty midsize SUVs are available.

7 Passenger SUV Comparison Chart

Vehicle Name            Price Range               MPG         Platform
Buick Rendezvous       $26,000 – $30,000 18 – 27 Car based
Chevrolet Equinox      $22,000 – $25,000 18 – 24 Car based
Chevrolet Trailblazer $27,000 – $33,000 14 – 21 Truck based
Chrysler Pacifica          $25,000 – $37,000 17 – 23 Car based
Dodge Durango             $28,000 – $37,000 14 – 21 Truck based
Ford Explorer               $26,000 – $36,000 14 – 21 Truck based
Ford Freestyle              $25,000 – $31,000 19 – 27 Car based
Honda Pilot                   $27,000 – $36,000 17 – 24 Car based
Hummer H3                   $33,000 – $42,000 16 – 20 Truck based
Jeep Grand Cherokee $27,000 – $43,000 12 – 22 Truck based
Pontiac Torrent            $22,000 – $25,000 18 – 24 Car based

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