Available As: Large SUV

Base Price Range (MSRP): $26,455-$37,215

Pros: Price, towing capacity, ride, handling, interior space, acceleration (5.7-liter).

Cons: Acceleration (V6), interior quality, fuel economy.

Overall: A capable and spacious SUV at a reasonable price.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended: YES

The Durango combines comfort, capability, and value, though it has its drawbacks. It rides comfortably and handles well for a large SUV, and the interior is roomy. With its V8s, especially the 5.7-liter "Hemi", (an anemic V6 is available on the base 2WD version; avoid it) it offers strong acceleration and a high towing capacity. The interior feels cheap even on high-end versions however, despite a recent upgrade, and gas mileage is poor even compared to other jumbo-utes. But the Durango remains a top choice among large truck-based SUVs, even before its price advantage is considered.

The current IFCAR Top Pick for large SUVs is the Ford Expedition, which has even more interior space than the Durango, less engine noise, a higher-quality interior, and an even higher towing capacity, as well as similarly capable driving dynamics. The Durango has more power with its 5.7-liter V8, however. The Nissan Armada offers a roomy interior, a very powerful V8, and relatively agile handling, but is rather noisy. And if you don't need the towing and off-road capabilities of traditional truck-based SUVs, consider the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook triplets, the Ford Taurus X, the Mazda CX-9, and the Honda Pilot, which offer roomy interiors, very good driving dynamics, much better gas mileage than the Durango, and generally lower prices than truck-based SUVs. 

See all Large SUVs

Available As: Minivan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $21,930-$27,140

Pros: Price, interior flexibility, interior space, ride comfort.

Cons: Refinement and acceleration (except 4.0-liter), interior quality, agility, third-row seat space.

Overall: Comfortable, practical, and well-priced, but not without some junky feel.

Rating: 7/10

Recommended: YES

The Grand Caravan was redesigned and improved for 2008. But while a new available engine offers improves acceleration and refinement, while interior quality and ride and handling have improved, and while a few more gadgets and seat tricks are available, the new model continues to have most of the strengths and weaknesses of its even less-expensive predecessor. Its base V6s, sold on most Grand Caravans, have been with the line for years, and is decidedly weak and noisy compared to every other current minivan. The interior design and quality has been upgraded, but retains too many hard, cheap plastics and a relatively junky feel. The suspension remains tuned for a comfortable ride, and handling remains somewhat sloppy. But the seats continue to do unparalleled magic tricks; depending on the option selected, either the second row seats can fold flat into the floor ("Stow N Go"), or they can be turned to face the third row with a table installed between them ("Swivel N Go"). (You can't get both capabilities on the same model, however.) So the Grand Caravan continues to offer class-leading versatility and reasonable comfort at competitive prices, but it cannot match the refinement, interior quality, and overall luxury feel of several key competitors.

The Nissan Quest nearly matches the Chrysler vans' Stow N Go, but its second-row seats simply drop down, rather than folding into a storage bin to make a completely flat cargo floor. Furthermore, the Nissan's one-piece third row is bulkier to raise and lower than the Chryslers' split bench, and the van costs quite a bit more. The Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona twins are more comfortable, quieter, better-finished and more powerful than the Grand Caravan at a similar price point, though they don't match its interior versatility. For maximum comfort and luxury, and also commendable acceleration and fuel economy, consider the  Toyota Sienna, and for a good blend of comfort and sportiness consider the Honda Odyssey, but both are rather expensive. And if you decide on a Chrysler minivan, shop both the Grand Caravan and the near-identical Chrysler Town & Country for the best deal (prices are very similar).

See all Minivans

Available As: Midsize station wagon

Base Price Range (MSRP): $23,420-$38,105

Pros: Acceleration (V8), rear seat space.

Cons: Acceleration (2.7-liter), fuel economy, cargo space, visibility.

Overall: This Dodge Charger station wagon is more practical than the sedan version, but suffers most of the same other vices.

Rating: 5/10

Recommended: NO

With the Magnum, Dodge put a 340-horsepower V8 into a station wagon body, to offer performance and practicality. Unfortunately, the optional V8 is the only sporty aspect of the car, and the wagon's inherent practicality is diminished by the style-focused low roof, cutting into cargo space. The styling also cuts into visibility. The Magnum handles like the large car that it is, leaving V6 versions with nothing going for them but a comfortable rear seat, which is hardly rare among family cars. The concept of the sporty wagon works, but the execution is lacking, and the V6 versions have only the styling in their favor.

If you want a true sporty wagon, look at the Subaru Legacy and Mazda6, which offer performance, handling, comfort, and practicality on a scale beyond the Magnum's, which has the available V8 as its only advantage. Another option for a combination of acceleration and practicality is the Toyota RAV4, a compact SUV with an available 268-horsepower V6.

See all Midsize Cars

Available As: Small SUV

Base Price Range (MSRP): $19,595-$24,665

Pros: Acceleration (4.0-liter), towing capacity (4.0-liter), interior space.

Cons: Ride, handling, refinement, interior quality, fuel economy, visibility.

Overall: The worst-driving on-road focused SUV on the market, and it goes downhill from there.

Rating: 2/10

Recommended: NO

The Nitro's appearance and Jeep-sourced platform would suggest that Dodge has targeted the Nissan Xterra, a utilitarian SUV that puts capability over on-road comfort and excels in its niche. Perhaps that was the original idea. But the Nitro falls far short of the Xterra and everything else. Though it feels like one of the truckiest SUVs available, it lacks the low-range 4WD system that would be necessary for heavier-duty off-road use than a car-based Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V could handle. So buyers are expected to suffer through a choppy, bouncy ride and clumsy handling on-road with no benefit. The Nitro can be had with one of two V6s; base and midrange models have a noisy, slow, and gas-guzzling 3.7-liter V6, and top-of-the-line RTs have a more powerful 4.0-liter V6 which also offers a higher towing capacity than car-based competitors, though it too is too noisy, gets even poorer gas mileage, and doesn't offer the 3.7-liter's manual transmission (which is clunky to use and returns a negligible performance and fuel economy advantage anyway). Furthermore, the interior is shoddily constructed using very cheap materials, tiny windows inhibit visibility, and the rear seat is too low.

If you're looking for a small SUV that won't go off-road or tow, the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4 are well-rounded choices. The Ford Escape is roomy and inexpensive, but somewhat unrefined. The Hyundai Tucson / Kia Sportage twins are excellent values, but not particularly spacious, powerful, or fuel-efficient. The Hyundai Santa Fe is roomy and luxurious, but can be surprisingly expensive. Off-road users should look at the Nissan Xterra, and the most adventurous off-road users should consider the Jeep Wrangler.

See all Small SUVs

Available As: Large pickup with regular, extended, and crew cabs

Base Price Range (MSRP): $21,485-$40,685

Pros: Acceleration (5.7-liter), towing capacity, bed length, interior space (Mega Cab).

Cons: Ride, handling, refinement, interior quality, fuel economy.

Overall: The Ram originally excused its crudity with its capability, but the refined competition has matched or exceeded it there.

Rating: 5/10

Recommended: NO

The Ram is one of the cruder large pickup trucks on the market, as the competition works on increasing comfort and refinement to appeal to consumers who are buying lavishly-equipped trucks as daily-use family vehicles. The Ram has tried to excuse its shortcomings with its truck capability, but the more refined competitors are now offering comparable towing and payload capacities, and useful beds and interiors. Unless you find the bouncy, noisy ride an enjoyable part of the truck experience, there are better choices.

 The Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra are two pickups very similar to the Ram in their focus on power and capability over comfort and refinement, but which have better acceleration, ride, and handling, and even higher towing capacities. The Chevrolet Silverado is a capable and well-rounded pickup with very good ride, handling, interior comfort, and refinement, but the Ram is less expensive, has longer beds, and is quicker with its 5.7-liter V8. Chevrolet's related Avalanche is worth a look for consumers shopping for the most comfortable pickup, for its improved ride and interior space over the Silverado, though it can be expensive and has a small bed.

See all Large Pickups

Available As: High-end sporty car; coupe and convertible

Base Price Range (MSRP): $84,880-$85,630

Pros: Acceleration, high-speed handling.

Cons: Ride, low-speed handling, refinement, interior quality, fuel economy, shift quality, heat control.

Overall: Dreadful to drive in traffic, but its shortcomings there are irrelevant to those who will use it on a track.

Rating: 2/10

Recommended: NO

The Viper is rare among sporty cars in its price range (the $80,000s for the 2006 model) in its utter lack of refinement and luxury. It is ponderous to drive at low speeds, with a heavy clutch and shifter, a wide turning circle, and heavy steering, and it is loud, cheaply built inside, uncomfortable, and designed with an exhaust system that burns the legs of unsuspecting occupants as they get in and out. It's stupidly powerful, but in most legal conditions, the Viper is decidedly unsatisfying to drive in the traditional sense, as you seem to fight it rather than enjoy it. Some will argue that this adds character to the experience, but it is easy to dislike driving it. And at over $80,000, that isn't acceptable, unless you really must have that character.

 The Chevrolet Corvette can be considered the mainstream equivalent to the Viper. It is easily drivable in traffic, relatively comfortable, won't burn its occupants, and is priced starting in the $40,0000s rather than the $80,000s, yet it too offers impressive engine performance and handling, and its capabilities are more usable than the Viper's. Even the high-cost high-performance Corvette Z06 is less expensive and much more user-friendly than the Viper. Consumers looking more for refinement and luxury at this price range should look at the Mercedes-Benz SL550, and those looking for luxury at more of a bargain price should consider the Mercedes-Benz SLK. Consumers interested in driving enjoyment should not expect that the Viper's monstrous engine justifies its price, as there are numerous cars that are much more fun to drive at a fraction of its price.

See all Sporty Cars priced between $50,000 and $100,000