Uphill climb: despite premium price tags, these models fall short of the best in class.(Jeep Grand Cherokee)(Mercedes-Benz ML350)(Land Rover LR3)(Subaru B9 Tribeca)(Nissan Pathfinder)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Midsized SUVs make up the core of the sport-utility market. Like others in this class, the five vehicles we tested for this issue provide more interior room and better engine performance than smaller models, and the best provide better handling and fuel economy than larger SUVs. These vehicles, however, finished mid-pack or lower among the 29 midsized SUVs we've recently tested, despite sticker prices that range from $34.000 to more than $50,000.

Only the $48,880 Mercedes-Benz ML350 scored among the top half of our midsized SUVs. But its overall score trailed several vehicles that cost less, sometimes by more than $12,000 (see the Ratings).

The more-expensive Land Rover LR3 ($50,150) finished in the bottom one-third of the midsized-SUV group, as did the Subaru B9 Tribeca and Nissan Pathfinder, which are priced at around $36,000. The $35,300 Jeep Grand Cherokee was the least expensive vehicle here, but, despite its redesign, it finished last in this group and among the bottom five of all we've tested.

The B9 Tribeca is new for 2006, while the other models in this group recently received significant redesigns. The Land Rover, Nissan, and Subaru offer a third-row seat, which increases passenger capacity to seven. Neither the Grand Cherokee nor the ML350 offers a third row, but the recently introduced Jeep Commander and Mercedes-Benz R-Class, which are built on the same platforms as the Grand Cherokee and M-Class, respectively, offer three rows.

The redesigned Mercedes M-Class, which now uses a carlike unibody, is a big improvement over its predecessor, which used a trucklike body-on-frame design. The ML350 is a comfortable, quiet vehicle, with sedanlike handling on the road and high-quality interior trim. While this new version lacks low-range gearing, the ML350 was still able to handle our rock hill and off-road courses. Some controls, however, were frustrating to use. Reliability remains to be seen; the previous generation was unreliable.

The B9 Tribeca is Subaru's first midsized SUV. Based on the same platform as the Legacy and Outback, its ride is comfortable and quiet, and overall handling is agile and secure. Subaru's 250-hp flat-six engine struggles to move the Tribeca, however, and the transmission does not readily downshift to maintain speed. Although the Tribeca has seven seats, the optional third-row seat is best-suited for small children, and using it makes the second row very cramped for adults.

Nissan redesigned the Pathfinder for 2005, giving it a third-row seat and fully independent suspension. It has the same impressive powertrain as the Frontier pickup and Xterra SUV that we recently tested. The V6 engine is smooth and powerful, and it delivers better performance than that of some V8s. The Pathfinder still has a stiff, trucklike ride, however. The standard electronic stability control (ESC) keeps the Nissan in check at its handling limits. Similar to the Tribeca, the third-row seat is suited strictly for children, and it compromises the second row's space.