Saturn rising; Midsized SUVs GM's roomy new entry rates among the best.(sport-utility vehicles)(Product/service evaluation)

The new Saturn Outlook is the best American SUV we've tested, and ranks among the top vehicles in both our midsized and large SUV ratings. Its overall test score is behind only the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Honda Pilot among midsized SUVs and the Mercedes-Benz GL450 among large SUVs.

The Outlook faced some worthy competition in this group, as three of the models--the new Hyundai Veracruz and Mazda CX-9, and the freshened Chrysler Pacifica--scored within five points of it. But the new Ford Edge is one of the lower-scoring SUVs we've tested, despite sharing a platform with the CX-9.

Prices for those SUVs, equipped with popular comfort and convenience options such as sunroofs and heated leather seats, ranged from $33,590 for the Edge to $36,799 for the Outlook. They provide much of the comfort and utility of last month's group of luxury SUVs for about $10,000 less. None of the new vehicles in this group are recommended because they are too new for us to have reliability data. The Pacifica hasn't been reliable enough for us to recommend it.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

ROOM TO SPARE

As with the luxury SUVs we tested for the last issue, a major trend in this category is that more models are coming with third-row seats, boosting carrying capacity from five to seven or eight people. In this group, only the Edge lacked one. While third-row seats in SUVs are typically tight and best left for kids, it's one of the areas where the Outlook shines.

Almost a foot and a half longer than midsized SUVs such as the Toyota Highlander, the Outlook is the first car-based SUV that's big enough to be a viable alternative to large truck-based models such as the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe. That's good news because car-based models tend to provide better handling, a more comfortable ride, and better fuel economy.