Best SUVs for the Bucks

The first full-fledged implementation of Mazda's SkyActiv technology, the Mazda CX-5 is the sportiest and most fuel-efficient compact utility vehicle. It offers room for up to five passengers, uses quality materials and offers a surprisingly roomy 65.4-cubic-foot cargo hold. It's an excellent value, too. Prices start at $20,695, and that includes desirable features such as alloy wheels, power windows and locks, and a USB port for MP3 connectivity. Most buyers will prefer an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, which increases the price to a still reasonable $23,345. For less money than the typical midsize sedan, you can get a fun crossover with more space and comparable fuel economy.

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The Jeep Grand Cherokee can do it all. It combines a stable, almost sporty on-road character with an off-road capability matched by few vehicles, and it can tow up to 7,400 pounds. Its interior offers an ambience worthy of a luxury SUV, space for five passengers and a useful 68.7-cubic-foot cargo area. The large SUV's architecture is derived from the Mercedes-Benz ML, so you know this Jeep has good bones, and it starts at a reasonable $26,700, approximately $22,000 less than the Mercedes. Buyers can load their Grand Cherokees with amenities and choose from three 4-wheel-drive systems, each more capable than the last. Be careful, though, as the options can easily push the price to more than $40,000.

Watch Video:  2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Honda CR-V is a perennial value, and the 2012 redesign makes it even better. Though it's not luxurious, it does offer pleasant road manners and excellent interior space for its compact footprint. The cargo area is the most versatile in the class, with lots of room and seats that fold flat with the flick of a lever. Prices start at $22,495, and the CR-V excels in resale value and reliability. The 2012 model scored in the top 10 of Kelley Blue Book's best resale values and it was the second-highest-ranked compact crossover in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study.

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Some of the best SUVs on the market are the compact luxury crossovers. The Audi Q5, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK are all wonderful vehicles, but the Acura RDX is the best value of the bunch. With its 3.5-liter 273-horsepower V6 engine, the RDX offers more base power than the competition and delivers a premium, sporty driving experience. For a base price of $34,320, buyers get standard leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof and a multiview camera. Equipment for equipment, the RDX runs $3,000 to $6,000 less than the Audi and BMW. With its comfortable rear seat and roomy cargo area, the RDX is a fine alternative to a luxury midsize sedan, and without adding much, if any, cost.

Compare: Acura RDX vs. Lexus RX 350 vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Lexus RX 350 is one of the most refined and luxurious vehicles on the market. It appeals to small families who want quiet comfort, as well as to empty nesters who like its ease of ingress and egress and the extra space for grandkids and their toys. The 3.5-liter V6 engine provides plenty of power. The RX 350 may be fairly pricey at $39,075, but owners will earn much of that back, as the RX 350 is among the best at holding its resale value, according to Kelley Blue Book. It's also the midsize premium crossover/SUV leader in J.D. Power's Dependability Study, so owners probably won't waste money on lots of repairs.

Find: Fuel-Efficient Luxury SUVs

Many buyers need a third-row seat to carry a large family or the neighbor kids in a car pool. The Dodge Durango stands out among a strong group of contenders for its pleasant, controlled ride, quality interior and powerful, optional V8 engine. The Mercedes-Benz DNA that the Durango shares with the Grand Cheroke contributes to its quality road manners. Prices start at just under $29,000, but the Durango offers more standard equipment than its similarly priced competitors. Buyers can configure their Durangos to be powerful V8 workhorses that can tow 7,400 pounds or as more fuel-efficient V6 models that still offer plenty of pep.

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Its midsize crossover competitors may be newer and larger, but the Toyota Highlander soldiers on as a great value. Buyers can opt for 5- or 7-passenger seating, the latter with an innovative, removable second-row middle seat that eases access to the third row. Both the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 engines offer plenty of power. The Highlander features the luxurious ride typical of most Toyotas and, thanks to its modest size, it is one of the more maneuverable vehicles in the class. It also benefits from Toyota's track record for strong resale values and rock-solid reliability.

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The Kia Sorento offers a lot without costing a lot. With a price tag starting at $21,250, the base model comes well-equipped with satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity and alloy wheels. The most affordable all-wheel-drive model runs $25,350, and you'll need to spend $26,650 for all-wheel drive with the V6 engine. Even so, both of those prices are reasonable for what you get. Adding to the value are an available third-row seat for the kids, interior materials unexpected for the price and controlled on-road dynamics. The Sorento's residual value is on the rise as well; the research firm ALG named it one of the tops in the compact-crossover segment.

Compare: Kia Sorento vs. Ford Edge vs. Toyota RAV4

Families who want to ride in style should consider the 7-passenger BMW X5. A sporty character and a strong engine lineup are two of the X5's major strengths. The base 300-horsepower inline-6 engine is plenty powerful, and the 400-horsepower V8 is even stronger. Buyers looking for fuel economy should consider the torquey 3.0-liter diesel engine, which is rated at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway — impressive for a 5,200-pound vehicle. With prices starting at $47,500 with a gas engine and $56,700 with the diesel, the X5 isn't for everyone, but both enjoy strong resale values, which lower the cost to own this sporty and luxurious SUV.

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The Wrangler has always been the go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle for adventurous types, and recent changes have made it more livable, too. The new 3.6-liter V6 engine boasts more power, better fuel economy and more refinement than the outgoing engine, and the addition of the longer Wrangler Unlimited in 2004 has improved the Wrangler's utility. Buyers will like the versatility of the top. Take it off and you have a convertible. Add a hardtop, and it shuts out noise and the elements. When it comes time to sell, owners will recoup much of their investment, as the Wrangler holds its resale value better than any vehicle on the market, according to Kelley Blue Book.

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For more information on any vehicle in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Mazda CX-5
-Jeep Grand Cherokee
-Honda CR-V
-Acura RDX
-Lexus RX 350
-Dodge Durango
-Toyota Highlander
-Kia Sorento
-BMW X5
-Jeep Wrangler

Compare: All 10 Vehicles

Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, and currently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.

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