SUVs take center stage in New York

Officially, the newly unveiled Crosstour is just a hint at the midcycle refresh to come, a concept that Honda says is meant to show the "exterior styling direction" for this popular CUV. And though a few high-tech features were teased, such as new lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems, as well as a LaneWatch camera mounted on the passenger-side mirror, those will debut in the next Accord. What we could see, however, was a nudge towards sportiness, including finished sill plates, and paddle shifters for the 3.5-liter V6 model. (It also comes as a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder.)

Read:  Honda Crosstour Concept Unveiled in New York

Though it's not going to turn many heads, the 2013 Santa Fe should leave a wake of approving nods from fellow SUV owners. Starting this summer, the crossover will be available in three versions: the Santa Fe Sport, the turbocharged Santa Fe Sport 20T and the Santa Fe, which adds a third row, to seat up to seven people. All three models have heavily sculpted frames and swooped-back rear windows, but the Santa Fe Sport 20T is the most exciting of the bunch, with its 2-liter, 264-horsepower turbocharged direct-injection 4-cylinder engine. The optional all-wheel drive throws torque at individual wheels as needed, for a sporty handling that should defy light-truck expectations.

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For the 2013 model year, this wagonish SUV gets a raft of tour-bus-worthy features, such as 10 cupholders — six for bottles, four for cups — three MP3 player holders with wire-hiding recesses and, with the LE trim, a pair of rear-seat reading lamps and three 12-volt outlets. The voice-activated, smartphone-syncing Entune entertainment system is optional. But squint hard enough and you'll notice that despite emphasizing capacity over style or handling, Toyota makes a nod to carlike sportiness, giving the Venza a lower center of gravity and standard 19-inch wheels.

Bing Images: 2013 Toyota Venza

Not keen to mess with success, Chevy has made only minor adjustments to its high-selling 3-row SUV, which will go on sale late this year. The most obvious is its exterior, which follows the industrywide trend toward harder, sharper lines, particularly on the front end. Inside the Traverse, everything is slightly more posh, with blue ambient lighting and contrast stitching. An optional front center airbag, housed in the driver's seat, keeps the front occupants from sliding laterally during side impacts. The suspension has been tweaked for smoother low-speed driving.

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The inevitable debate over whether the XV Crosstrek is a true SUV or just an elevated Impreza hatchback highlights the category's strange new direction. In standard Subaru fashion, it's an all-weather expert, with an all-wheel drive that splits the torque between the two axles or, with the optional Lineartronic transmission, applies torque to whichever wheels have more traction. Although it has standard SUV features, such as fold-flat rear seats and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, it's the Crosstrek's appearance that sets it apart, with a sloping hood that blurs the line between a small crossover and a really large car. Look for it this fall.

View Pictures:  Subaru XV Crosstrek

Like last year's GLK, the 2013 model is a performance-minded SUV, a distinction that's no longer a novelty, but a growing niche category. The direct injection 3.5-liter V6 engine has 302 horsepower and a top speed of 130 mph and can hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. It's a bump in power over the previous V6's 268 horsepower, though acceleration remains the same. The manual gets shift paddles, as opposed to the automatic's shift lever mounted behind the wheel. The optional 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive redistributes torque to counter slips and skids, but the emphasis is still on safer handling on the road, not off it. The gas and diesel GLKs will be available in early 2013.

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The new Sport edition is the Explorer's black-clad, tough-guy alter ego. From the glossy black 20-inch wheels to the charcoal black interior, this SUV demands to be more than a shuttle for smallish soccer players — who nonetheless would be impressed by its sinister appeal. It's also the first Explorer to get a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine, which, ironically, doesn't improve on the fuel economy of the already available V6, but presumably offsets the increased power — the Sport will hit 60 mph two seconds faster than the regular model. Pricing is still unknown, but it will be in stores later this year.

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Though VW doesn't plan on bringing the Alltrack to the States, this concept is promising. The 4-cylinder diesel engine boasts a range of theoretically useful off-road features, such as a low-speed program for the 4Motion AWD that adjusts the brakes, gas pedal and differential locks for more control. But the styling stays on the road, with the long, low lines that give it a distinctly wagonish look. Is it a crossover or a wagon? Do questions like that matter anymore? If VW sees enough interest in the Alltrack, expect the SUV to become even harder to define.

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Based out of the Boston area, Erik Sofge is frequent contributor to Popular Mechanics and Slate.com. He specializes in everything scientific and technical.