Best 2010 SUV/CUV $35,000 to $60,000
ANDREW MEESON/TORONTO STAR
2010 Volkswagen Touareg TDI
As evidence to the rising popularity of this segment, there were seven contenders for the Best New SUV/CUV $35,000 to $60,000 at this year's AJAC TestFest.
With full-sized SUVs somewhat out of favour and minivans remaining resolutely uncool, domestic types are embracing the mid-sized crossover, which offers reasonable utility, all-wheel-drive availability, and a dash of cool – without the fuel consumption and negative environmental stigma of their larger cousins.
The term crossover seems appropriate with this lot, as these vehicles run the gamut from luxury to sport to stump-pulling utility.
2010 VW Touareg TDI
(646 points)
Me being somewhat pragmatic, this upright and practical SUV won me over. It may not have the sex appeal of others in this category, but jump in, close the doors, and its vault-like solidity and simple yet elegant cabin impress.
Sight lines are good and it has the most cargo capacity here.
The Touareg's ace-in-the-hole shot is a terrific 3.0 L turbodiesel V6 that delivers 225 hp and a crushing 406 lb.-ft. at 1750 rpm – and 8.0 L/100 km (35 m.p.g.) on the highway. It's the quietest diesel SUV I have driven.
The $3,500 Sport Package, that adds 20-inch alloys and sports suspension, gave this tester some impressive on-road dynamics.
If off-road is your thing, the VW trounces all others here with low range, electronic differential lock, and hill descent and hillclimb assist. And it'll tow up to 3,500 kg.
Shame about the manual seats.
Price as tested: $56,950
Audi Q5
(639 points)
Audi has covered all the bases with this finely crafted CUV that starts at $48,600.
The 3.2 L FSI V6 with 270 hp and 243 lb.-ft. of torque is eager, and pairs nicely with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox.
On the road, the well-weighted steering, quick turn in and 60 per cent default rear-biased quattro drive give the Q5 a real sporting demeanour, yet the ride remains comfortable.
The Q5's spacious interior is the best of the bunch, featuring classic design and exquisite workmanship. With Audi, if something looks like wood, metal, or leather, you know it's the real stuff.
Along with the extensive list of standard features, this tester had the optional $2,500 Audi Drive Select, which adds adaptive damping and selectable settings for steering, throttle and damper parameters.
The Q5 gets pricey, but feels worth it.
Price as tested: $53,950
2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350
(637 points)
M-B's new cute-ute swaggers into the arena with a tough-guy stance and handsomely creased body. First impressions telegraph "I ain't no wussy soft-roader!" but the GLK350 is more Rosedale than Rocky Mountains.
Interior design keeps the theme with blocky angularity. It has an airy cabin with good sight lines but the gauges are hard to read in bright sunlight. Cargo space behind the rear seats is the smallest in this group at 450 litres.
It has one of the more compliant rides here, which also translates into less-than-sporty handling. The 3.5 L V6 (268 hp/258 lb.-ft.) and 7G-Tronic seven-speed transmission make a smooth combo, and power meets the pavement via 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive with electronic stability control.
The GLK350's aggressive looks are matched by aggressive pricing, starting at a well-equipped $41,800.
Price as tested: $46,726
2010 Lexus RX350
(632 points)
Lexus started the luxury crossover movement over 10 years ago, and this all-new third generation RX is the luxury car of the group. 
The seats are soft and covered in supple leather – the dash and console are finely crafted and all the controls work with silken precision. This CUV is all about comfort and isolation from the outside world.
New for 2010 is a six-speed auto (replacing a five-speed) and an easy-to-use joy stick controller that eliminates the previous car's touch screen.
The 275 hp 3.5 L V6 is the strong, silent type, but if you're looking for a sporty driving experience, this ain't the one.
Price as tested: $54,900
2010 GMC Terrain
(628 points)
A pleasant surprise was GMC's take on the all-new Chevy Equinox crossover. 
Okay, so the front-drive Terrain with huge grille and bulldog stance looks like it would eat your children, but is a good driving, comfortable and solidly built vehicle.
GMC claims best in class fuel economy of 7.8 L/100 km (36 m.p.g.) in combined driving. Power comes from a direct-injection 2.4 L four-cylinder that makes 182 hp and 172 lb.-ft. of torque.
Working through a six-speed auto, it provides adequate urge and remains pretty quiet, due in part to active noise cancellation. Indeed, on the highway, the little GMC is serene, and over sideroads it showed poise, good steering feel and a refined ride.
Thank the long wheelbase for generous backseat legroom.
Price as tested: $38,190
2010 Volvo XC60 3.2
(625 points)
New for 2010 is a 235 hp non-turbo front-drive version of the XC60 crossover introduced last year as the T6 AWD turbo. 
It was touted as the "safest Volvo ever," featuring the breakthrough City Safety crash avoidance/mitigation system – also standard kit in this base $39,995 variant.
Laser sensors at the top of the windshield track distance to the car in front. If the driver doesn't react to an impending collision, the system will apply full emergency barking and bring the car to a stop from speeds up to 15 km/h. Up to 30 km/h, braking is applied to reduce the severity of the crash.
I like the stylish and ergonomically sound centre stack, and there's an ample 655 litres of luggage space behind the rear seats. My tester was heavily optioned with AWD and various packages that brought it up to spec with many competitors here, but the price swelled to $53,445.
Price as tested: $53,445
2010 Acura ZDX
(616 points)
This intriguing luxury coupe/CUV/hatchback thingy is unapologetic about its form-over-function mandate. Acura admits the ZDX is primarily a two-person vehicle, so we'll forgive the cramped rear quarters and compromised (although exquisitely trimmed) cargo space. It looks better in the flesh than in photos – the bulging rear haunches will give a Porsche palpitations. 
This is the sportiest CUV here, pushed along by a free revving 300 hp 3.7 L V6 coupled to a quick shifting six-speed auto with paddle shifters.
The ride is the firmest of this group, and its on-road prowess is helped by the standard SH-AWD (super handling all-wheel drive).
Lovely interior too. Does it make sense? For a few, it will.
Price as tested: $59,590
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