Similarly, our Dodge Durango has an as-tested price of $41,490. Keep a tight lid on the options sheet--avoiding the Hemi V-8 option will be tough--and the price should be in the low $30s, the sweet spot of the middle market. Nissan's Armada isn't far off that spot. With a middling list of options and cloth interior, ours came in at about the same price as our full-boat, leather-upholstered Nissan Murano. Both the Murano and the Mitsubishi Endeavor midsize crossovers would be proper bargains under $30,000 to meet or beat the better-established Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.
Customers who want a climbing and cargo-hauling SUV with performance superior to most passenger cars will find value paying nearly $90,000 for a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. If you think that price is stiff, consider this: You're getting sports-car performance and luxury-SUV capability in one package, saving at least $70,000 over the price of buying the sports car and the SUV.
After track testing, detail distinguishing, and hundreds of dusty miles, we finally debated the pros, cons, and the meaning of "dual purpose" until we'd chosen the 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year winner.
The Cayenne S, though cheaper, is less of a value, especially compared with the FX45. The V-8 version of Infiniti's crossover offers close to the same levels of on-road performance for substantially less, albeit without the Porsche's great broken-road ability. Similarly, the X3, with its on-road prowess, is a great buy at roughly $32,000.
The Envoy XUV brings the flexibility of the midgate and retractable top, but with the standard inline-six instead of the Rainier's optional 5.3-liter V-8 for about $40K. Again, flexibility rules: serious lifestyle types will love the XUV's hose-out rear cargo area.
The best-value prospects are the sport/utilities that offer the greatest cargo capacity, street manners, trail competence, and overall flexibility. This year, they are the Lexus RX 330, the Cadillac SRX, and the VW Touareg. The RX is a highly polished piece, but it's tough to cut a deal on a desirable vehicle with an awesome residual value. The Cadillac surprises our staff with its terrific driving character, though at an estimated $50,000 for a well-equipped V-8, it's not the greatest bargain here.
Thus, our value standout is the Volkswagen. The Touareg does everything expected of a premium sedan in terms of handling, refined power, and high-level attention to finish and design. And it can scale Death Valley's equivalent of Everest, with style. Yes, it's a tall price for a VW. But there's big value in an upscale Volkswagen with attitude at altitude.